WSSN Stories

By Lou Yeboah

“… Wash me through and through. Create in me a clean heart so that I may worship You.  Do it for me, Lord ¬ Change me!” [Change Me – Tamela Mann].

I tell you, we all have to make this our sincere, daily prayer: Oh God, Change me! Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Dig deep in me; show me where I’ve failed and gone astray. Expose my pride, anger, stubbornness and sin. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Transform me into the image of Jesus. For Your name’s sake, Lord,  do in me what has to be done. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen. [Psalm 51:10-12; Psalms 139: 23-24;  1 John 1:9, Hebrews 13:8, 2 Corinthians 13:8].

I tell you, when you become aware of how great your sin is, you quickly realize that you are in desperate need of a God who is greater than those sins. A God who can remove your guilt and forgive you for all of eternity. There may be some of you reading this and you’ve never really considered how much sin there may be in your life. And I get that, because if you haven’t had an encounter with the presence of God, how would you even know? But I believe that the people who are most likely to pray this prayer like Isaiah did are the people who live with an awareness of their sin and an understanding of His grace. If that’s where you’re at, then you won’t be afraid to pray this dangerous prayer, “Change Me Oh, Lord….Make me whole Jesus! Make me over I pray! I’m ready for change. I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am a mass of contradictions; I don’t want to be, but I am. I preach a gospel of peace, but my life isn’t always driven by peace. I talk about a Jesus who alone can fully satisfy the soul, but I am often not satisfied. I celebrate a theology of amazing grace, but I often react in ungratefulness. And if I rest in God’s control, why do I seek it for myself? Even in moments when I think I am prepared, I end up doing what I didn’t want to do. There is this law operating inside of me. When I step out with a desire to do good, evil follows me wherever I go.  There are times when I feel like a prisoner, held against my will. So, have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love, according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. I embrace the rescue that could only be found in You.” [Romans 7].

“The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt – a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. [Jeremiah 31:31-34].

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” [Romans 8:1-4].

Praise be to Him always that though we were once “dead in the trespasses and sins; God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” [Ephesians 2:1-5].

Praise be to Him and to Jesus our deliverer always.

Singing: “I know I’ve been changed, the angels in Heaven done signed my name…”  [I Know I’ve Been Changed -La Shun Pace]. “…I’ve been healed, freed, delivered, and right now is the moment, today, I’ve been changed, and I have waited for this moment to come, and I won’t let it pass me by; so I say, I won’t go back, can’t go back, to the way it used to be. No more chains, fear, my past is over…!” [I Won’t Go Back – William McDowell].

For many sports fans, February means one thing: the Super Bowl. It’s the biggest sporting holiday and the most-watched TV event almost every single year. In fact, last year’s game drew more than 100 million viewers across TV and streaming services combined. With the Super Bowl less than a week away, football fans across the country are making plans for where and how they’ll watch it.

With wireless technology, streaming services have given fans a new way to watch and engage without a ticket to the big game. According to a study by Google, 30 percent of sports fans say they stream live sports on their smartphone or tablet and 80 percent of sports viewers say they use a computer or smartphone while watching live sports on TV to search for player stats, live scores, to message other fans or watch related videos. That means, wireless technologies can make sure you don’t miss any of the action.

Here are some helpful tips from T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile for catching the best of this year’s Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs:

1. Know your video streaming options
This year, the Super Bowl will air on the Fox network, which means fans with a basic cable package will be able to watch it. For cord-cutters, there are several streaming services like Hulu, YouTubeTV and FuboTV that offer Fox as well as other channels like CBS, NBC and ESPN. Fans can also stream the game on the Fox Sports app via a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV.

Don’t forget – Super Bowl LIV airs at 6:30 PM Eastern / 3:30 PM Pacific this Sunday, February 2.

