urban views weekly march 11, 2015

Mar.11, 2015

Spring Into A New Job Or Career

2 Urban Views Weekly | March 11, 2015 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

The Deal

Letter ToThe Editor

VOL. 8, ISSUE 10

Urban Views Weekly, LLC6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410Richmond, VA 23230Office: (804) 441-6255Fax: (888) 439-2534

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StatePoint

Before you decide on a home improvement project, it’s a good idea to learn which ones will help raise your house’s value and recoup the most money when you decide to sell.

From replacing your front door to adding a deck, there are many midrange improvements that won’t cost a bundle but will deliver great bang for your buck. It’s not about spending the most money; it’s about improvements that best hold their value.

The experts at “Remodeling” magazine recently released their 28th annual Cost vs. Value Report, comparing construction costs with resale value for 36 of the most popular home improvement projects. When it came to midrange projects, the report found homeowners recouped the highest percentage

of costs on these five improvements: steel entry door replacement, installation of manufactured stone veneer on home exteriors,

garage door replacements, vinyl siding replacement, and wooden deck additions.

“Making your home stand out from others on your block and others on the market is achievable if you plan wisely when it comes to remodeling

projects,” says Phil Wengerd, Vice President of Market Strategies at ProVia, a leading building products manufacturer. “This year’s statistics indicate that moderately priced exterior projects can significantly enhance home resale values.”

This year’s analysis of top midrange home improvement projects provided definite direction for

Five Top Home Improvements that Raise Your House’s Resale Value

continues on page 5

If you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number. We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste. E-mail (without attachments) to [email protected]. Mail letters to Editor Urban Views Weekly.

Network with other African American business owners, managers, and professionals. This is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and

your business to “family” members who did not know that you existed.

Make connections that can grow your business.

Make connections so you can refer others to someone that you just met.

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Sponsored by: A.W. Smith Financial Small Business Solutionswww.AWSmithFinancial.com

3 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com Urban Views Weekly | March 11, 2015

continues on page 10

Premiering March 17 as Part of “American Graduate,” a Public Media Initiative to Improve High School Graduation Rates

A recent Southern Education Foundation report has uncovered that, for the first time in 50 years, the majority of students attending public schools in the U.S. are from low-income households. An inspiring new documentary 180 Days: Hartsville takes a fresh look at the nation’s poverty and education challenges from a rural South Carolina town triumphing in the face of extraordinary challenges. The two-hour special, co-produced by South Carolina ETV (SCETV) and National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), airs on PBS from 8 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. The film was funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as part of “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen”, a public media initiative to stem the dropout crisis by supporting community-based solutions.

Co-directors Jacquie Jones and Garland McLaurin, the team behind the Peabody Award-winning documentary 180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School, which premiered in 2013, joined SCETV in Hartsville, South Carolina for more than a year. They filmed in two elementary schools struggling with new curriculum standards and maintaining funding, while meeting the needs of individual students. South Carolina ranks 45th in the country in education. The

majority of Hartsville residents hover on the poverty line with a median income of less than $30,000, and more than half of the city’s students qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches.

Yet Hartsville is fighting the odds—and winning—with an astonishing 92 percent graduation rate in their city. This is a remarkable achievement, considering that one-third of students from low-income families in many states did not graduate despite an increase in the national graduation rate of 80 percent for the class of 2012, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“With poor children now representing a new majority of public school students, it is more critical than ever that successful models in education be explored to ensure the American dream is attainable for all of our children,” said Jacquie Jones, co- director and executive producer. “Hartsville has proven that if the right forces in a determined community come together to put children first, tangible results will follow.”

The series introduces viewers to a family struggling to make ends meet, including Monay Parran, a high school dropout and single mother struggling to raise three children while juggling two jobs, and her bright son Rashon, a fifth-grade student in West Hartsville Elementary, whose behavior is threatening

PBS Film 180 Days: Hartsville Explores How One Town Is Beating Poverty To Educate Students

