Connections 2030

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New Year's Eve Bash 2008

JTW Productions present, by A. David Dahmer

Organizers are hoping to achieve numerous goals by teaming up three of the biggest forces in local business for a New Year's Party — the first and foremost of these goals is to provide much needed relief for needy organizations. "These are tough economical times, and there really is a need for scholarships and to help feed people at the Salvation Army," said Dwayne "DJ Chill" Williams, president and CEO of WES Productions. "They only have a certain amount... MORE >>

Gratitude at Christmastime...

by Rev. Alex Gee

Webster says that to be grateful is to have a sense of benefits received. It means to be thankful. It is derived from an old English word that means thought. Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought to this topic, and I have realized the following things about gratitude: • It is hard to remain angry while being grateful, truly grateful. • It is hard to be selfish while being grateful, truly grateful. • It is hard to keep score on the times you've... MORE >>

Tammy Baldwin to help lead inaugural activities

Presidential Inaugural Committee announces Honorary Co-Chairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the honorary co-chairs for the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden. In keeping with the president-elect's commitment to an inclusive and bipartisan Inauguration, the list of honorary co-chairs includes members of the president-elect and vice president-elect's immediate families as well as prominent Americans from both sides of the aisle who have dedicated thei... MORE >>

Black middle class in crisis

by Zenitha Prince

WASHINGTON (NNPA) — The current economic crisis has waged a particularly severe attack on the Black middle class in the United States, experts say. For African Americans, "2008 was not a good year," said Algernon Austin, director of Program on Race, Ethnicity and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute, "and unfortunately, it looks like things will get worse." The adage that when America sneezes, Black America catches a cold has held true, making i... MORE >>

AAA predicts a decrease in travel this holiday season

MADISON — The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects a slight decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Christmas holiday period. Nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Christmas holiday season, a decrease of 1.4 million travelers (2.1 percent) from last year's total of 65.3 million. This is the first decline in Christmas holiday travelers since 2002. AAA projected year-to-year decreases in the number of travelers fo... MORE >>

Iraq still perilous for journalists despite fewer deaths

by Ali Gharib

WASHINGTON -- The improved security in Iraq has had benefits for everyone there. That has included fewer Iraqi civilian deaths, U.S. casualties, and, a new report said, journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) release said that 41 journalists worldwide were killed this year. And while Iraq has improved, it is still the deadliest nation in the world for journalists, as it has been for nearly six years. "The 11 deaths recorded in Iraq in 2008, while a sharp dro... MORE >>

Bush announces $17 billion rescue for auto industry

by NNPA

(NNPA) President George Bush has offered $17.4 billion in emergency loans in exchange for concessions from the deeply troubled carmakers and their workers. At the same time, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Congress should authorize the use of the second $350 billion from the financial rescue fund that it approved in October to rescue huge financial institutions. Tapping the fund for the auto industry basically exhausts the first half of the $700 billion total, he said. Pre... MORE >>

New anti-terror laws Draconian, Indian activists say

by Praful Bidwai

NEW DELHI — Following the late November terror attacks in Mumbai, India has passed two tough laws that human rights activists see as potentially eroding the country's federal structure and limiting fundamental liberties. Parliament — meeting under the shadow of the November 26-29 attacks on India's commercial hub that resulted in close to 200 deaths — approved the legislations on Dec. 18 with no considered debate and the ruling United Progressive Alliance of Prime Min... MORE >>

A Christmas prayer: To end poverty in our time

by Marian Wright Edelman

As 2.1 billion Christians in our world prepare to celebrate the birth of the most famous poor baby in history, I hope they and all peoples will commit to helping all the poor babies in our rich nation and world find a place in our hearts and at our tables of plenty. At a time when the gap between rich and poor in our nation and the world is at its widest ever, an economic downturn driven by the greed of a few has jeopardized the lives and economic security of all of us. I hope we will... MORE >>

Consumers are being consumed

by James Clingman

In light of the fact that the broad components of this country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are consumption, investment, net exports, government purchases, and inventories — and that consumption is by far the largest component, totaling roughly two-thirds of GDP — why haven't consumers been bailed out yet? Instead of the most vital segment of the GDP receiving relief, we see the high and mighty getting billions of dollars. What's up with that? Private consumers, who provi... MORE >>

I am not dreaming of a White Christmas

by George E. Curry

There is a picture of me at the age of seven or eight decked out in my cowboy suit — replete with hat, gun, scarf and cowboy boots. My gun is drawn and pointed in the direction of my sister Charlotte, four years younger. Charlotte is appropriately attired in a cowgirl suit as we stand smiling in front of a well-decorated Christmas tree. Clutched in Charlotte’s left arm is a doll, a White doll. I... MORE >>

Who will get the 2,500 million new jobs?

by Ron Walters

President Election Barack Obama has been formulating plans for the stimulus package that will be enacted shortly after he takes office. It is reputed to be in the area of $800 billion to $1.2 trillion and he originally proposed to create 2.5 million jobs. More recently, however, he has adjusted his goal to 3-3.5 million jobs because of analyses that show the probability that the economy will lose 3.5 million jobs in all of 2009. Yet this goal should be juxtaposed again... MORE >>

National Public Radio: How can you get rid of 'News & Notes'?

by Bill Fletcher Jr.

I opened the Washington Post the other day and saw an article detailing that National Public Radio (NPR), hit by the global economic crisis, was preparing to lay off in March 2009 more than 60 staff and eliminating two major programs, one being ''News & Notes.'' ''News & Notes'', a program particularly targeted at people of color, is hosted by Ms. Farai Chideya. In the interests of fu... MORE >>

Black state legislators looking for economic bailout in their neighborhood

by Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON (NNPA) — They clearly won't have it by Christmas, but the nation's Black state legislators are now looking for what they perceive as their fair share of an economic bailout of "the neighborhood," while Congress is doling the bailouts to corporations. "While we support the bailout of Wall Street, the bailout of the financial institutions and the automobile industry, we feel very strongly that Main Street and our streets need to be bailed out as well,"... MORE >>

Winter Activities Update

by Laura Whitmore

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New Year's Bash

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Middlespread December 24th

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What's Up December 24

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The Capitol Tree

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Interfaith holidays unwrapped

by Audrey Buchanan

Since the 1960s, religious and racial lines have been blurring. Observers say that with the election of mixed-race President-elect Barack Obama, public discussion of people and families of blended cultures, races, and faiths will increase. Here, a Madison clergywoman and a Madison mom offer their perspectives on how holidays are celebrated in blended-faith or interfaith families. Through a mom's eyes Just as in Decembers past, this month the Shahranis — mother Joan, fathe... MORE >>