2. Video is only part of the experience
Whether you’re glued to the couch or on the go, you’ll want audio that’s worthy of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to complement the most exciting in-game moments. If you’re not sure where to start, UE, JBL and even LG make popular Bluetooth speakers. And if you want to watch or listen to the game while out and about, look into Bluetooth earbuds like the new Apple Airpods Pro or the Samsung Galaxy Buds.

3. Don’t let a poor internet connection and/or data overage charges drive you crazy
Android Central reports that 4K video streams use an average of 7.2 gigabites (GB) per hour. That data use adds up quickly, especially if you’re not on an unlimited plan or are part of the 80 percent of viewers who use multiple devices to stream content.

For an optimal streaming experience, log in to a Wi-Fi connection or get unlimited data for your mobile devices and utilize a reliable, fast and high-quality connection.

4. Going to the game? Charge up!
If you’re one of the lucky few to have tickets to the Super Bowl, make sure you’re prepared. Remember to fully charge your devices pre-game and/or bring a portable battery so you can charge up if needed. Also, be familiar with your wireless rate plan’s data limits if you plan to share pictures or videos during the game. For aspiring sports photographers, consider a smartphone camera accessory like the Miggo Pictar, which turns your smartphone into a high-end DSLR camera to help you get the best live-action snaps.

And if you have a 5G device—bring it! T-Mobile has 5G service in Miami so fans can share and stream highlights in near-real-time.

Prepare yourself for the full wireless experience—video, audio and a great internet connection—and you feel a part of the Super Bowl, even from your home.

Governor Newsom’s 2020-21 Budget Unveils Both Policy Issues and Proposed Solutions

SACRAMENTO, CA— A new public opinion poll conducted by Change Research demonstrates that California voters strongly support the expansion of Paid Family Leave which was recently proposed by the Newsom Administration. The online poll, funded by First 5 California, reveals that African Americans voters exhibit strong awareness of the 15-year old program (81 percent) and that being able to take time off to care for family members is important to them (78 percent). Yet, a staggering low number (6 percent) have actually ever applied for the program.

As a critical and bold first move, Governor Newsom’s 2020-21 Budget Proposal includes measures to provide universal job protection for California workers who access Paid Family Leave. A large majority (84 percent) of African Americans polled were not aware that not all employees have job protection during Paid Family Leave. More than half of those polled (56 percent) found it an extremely important issue that 25 percent of California workers are not eligible for job protection bonding leave for various reasons outside of their control.

California’s Paid Family Leave program supports workers who take time off to bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill family member. The insurance program, created in 2004 is funded by employee payroll deductions and was the first in the nation, to acknowledge that bonding time with a parent gives a newborn baby their best chance at good health and future success. Use of Paid Family Leave is associated with higher rates of breastfeeding and improvements in overall child health, along with reduced rates of infant deaths.

The Governor’s Task Force identified low payments and lack of job protection as the primary reasons California families are missing out on benefits that they pay for. With workers only being paid 60 or 70 percent of what they usually earn during Paid Family Leave, it can be hard for many families to cover basic monthly bills. On top of that, a lack of job protection means that a worker could lose their job or be retaliated against for taking leave.

“We are thrilled that the Governor agrees that strong families need strong Paid Family Leave policy, and that voters are in turn ready to make expansion a reality,” said Erin Gabel, Chief Deputy Director at First 5 California and Paid Family Leave Task Force Appointee.

Toward this end, the Legislature and the Governor worked together to add an additional two weeks of benefits to each Paid Family Leave claim, effective July 1, 2020. To better address barriers to access and improve upon California’s Paid Family Leave policy, the Task Force has developed a longer term, step-by-step plan with a phased approach. Highlights from the plan include job protection for all workers, expanding benefits from 6 to 12 weeks, and increasing wage replacement from 60 percent or 70 percent to 75 percent or 90 percent, depending on regular annual earnings.

By California Black Media Staff

Last week, the state of California joined 13 other states — as well as New York City and the District of Columbia — in a lawsuit filed against a new Trump Administration food stamp policy scheduled to take effect April 1.

