October 31, 2024

Community News

Black Star Project USA News Update
March 7, 2013


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Making Progress; Moving Forward!
Black Male Re-Imagined Two
Midwest Black Men of Honor College Fair
Jordan Davis Killed in Another "Stand Your Ground" Murder
Sexting Among Youth of Color
Take A Young Black Man To Worship
Culture May Be Key to Improved Academics
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Listen and View Some of the Best Policy and Strategy Sessions Ever for Improving the Lives of Black Males...
Black Male Re-Imagined II
 
Click Here to see and hear: Star Jones Talks Justice with Trayvon Martin's Mother 
 
Click Here to see and hear: Van Jones: What the Trayvon Martin Justice Movement Means
 
Click Here to see and hear: Chicago Artist FM Supreme and Chicago Filmmaker Richard Taylor - 'PUSH' 
 
Click Here to see and hear: Navarrow Wright: 'Closing the Digital Divide: Perception Problem'
 
Click Here to see and hear: Former GOP Chief Michael Steele and Former New York State Governor David Paterson: Public Policy & Black Men & Boys

 

Click Here to see and hear: Comedian Baratunde Thurston - 'Perception and Comedy'

 

Click Here to see and hear: Shawn Dove Close the Strategy Session

Black Male Re-Imagined II

Young Black Men from High Schools in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Gary, South Bend, Indianapolis, Hammond and East Chicago, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Davenport, Clinton and Iowa City, Iowa; Milwaukee, Beloit, Racine and Madison, Wisconsin; and Peoria, Springfield, North Chicago, Waukegan, Kankakee, Champaign, Evanston, Maywood, Broadview, Decatur, Joliet, Elgin, Aurora, Danville and Chicago Should Attend This College Fair!



       Saturday, April 6, 2012 
10:00 am to 1:00 pm 
Lake Shore Ramada 
4900 South Lake Shore Drive 
Chicago, Illinois
40 colleges - applications-  scholarships - workshops
College interested in participating should call Ivory at 773.285.9600.


Jordan Davis killed for loud music: mirror image of the Martin case?
Another "Stand Your Ground" Murder
 of a Young Black Man

 

Details differ between the shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis and unarmed teen Trayvon Martin earlier this year. But in both cases, older armed men initiated arguments with black teenagers and fired deadly bullets when the situation became threatening

(L. to r.) A Wolfson High School classmate of Jordan Davis breaks down outside the funeral home where the visitation with Jordan's family was taking place at the Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Fla., on Nov. 28. Friends of Jordan comfort one another outside the funeral home. Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union/AP

By Patrik Jonsson

November 30, 2012

 

ATLANTA - Florida's landmark "stand your ground" self-defense law is again in the spotlight after the Nov. 23 shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Jordan Davis, by 40-something software developer and gun collector Michael Dunn after an argument about loud music outside a Jacksonville convenience store.

 

Jordan's death is drawing comparisons to the shooting of unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin in February by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, chiefly because both shooters are expected to claim immunity from prosecution under the state's 2005 stand your ground law that ended any legal requirement for lawful citizens to back away from danger, even in public places.

 

In the shooting of Jordan Davis, Mr. Dunn, after stopping at a convenience store, asked a group of black youths to turn down loud music pouring out of their SUV. According to Dunn, he felt threatened when Jordan began trash-talking him. He fired eight shots into the SUV after he says one of the people brandished a shotgun. Police did not find any weapons, but Dunn's lawyer says the group could have ditched it.

 

Jacksonville police have already said that Dunn, not the boys, was at fault. "It was loud, they admitted that, but that's not a reason for someone to open fire on them and take action," said Lt. Rob Schoonover of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

 

While the Davis case is getting national attention, largely because of the racial narrative of another older white man killing a black teenager in a public place, the debate hasn't risen to the fever pitch of the Martin shooting aftermath. The main reason is that police have already charged Dunn with murder and attempted murder for his actions. And unlike the Martin case, there are several strong eyewitnesses to the shooting.

 

Click Here to Read Full Story 



Sexting prevalent among 
minority teens, study finds

 

By Geoffrey Mohan

March 1, 2013

Photo provided by
The Black Star Project.

It turns out that a fair number of people send the cryptic and racy messages, and behavioral scientists who study issues as varied as sexual mores, shame and suicide are curious.