North Korea still defies nuclear inspections

by Antoaneta Bezlova

BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — China has failed to coax North Korea to sign an agreement to verify its secretive nuclear activities. Multilateral talks to get its old ally to give up its nuclear program in return for more aid and better diplomatic standing have failed. Diplomats said the imminent departure of the Bush administration and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's poor health were probably among factors that precluded progress in the Dec. 8-11 round of six-party talks that also involved Russ... MORE >>

U.N. chief says going green can solve problems

by Ramesh Jaura

POZNAN, Poland (IPS/GIN) —U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a new green deal that would work for all nations, rich and poor, in the face of both climate change and the global economic crisis. Addressing the high-level segment of the gathering of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that kicked off Dec. 11, Ban pleaded for "global solidarity on climate change. He said the current crises of climate change and in the global economy present... MORE >>

Author attempts to inform U.S. about Iran

by Ali Gharib

WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — While in New York this fall for the U.N. General Assembly, conservative Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted to National Public Radio that he watches Western television. Most Western media is banned or censored in Iran, but many Iranians watch U.S. television and movies and international news on illegal satellite dishes and are familiar with U.S. culture, at least through what they're watching. But most Americans have little understanding of Iran's cultu... MORE >>

Bond retracts resignation as NAACP chair

BALTIMORE (NNPA) — Julian Bond, longtime chair of the nation's oldest civil rights group, last week retracted his decision to bow out of the 2009 bid for chairmanship of the National Board of the NAACP. In a Dec. 8 letter to NAACP Board members and trustees, Bond said an outpouring of support persuaded him to change his mind. He also agreed that the continuity his presence provides would only enhance the organization's centennial celebrations. "I will be a candidate for Chai... MORE >>

U.S, automakers held to double standard

by George E. Curry

Nothing has been more interesting in recent months than the contrast between Congress' treatment of the Big Three U.S. auto manufacturers seeking a bridge loan to keep their troubled industry afloat —and the overly generous handouts that have rewarded Wall Street greed. Considering the different constituents, one would have thought that the greatest hostility would have been directed at the fat cats o... MORE >>

The radical right rides again

by Ron Walters

Think about it. A group of Southern right-wing Republican senators have stopped the U.S. Senate from approving a package of financial assistance to the Big Three auto companies, which directly employ over 150,000 workers and affect 3 million, including suppliers, dealers, etc. This kind of cold-blooded action on their part strikes me as just the kind of narrowly conservative, mean-spirited, and reckless decision making that the nation voted against when it elected Barack Obama. The iss... MORE >>

Tips to prevent home burglaries

Away for the Holidays?, by Response Insurance

Just about everyone looks forward to this time of year, including burglars. With many people away visiting friends or just out of the house shopping, there are many good prospects for break-ins. Experts agree that it is a vulnerable time for homeowners. "People are busy and distracted," says Ray Palermo, director of public relations for Response Insurance. "As they race out the door, they are not thinking about what they leave behind." Palermo offere... MORE >>

Hanukkah, eight-day Jewish festival, begins Dec. 21

by Steven M. Morrison

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival, will begin at sunset on Sunday, Dec. 21, corresponding to the Jewish date of 24 Kislev 5768. The holiday concludes at sunset on Monday, Dec. 29 (2 Tevet 5769).  The Jewish year follows a lunar-solar cycle.  Hanukkah, therefore, can occur anytime from late November to early January.  Because it usually occurs in December, it is sometimes called the "Jewish Christmas." But the two holidays have nothing in common, other than the t... MORE >>

Interfaith Awareness Week celebrates a decade of tolerance

by A. David Dahmer

Orthodox Christians, Mennonites, Unitarian Universalists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and more came together to celebrate "A Decade of a Week of Awareness: Interfaith Awareness Week" Dec. 7-13 at the state Capitol. Various displays in the Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda, titled "World Religions in Wisconsin," showcased the diversity of faith traditions in the area.  The Rev. John Brian Paprock, who serves as the organizer of Interfaith Awareness Week and is a priest at H... MORE >>

Citywide Kwanzaa Celebration returns to Olbrich Gardens

by A. David Dahmer

Edith Lawrence-Hilliard says she has been involved with Kwanzaa "forever." "1966 was when it started, and it was something that was exciting and something that was new," Lawrence-Hilliard recalls. "And the principles just represent so much, not just for the Black community, but I think for all communities, because those principles stand for a great deal." Lawrence-Hilliard will once again organize and emcee Madison's third citywide celebration of Kw... MORE >>

Diwali, the festival of lights

by from www.hinduism.about.com

Deepawali, or Diwali, is certainly the biggest of all Hindu festivals. It’s the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row; i.e., a row of lights) that is marked by four days of celebration that literally illuminate the country. Each of the four days in the festival is separated by a different tradition, but what remains constant is the celebration of life and its goodness. Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was likely an important harvest festival. Howev... MORE >>

Latin American Christmas dinner set

Latin Americans will be enjoying the Christmas holiday as one on Saturday during the first Latin-American Christmas dinner hosted by the Americas Group, a new coalition of organizations representing people from countries of Central and South America. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at St. Peter Parish, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., and is open to everyone. The evening will start out with Mass, followed by meals, pastries, beverages and music in the Christmas traditio... MORE >>

Important Islamic holiday dates

December 6 - December 9 Hajj (Annual Pilgrimage to Mecca) The Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to Mecca, consists of several ceremonies meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, such as submission, brotherhood, and unity, and to commemorate the trials of the Prophet Abraham and his family. Required once in a Muslim’s lifetime, over two million Muslims perform the pilgrimage annually. December 8 Eid-ul-Adha (Festival o... MORE >>

No need to march, says Obama advisor: "There's room for everyone at the table"

by Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON (NNPA) —Valerie Jarrett, who will likely become a household name very shortly as she serves as a senior advisor and public liaison for President Barack Obama, says the landscape of activism may drastically change under the Obama administration, because those who have traditionally fought to be heard will likely have seats at the table. "You do not need to have demonstrations in front of the White House to convince this president that there is a disparate i... MORE >>

National Urban League proposes economic recovery plan for urban communinities

by Marc Morial

Last week, the National Urban League submitted its ''Economic Recovery Plan for Job Creation in Urban Communities'' to President-elect Barack Obama and to Congress. Our plan is designed to help stabilize our reeling economy and stem the steady erosion of jobs, including another 533,000 lost in November. Nearly 2 million jobs have been lost so far this year. The overall unemployment rate has now reached 6.7 percent, and African American unemployment has risen to 11.2 percent. S... MORE >>

New workers for Allied Redevelopment take part in ceremony

by from WHEDA

(Pictures by Gaddi Dan) MADISON — During the latest ground breaking ceremony for the Allied Drive redevelopment Dec. 17, leaders of the project proudly introduced 18 newly employed workers, who helped to commemorate the event. The workers were hired from over 100 applicants at the Allied Job Fair earlier this month, which was hosted by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and McGann Construction. ... MORE >>

