urban views weekly october 21, 2015

October 21, 2015

Red Ribbon Week: Keeping Kids Safe from Drug and Alcohol Abuse

2 Urban Views Weekly | October 21, 2015 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Stand Beside Her is an example of a powerful new advocacy campaign launched by Girl Scouts Heart of the South. This national campaign encourages women and girls to support each other. It’s a bold move to reduce comparisons and competition amongst women. The goal: changing our culture so every girl and woman can reach her fullest potential.

There’s something wrong when women are more than 50% of the population, and we still ask ourselves “why are women underrepresented in so many aspects of our society?” At a minimum, change requires new public policies, new ways of interacting with each other, new roles for men, and a change in consciousness. Stand Beside Her focuses on how we treat each other as women and encourages us to change negative behaviors we have internalized, normalized and may

not even be aware of.

This is no small goal. Like most advocacy campaigns, it’s about a big vision. It’s right

up there with curing HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Securing marriage equality. Eliminating racism.

Here are a few things we learned: 67% of women rate mentorship as highly important in helping to advance and grow their careers, yet 63% of women have never had a formal mentor. Thirty-nine percent of girls have been put down, or

discouraged when trying to lead. And, 92% of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look, with their body weight ranking the highest.

Girls are watching us and listening to us. How do we treat each other? And how do we treat ourselves? Each of us can be part of the solution. Invite a junior colleague for coffee. Introduce

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Ghana Music Week Festival launches in Washington, DC and

Mount Vernon, New York

Civic Beat

On Friday October 16 , 2015, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA) played host to the North American press launch of the 2016 Ghana Music Week Festival, an annual Music Festival held in Ghana to celebrate Ghanaian music, one of Africa’s thriving music industries. Ghana Music Week Festival aims to create awareness for and about Ghanaian music and musicians while promoting Ghanaian tourism and culture.

His Excellency Lieutenant Joseph Henry Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the USA, in his welcome address to the musicians and guests at the Embassy, touted Ghana’s achievement in the global community and music industry over the decades. Ambassador Smith urged Ghanaians in the diaspora to contribute positively to the development of Ghana through their God-given talents and endowments. He also praised musicians for using their talents to lift the banner of Ghana on the international scene.

The Ambassador used the press launch to also introduce the newly crowned Miss Ghana Tourism USA, Ms. Whitney Osei, to the community and persons in attendance. Ghanaian veteran musician, A.B Crentsil, treated the audience to some of his old collections as the Apple 68 FM Band from the city of Triangle in Virginia (USA) played.

President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGHA), Bice Osei Kuffour, known in show biz as Obuor, encouraged Ghanaians in the American Diaspora and beyond to travel home to participate in the week-long activities of the festival. In an effort to encourage international participation, the MUSIGHA President said “South African Airways would be giving a booster to travelers’ packages by offering reduced airfares”; he entreated Ghanaians, music and cultural enthusiasts in the diaspora to take advantage of this deal.

Also present at the event was acclaimed Ghanaian musician, Rocky Dawuni who read a speech on behalf of Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. Rocky, who spoke to this writer in an interview expressed his excitement about the upcoming 2016 event and asked all musicians of Ghanaian and African origin, globally, to lend a hand to ensuring its success.

The 2016 Ghana Music Week Festival would be a week-long music festival held at various venues in Ghana, scheduled to begin during the first week of March 2016 as a prelude to the annual independence celebration to mark Ghana’s attainment of sovereignty from British Colonial Rule on March 6, 1958. As the festival would coincide with Ghana’s 59th birthday, 59 artists would perform until daybreak in the Independence Day concert, which would feature local and international music talents of varied musical genres.

As part of the launch, MUSIGHA awarded individuals for their contributions to the promotion of Arts and Culture in Ghana and the USA. These included the editor and publisher of the Afrikan Post Mr. George Bright-Abu, who, prior to this award, was recently honored by the Asante Kotoko Association with the Akatakyie Award for his exemplary media work in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Agyekum of New Millennium Health Care in Columbus, Ohio were also awarded. s They have invited more than 20 Ghanaian musicians to perform at events in the United States in the past.

Dr. Brown of Sahara restaurant was recognized for his contributions to Ghanaian culture in the United States. Mr. Cobina Lartson, the brain behind AfrikMall in Denver, Colorado was also honored. AfrikMall is a place that Africans living in Colorado can call home, providing a range of business services, as well as cultural, community and social opportunities, and events.