Clevis Harrison


Harriet Tubman, of the Underground Railroad; Sojourner Truth, whose impromptu “Ain’t I A Woman” speech has promoted the equality of woman from one century to the next; Mary McCloud Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune Cookman College; Ida B Wells, leader of the anti-lynching campaign; Rosa Parks, galvanized a movement when she would not give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus; Myrlie Evers-Williams, activist, journalist and widow of Medgar Evers; Betty Shabazz, activist, educator and widow of Malcolm X; and Angela Davis, activist and social change pioneer are all women you should know. Their historic contributions have made an indelible impact on the legacy and continuing struggle for women’s rights and the cause for justice and equality in the United States and throughout the globe. All of these women, and so many others, have contributed and continue to lead the women’s rights movement. For decades during the struggle for civil rights, the specific needs of women in the struggle took a back seat to the larger agenda. Many of these women’s stories are missing from the narrative as we recount freedom’s struggle and the fight for justice. We know the more familiar names like Frederick Douglass, Nat Turner, and Martin Luther King as the warriors for freedom and drum majors for justice and yet, countless women’s names are missing from our conversation and we need to change that.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has several iconic and perhaps lesser known warriors in the struggle, and here are some you should know. They are: Janie Porter Barrett, educator and advocate for restorative justice; Barbara Johns, youth activist and leader of the Farmville School Boycott; and the illustrious Dr. Dorothy Height, activist for women’s rights and civil rights.

Born in Athens, Georgia, Janie Porter Barrett received her education at Hampton University,

and lived most of her life in Virginia where she could best be described as a social reformer and educator. Her passion was children and child advocacy. She established a school for previously incarcerated African American girls in 1915. The Barrett Learning Center was a residential school and training center for these young girls. In 1940, Barrett retired and ten years later the school was renamed the Janie Porter Barrett School for Girls. Barbara Rose Johns was only 16 years old in 1951 when she led her classmates in a strike to protest the substandard conditions at Robert Russa Moten School in Prince Edward County, Virginia. “It’s time that Negroes were treated equally with whites, time they had a decent school. Time for the students themselves to do something about it.” Johns spoke to her classmates on the steps of her depopulated, overcrowded and lacking sufficient sanitation high school, and the students boycotted their classes until they got the attention of the NAACP and the country.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Dorothy Height worked tirelessly throughout her lifetime as an advocate for African American women during her tenure as the president of the National Council of Negro Women. In the 1990s, she brought young people to the center of the movement by focusing on the war against drugs, illiteracy and unemployment. Dr. Dorothy Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. Her career was full and devoted to the cause of freedom, liberty and justice for her people.

These are some women you should know…now tell somebody else about them.

Up Next Week: The Politics of Women in Sports

Some women you should know

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly PollPeople generally aren’t used to kindness from strangers. With the hustle and bustle of life, many of us exist in our own little world and don’t take the time to pay attention to anyone else. How often do we even take the time to open the door for a stranger or greet the person in line with us at the supermarket? Imagine a world where random acts of kindness and generosity were the norm. How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being the best, on your level of kindness and generosity towards others? Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

ViewPointsBy Dr. T

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.Founder and Artistic DirectorThe Conciliation Project andAssociate ProfessorVirginia Commonwealth UniversityDrT@Margins2theCenter.comwww.theconciliationproject.org

ADVERTISE!Your message with Urban Views Weekly.

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homeowners:

• Steel Entry Door Replacement: The 20-Gauge Steel Entry Door has consistently delivered the best return on investment for resale, holding the top spot in the midrange product category since its debut in this report in 2009/2010. The steel entry door is the only project that, on a national basis, more than pays back its investment, typically recouping 101.8 percent. At ProVia, for example, the company’s Legacy Steel Entry Doors are a consistent top sales performer.

• Manufactured Stone Veneer: A new project on this year’s report is the installation of manufactured stone veneer on home exteriors. This category zoomed to the top of the midrange list, grabbing second place with a 92.2 percent cost-value return. Increased product demand for Heritage Stone is a reflection of this trend, observed by Wengerd and others.

• Garage Door Replacement: The installation of new four-section garage doors on

galvanized steel tracks proved to be a valuable project with homeowners recouping 88.4 percent of their costs.

• Vinyl Siding Replacement: Replacing a home’s vinyl siding was one of a handful of projects that jumped up the list for recouping improvement costs. So not only can new vinyl siding beautify a home, it can keep it weatherproof and enhance its resale value.

• Deck Addition: Adding a wooden deck can do more than provide a place to enjoy the great outdoors. When it comes time to sell, you should be able to pocket more than 80 percent of the cost for this improvement.

More resources on home improvement projects, along with information on entry doors, vinyl siding and manufactured stone veneer, can be found at www.proviaproducts.com/cvv.

Before you dip into your wallet, learn which home improvements will best hold their value while enhancing curb appeal.

From The Deal: page 2

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Your Second CareerAn estimated 9 million Americans ages 44 to 70 are engaged in what is labeled a “second career,” according to a survey from the MetLife Foundation. So what exactly is a “second career?”