Creation of advisory council on Early Childhood Education and Care

MADISON — Gov. Jim Doyle today announced the creation of the Governor’s State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care.  The Council will strive to ensure that all families have access to quality early childhood programs and services. “I want this state to be a place where our kids can grow up knowing that their highest ambitions are never out of reach,” Governor Doyle said.  “As I’ve said many times, the single most importan... MORE >>

Homeless and impoverished constantly face painful stigmas

by Steven Malik Shelton

Special to the NNPA from the MIchigan Chronicle and Front Page DETROIT (NNPA) — The homeless are usually portrayed as strange people whose addictions, idiosyncrasies, and mental health issues are the cornerstone of their adverse condition. But detailed research paints a different picture. National surveys conducted by Toro Warren in 1999 show that 6 to 8 percent of Americans have been homeless and that 9 to 15 percent of children ages 12 to 17 have experienced homelessn... MORE >>

It's time for us to end public corruption

by Harry Alford

I guess we should call the antics of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bla-go-yea-vich) the last straw for political corruption. Here is a guy already under FBI investigation deciding to go out and sell the precious Senate seat vacated by the next President of the United States. The prize was too precious to assign it to someone based on their merit. He felt he could make some quick cash despite the fact that he... MORE >>

Health Matters December

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Middlespread December 18

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What's Up December 18

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Jackie Millar, Alex Gillis rewarded for outstanding community contributions

Wisconsin Community Fund's 2008 Community Changemaker Awards, by A. David Dahmer

"I am a miracle," said Community Changemaker 2008 awardee Jackie Millar. “I was brought back to living to tell people they have choices in life. And my goal is to tell as many people I can about choices, about forgiveness, and about love." On Nov. 4, 1995, Millar drove from Madison to Reedsburg to spend a weekend with a friend. She was alone in her friend's house when two boys, Craig and Josh, walked in, looking for keys to the red Honda parked in the open garage. ... MORE >>

Innovative initiative aims to put people on equal footing

First Timebank Store in Dane County opens on Allied Drive, by A. David Dahmer

Allied Drive is the first neighborhood in Dane County to get a taste of what many communities across the United States have already experienced — a vehicle that helps locals participate as equals in the economy. The new Dane County Timebank allows people to give something back and be valued for things they do — and not just be defined by their needs. The Time Dollar Store, the first ever in Dane County, opened its doors the day after Thanksgiving. "It's a good way for... MORE >>

Call for pictures of cooks of the past made as "Tribute to Village Cooks" is announced

Addrena “Super Gram” Squires has been a vigilant advocate for youth, for education, and for the community. She is well known by adults and youth alike, and has had an influence on many. As a lifelong Madisonian, Squires is also a historian of the community and understands how the sharing of a meal and stories will strengthen “Comm-Unity.” There have been many cooks of the past  who have  passed on stories and recipes while they have taught others, and there a... MORE >>

Library systems to share $16.8 million in state aid

Library systems to share $16.8 million in state aid MADISON — Wisconsin’s 17 public library systems will share $16.8 million in state aid in 2009 to economize on shared resources and cooperative library services. The aid payments support regional cooperation and sharing of library resources so that libraries can provide higher levels of service to all state residents while reducing duplication. Library system funding is the state’s primary program of support for publi... MORE >>

Mideast experts urge Obama to quickly engage Iran, Syria

by Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — The incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama should move quickly to engage Iran without preconditions and to promote an Israeli-Syrian peace accord, said two veteran Middle East experts whose views are likely to have influence over Obama's foreign policy team. Obama should also "make a serious effort from the outset to promote progress between Israel and the Palestinians," propose its own solutions soon, and enlist the Arab League's active... MORE >>

EU bank accused of financing destruction

by David Cronin

BRUSSELS, Belgium (IPS/GIN) — The European Union (EU) is financing ecologically and socially destructive projects in Africa, officials reported at a conference in Brussels on Dec. 2. Officially, the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank (EIB) is committed to using the $67 billion it releases each year to pursue policies that protect the environment and alleviate hardship. But evidence gathered from projects this EU body has financed in Africa indicates that its loans are having the ... MORE >>

U.S. court clears Chevron in Nigerian suit

 (GIN) — A U.S. court has cleared oil giant Chevron of complicity in a deadly hostage incident in Nigeria, ending a 10-year struggle by Nigerian survivors of the event. Chevron was sued by Larry Bowoto and other members of “Concerned Ilaje Citizens,” who testified that soldiers and police shot unarmed residents of the Ilaje community when they staged a nonviolent sit-in on Chevron's offshore platform. They claimed that Chevron was liable for damages because it paid, fed... MORE >>

Are we preparing our children to lead in science?

by Marian Wright Edelman

On Oct. 4, 1957, history changed when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the world's first man-made satellite. Americans, alarmed that we had been outpaced technologically, saw the Soviet feat as a threat to our national security. To catch up with the Russians, our nation swung into action, infusing new funding and resources into scientific research on a priority basis. New labs sprang up all ove... MORE >>

Slavery was music to the Beatles' hometown

by George E. Curry

LIVERPOOL, England — The Beatles are credited with putting this city on the map. But long before Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison conquered the music world in the mid-1960s, the city of their birth was prominent on another map —it was one of the largest slave-trading centers in the world. "The estimate is that on Liverpool ships alone, there were more than 1.5 million enslaved Africans; [and] that's a low estimate," said Richar... MORE >>

MSCR Hawthorne Community Learning Center hosts family night

The MSCR Hawthorne Community Learning Center held a unique family night called the "Love of Library" on Dec. 2 at Hawthorne Public Library.  The goal of the event was to promote literacy and connect families to the library.  Andreal Davis, a story teller, told a story about Ghanaian Kente Cloth called The Black Snowman. The event also had a parent resources table, ESL resource table and a kids' craft area.   About 34 families attended the event.... MORE >>

Marimba Quartet to play annual Our Gift to You Concert

From the Madison Marimba Quartet The Madison Marimba Quartet will play the 13th annual holiday concert, “Our Gift to You, 2008,” Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. in Mills Concert Hall, Humanities Building, 455 N. Park St. (corner of Park and University) on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Each year, the Madison Marimba Quartet performs a free concert, billed as "Our Gift To You," between the holidays of Christmas and New Year's Day to give something... MORE >>

Save auto worker jobs

by Marc H. Morial

A loud and incessant car alarm is going off in the American economy warning of the potential loss of more than 2 million jobs, and Congress and the president are the only ones who can shut it off. We suggest they do so by extending to the troubled auto companies a $25 billion bridge loan that requires a detailed plan of “innovation, accountability and viability,” as called for by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The automakers did not help themselves a few weeks ago whe... MORE >>

News flash! "We are in a recession!"

by James Clingman

Thanks, Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke, for letting us know. If it weren't for you, we probably never would have found out about this. We never even saw it coming. It sure is good to have the two of you in Washington watching our backs. With your combined Wall Street experience, your financial acumen, your Ph.D.s from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and your knowledge of economics, you have guided us along this treacherous economic path, protecting us and calling out the ... MORE >>