Chief organizer of the Ghana Music Week Festival, which is entering its third year, is MUSIGHA and Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. A crew of Ghanaian musicians who traveled with MUSIGHA, traveled to Mount Vernon City Hall in Roosevelt Square, New York the following day, October 17, 2015, for a performance at the official launch in the USA.

Some of the artists were Edem, Pappy Kojo, Gasmilla, Joey B, D-Black, Daddy Bosco, Becca, E.L., and among many other celebrated Ghanaian acts, Papa Shee, a Ghanaian secular musician, now turned gospel evangelist who offered the opening and closing prayer at the DC press launch.

By Oral Ofori

3 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com Urban Views Weekly | October 21, 2015

VSU Homecoming Parade


Two women are currently in the race to become the first female to be elected as the President of the United States of America. One calls herself a Conservative, and the other a Progressive. One has absolutely no experience in elected office while the other; most consider a legacy candidate with decades of experience in the political arena from the President’s Cabinet to the United States Senate. Although Carly Fiorina and Hillary Clinton have very little in common when it comes to their politics and where they stand on the issues of the day, they do share the white hot light that is acutely focused on their gender, and how being a woman attempting to gain access to the oldest “Boys Club” in American history gives them a shared experience that brings equal rights for women and sex and politics to the forefront of political discourse.

Whether or not we make history in 2016 by electing the first woman as POTUS, this election season will certainly turn up the heat on the issues that uniquely and specifically have an effect on women and girls. All issues are on the table from reproductive rights to equal pay for equal work, to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, common sense gun control, equal representation, paid family leave and much more. These concerns are not new; however, having two women running for the highest office in the land, who stand on both sides of the aisle gives us all an opportunity to meticulously un-pack and discuss them with a sense of urgency and purpose. There is yet another anomaly presented by having these women in the race for president, and that is the excessive focus on how they “look”, and whether or not they are too shrill, too emotional or too aggressive. (There’s another description that many use for aggressive that I will, intentionally, leave off the list.) It is clear that whether conservative or progressive, from one party or the other, these women are held to a different standard of assessment than their male

counterparts.

Granted, Hillary Clinton has the unique circumstance of being the nation’s First Lady while her husband served as our 42nd President. However, she should not be held responsible for his administration, as she was not the one elected to the office. She has had a long political career in her own right and should be held accountable to the political positions she has espoused and not those of her husband. The spouses of the other candidates running for president have not been the target of questions or scrutiny thus far, unless we include the mean-spirited attacks on the wife of Dr. Ben Carson for her homely and unfashionable attire. This, again, is an attack that men rarely have to address. The optics of how women dress, speak, walk and move is continually scrutinized and the rubric for judgment is firmly located in sexism and sexist rhetoric. With the large sums of money being raised by Dr. Ben Carson’s campaign, it will not be long before the “powers that be” hire a professional stylist to “make over” both Dr. Ben and his wife, just as they took Sarah Palin and her family out of the Alaskan wilderness and made the former Governor Palin over into a fashion icon. That is “if ” Carson indeed becomes the ultimate choice of the GOP as their candidate for President. That is a BIG “if ” indeed.

What is clear is that women are a formidable voting block for 2016 and we intend to hold the candidates in the race, the pundits who cover them, and the standards by which they are judged accountable. We are calling for equal treatment for all the candidates, male or female, no matter on which side of the discourse they choose to stand.

Up Next Week: Why is the GOP So “Infatuated” by Dr. Ben?

ViewPoints By Dr. T

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

Sex and Politics

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly Poll

About six in 10 Americans favor the use of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder, similar to 2014, according to a recent poll. This continues a gradual decline in support for the procedure since reaching its all-time high point of 80% in 1994.

What’s Your Take? Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder?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 @ 2 p.m. on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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something new to your daughter. Create a mentoring program at work. Ensure you are an informed voter. Avoid negative words and phrases. Encourage others through your words. Volunteer and donate to help girls and women.

Advocacy is critical nonprofit work. It advances the work of a nonprofit in ways that direct services can’t. Advocacy opens up our thinking to new perspectives. It encourages those of us who may feel powerless to join together and make our voices heard. It is a way to engage donors in the ongoing work of a nonprofit. It is more than writing a check: it is an opportunity to open our homes to talk about an important issue. It helps build relationships within our community – and

nationally. Advocacy makes the case for change. We have the opportunity to tell a compelling story and encourage others to take actions, large and small, and to give. Advocacy can open up your nonprofit to energy, something most of us need.