The federal government rule will require all “able-bodied” recipients of food stamp benefits between the ages of 18-49, who do not have children, to work at least 20 hours a week or enroll in a vocational training program to be eligible for low-income food assistance.

The federally funded food assistance program is known as CalFresh in California.

“No one should have to choose between a hot meal and paying their rent,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “But this latest Trump Administration attack on low-income Americans will force them to do just that. It will cause hundreds of thousands of people to go hungry.”

Up to 400,000 Californians, about 11 percent of all people receiving food stamps in the state, could be impacted, according to the California Department of Social Services.

Trump administration officials are defending the policy, arguing that it will deter people who might need temporary help to buy groceries from relying on ongoing food assistance long-term.

“We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in a public statement. “Now, in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work.”

Perdue says the U.S. economy “currently has more job openings than people to fill them.”

But because of higher-than-average unemployment rates persisting in 18 of California’s 58 counties, mostly located in the northern and central regions of the state, those areas are expected to be exempt from the new rule.

The other 40 counties with more stable economies will be impacted immediately.

“Yet again, the Trump Administration has failed to offer any legitimate evidence to justify decisions that have real consequences for the health and well-being of our residents,” Becerra said.  “Together with our partners all across the country, we’re fighting back and we’re confident the law is on our side.”

Yuriana and Hector live for the smiles on their daughters’ faces, but just five years ago, they were uncertain about what size family they would have in this expensive health care climate.

The passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Covered California opening for business changed that equation for Yuriana and Hector. It allowed them to get covered and plan for their “Covered California miracle baby.”

The Salinas couple had one toddler and wanted to expand their family, but the high cost of health coverage had been deterring them from having another.

“After we had insurance, we were able to plan our second baby,” Yuriana said. “It was a blessing, because without that insurance we wouldn’t be able to have our daughter.”

The family also qualified for the new state subsidy program designed for middle-income Californians in 2020, and they are now saving over $1,700 a month in premiums.

“People that don’t have it live in fear, so having it is just a relief,” Yuriana said.

With Covered California’s open enrollment lasting until Jan. 31, giving yourself and your family the peace of mind that comes with having health care coverage in 2020 — like Yuriana and Hector did — should be at the top of your list.

If you need motivation beyond getting quality, name-brand health coverage, be aware of the Individual Shared Responsibility Penalty for Californians who choose to go without health insurance in 2020, which will be administered by the Franchise Tax Board.

“We do not want Californians to face a penalty; we want them to have quality health insurance that gives them access to some of the best doctors and facilities in the nation,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee.

For those facing a penalty, a family of four could pay at least $2,000 for not having health insurance.  

Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature made new financial help available to eligible consumers to help further lower the cost of their coverage. More than 560,000 Californians have already qualified for the new state subsidies.

Syd and Lisa of Elk Grove, CA. are happy recipients of the new state subsidies.

“Healthcare was the No.1 expense. It was our largest household expense,” said Syd. “Because of the income range we’re in we did qualify for some of the subsidy. That changed everything. It does give you that peace of mind so that other things in life go better.”

“You can find out in just a few minutes whether you are eligible for financial help from the federal government, the state, or both,” Lee said. “Do not leave money on the table; do not put yourself at risk if you get sick or ill; do not get stuck with a big bill when you pay your taxes in 2021.”

Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31. Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible for financial help and see which plans are available in their area by entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage into Covered California’s Shop and Compare Tool.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can:

1. Visit www.CoveredCA.com.
2. Get free and confidential in-person assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.
3. Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
4. Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

By Lou Yeboah

Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a

[woman]

of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” [Isaiah 6:4-8].