The time for revolution

by Ron Walters

It struck me, as I was analyzing the current victory of Barack Obama, that the last time there was such a formidable Democratic landslide was in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson used his mandate to create the Great Society. The racial progress of Blacks was at the center of the '64 election, but Americans' fears and anxieties for their own economic viability drove the 2008 election. Given the difference, the great question that Blacks must face now is whether they yield their own needs for c... MORE >>

Each job loss represents a 'personal crisis,' Obama reminds us

by Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON (NNPA) — As Christmas nears and families watch their purses to be sure they are spending wisely, President-elect Barack Obama has called on Americans to view the economic crisis from a human standpoint, rather than as just another political issue. ''The 533,000 jobs lost last month, the worst job loss in 34 years, is more than a dramatic reflection of the growing economic crisis we face. Each of those lost jobs represents a personal crisis for a family somewhere in Am... MORE >>

City implements comprehensive new winter weather strategies

by the City of Madison

MADISON — With the first major winter storm of the season Dec. 9, the city of Madison began implementing a comprehensive package of new efforts to improve awareness of snow emergencies and winter parking regulations, increase compliance with these regulations, and ultimately allow the city to efficiently clear the streets. Alert Madison Alert Madison, the city's new text-messaging system, is in effect. It has over 900 subscribers and is growing every day.... MORE >>

Middlespread December 11

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What's Up December 11

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Caires honored for their efforts to further justice in education

by Lisa Nunez

"By any means necessary," Kaleem Caire said, quoting Malcolm X to summarize his own approach to education when he spoke recently as part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Distinguished Lecture Series. Caire and his wife, Lisa Peyton-Caire, have devoted 15 years to creating opportunity in education through school choice. The couple is among the first recipients of the UW-Madison Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA)’s Forward Under 40 Award, which honors graduates un... MORE >>

Ebony Fashion Fair

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Purple and Gold Jazz Affair Achievement Week Banquet

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, by A. David Dahmer

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity hosted the Purple and Gold Jazz Affair Achievement Week Banquet Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Sheraton Hotel on Madison's west side. "The day went well and we have a lot of people here," said Shannon Blackamore, the treasurer of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc..,Gamma Gamma Gamma Chapter. "People came from all over Madison and all across the state of Wisconsin." The affair highlighted the many accomplishments of Omega Psi Phi from ove... MORE >>

World AIDS Day and President-elect Barack Obama

by Phill Wilson

Dec. 1 was World AIDS Day, and I'm thinking about President-elect Barack Obama. As a 52-year-old Black gay man with HIV, I have many reasons to welcome the inauguration of Barack Obama. A big one is that an Obama administration has enormous potential to reinvigorate a struggle that has been allowed to flag over the last eight years: our national fight against HIV/AIDS. With our country facin... MORE >>

Library seeks community input on new South Madison Branch

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On World AIDS Day

by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold

Today I join individuals and organizations from around the world in recognizing the continued scourge of HIV/AIDS and in committing to keep working for its eradication. I have seen firsthand in my travels across Africa the devastating effect that HIV/AIDS has on entire communities and people of all ages.  Since the first World AIDS Day 20 years ago, we have come a long way in bringing high-level attention to this pandemic, developing effective prevention and treatment strategies,... MORE >>

Moving forward with fresh, new initiatives

African Association of Madison, by Mathew K. Jallow

As the African Association of Madison celebrates its 17th anniversary this year, the challenges the organization faces are not lost on its membership. Undoubtedly, though, the ever-growing African population in the city and county also present the association with opportunities that can be harnessed to benefit the association's membership and the wider community. Up until now, the association has cautiously taken baby steps to move its agenda forward, but some argue that the time has ... MORE >>

Dr. Julius Richmond, creator of Head Start

by Marian Wright Edelman

In July, Dr. Julius B. Richmond passed away at age 91 at his home outside Boston. Dr. Richmond served as U.S. Surgeon General under President Jimmy Carter. He was a pediatrician, a professor of medicine, a child-development specialist, and a co-creator and the first director of Head Start. He understood early on how crucial a quality, comprehensive child-development program could be for the physical, emotional,... MORE >>

Two Black U.S. senators? Possibly

by Ron Walters

 Before Barack Obama's victory, the possibility of having two Black U. S. senators would have been more unlikely than having a Black U.S. president. But right now there is at least the possibility, given the expected ascendancy of both Sen. Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton to the ranks of president and secretary of State, respectively. In Illinois, the decision lies with Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has said that race shoul... MORE >>

Civil rights movement inspires Blacks abroad

by George E. Curry

LONDON — A trip from Gatwick Airport to London's central city is visible confirmation that national entities are no longer restricted to imaginary geographical boundaries. Among the United States-based businesses I passed on this route were TGI Friday, Pizza Hut, Texaco, Coca-Cola, Nike, a Chevrolet dealership, KFC, a Hilton hotel, a Hyatt hotel, Starbucks, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, and Blockb... MORE >>

WASHINGTON (NNPA) — With the election of former Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as president of the United States with overwhelming support from communities of color — 95 percent among Black voters and over 65 percent among Latinos — many Black Republicans, as they contemplate their future, are also reflecting on their place in a party that critics say has always marginalized them. Leading the way is former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who has decided to run... MORE >>

Jesse Jackson: Blacks not exempt from international terrorism

by Hazel Trice Edney

LONDON (NNPA) — In the wake of last week’s terrorist killings of nearly 300 people at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India’s largest city, Black leaders are pressing for more information and cautioning African-Americans to be clear that they are not exempt as targets at home or abroad. “Terrorism must not be seen in Black-White terms. There is no safe haven for Blacks when terror strikes,” says the Rev. Jesse Jackson during an NNPA interview as he ... MORE >>

New director hopes to see the growth of CASA

by A. David Dahmer

Every year, hundreds of abused and neglected children come into Dane County Protective Services in need of safe, nurturing, permanent homes. That's where Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) comes in, providing a voice for these children in court and advocating for the child's best interest. CASA Executive Director Jenee Jeanblanc "We recruit, train, and support volunteers to becom... MORE >>

WHEDA and City of Madison team up for Job Fair

by WHEDA

MADISON — With construction plans for the first Allied Drive redevelopment project set to get underway, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) hosted a job fair in partnership with McGann Construction to help bring in workers for the project being developed by the City of Madison’s Community Development Authority (CDA) on Dec. 3 at the Allied Drive Boys & Girls Club. ... MORE >>

Realists to reign in Obama administration

by Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — Less than two months before taking office, President-elect Barack Obama is making clear that realists — some more identified with Republicans and the military than with Democrats — are likely to rule the incoming administration's foreign policy roost, at least at the outset. While Obama was expected to formally unveil his Cabinet-level national security picks Dec. 1, recent leaks to the media have made it virtually certain that Pentagon hief Robert Gat... MORE >>