Advocate for girls and women October 25th – 31st. Let’s choose to Stand Beside Her.

Learn more at www.standbesideher.org

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.

With children back in their school routines, October is the perfect time for local communities nationwide to unite to raise awareness of bullying prevention through education, outreach and activities. This is the message from the organizers behind National Bullying Prevention Month, which occurs each October.

What was once historically viewed as “a childhood rite of passage” is no longer the case, as far from “making kids tougher,” bullying can result in such demoralizing effects as anxiety, self-esteem loss, depression and school avoidance -- and even lead to physical injury or worse.

The special month has its roots in a week-long campaign by the PACER Center, an organization that assists young people with disabilities. It has since expanded to a month-long initiative to combat bullying, and is recognized in communities across the country, with hundreds and hundreds of schools and organizations contributing as partners.

This year, such celebrities as Lea Michelle, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts, Robin Roberts and others

have taped special videos to campaign to stop bullying. More details are available at www.stompoutbullying.org, where students can share their own anti-bullying videos, as well. Other organizations, like The Kind Campaign, are pitching in with school programs and assemblies. Information about The Kind Campaign is available for parents, students and educators at www.kindcampaign.com.

PACER, which developed the initial National Bullying Prevention and Awareness campaign back in 2006, has gone on to forge partnerships with such education organizations as the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the National PTA. To help individuals and communities respond to bullying, PACER is providing free resources for schools, parents and students at www.pacer.org/bullying.

Of course, all the anti-bullying resources can be used beyond the month of October to help inspire, educate and encourage people to better deal with and prevent bullying year-round.

October is National Bullying Prevention MonthV

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Set for October 23-31 this year, Red Ribbon Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the destruction that can be wreaked on lives and communities by drug use.

The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign, and since its beginning in 1985, the “Red Ribbon” has touched the lives of millions of people around the world.

How it started

The movement began in response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985, while he was on assignment in Mexico. Emboldened by the tragic event, parents and children in communities across the country began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.

According to the National Family Partnership, friends and neighbors began wearing red badges of satin in honor of Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs.

Parents, tired of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference.

The Ribbon

These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the red ribbon.

“The Red Ribbon Campaign is a fun, powerful and effective way to deliver focused, branded, healthy, anti-drug messages to the public,” says NFP President Peggy Sapp. “The winners of the National Red Ribbon Awards honor DEA Agent Kiki Camarena’s legacy by helping to create a drug free America through the promotion, support and growth of the National Red Ribbon Campaign.”

The Pledge

Learn and take the official Red Ribbon Pledge below:

• As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.

• We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.

• We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.

• We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.

• We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.

Talk to kids about drugs

The most obvious way to deter drug use among youths is to speak with them openly and honestly about the inherent dangers.

Statistics show children of parents who talk to their

teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t. But, according to the National Family Partnership, just one-fourth of teens report actually having those conversations.

Risks

Underage drug use can cause a variety of problems, such as impaired driving skills due to impaired reaction and judgment time; serious health problems, including liver damage or heart failure from drugs such as ecstasy and lung and kidney damage from inhalants; and psychotic behavior from chronic use of methamphetamine. Teens who use drugs also are more likely to develop drug dependence in the future.

Common risk factors for teen drug abuse include a family history of substance abuse; mental or behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety and ADHD; impulsive behavior; a history of traumatic events; low self-esteem; poor social skills; academic failure; and peer or parental influences who encourage drug use.

Recognize gateway drugs

Most drug users don’t start out using hard drugs such as heroin. Instead, they typically begin with a “gateway” drug. For teens, a handful of drugs can lead to a lifetime of drug abuse.

Of course, there is no guarantee a young person using a gateway drug will move on to more dangerous substances such as methamphetamine, cocaine, or heroin. Research suggests that in the majority of cases they will not. But, for hard drug users, the journey often did begin with gateway drugs.

Common gateway drugs

The most common gateway drugs used by teens include tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. The reason? These items are almost always the most easily accessible for teens looking to experiment. These substances also can prove extremely addictive to a child’s underdeveloped central nervous system.

What to discuss with teens

It might not be easy, but there are some key points to follow that can help open a dialog between a parent and teen when it comes to the dangers of drug use.

6 Urban Views Weekly | October 21, 2015

What is Red Ribbon Week?