What a precious Scripture. Despite feeling as though he was not worthy, Isaiah responded to the Lord’s call by saying, “Here I am; Send me!” I tell you, every believer ought to have the same heart’s attitude as Isaiah… “Here I am; Send me,” but one of the saddest testimonies in the Bible, which is so true in the world today, is found in [Philippians 2:20-21] spoken by the frustrated Apostle Paul, “For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” God sought for a man to stand in the gap. To rebuke God’s people for their sins. To stand against the tide of wickedness. To teach the truth in the midst of error. To prevent their destruction by a heathen nation. But no one would stand in the gap…” [Ezekiel 22:30, 31.] God couldn’t find even one man who cared about the injustices being committed in the land, who would stand before God in prayer to make up the gap. How tragic!

I tell you the world is going to Hell! Jesus said that the world would once again become as it was in the days of Noah before the flood [Matthew 24:37-38] because He could not find one man to stand in the gap. “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 22:30-31].

God wants to get the truth out to everyone of the coming judgment against sinners; but the gap remains empty. Where are the men and women today who are willing to make a difference for the Lord? Where are the men and women today that are wholly devoted to God? Who will rise up against the evildoers? [Psalms 94:16]. I tell you, God islooking for some men and women today who are willing to live for Him. To stand boldly in the midst of a wicked generation, that will stand for Truth and shine the Light of the Lord. Will you be the one? Will you stand in the middle between God and destruction [hell]? “I sought for somebody!” That same call of God is resounding once again in this hour. “Who will stand in the gap? God desires to bring a Spiritual Awakening to the sin dreary land. He’s looking for a man/woman who will stand in the gap! Will you be the one? If, so tell the Lord, “Here I am. Send me, Lord. I’ll go.”  Like Moses, who stepped between the Lord and His people and begged God to turn from his anger and not destroy them” [Psalms 106:23] and intercessor can make a difference.  Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom of many [Matthew 20:8] tell the Lord, not my will, but Thy will, Oh Lord. God needs you. God has called you. Don’t allow Satan to deceive you. God’s call is a blanket one. Know that no one will escape their responsibilities at the judgment seat of Christ for what they did or did not do about a lost world.

“I Heard the Voice of the Lord Saying, “Whom Shall I Send and Who Will Go for Us?”

“Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; He said, “[Daughter] of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, [daughter] of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They’re hardened rebels. “Only take care, [daughter] of man, that you don’t rebel like these rebels. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” When I looked he had his hand stretched out to me, and in the hand a book, a scroll. He unrolled the scroll. On both sides, front and back, were written lamentations and mourning and doom.” [Ezekiel 2:2-10]

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace” [Genesis 19:27-28].

By Curtis Bunn, Urban News Service

January 28, 2020

Kobe Bryant was the only man in history to win five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, four All-Star Most Valuable Player Awards and an Oscar. And he could speak four languages. A Beethoven fan, he was a genuine man of many gifts and interests.

Many measure Bryant’s life by the numbers, but his humility, sacrifice and tireless work ethic shone through. He was the youngest starter in NBA history, at 18 years and 158 days old. Bryant became the first guard to play 20 consecutive seasons and all with the same team. When he retired in 2016, he had scored more than 30,000 points.

The greatness of Kobe’s athletic career merited a first-ballot selection to the Hall of Fame, as the basketball world unanimously agreed. He would have been inducted into Hall this year even if he had survived the helicopter crash near Los Angeles that killed him, his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people on Sunday.

But the world lost more than a hardworking phenomenon known for a picturesque jump-shot and graceful style of play. Lost was an honest voice that shared a lot. He told his mercurial story in heartening detail. He shared his uneasiness with life, and people who were not hardcore NBA fans felt a connection to him.

“When I was growing up in Italy, I grew up in isolation,” Bryant said in 2015. “It was not an environment suited to me. I was the only black kid. I didn’t speak the language. I’d be in one city, but then we’d move to a different city and I’d have to do everything again.

“I’d make friends, but I’d never be part of the group,” he added, “because the other kids were already growing up together. So, this is how I grew up, and these are the weaknesses that I have.”