Mumbai attack shows security forces' faults

by Indranil Banerjie

NEW DELHI (IPS/GIN) — Over 24 hours after a group of armed men mounted a series of deadly coordinated attacks on Mumbai, it has become painfully apparent that India is woefully unprepared for terrorist attacks of this type. As exchanges of gunfire between Indian security forces and the terrorists, who had seized control of two of the city's finest luxury hotels and a building owned by a Jewish family, continued through Nov. 27, Indian security experts were unanimous in criticizing the f... MORE >>

Conga President Kaila's link to 'brutal repression'

by Special to the NNPA from GIN

(GIN) — The executions of some 500 in northwest and southern Democratic Republic of Congo were linked by a leading human-rights group to the government of Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila. ''At least 500'' suspected political opponents have been killed in the last two years, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a just-published report. ''About 1,000 more'' have been detained since the July 2006 elections and possibly tortured, HRW said. Kabila himself set the ton... MORE >>

Middlespread December 4

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What's Up December 4

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"Time to Talk" features call to action

Taking steps to reduce disparities

More than 50 individuals gathered Nov. 20 to talk about racial disparities in the criminal justice system and ways to address these inequalities. "It's Time to Talk," sponsored by YWCA Madison, took place at the Catholic Multicultural Center. Attendees included mental health advocates, folks from Family Connections of Wisconsin and Common Wealth Development, police department personnel, and other community members.  Colleen Butler, director of community outreach... MORE >>

Induction Ceremony for Top Teens

On Sunday, Nov. 16, Top Teens inducted five new members into their organization. The new members, Trinity Bobo, Angelica Pach, Alyson Norton, Sakaia Norton, and Brianne Oden, all attend school in either Cottage Grove or Sun Prairie.  Top Teens ages 13 to 18 focus their attention on developing leadership skills, high academic achievement, and participating in cultural activities. They also volunteer with various community agencies. Their latest volunteer project was helping at the... MORE >>

UW-Madison students sound off positively on diversity plans in "powerful thought circle"

by Audrey Buchanan

A forum of ethnically diverse students recently debated whether or not a decade-old university plan to retain and recruit minority students was successful. "I'm not to sure if Plan 2008 failed or succeeded," said University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Johanne Verpil. "But I am sure that more students need to take responsibility with getting involved in other groups, rather than depending on the university plan to fix everything." Plan 2008, a seven-goal plan ... MORE >>

Domestic Violence Through Survivors' Eyes

by Anita Martin

At times, all survivors of domestic violence have felt alone, their voices quiet. But when these voices combine, they are strong and competent, with the power to make a difference in the lives of those who follow. This concept resonated at a recent public discourse on domestic violence hosted by the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV). People from a variety of backgrounds, many of whom have been victims of violence and/or serve as advocates, gathered Nov. 12 at Monon... MORE >>

25 years of Wisconsin's Presidential Teaching Award finalists honored at anniversary recognition ceremony

by Wisconsin DPI

MADISON — This year's finalists for Presidential Teaching Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, along with finalists for the past 25 years, were recognized at a ceremony Nov. 20 at the State Capitol in Madison. "It is indeed my honor to recognize each of you and say thank you on behalf of all of the students you teach," said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster in her address. "Your dedication and love for the profession is exemplary. Equal... MORE >>

U.S. intelligence analysts see multipolar, risky world by 2025

by Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — While the United States will still be the world's single most powerful country in 2025, it will be less dominant and more constrained in its freedom of action, even in the military sphere, than it is now, says a major new report released here Nov. 20 by the National Intelligence Council. Instead, "a global multipolar system" will likely have emerged, marked especially by the rise of the so-called BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India, and C... MORE >>

Ending abuse of women

by Joyce Mulama

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (IPS/GIN) — A continental meeting here Nov. 19-21 to review progress toward gender equality in Africa focused particularly on the need to end violence against women. Participants in the sixth African Development Forum in Ethiopia's capital took their leaders to task over failure to implement international declarations made to end violence against women. "There is much talk and signing of these things, and less action," said Botha Mbuyiselo of Sonk... MORE >>

A time for Thanksgiving

by Marian Wright Edelman

The past year has been a tumultuous and uncertain one for many Americans. Each day's headlines brought worrisome news: the collapse of Wall Street; massive home and job losses; and a spreading global economic crisis. We all felt enormous fear and insecurity for our family's and children's futures. Yet a bright rainbow of hope broke through the clouds of despair with the election of Sen. Barack Obama as ... MORE >>

Giving the gift of change

by Bruce Moffatt

This holiday season, we need to make our charitable giving count more than ever. Like many people, I want my charitable gifts to make a positive impact in a world full of need.  Like others, I've struggled to figure out how best to choose among the many groups doing good work. In Madison alone, there are well over a thousand nonprofits, many doing exemplary work. Then there are the groups working statewide... MORE >>

Share Your Holidays Food/Fund Drive to benefit ECHO

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HospiceCare helps patients, families enjoy the holidays at home

by Monica Cicci

The holiday season can be exhausting for people caring for a loved one with a life-limiting condition. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it takes a physical and emotional toll. Extra holiday obligations and activities may require caregivers to stretch their time and energy even further. Realizing the coming holidays may be the last with their loved one can intensify a caregiver's emotions and ratchet up their stress. As others make merry, no one wants to think about dying — or ho... MORE >>

A more direct connection betwen you and those who create your purchases

Holiday trade fairs coming up Saturday, Dec. 6

The Madison Hours Holiday Trade Fair will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave. Use local money to purchase holiday gifts - and beer from Ale Asylum! There will be food, jewelry, clothing, cards, crafts, local music, and great company. For more information, visit www.madisonhours.org. Another... MORE >>

Middlespread November 26

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What;'s Up November 26

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Al Qaeda Leader's Anti-Obama Racial Slur Denounced by Black Conservatives

Members of the Project 21 black leadership network are denouncing the racial slur made against President-elect Barack Obama by al Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, and hope al-Zawahiri's crude action is a sobering reminder for the President-elect and his supporters about the harsh attitudes of our nation's enemies.   "While no fan of Barack Obama, I am a proud American.  I find this terrorist's remarks directed at our nation's incoming ... MORE >>

Black Backing of Barack Should Not Be Unconditional

by Deneen Borelli

Barack Obama's election is a capstone on black Americans' struggle for equality.   While isolated racial intolerance can be expected to continue, Obama's electoral landslide and victory in majority-white states such as Iowa and southern states such as Virginia put to rest concerns about a so-called "Bradley effect," in which whites allegedly publicly support - but secretly vote against - black candidates.   Presiden... MORE >>