For some baby boomers and older workers, it can encompass paid, part-time work that helps support retirement income or Medicare. Other people are exploring full-time jobs, starting a new business, or working with a non-profit organization.

No matter how it is classified, finding satisfaction in a career later in life is becoming the new standard for retirement.

The Retirement DreamYou see the commercials depicting older Americans riding into the sunset — long days filled with golf and perfect nights begun by beautiful sunsets. For many Americans, this just isn’t a reality.

Many older adults simply can’t afford to fully retire today. They may not have traditional pensions, or their investments may have been negatively impacted by the Great Recession.

In other cases, older Americans don’t want to stop working. They still find personal fulfillment in earning a paycheck or in helping charitable organizations. The aforementioned MetLife Foundation study shows that within the next 10 years, 25 percent of boomers hope to start a business or non-profit. The vision of retirement has certainly changed.

Landing a Job Secure, long-term employment is definitely an achievable objective later in life. Businesses across various industries are looking for quality, knowledgeable workers. The key is selling your value to them against younger – and sometimes more affordable – workforce talent.Consider your areas of expertise. Do you have a background in finance or business development? Many startup companies are looking for off-site consultants to work them through building strategy for their operations.

If community work is more in line with your interests, there are many university and community college programs designed to train and re-train workers. Going through such a program will prepare you for your next opportunity while also helping you make important connections that could lead to employment.

Virtual Career Fairs Goodbye suit and tie. Hello click and send. The career

fair is undergoing a rapid transformation.

The traditional face-to-face career fairs may soon be a thing of the past. It can now take the form of a digital collaboration meant to streamline the interview process to save the employer both time and money.

Find a Fair An online search for a virtual career fair in your area is likely to reveal multiple events scheduled through your local community college or university. These fairs take place completely online, allowing job-seekers to handle all aspects of their job search from the comfort of their own computer.

When you find a virtual job fair, you can search through the list of employers that

will be represented. This will help you get a sense of what types of opportunities will be available, which also will help you in customizing your resume and cover letter for the positions that interest you the most.

Recruiter Interaction Traditionalists may be slow to embrace virtual job fairs, because of their lack of human interaction. But many of these events are set up with live chat capabilities.

Candidates can chat with recruiters from various companies to ask questions about their open positions. They also can answer any immediate inquiries a hiring manager may have about professional

achievements, educational backgrounds, and key strengths.

Diversify Your Strategy There are many reasons to jump on board the virtual train when it comes to job-seeking. The act of reaching recruiters through digital means is convenient, simple, and proving to be effective for all involved parties.

But just like your investment strategy, it is important to diversify. Depending solely on one avenue for potential job opportunities can damage your chances of landing your next gig. For every digital career fair you “attend,” you should make plans to visit a traditional fair at your local college or trade organization. Doing so will help get you face to face with hiring managers, who in many cases still prefer this type of interaction to get a feel for your personality. Other career-seeking strategies to employ include uploading your resume to job boards, searching for specific job openings on social media, cold-calling potential employers, and using a headhunter to find tailored openings.

Find a Federal Job Does working for the National Parks Service or a global defense agency

6 Urban Views Weekly | March 11, 2015

A New Season Brings New

Opportunities

sound exciting to you? Then a federal employment position may be right up your alley. There are hundreds of agencies and departments within the federal government, all looking for quality employees to achieve their missions.

And while transferring from the public work space into the government can be a difficult task, it is an attainable goal. Having a

military background will help you, as will having high-level work experience similar to that required by your target position.

Finding a Job There are many online job portals that list available federal openings, including www.usajobs.gov and www.makingthedifference.org. These sites announce all government and public service jobs, along with detailed instructions on how to apply.

Be prepared to devote more time to pursuing these opportunities than your standard job application. Many federal positions require a version of your resume that aligns with their various needs. And instead of a basic cover letter, you may have to fill out a KSA – a comprehensive collection of essay questions measuring your knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Networking with friends and family members also is an effective way of uncovering federal work opportunities. Tools such as LinkedIn can help you collaborate with people and groups who work in or with the federal government, as well.

Speak with any friends who have federal jobs to gain insights into the application and interview processes. If you’re a college student attempting to land a federal internship, check in with your university’s career services department to see if there are any openings or an established relationship with any government agencies or recruiters.