Bryant’s plainspoken humanity and link to the outside world are not typical in professional sports. He donated at least $1 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. In Los Angeles he backed My Friends Place, a safe haven for homeless youth, and Stand Up on Second, which offers job training and finds jobless Americans housing.

“The most important thing is that you try to inspire people so they can be great in whatever they want to do,” Bryant said.

Part of his message, however, was centered on the sort of sacrifice he made during every off-season—working out at 3 a.m., spending countless hours in the gym perfecting his artistry. . . instead of enjoying his wealth and down-time with his wife and daughters.

“We can all be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice,” Bryant said. “What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that: family time, hanging out with your friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with that.”

Bryant won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, one short of his idol, Michael Jordan, but more than most. In times of duress, he wanted the ball, seeking the responsibility of a game’s biggest moment. Often he delivered.

“If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail,” said Bryant. “My brain, it cannot process failure. It will not process failure, because if I sit there and have to face myself and tell myself, ‘You’re a failure’ … I think that’s almost worse than death.”

He was a constant thinker, a musing adventurist who won his 2018 Oscar for an animated short, “Dear Basketball,” with music by “Star Wars” composer John Williams. He patterned the pace and momentum of some games on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. He thought of himself as a symphony conductor, leading the Lakers and their global legion of fans in one orchestrated aria after another.

And the ensemble of his opponents never intimidated him.

“The last time I was intimidated was when I was six years old in karate class,” he said. “I was an orange belt and the instructor ordered me to fight a black belt who was a couple years older and a lot bigger. I was scared s**tless. I mean, I was terrified, and he kicked my *ss.”

“But then I realized he didn’t kick my *ss as bad as I thought he was going to and that there was nothing really to be afraid of,” Bryant said. “That was around the time I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind.”

He shared that mantra with his daughters, including his basketball-loving 13-year-old Gianna, who perished with him on Sunday. He coached her team, basked in her passion for the game, and was proud she adopted his assertive attitude.

“The best thing that happens when we go out,” Bryant said, “fans will come up to me and she’ll be standing next to me and they’ll be like, ‘Hey, you gotta have a boy! You and [wife Vanessa] gotta have a boy to have somebody to carry on the tradition and the legacy.’”

And Gianna, he said, replied: “Hey, I got this! You don’t need a boy for that.’”

Kobe smiled a daddy’s grin, broad and knowing. It was a proud moment for him.

“Have a good time,” he said. “Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.

“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you or don’t. So, don’t take it lightly.”

As crucial count gets started, experts fear many will be missed

By Mark Hedin, Ethnic Media Services

With the United States about to begin its monumental task of counting everybody in the country once every 10 years, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing on Thursday, January 9, to see what the Census Bureau is doing to avoid overlooking so-called “hard to count” communities.

Arturo Vargas of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials objected to the “hard-to-count” designation: “What makes people hard to count are the enumeration strategies.”

For instance, he said, all outreach efforts to Latinx residents are in Spanish. And despite the Supreme Court barring the proposed addition of a question about everyone’s citizenship, the Census Bureau, he said, is squandering its “trusted brand” status by forbidding staff from discussing what has become a very alarming concern, particularly in ethnic communities.

Vargas was joined at the committee hearing dais by Marc Morial of the Urban League, Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference, John Yang of Asian American Advancing Justice, Kevin Allis of the National Congress of American Indians and Darrell Moore of the Center for South Georgia Regional Impact.

In her initial remarks, Gupta cited the Census Bureau’s slow pace of hiring for the enormous task: “The Census Bureau has acknowledged that it’s way behind. It needs more applicants in all 50 states.”

This year, the Census Bureau is optimistic that computerizing the primary response mechanism for the first time will help minimize the expense of tabulating printed questionnaires and paying enumerators to knock on the doors of non-responders.

But it also is doing all its hiring online, which has depressed interest, and is having to compete in a relatively strong job market as compared to the run-up to the 2010 Census. Other reasons cited for the hiring lag include that, as the first census to prioritize online responses, enumerators have to be comfortable with tech tools. And the hiring and onboarding process, including background checks, has been so drawn out that applicants have drifted off in pursuit of other opportunities.