First, make a point to ask the teen to share their views. It provides a foundation for moving forward and allows the parent to see what the teen may or may not know. It’s best to avoid long, boring lectures. Instead, the Mayo Clinic recommends listening to the teen’s opinions and answering their questions about drug use. Though they may not answer, observe the teen’s nonverbal responses to see how he or she feels about the topic. To keep the discussion open, try to make statements instead of asking questions. For example: “I’m curious about your point of view” might work better than “What do you think?”

Tips to keep teens off drugs

Though parents can’t be everywhere, there are some steps they can take to help keep their children off drugs.

It’s okay to be the ‘bad’ parent

Don’t let a fear of receiving a negative reaction from a child be a deterrent to talking to them about drugs. Take a strong stance on drug use and don’t back down. Though this will obviously set a clear precedent for what is expected, it also can give children a natural excuse to abstain if pressured. If they

know there are serious consequences at home, a teen might think twice.

Establish family rules

Set some guidelines in stone for children, so they know specifically what is expected. Some basic examples include: no one under 21 years old can drink alcohol; teens are not allowed to ride with anyone who has been drinking; no parties without parental supervision; and no attending parties where alcohol or drugs are present.

Know your child’s friends

Make an effort to connect with the friends children are spending time with. Make your home a safe gathering place for your child and their friends. Invite your children’s friends over for dinner, and encourage your child to invite friends over. If they are spending time in a place with supervision and rules, there are fewer opportunities for alcohol or drug use.

Get to know other parents

Though getting to know the kids who are influencing your child is obviously important, it’s also critical to know more about their parents and potential home life. Making connections with the families of your child’s friends can open the door for a joint effort to encourage the entire social circle to avoid alcohol and drug use.

Promote healthy, safe activities

If there do not seem to be many options for your child, and their friends, help create some. Backyard sports, hikes, exercise and outdoor activities are a safe and healthy way for teens to spend time. Also encourage teens to engage in school and community activities such as music, sports, arts or a part-time job.

Tips provided by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

Warning signs

There are several physical signs that might indicate a teen is using drugs or alcohol. They include changes in sleep patterns, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, skin abrasions, unexplained injuries and dramatic weight loss or gain.

Less obvious signs

Less obvious signs might include secretive actions or lying to hide where they have been, loss of interest in other activities (such as sports, hobbies and friends), emotional instability,

depression, aggression and a sudden lack of respect or interest in school or work assignments.

Other signs include avoiding eye contact, a sudden change in peer groups, unusual smells, or even increased use of over-the-counter treatments to help with bad breath, red eyes or nasal irritation.

Hygiene

Children or teens who start using drugs might show a

sudden lack of interest in their physical appearance, manifested by an unkempt look, flushed cheeks, poor hygiene, track marks on arms or legs (which can lead some to wear long sleeve shirts out of season in an effort to conceal them), and burn or soot marks on fingers and lips.

Of course, when looking for these signs, be prepared for what you will do next if any are present. Here’s what the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids recommends:

“If you’ve noticed any of the changes related to substance abuse, don’t be afraid to come right out and ask your teen direct questions like ‘Have you been offered drugs?’ If yes, ‘What did you do?’ or ‘Have you been drinking or using drugs?’ While no parent wants to hear a ‘yes’ response to these questions, be prepared for it. Decide, in advance how you’ll respond to a ‘yes’. Make sure you reassure your child that you’re looking out for him or her, and that you only want the best for his or her future.”

Warning signs provided by D.A.R.E., Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

7 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

What is Red Ribbon Week?By Bernard Freeman


StatePoint

New Technology Can Help Small Businesses ThriveOnly half of U.S. small businesses survive more than five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. This data underscores that small business ownership is no cakewalk.

Beyond the classic entrepreneurial challenge of making and sustaining a profit, small business owners now struggle to find time and resources to adapt to new technology, say experts.

“The pace of technological development is as staggering as the ever-changing ways that consumers engage and utilize it. To stay competitive to consumers and to employees, small businesses need to adopt and incorporate online technology into their everyday business operations,” says Seong Ohm, senior vice president of merchandise business services at Sam`s Club.

To help entrepreneurs navigate new technology and embrace the evolving business operations landscape, Ohm offers six tips for small business success:

• Speed up payroll. New mobile and tablet apps make tedious tasks easier and more efficient. For example, online payroll apps allow employers to run payroll in under a minute, pay workers by direct deposit, and e-file taxes.