Black Leader to Bush: Commute Sentences of Jailed Border Agents

by Mychal Massie

Washington, D.C. - After a federal judge last week refused to reduce the sentences of incarcerated U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, Mychal Massie - chairman of the Project 21 black leadership network - is calling on President George W. Bush to use his executive power to commute the agents' sentences before he leaves office in January.   Massie said: "At this juncture, whatever penance demanded fr... MORE >>

Don't "Change" Religious Freedom

by Bishop Council Nedd II

As the nation waits with great anticipation for President-Elect Barack Obama to begin unveiling his policies for rescuing our economy and managing our two wars, the real indicator of his presidential success may be how well he handles his most ardent supporters.   While Americans may have voted for "change," the Pandora's Box of extreme political interests supporting Obama's candidacy could end up shocking many of his supporters.... MORE >>

What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander

by Ak'bar Shabazz

National rules for bankruptcy were overhauled by federal legislation in 2005.   The new law means that bankruptcy is no longer a guaranteed path to a fresh start and relief from heavy financial burdens.  To declare bankruptcy, one must now meet more rigorous standards to prove one's inability to deal with debt and wipe one's slate clean.  There are even stricter guidelines covering confirmed victims of identity theft.  &nb... MORE >>

Elites Denying Affordable Energy to Average Americans

by Deneen Borelli

Failing schools, crime and single-parent households are just a few of the challenges facing urban communities.  Now, thanks to "Club Green" - radical environmentalists and their supporters - soaring energy prices join the list.   Club Green fights against oil exploration in Alaska and off our coasts.  A moratorium on offshore drilling was removed from a temporary spending bill, ending a 26-year ban on new leases at th... MORE >>

Jackie Hunt recognized for hands-on community work

by A. David Dahmer

In working for the betterment of Allied Drive, Jackie Hunt believes that it's best to be hands-on. "Trust is a hard thing to earn," Hunt said.  "Over in that community, people have made promises; they've come in and tried to dictate what that community needs and the changes that need to take place, without really knowing who those people are or really getting a feel for who they are. But the only way you can do that is by being hands-on, by being there and interacti... MORE >>

Hibiscus Collective presents first public reading

by Pamela Gates

The Hibiscus Collective, a group of women writers "dedicated to ensuring that multicultural voices are heard in oral and written traditions," presented its first afternoon of poetry and prose readings Nov. 15. The event was held at the Harambee Center on Madison's south side, and the good-sized audience was very appreciative of the authors and the quality of their work. The name "hibiscus," several collective members explained, was chosen because that flower is found in di... MORE >>

National UW-Madison poetry slam team assembled

by Angela Simmons

Fourteen brave poets graced the Wisconsin Union Theater stage Nov. 9 to compete for one of the five spots on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's national poetry slam team. For the second year, the Multicultural Student Coalition (MCSC) hosted and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiative (OMAI) co-sponsored the UW-Madison collegiate slam, which determined the team of spoken word artists from this campus that will compete at the national collegiate slam next April. The atmosphere w... MORE >>

Shantelle James wins Presidential Service Award

Madison’s own Shantelle James recently won a Presidential Volunteer Service Award “in recognition and appreciation of her commitment to strengthening our nation and for making a difference through volunteer service." James was part of Fountain of Life's Haiti Mission team, along with (l-r) leader Gloria Zeller, Tori Pettaway, and Marian Jordan, who have paid two long visits to the Institution Univers, a nondenominational Christian school in the village of Ouanamin... MORE >>

Gov. Doyle announces Web Site enhancements to keep communities SAFE from sex offenders

MADISON – Gov. Jim Doyle announced the state’s Sex Offender Registry Web site now offers a mapping feature as well as an e-mail notification system for residents through collaboration with Family Watchdog.  “Thousands of parents, grandparents and neighbors have looked to our Sex Offender Registry Web site for information about sex offenders who reside in their communities, and our new mapping and electronic notification features will equip users with more informa... MORE >>

U.S bank bailout not flowing to homeowners

by Adrianne Apel

BOSTON (IPS/GIN) — Nearly five weeks after Congress approved a $700 billion bailout fund — and as the recession deepens — no definite plan is in sight for struggling U.S. homeowners, who are defaulting on loans at record rates. "The foreclosure problem is getting worse, not better," said Martin Eakes, CEO of Self Help and Center for Responsible Lending, a community-development nonprofit, who spoke Nov. 13 at a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Commit... MORE >>

Obama 'revolutionized politics' PR mogul says

by Bankole Thompson; Special to the NNPA from the Michigan Chronicle

 DETROIT (NNPA) — Ofield Dukes, often called the dean of public relations in Washington, D.C., said Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign had excellent public relations with voters from the very start all the way to Election Day. The former Michigan Chronicle editorial writer and columnist, who left Detroit in 1964 to work with then Vice President Hubert Humphrey, was in Detroit recently to address the Public Relations Student Society of America. In an interview, Dukes s... MORE >>

Hamas, Fatah torture opponents in prison

by Cherrie Heywood

RAMALLAH, West Bank (IPS/GIN) — Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas refused to release 400 Hamas prisoners held in the West Bank, causing talks between rival political factions to collapse before they began. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, demanded their release as a precondition for attending the talks with Fatah that were to take place in Cairo under Egyptian mediation. Earlier this month, Hamas released 80 Fatah political prisoners from Gaza's jails and demanded ... MORE >>

2008 Wisconsin Women of Color Network (WWOCN) to hold annual Scholarship Fundraiser

MADISON — The Wisconsin Women of Color Network Inc. will host its annual scholarship fund-raising event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, 525 W. Johnson St. Once a year we appeal to our members, family, and friends to raise money for the Wisconsin Women of Color Network Scholarship Fund.  There will be a buffet brunch.  For your shopping spree, there will be a silent auction with lots of donated products and services, including celebrity meal... MORE >>

A hobby turns into a thriving bed and breakfast business

by Milele Chikasa Anana

Kishah Walters transformed her insatiable appetite for hosting parties and entertaining guests into a thriving business.  She now owns her second bed and breakfast inn.  "I consider each person who enters my Inn to be a guest and not a customer." This carries over from her earlier years. "Whenever there was a party, it was always held at my house. My family and friends would always come over and I would be the host. I love cooking, decorating, and adding my personal t... MORE >>

Is the U.S. living its creed and preparing for the future?