Vargas, like others, recalled the troubled rollout of the healthcare.gov website set up to enroll people in the Affordable Care Act and recommended that the Census Bureau be ready with plenty of paper questionnaires in case the online response rate falls short of expectations.

Even in its rosiest predictions, the Census Bureau still only expects about a 60% initial response rate via online questionnaires, Morial noted. For African American men, 40% is probably more realistic, he added.

Yang criticized census hiring for being slow and “inconsistently inclusive” in its diversity. He cited the chilling effect of the failed citizenship question proposal, which makes it even more important that enumerators and partnership specialists be culturally competent.

He also noted that the written questionnaire, available only in Spanish or English, excludes Asian Americans, the fastest-growing minority group in the country. Yang did, however,  single out for praise the recent announcement of media campaigns in Hindi and Urdu.

The Native American population, which the Census Bureau believes it undercounted by at least 4.9% in 2010, is plagued by mistrust, privacy concerns, a sense of futility as to the usefulness of responding at all and the feeling that going online to fill out the census form, not always even possible, is a significant risk, Allis said.

Census-taking is about to begin in Alaska (Jan. 21), but no native partnership specialists are on board yet, he said. And as with hiring, the census’ work to establish partnerships with community organizations to help obtain a complete count is behind schedule.

New Mexico Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland, one of only two Native women ever elected to the House, noted the absence of Navajo-language census materials.

“Does the Census Bureau understand our needs?” Allis asked. “Hard to say.” The way things are going so far, he said, “is deeply concerning” and lacks “proper attention given to the purpose of the census, what it can do, what it can’t. The Census Bureau has identified this as an issue, but we have yet to see that this will be addressed properly.”

“The census is a big deal,” Morial said, echoing Allis’ call for increased advertising and media outreach and a hope that accurate census data will improve decision-making and equitable distribution of resources and political representation. That outreach, he emphasized, should extend all the way through the non-response follow-up process scheduled into August.

Morial also noted, with chagrin, that in the waning days of the Obama administration, the census had been on the brink of reversing its policy of counting prisoners where they’re incarcerated and not in their home communities.

Moore attracted attention for his reports on organizing efforts in rural Georgia. As committee members from both sides of the aisle pressed him for one-size-fits-all ideas on how to reach rural populations, he repeated that the answers lie with local organizers and activists.

“You’ve got to have trusted voices in your community,” he counseled Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar. “The communities know about their needs best — what works in one community will not work in others.”

Responding to West Virginia GOP Rep. Carol Miller’s concerns about the mountain communities she represents, considered 60% hard to count, Moore advocated more creative outreach efforts, perhaps at sporting events and churches, in addition to the food pantries and mobile mammogram services she had suggested.

Vargas listed educators, health care providers, local officials and minority-led organizations including newspapers and radio as trusted sources for census outreach. Many at the hearing advocated using librarians and, particularly as a way to meet the technology concerns, libraries themselves to help maximize participation.

A benefit of the computerized effort is that easily sortable data will reveal where there’s more work to be done in getting people counted, and where the census is being embraced, Yang noted.

“The Census Bureau better step up its game and respond to the concerns we’ve raised today, or the risk is grave. It’s time to ring the alarm bell,” Morial warned.

By LORRAINE MIRABELLA,  BALTIMORE SUN   

About 60 strong, the group of mostly African American men walked the streets of East Baltimore on Saturday, talking with residents on porches, greeting drivers at stoplights, handing out flyers about jobs, drug treatment and family support. They invited passers-by to join their growing ranks.

“We’re all we’ve got,” they chanted as they left Faith United Baptist Church on The Alameda. “We’re all we need.”

The men — pastors, activists, residents and others — have been walking three times a week for several months now through different parts of the city. It’s not a march, they say, but a movement. Their mission is to save lives in a city beset by violence. 