• Protect your sales. The latest payment processing technology can better protect your business at the point-of-sale. To avoid bearing liability for fraudulent credit charges, businesses must upgrade terminals to accept EMV chip-enabled credit cards, which more securely protect consumers. Small business owners can rely on merchant services experts to become EMV chip card-compliant, affordably and without hassle.

• Be visible. Even if your business is centrally a brick-and-mortar operation, the importance of having an online presence cannot be overstated.

It’s not enough to simply have a website, you need to be discovered. Google frequently changes the way it determines search results rankings. Invest in search engine optimization (SEO) not once, but periodically, to conform to Google’s make-or-break formulas.

A solid social media strategy and mobile capacity for your site will also positively impact your search ranking. Put the marketing books away and lean on digital marketing experts to audit your current online presence and build a strategy that works for your budget and grows your customer base.

• Stay connected. You may be the one pulling the trigger on

big decisions, but that doesn’t mean you are expected to know it all. Seek advice from trusted industry peers or a local SCORE mentor through LinkedIn and social media. Make time for webinars and networking events. Most importantly, stay connected to friends and family during times of stress.

• Get smart about taxes. Set up a legal entity for your business online. This will allow you to hold on to more of your income and increase your asset and liability protections.

Business taxes can be more expensive and complicated than personal filing, so find an accountant that gets your business. You can greatly benefit from the assistance of online accounting experts. They will help you take advantage of deductions and tax credits and assist you in filing your frequent, varied deadlines on time to avoid penalty.

• Safeguard your data. Small businesses are often targets of identity theft. Create sophisticated passwords to protect sensitive information. Consider investing in a protection service with round-the-clock threat monitoring and recovery support in case of fraudulent activity.

To tap into these resources that will create efficiencies when starting or running a business, visit SamsClub.com/benefits.

Don’t let the adoption of new technology overwhelm you. Many of these services are more affordable than you think, are easy to update and offer anytime, anywhere access to experts. These tech tools can swiftly fuel your business operations, streamline processes and save you time and money.


The DealBy Nathaniel Sillin

Top 5 Money Fears – And How to Tackle ThemAre you worried about your financial situation?

For the eighth consecutive year, the American Psychological Association (APA) identified money as the number one stress trigger, with 72 percent of Americans reporting stress about money and nearly 1 in 5 saying they had skipped or considered skipping going to the doctor due to financial concerns. As for relationships, almost one third of adults with partners reported that money is “a major source of conflict.”

The following are common money stresses, and tips to tackling them.

You’re just one paycheck away from financial disaster. The Corporation for Enterprise Development’s recent Assets & Opportunity Scorecard reported that over 40 percent of American households are “liquid asset poor,” meaning that they have less than three months of savings to help them absorb a financial shock like a lost job, medical emergency or other unforeseen financial expense.

• Tip: Build an emergency fund. After learning how to budget, building an emergency fund is the next essential step in financial planning. Saving and investing for other goals are equally important, but they should follow the creation and annual review of a healthy emergency fund.

You’re lost financially. A 2014 survey by economists from George Washington University and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania states that only 30 percent of Americans could accurately answer three basic personal finance questions dealing with savings and investment returns. Respondents from other major developed countries – including Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Australia – scored roughly the same. It’s a global problem.

• Tip: Identify your biggest financial problems. Does every dime you make go toward paying bills? No savings or investments? No emergency fund? Once you’ve identified your main money blind spots, get help. Reach out to a trusted friend or relative with good money habits or a qualified financial advisor who can help you see where you stand, establish realistic goals

and restart your financial education.

You’ll never catch up. Bankrate.com’s March Financial Security Index said that nearly half of Americans aren’t saving enough for emergencies or retirement. Only a quarter of middle-class households earning between $50,000 and $75,000 were savings champs, putting away more than 15 percent of their income.

• Tip: Forget the past and begin today. Start by figuring out where you stand financially. Then address your expenses and whether there’s an opportunity to boost your income so you can make up for lost time.

Your money troubles are putting your closest relationships in jeopardy. Money issues affect all relationships, but couples can be hit the hardest by money secrecy or so-called “financial infidelity.”

• Tip: Face the music. Get qualified advice, quantify the extent of

the problem, make a plan and share the details face-to-face with loved ones or business partners who need to know. Assume you won’t be able to control their response, so focus on solving the problem and vow to end your secretive behavior for good.

You can’t face financial paperwork. When you can’t face bills, statements and other financial calls or communications, it generally reflects financial uncertainty in some form.