The PerksPutting in more effort on the front end can definitely be a great investment if you have the time. That is because federal jobs are very competitive with their pay and benefits packages in comparison with those of public and private job markets.

Federal jobs can sometimes pay more than $100,000 for a management position, which also will be compensated with top-tier health insurance and retirement benefits. Your level of responsibility in working toward making the nation a stronger, safer place to live is another reason to pursue a federal position.

Getting a Degree Pays OffYou can never have too much education. Below are the statistics to prove it. Today’s population of 25- to 32-year-olds make up the best-educated generation in history. Thirty-four percent of them have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center.

According to previous Pew research, only 13 percent of this same age group in 1965 had a college degree, while 24 percent of young baby boomers in the late 1970s and 1980s fit into this category.

The Value of a Degree College graduates age 25 to 32 who are working full-time earn about $17,500 more annually than employed young adults holding only a high school diploma, Pew analysis has found. That pay gap only figures to widen over the next 10 to 20 years, conveying the importance of pursuing a college degree immediately out of high school.

Other numbers from the recent Pew study:

• College-educated young adults are more likely to be employed full-time than their less-educated counterparts (89 percent vs. 82 percent) and significantly less likely to be unemployed (3.8 percent vs. 12.2 percent).

• Young college graduates are more likely than their peers with a high school diploma or less education to say their job is a career or a steppingstone to a career (86 percent vs. 57 percent)

• Millennials with a high school diploma or less are about three times as likely as college graduates to say their work is “just a job to get them by.”

• College graduates are significantly more likely than those without any college experience to say that their education has been “very useful” in preparing them for work and a career.

• Better educated young adults are more likely to say they have the necessary education and training to advance in their careers (63 percent vs. 41 percent)

• About nine in 10 with at least a bachelor’s degree say college has already paid off (72 percent) or will pay off in the future (17 percent)

• Even among the two-thirds of college-educated millennials who borrowed money to pay for their schooling, nearly nine in 10 (86 percent) say their degrees have been worth it or expect that they will be in the future.

7 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

A New Season Brings New

Opportunities


Let’s be honest. Do you really know why your nonprofit is running a “capital campaign?” Does your institution have specific capital needs, such as buildings or equipment that it needs to invest in? Could it be your nonprofit is really running a “we need a lot of money campaign” or an “everyone else has done it” campaign?

Here’s what we’ve learned. The most well-intentioned of people are often afraid to question the assumptions underlying a capital campaign. While many of us have a strong drive to “save face,” that urge can put the organizations and institutions we believe in at risk. Our advice: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Here are three to consider.

Have there been conversations at the board level with reports from the finance committee on the costs, variables, timeframes, and projected impact? Is there a budget to support the operations of the campaign, or will staffing, marketing, technology, events, and consultants be paid for “as the money comes in.”

Is your executive director – or college president – seeking to leave a legacy by launching a capital campaign? Our question – will she or he launch a campaign or successfully complete the campaign? There is a slight difference, one that usually reveals itself when the books are presented to the incoming executive.

How exactly are you counting the money? Is your institution counting progress towards its building campaign with annual gifts that were spent last year? You know our question: who

can spend a dollar twice? Don’t be afraid to question the numbers or ask for a detailed report instead of a summary report.

Here are some cues you need to start asking questions:

The board is being asked to approve borrowing money that will be paid back with funds from the capital campaign. Your organization is unable to meet its annual fundraising goal. There is no pool of current or prospective major donors. The board is being asked to approve a campaign in spite of a feasibility study that recommends against doing so because of a lack of identified donors, capacity, infrastructure, resources and leadership. The board is not a fundraising board; fundraising staff is minimal and turns over regularly. Your questions are answered with statements such as “we can’t afford the time it will take to conduct a feasibility study, develop a case, recruit volunteer leadership... [fill in the blank]....” Another dangerous response: “I feel we can do it... we just have to step outside our comfort zone.”

We have seen churches, colleges, and community-based nonprofits plunge into capital campaigns only to awaken years later as if from a nightmare.

That doesn’t have to be the fate of your nonprofit: ask questions, and then ask some more.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw - Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising, visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

FUNdraising Good Times

Why are you running a capital campaign?

Civic Beat


Help Wanted:Advertising Sales Rep

Independent ContractorIf you’ve got entrepreneurial spirit and want to succeed; if you know how to prospect, ask for the business and close the sale; if you want to make money now, this may be a great opportunity for you.

Today’s economy is improving but still tight. Business owners want to give their hard earned money to experienced professionals who can help them with online, social media and newspaper advertising.