How America ranks in investing in children, by Marian Wright Edelman

At this transformative moment in American life, with the election of Sen. Barack Obama as our first African American and 44th president of the United States of America, we citizens must now roll up our sleeves and help translate this new presidency into a transformation of America's investment priorities and a values-real change. Every child's life has equal value, and our nation has a responsib... MORE >>

Racist incidents increase in wake of Obama's election

by George E. Curry

The rise in racist incidents —from university campuses to police stations — is a sobering reminder that despite the election of Barack Obama, there are still a lot of sick people out there stuck in the Stone Age. Editor & Publisher magazine, the Associated Press, and local newspapers recently catalogued some of the most egregious incidents. In addition to the garden-variety hate crimes, such as painting racist graffiti on cars and houses, one particularly disturbing inc... MORE >>

Do we save the auto industry?

by Harry Alford

We have just witnessed one of the most daring schemes and hustles in modern history: the secretary of Treasury forcing Congress and the president to fork over nearly $1 trillion that we really didn't have, under the pretext that it was going to save millions from losing their homes. As Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, put it: "It was simply a bait-and-switch game." People in danger of losing their homes are no better off, and the money went in various directions other th... MORE >>

Reconceputalizing civil rights for the 21st century

by Ron Walters

As new opportunities for social change are opened by Barack Obama's election to the presidency and a newly Democratic House and Senate, we continue to need a concept that will define the struggle we will have to go through to achieve equality. I believe that the acquisition of civil rights remains the goal. However, there is considerable confusion around that term, primarily, I think, because the concept of civil rights is trapped in the iconography of the 1960s in the minds of many people an... MORE >>

Jump start the economy - pass a stimulus package now

by Mark H. Morial

If we needed any further proof that our economy is in dire need of emergency resuscitation, exactly four days after the presidential election the government reported a staggering loss of 240,000 jobs in the month of October, substantially more than the 200,000 job loss forecasted for the month. This past weekend, we also learned that 15,000 more jobs have already been eliminated in the first week of November. The unemployment rate is now at 6.5 percent, the highest level since... MORE >>

Black businesses will rise with others, says Obama economic advisor

by Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Time Warner Chairman Richard “Dick” Parsons, a member of President-elect Barack Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board, says Black and other minority-owned businesses, which dominate the rock bottom of the economic crisis will be swept upward as the bailouts and stimulus strategies begin to work. “We all know it’s the people on the bottom who suffer most. But you’ve got to fix it on a holistic basis. You’ve got to... MORE >>

Middlespread November 20

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What;'s Up November 20

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Thousands urge Congress and Obama to lead us to a green economy

by A. David Dahmer

"We have been given a planet, and we are responsible for maintaining that planet and ensuring its stability and its ability to go forward," said Bishop Marque E. Duncan (pictured below), senior pastor of Berean Communities Inc. "That is all of our responsibility." Duncan was part of 20 different organizations, dozens of community members, and University of Wisconsin-Madison students who delivered a strong message about the need for urgent action on climate change in... MORE >>

Operation Fresh Start gets huge gift

by A. David Dahmer

The Madison Club Foundation has presented a check for $58,000 to Operation Fresh Start (OFS). The formalities took place at a press conference Nov. 6 at an OFS work site, a house on Madison's south side that is being built by the young builders of OFS. "This contribution to us is one of the largest contributions in the history of Operation Fresh Start," said Connie Ferris Bailey, executive director of Operation Fresh Start. "We are so appreciative of it. What we are tryi... MORE >>

Mocha Moms host "Boys Booked on Barbershops"

National Initiative encourages reading, by A. David Dahmer

The Madison Mocha Moms had a successful "Boys Booked on Barbershops" kick-off on Saturday Nov. 8 at JP Hair Design on Madison's Westside Nov. 8 "It went really well. It was well-received by JP's clients and the parents that were in there with their kids," said Cassaundra Edwards, who founded the local chapter of Mocha Moms Mocha Moms Inc., a national support organization for stay-at-home mothers of color, and The National Institute for Literacy, a U.S. feder... MORE >>

Signing Day

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President: Congratulations! It has been a long campaign season, one that has made us all dream and hope for a better future. Now the real hard work starts: It is time to act on all the promises made. In your first 100 days, we ask you to provide the leadership necessary to move the following key issues forward. Comprehensive immigration reform: Immigrants are part of this country's fabric. We are hardworking, committed members of our communities. We deserve a fun... MORE >>

Anita Martin

In the not-so-distant past, a new car cost the same as it costs to attend one year of college today. So how can you prevent the cost of college from keeping you or your child from pursuing higher education? On Oct. 30, Steven D. Lamb and Robert DeCock presented a workshop designed for parents and students titled "Save on College: How to Effectively Prepare to Ensure College Success." It was the first of several free workshops being hosted this fall by the Madison nonprofit A... MORE >>

Odyssey Showcase an uplifting experience

by A. David Dahmer and Jeanne Erickson

With photo boards of past graduates as a backdrop, current and past Odyssey students filled the South Madison Health Center on Nov. 1 for "Odyssey Voices: A Showcase of Student Talent." UW Odyssey Project students shared excerpts from their creative work, including winning entries in a "Why Vote?" essay competition.  Audience members were honored with personal stories of the Odyssey journey shared by Josephine Lorya, Annette Bland, Rockameen, Shanita Lawrence,... MORE >>

On the election of President Barack Obama

by Scott Gray

After the longest and hardest-fought presidential campaign in American history, the votes are now in; and Barack Obama has just been elected the 44th president of the United States. The Urban League of Greater Madison congratulates President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and their families for turning what began as an improbable journey into a historic victory for their party and our country. We wel... MORE >>

No more excuses

by Gail Moore

Like millions of Americans, I cried tears of joy on Nov. 4, 2008, when the news commentators announced that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Black man, would be the 44th president of the United States. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, an event I never believed I'd see in my lifetime. An event which has brought renewed hope for our democracy. An event which filled me with pride and underscored the rea... MORE >>

Jackson, Sharpton say their activist roles will not change

by Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON (NNPA) —The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, perhaps the highest-profile civil rights leaders in the nation, both say their roles will not change as America beholds its first Black president. "The issues haven't gone away," says Sharpton. "Barack Obama said this is the beginning of change. This is not change itself. It's almost insulting to act like Blacks should now shut up, just because we have a Black president." In a recent interview... MORE >>

Something else to celebrate

by James Clingman

It's the time of the year when we start thinking about our taxes, the time of the year when I usually dedicate this column to the largest Black tax-preparation firm in the country. Now, in 2008, with 156 offices across the United States and growing, Compro-Tax Inc. should be high on your list of businesses to support during the initial four months of the tax season — and beyond. So as I give you something else to cheer about, go to www.comprota... MORE >>

The Black vote in 2008

by Ron Walters

Pardon me if I begin this with a little crowing, since I attracted considerable heat months ago when I declared that Barack Obama would win this election in a landslide and that the Black vote would reach unprecedented levels. Both of these predictions materialized. So I will go on to briefly describe the performance of the Black vote in this election, knowing that it is always dangerous to talk statistics while votes are still being counted. But I will try to give some estima... MORE >>

Yes, we can!

by Marian Wright Edelman

I am so proud of America! I am so proud of President-elect Barack Obama, who calls us to greatness and to rise to our best selves. And I am so proud of all the young people who joined with him in saying, "Yes, we can!" The election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States has revived America's dream from the smoldering rubble of war; the quicksand of racial, religious, and class strife; and the selfish individualism and reckless greed that have brought our n... MORE >>