 

Depending on your definition of sexting (Words only? Photos?) and what groups you're surveying, 2.5% to 25% of the population sends them and 7% to 34.5% receives them (some, accidentally).

 

And that's just the folks who admit it. A recent report suggests that almost 40% of young people reported sending such messages, and almost 50% reported receiving them.

 

Their study, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, found that more than 20% of students reported sending either a nude or semi-nude picture or video, or a text-only message, and more than 30% reported receiving a sext.

 

Black males and females had similar sexting habits, and both were more likely than Latino males to join in the sexting trend. Latino females, however, reported the lowest estimates for sexting behaviors.

 

Click Here to Read Full Article


On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

America and the World Will Celebrate

Take A Young Black Man 

To Worship Day!

  

With 75% of young Black males 16 to 24 years old in New York City not working, with the leading cause of death for young Black men in American being homicide and with nearly 50% of the 2.3 million prisoners in prisons in America being mostly young Black men, the questions arises, "What would Jesus do in these times?" And the answer is, He would take a young Black man to worship!  Easter Sunday is a great time for you and your church to make a commitment to help and support young Black men.  Call Nathan at 773.285.9600 receive an organizing guide and to join the list of faith organization across America that have participated in this program. 

 

Please see places of worship that have participated in recent "Take A Young Black Man To Worship" Days:  

  1. St. Mark's Presbyterian Church - Beachwood, Ohio - Rev. Carmen  D. Cox Harwell 
  2. Faith Community Assembly - Boilingbrook, Illinois -  Rev. Kenneth L. Gogins 
  3. Columbus Avenue A.M.E Zion Church - Boston, Massachusetts - Rev. Jina Casey 
  4. Heaven on Earth (COGIC) - Brooklyn, New York - Pastor Douglas Howard 
  5. By Faith M.B. Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor Bennie Mc Clain 
  6. 1st Corinthian Baptist Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor James Thomas
  7. ABBA Church of Renewed Faith - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Sharyon Cosey 
  8. Anointed Heirs Outreach - Chicago, Illinois - Apostle Edward Anderson 
  9. Apostle House of Prayer - Chicago, Illinois - Elder Raynard Kelly 
  10. Bethlehem Star Church - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Roosvelt Walker Jr.,  
  11. Bright Star Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor Christopher Harris 
  12. Buren Chapel AME Church - Chicago, Illinois - Project Manger David Jones 
  13. Cathedral MB Church - Chicago, Illinois - Doris Hollins 
  14. Christ Temple Cathedral Church of Holiness - Chicago, Illinois - Gregory Wilkerson  
  15. Church of the Good Shepard, UCC - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Jesse Knox 
  16. Divine Church, (Youth Peace Center of Roseland) - Chicago, Illinois -  Pastor C.E. Watkins
  17. Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church - Chicago, Illinois