Urban Views Weekly is looking for a talented professional who can present our printed and digital products to local businesses who are looking to grow their sales.

Selected candidates will be given a very generous commission rate.

Your territory will be the entire greater Richmond area. Your accounts can be small, medium and large. You may also sell advertising agencies.

If you can sell -- we invite you to consider putting your skills to work with us.

Bring your contacts and relationships. We cherish honesty and integrity.

If you have an area of expertise, come and expand your business with us.

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Celebrating 50 Years

Selma March 2015

his own educational future. Viewers will also meet the leaders and role models who are helping improve outcomes for other students through their heroic efforts and inspiring stories. These American Graduate Champions include: Thornwell Elementary School principal Julie Mahn, the daughter of sharecroppers and the first in her family to go to college; Tara King, a once troubled student, now principal of West Hartsville Elementary School; Pierre Brown, one of the only male role models in his students’ lives; Harris DeLoach, executive chairman of the Hartsville-based Sonoco Products Company, who has invested $5 million of Sonoco’s money in the city’s public school system to raise test scores; and Darlington County Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram, a 30-year veteran of public education and new kid on the block, mulling how his schools will fulfill the vision DeLoach describes.

“The Hartsville story underscores that community leaders, educators, volunteers and parents working together as champions for students in high poverty neighborhoods, can help a young person succeed in school,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public

Broadcasting. “These are American Graduate Champions—people who

care about the children in their community enough to commit to keeping them on the path to graduation and lifelong learning.”

The documentary 180 Days: Hartsville gives viewers a

firsthand view of what it really takes for a child to succeed. “I

think if you are a middle-class person, then sometimes you don’t understand the challenges that a person living in poverty has to deal with just to get to school,” said principal Julie Mahn of Thornwell Elementary School.

From PBS Film: page 3

Ashley K. Clarke


Everyone knows it’s important to use the right tool for the job, and choosing a lawn tractor is no different. Tractors can be very expensive, so you will want to make sure you find one within your budget and that will do the work you purchased it for.

Lawn tractors can help cut down the time it takes to mow your lawn. A high-quality vehicle can assist you with a variety of tasks, making landscaping easier and even more enjoyable.

Finding a good lawn tractor that is built to last will go a long way toward making your job less of a hassle.

THE RIGHT FIT

Lawn tractors come in a variety of capabilities and price points. Most range from $1,000 for a simple, basic model to $8,000 or more for a fully-featured, commercial-grade tractor. In between, you will find a vast mixture of features and durability.

You can select the right model by asking yourself how you will use the lawn tractor. The size of your lawn is important, of course. Bigger lawns need a wider mowing deck. You should also consider other things you will do with your lawn tractor.

High-end lawn tractors are more like pieces of farm equipment than traditional ride-on mowers. You can purchase accessories for them, such as baggers, trailers, powerful tillers, and snowblowers.

You are not only buying a lawn

mower. These tractors are platforms that can be used for all kinds of jobs. So check on the accessories that come with each model, even if you don’t plan on purchasing them yet. You may appreciate the choices in the future.

SPEED, MANEUVERABILITY

Most people want to finish the job in the least amount of time. While it is true that large mowing decks will cover more ground with each pass, there are other things to consider as well.

The transmission and speed is also a factor. How easy is it for you to change gears and turn in different directions?

The zero-turn mower is another popular option. These vehicles can turn quickly and precisely to cut lawns of all sizes and shapes. While they have been used for years by commercial lawn crews, only recently

have these mowers become affordable for the average homeowner. Zero-turn mowers are particularly useful when mowing close to homes, playground equipment, and other tight areas.

DURABILITY

The longevity of your lawn tractor is also an important consideration.

The brand’s reputation should weigh heavily when you are making a decision. Research consumer reviews, and talk to your friends and family members about the best brands of lawn products. Visiting a retail store and talking to knowledgeable salespeople will

also help you.

There are plenty of low-end, affordable riding mowers out there, but few have a reputation for durability. It is economical, in the long run, to choose a well-built model from a reputable manufacturer.

Inspect the construction of each lawn mower careful to verify that it will meet your needs. While you probably don’t need the extreme engineering and high price of a commercial-grade model, you ought to buy the best model you can afford and follow the maintenance directions closely. It will help you get the most usage for your money.

Finding a good dealer is an essential part of the process. When you locate an experienced local retailer with a long track record of happy customers, you will be well on your way to selecting the right lawn tractor for you.

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