• Tip: Get help. Pull the information together and get help if you need to. Put payments and other financial decisions on a paper or digital calendar with reminders to act.

Bottom line: Fear about money issues can affect your health and relationships. Diffuse that stress through education, assistance and positive action to improve your financial future outlook.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

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BLACK BUSINESSEMPOWERMENTCELEBRATION

October 29, 2015 | 6:00PMCentral Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

www.cvaacc.org

Register to attend at www.CVAACC.org

The Hippodrome Theatre526 N. 2nd St, Richmond, VA 23219Historic Jackson Ward

Keynote SpeakerRon Busby, Sr., President and CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.Ron is a successful business owner with significant experience in the small business arena. Recognized as one of the country’s best CEOs, he grew his first business, USA Super Clean, from $150,000 annual revenue to over $15 million per year. Ron’s USBC School of Chamber and Business Management has carried hundreds of African American entrepreneurs to the White House for briefings on economic topics important to Black businesses.You will be invited to attend the 2016 White House briefing.


If you’re looking for a career in logistics, or transportation, now is a great time to get started on it.

America’s economy continues to strengthen after a deep recession, and that’s creating an opportunity for one industry that keeps the economy moving —

literally. From truck drivers to warehouse workers, jobs are being

created at a fast pace in the logistics industry as more goods need to be transported quickly and efficiently across the country and around the world.

If you’re thinking about a career in logistics, here are some things to consider.

STRONG JOB GROWTH

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in logistics-related fields are expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Jobs for truck drivers are predicted to grow 21 percent between 2010 and 2020, which is considerably faster

than other fields. And the more the economy grows, the faster these jobs will be created as drivers are needed to keep the supply chains moving for all types of industries.

The outlook is even better for cargo and freight agents, who coordinate incoming and outgoing shipments at transportation companies. Employment in the field is predicted to grow 29 percent between 2010 and 2020, creating a tremendous career opportunity for people with strong computer and

customer service skills.

The bottom line is that the transportation field can present a secure, stable source of employment for a wide variety of people. If you’re currently working in a field with slow or stagnant growth, or if you’ve been laid off from a job in a struggling industry, the bright future expected in logistics makes it a great time to consider a career change.

It also presents an opportunity for people who aren’t necessarily interested in driving a truck themselves. There is plenty of

demand for good recruiters who can use their networking and interpersonal skills to bring more truck drivers into the industry. If you think you can connect with people and can explain the many benefits of a career in logistics, you might find a successful career as a recruiter.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

A Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required, and some types of cargo — such as hazardous materials — require specialized training and certifications before you’ll be allowed to transport it.

Not only will drivers sometimes be responsible for loading and unloading cargo, but they will need to carefully follow all traffic laws, inspect their equipment and record any problems with it, log their activities, notify the appropriate personnel about any maintenance needs, and keep their gear in good working order.

By paying attention to the small details, drivers are contributing to an industry that has focused intensely on safety and professionalism in recent years.

FREEDOM ON THE ROAD

While truck drivers will always have rules to follow and delivery times to meet, they actually have a lot of freedom when doing their jobs on the road.

Most tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes, for example, deciding the best roads to take for various weather or traffic conditions. They may use satellite tracking to help them plan the path to take, and they will stay in touch with dispatchers to communicate any incidents they encounter while on the road.

People who enjoy time to themselves will often succeed as drivers, since the job allows for some quiet time and legally required rest periods.

Drivers also often have the choice between short-haul routes, which allow them to be home frequently, and long-haul routes that require days away from home.

With around 1.6 million people employed as tractor-trailer drivers in 2010 — and hundreds of thousands more needed in the next few years — it’s clear that the transportation industry presents a major job opportunity for the right person. If you’re interested in logistics, talking to a transportation company recruiter could put you on the path to a rewarding new career with plenty of growth potential.

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New Location: 8760 Landmark Road, Richmond, VA 23228Just Off Staples Mill & Parham Road behind Hardee’s

10% Discount on Thursdays for New Customers

Call Lisa Johnson at 804-307-1906 Open: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, & Sat.

Closed: Wed. & Sun

Walk Ins Are Welcomed!

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NOTICEThe LEGACY Newspaper has the intention to petition the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond AND of the City of Newport News Circuit Court for authority to publish legal notices pursuit to VA Code 8.01-324. Contact 804-644-1550 for more information.

urban views weekly october 21, 2015

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