    Rev. Vesta Dixon

  18. Faith Lutheran Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor Howard Lindsey 
  19. Fathers Who Cares - Chicago, Illinois - Min. Walter Jones 
  20. Grace and Truth Apostolic Tabernacle - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Robert Smith 
  21. Greater Morning View Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor Harrington 
  22. Harzell Memorial Church, UMC - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Michelle Taylor Sanders 
  23. Liberation for Christ Ministries - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor. Wilcoxon 
  24. New Birth Christian Center - Chicago, Illinois - Apostle Robbie Wilkerson 
  25. New Day Ministries International - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Gregory C. Austin 
  26. New Deliverance Church - Chicago, Illinois - Dr. Larry Gaston 
  27. New Hope Alliance  INC./S.O.S. Prayer Group - Chicago, Illinois - Elder Katie Pierce 
  28.  New Memorial M.B Church - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Roosvelt Walker Jr., Rev. Bernard Clark
  29. New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Walter Jones 
  30. Omega Baptist Church - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Ira Wheaton 
  31. Peoples Church of the Harvest - Chicago, Illinois - Superintendent Dr. Michael Eaddy 
  32. Sinai Christian Center - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. A. Claude Wesley 
  33. South Lawn United Methodist Church - Chicago, Illinois - Pastor  Pickens, Deacon David Jones 
  34. St. Elizabeth Catholic School - Chicago, Illinois - Princpal Nakia Garcia 
  35. St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Chicago, Illinois - Father Richard Andrus 
  36. St. John Missionary Baptist Church - Chicago, ILLINOIS - Rev. Dr. Edward Davis, Jr. 
  37. St. Jude Apostle Church - Chicago, Illinois - Linda Csea 
  38. St. Mary of Perpetual Help - Chicago, Illinois -  Rev. Rick Moreno 
  39. St. Sabina Catholic Church - Chicago, Illinois - Father Michael Pfleger 
  40. Triedstone Full Gospel Baptist Church - Chicago, Illinois - Bishop Simon Gordon 
  41. Trinity United Church of Christ Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Otis Moses 
  42. Vernon Park Church of God  - Chicago, Illinois - Rev. Johthan Hall 
  43. Youth Peace Center - Chicago,Illinois - Roger Jones 
  44. Columbus Avenue A.M.E Zion Church - Chicago,Illinois - Pastor Jina Casey 
  45. Divine Temple GOGIC - Delray Beach, Florida - C. Ron 
  46. Liberty Temple Baptist Church - Detroit, Michigan - Rev. Steve Bland,Jr.
  47. Shrines of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church - Detroit, Michigan - Pastor Mbiyu Chui 
  48. Breeding Saints Global Church - Elgin, Illinois - Bishop Kendrick Scales 
  49. Bridge Street AME Church - Indianapolis, Indiana - Pastor J.P. Smith 
  50. Second Baptist Church - May's Lick, Kentucky - Rev. L. Rodney Bennett 
  51. Greater St. Paul COGIC - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Elder William Green 
  52. St. Martha Catholic Church - Morton Grove, Illinois - Father Dennis O'Neil 
  53. Bethel World Prayer Fellowship Inc - New Bern, North Carolina - Rev. James Heath
  54. Heath Memorial Baptist Church - New York, New York - Rev Dr. Renee F. Washington Gardner 
  55.  St. Paul Baptist Church -  Pennsylvania - Deacon William Gresham
  56. Total Faith Community Church - Rockford, Illinois - Rev. Steve Cossey
  57. Star of Bethlehem COGIC - Washington, D.C. - Bishop Harvey Lewis   

Read More...


 
 
 
 
 
Parents, educators and community members
are invited to join the
Black Star Community PTA
on
Saturday, March 16, 2013
9:30am - 11:00am
at
3509 South King Drive
Chicago, Illinois

Topics:
  • BSCPTA Responds to Violence in Schools
  • BSCPTA Discusses Potential School Closings
  • BSCPTA Discusses Outreach to the Community

  Black Star Logo

 Click Here to learn how to start a community PTA in your community or city.

 

Please call 773.285.9600 for more information. 


Calling All Fathers, Stepfathers, Foster Fathers, Grandfathers, Godfathers, Uncles, Brothers and Male Caregivers!      

Join 

The Black Star Project's

 Million Fathers Club 

to see the best 

Men's College Basketball (FREE)

The 

DePaul University 

Blue Demons

vs.

 University of Pittsburgh

Panthers 

 

Saturday, March 9, 2013

at

Allstate Arena

6920 North Mannheim Road

Rosemont, Illinois

Game starts at 1:00 pm.

  

Please call 773.285.9600 to RSVP or for more information about this game. Men and women of all races, ethnicities and faith backgrounds may and should attend this event with their children.


Culture, Not Curriculum, May Be 
Key to High School Reform
School leaders can improve student achievement by empowering teachers and engaging parents, one expert says.

November 12, 201

 

Resurrecting a struggling high school is more about changing culture than curriculum, according to Charles Payne, a University of Chicago professor and affiliate of the university's Urban Education Institute.

 

Schools should be places where teachers are trusted, students are challenged, and parents are engaged, Payne said Friday at an annual conference hosted by the Education Trust, an advocacy group. When that happens, students show up and teachers stick around, and that alone can boost student achievement.

 

"If you can get your students to ... show up regularly, if you can get the teachers to stay in one school ... then students have a better chance to develop, even if we hold the quality of teaching constant," he told a ballroom full of educators and administrators. "We've got to stop worrying about the particular plants we are planting, and worry more about the soil."

 

Teacher collaboration, strong community ties, rigorous instruction, supportive leadership, and a safe learning climate can all help change the makeup of the soil, he said, but those elements are futile on their own. Without support from their principal, colleagues, and parents, educators who are excited about engaging their students will eventually revert back to the status quo of teaching with workbooks and answer sheets, he added.

 

Click Here to Read Full Article






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