They see themselves becoming a consistent and trusted presence in neighborhoods where shootings and homicides have become all too common, making connections, mediating disputes, helping residents feel protected and safe. The city ended the year with 348 homicides and the worst homicide rate on record.

“We have to be at the center of the change of saving lives,” Dr. Andrey Bundley, an organizer and director of African American Male Engagement, a division of the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, told the group setting out from the church. “If the state of black men is going to change, it’s going to take black men to inspire and guide black men, first, and then other people of good will.”

Baltimore ending the year with 32% homicide clearance rate, one of the lowest in three decades »

The group is calling for 1,000 men to march during the city’s 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Jan. 20. If their ranks can swell to 1,000 men, they eventually can reach a goal of 10,000, organizers said.

Their efforts are beginning to bear fruit, said Donnell Eley, associate pastor of Faith United. He said 80 people they have met along the walks have been able to find jobs.

The men also are looking to help mediate disputes that can escalate into gun violence.

“The stuff that happens in our city as it relates to the violence, a lot of it is foolishness,” said Andrew Muhammad, one of the organizers. “You’ve got people saying things and then getting murdered about stuff that they said, not about stuff that they’re doing. … It’s mandatory that we engage everybody in the streets. I don’t care if they’ve got two guns on them.”

Dozens of participants on Saturday headed along The Alameda, then down Harford Road. Some climbed porch steps or went in and out of local stores to hand out flyers. A man walking his dog took the dog home and returned to join the walk.

Selena Weatherby, an East Baltimore resident, heard about Saturday’s “call to action” on Facebook and came with her 11-year-old son.

“I hope that we can have some type of unity,” said Weatherby, one of the only women on the walk. “This is definitely something I want to expose my son to and I want to be part of myself.”

Franklin Blackmon, a pastor of Eastside Baptist Church on Preston Street, said he had been a victim of a stabbing near his home. Still recovering and unable to make the entire walk, he followed the parade of participants in his car.

“We’ve got to do what we need to do to make a change,” Blackmon said. “Change is inevitable, but we’ve got to make sure to be out and be visible, so that people can see.”

48 emerging basketball stars take the court in the Annual Girls and Boys Games on April 1

LOS ANGELES, CA—- Brandon Boston Jr. and Ziaire Williams of Sierra Canyon High School and Josh Christopher of Mayfair High School joined the rich legacy of high school basketball elite as they were selected to the prestigious 2020 McDonald’s All American Boys Game. Brandon Boston Jr., Ziaire Williams and Josh Christopher’s selection was revealed during ESPN’s The Jump on January 23. Brandon, Ziaire and Josh will showcase their skills alongside 23 other top male high school basketball players from across the U.S.

To see the next generation of basketball greats, tune in to the 19th Annual McDonald’s All American Girls Game live on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from Houston’s Toyota Center. The 43rd Annual Boys Game will tip-off live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are now available through the Toyota Center box office.

Brandon Boston Jr., Ziaire Williams and Josh Christopher now share the McDonald’s All American title with many notable basketball players who have also donned the McDonald’s All American jersey including: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, James Harden, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Breanna Stewart.

Recently, the McDonald’s All American Games lost a champion with the passing of its founder Morgan Wootten. It was his passion for coaching that led to the founding of the McDonald’s All American Games as a showcase to recognize the best high school basketball talent in the country. Since 1978, Morgan championed emerging basketball stars and helped girls and boys realize their dreams.

The McDonald’s All American Games continue to celebrate the nation’s top athletes on their journey from hustle to greatness, while also enriching relationships with local communities across the country. Family, friends and fans can follow-along on their journey @mcdaag on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

One way that comes to life is though the McDonald’s All American Games continued support of Ronald McDonald House Charities and its network of local chapters. At RMHC, programs like the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® provide comfort and compassion to families with ill or injured children so they are fully supported and able to be a part of their child’s care.