Religious right still vocal

by Bill Berkowitz

OAKLAND, Calif. (IPS/GIN) — The election of Sen. Barack Obama as the first African American president of the United States will not mark the end of the religious right. Although many in the mainstream media will write and talk about the movement's imminent demise, that demise is not likely. More relevant questions are how the religious right will behave during an Obama administration and what steps the movement will take to resurrect its troops. While Obama's victory was a major ... MORE >>

100-year-old celebrates

by Melanie Holmes

PHILADELPHIA (NNPA) — Raymond Bowman's memory has not failed him in the least. To this day, the 100-year-old vividly remembers the welts whipped into his great-grandfather's back, each painful protrusion an unsightly symbol of slavery's sting throughout the Black community. But on Nov. 4, Bowman witnessed the ultimate reparations in the form of 50 states and a White House when America elected Sen. Barack Obama as its first African American president. "I was jubilant," ... MORE >>

China's Tibet, Taiwan talks get different reactions

by Antoaneta Bezlova

BEIJING (IPS/GIN) — Chinese negotiators last week discussed Tibet's quest for genuine autonomy with the Dalai Lama's representatives and also advanced establishing economic rapprochement with Taiwan. Beijing has been seeking reunification with Taiwan for as long as Tibet has pursued a promised right to self-determination, but the two negotiations got very different treatments in the state-sanctioned Chinese press. The Taiwan talks, which sought to build foundations for closer eng... MORE >>

"Michelle: A Biography"

Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

They say that behind every great men is a woman who's willing to give him a goose in the posterior when he needs it most. Marc Antony had Cleopatra. Henry VIII had Catherine, Kathryn, Katherine, two Annes, and a Jane. Harry would have been lost without Bess. Martin had his Coretta. And Barack has Michelle. By now, we know a lot about our future leader, but what do we know about the woman behind the office? You'll find out when you read "Michelle" by Liza Mundy. To trul... MORE >>

Middlespread November 13th

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The Healing Touch of Robotic Hands

by St. Mary's Hospital

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What's Up November 13th

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Barack Obama elected America's first Black president

by Hazel Trice Edney

 WASHINGTON(NNPA) — After a fierce fight of two years to change the course of history, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has been elected the first African-American president of the United States. His win culminates an American history that expands from Black slavery to Jim Crow to a modern day civil rights movement still marked by institutional racism. “America is in the process and has taken the first step of turning from darkness unto light, turning from war unto piece,... MORE >>

Historic presidential election brings hope

Dawn of a Brand New Day, by A. David Dahmer and Ray Allen

Dreams do come true. Any worry of a "Bradley effect" or an "October Surprise" for the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign was put to ease with an overwhelming Electoral College win of 349 to 147 over Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday night. Locally, Barack Obama did not merely win Wisconsin; he swept the Badger state — 56.5 percent to 42.5 percent — with a popular vote majority unseen here since President Lyndon Johnson's 1964 victory. ... MORE >>

Annual event addresses growing Latino campus population

UW-Madison Latino Summit 2008, by A. David Dahmer

 The UW-Madison Latino Summit 2008 discussed the ways the university can further meet the needs of the fastest-growing minority on campus on Oct. 30 in Tripp Commons of the Memorial Union. This is the second year for the summit, which is sponsored by the Latino Faculty Staff Association (LAFSA), Dr. Damon Williams, vice provost for diversity and climate, was one of the key speakers along with Dr. Jose F. Vasquez, a Regent at the University of Wisconsin System. "... MORE >>

Dane County Youth Board open house highlights referendum

At the recent Dane County Youth Board (DCYB) Open House, area students highlighted some of the programs in jeopardy if voters fail to pass the upcoming Madison Metropolitan School District referendum on Nov. 4. The referendum would later pass with more than 67 percent of the vote The DCYB provided several fact sheets. If the referendum does not pass, the school district estimates that in order to comply with state-imposed revenue limits, $8.1 million would have to be cut from the 2009-... MORE >>

Veterans for Peace plan November Memorial Mile

by Paul McMahon, Madison Veterans for Peace

The Madison chapter of Veterans for Peace (VFP) is once again planning for Veterans Day week in November. The public is urged to attend VFP's Memorial Mile events, which encourage greater movement toward ending the war in Iraq and emphasizing policies of strong diplomacy in international relations within the family of nations. To that end, on Saturday, Nov. 8, some 4,700 tombstones will be erected along Speedway Road in Forest Hill Cemetery on Madison's near west side. After two succes... MORE >>

Creating a safe and inclusive community:

Disparities in criminial justice in Wisconsin, by Anita Martin

Nearly 300 folks gathered at the seventh annual YWCA Racial Justice Summit, which took place at the Sheraton Madison Hotel Oct. 16-17. The event attracted attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, social workers, and other community members along with a blend of local experts as well as nationally known speakers. UW Madison Professor of Sociology, Pamela Oliver spoke on racial disparities in criminal justice in Wisconsin. Dr. Oliver serves on the board of a number of organizations ... MORE >>

For food industry leaders, a meeting worth its salt

by Kathy Glass

MADISON —  Salt — a.k.a. sodium chloride — can't easily be cut from the American diet. It is a key preservative, one that has been used for thousands of years to combat the growth of pathogenic microbes in foods. Now as much as ever, we rely on it to keep our processed, ready-to-eat meals safe. Despite the challenges, food companies are interested in finding alternatives to salt that won't compromise food safety. For these industry leaders, the University of Wisc... MORE >>

Experts on Latin America call out to Obama

by Haider Rizvi

NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) — An open letter to Sen. Barack Obama was fashioned around one question: Will Washington's policy toward Latin America be genuinely different from past U.S. administrations if Obama is elected as the next president in November? To some experts on Latin America, the answer is “no.” Others believe the U.S. role would be far more positive. “I don't think Obama is devoting a lot of energy to focus on Latin America. That may be due to the s... MORE >>

Experts predict a change in Cuba-U.S. relations fueled by oil discovery

by Patricia Grogg

HAVANA, Cuba, — The discovery of a significant oilfield in Cuban waters could persuade the United States to modify its policy toward the island nation, experts say. The experts were also warning that the possibility could also entail risks. “When there are important economic interests at play, in terms of market and resources that are strategic for Washington, the ideological components that have driven U.S. Cuba policy come tumbling down,” Cuban academic and r... MORE >>

Governments still don't do enough about poverty, experts say

by Zahira Kharsany

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (IPS/GIN) — Anti-poverty activists are saying governments must listen to the more than 116 million people in 131 countries across the world who participated in the global “Stand Up and Take Action” campaign that became the biggest mass mobilization on a single issue. The activists criticized the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase, while governments have refused to make poverty alleviation a priority. ... MORE >>