Keith Jenkins, president of The Oniru Group, will become the new president of Kettering Health Washington Township. He replaces Daniel Tryon, who is now president of Soin Medical Center and Kettering Health Greene Memorial. Keith has 30 years of experience as a human resources professional across many different industries. Most recently, he has served as the president of The Oniru Group, a human resources and leadership performance laboratory. Keith previously served at Kettering Health for nine years in many roles, including human resources director and system inclusion officer. For many years, he also worked with Kettering Health Dayton’s medical residency program in affiliation with Ohio University. He has served in other organizations in the Dayton area, such as Reynolds + Reynolds and Dayton VA Medical Center. In addition to his work experience, Keith is a certified Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and a fellow with the Advisory Board. He is passionate about his work with local nonprofits, with a special focus on reducing homelessness and human trafficking. “We are excited to welcome Keith back to Kettering Health,” said Fred Manchur, CEO of Kettering Health. “His leadership at Kettering Health Washington Township will be vital as we continue our sacred work of improving the health and well-being of our community.” ### This article originally appeared at Kettering Health on December 21, 2021. https://ketteringhealth.org/keith-jenkins-named-president-of-kettering-health-washington-township/

Written by Derek Major, This article originally appeared in Black Enterprise The Salesforce National Black Business Month Block Party brought together Black entrepreneurs, entertainers, and business leaders to discuss building Black wealth, investing in the future, and insights to success. Hosted by Salesforce and sponsored by Black Enterprise and Deloitte Digital, the National Black Business Month Block Party featured discussions with comedian Yvonne Orji, former NBA All-Star Baron Davis, and others about taking their careers into their hands. The Block Party also featured panel discussions and interviews on technology and building your brand. Orji, who stars on HBO’s Insecure, talked with the CEO of Salesforce Foundation and Chief Philanthropy Officer Ebony Beckwith and discussed taking control of her career. Orji told Beckwith about her new book Bamboozled By Jesus: How God Tricked Me Into the Life of My Dreams and how she spent her youth preparing to become a doctor. She said in 2006, God told her to pursue comedy, but she was apprehensive about it because she didn’t think her parents would approve. “It was at that moment where I did take my life into my hands to a certain degree and said, ‘alright, I knew that being a doctor wasn’t it for me,’ and I didn’t know what the alternative was, and it scared the crap out of me, but I’d rather do scared than not do it at all and not know what I could’ve been.” Orji and Beckwith also discussed how to stay motivated through the ups and downs of a career, how women can own their own journey, start from the bottom, and work their way up. As a comedienne, Orji knows what it’s like to climb your way up the ladder to success. “The way up is sometimes down, and in this popcorn generation, everybody wants to be a boss, but nobody wants to be a PA,” Orji said. “I believe boss status is available for everybody, but at some point, every boss was an employee. So the paying of dues has kinda been a thing that people don’t want to do anymore. There might be some sweat equity required, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re doing what you need to do to get to where you want to be.” Other featured speakers at the Black Business Block Party were Salesforce’s Senior Director of Strategic Business Development Shalaya Shipman, Shop Circulate CEO Khadijah Robinson, and two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis. The group discussed technology and Black businesses, focusing on how entrepreneurs and Black businesses can leverage technology to build, expand, and thrive. Robinson partnered with Salesforce and rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs to create Shop Circulate, a digital marketplace promoting Black-owned businesses. During the interview, Robinson, an HBCU graduate, discussed her process and how to attract the interest of consumers. “I don’t know if anyone has it figured out completely,” Robinson said. “Most of us don’t have a process; the process is winging it. No matter how far we get in our entrepreneurial journey, we have a lot of things that rest on our gut, and I think a lot of the successful entrepreneurs you see out there just have really good guts, and they trust their gut.” Davis, who played more than a decade in the NBA, said Black Americans have an incredible opportunity to carve out their own space and thrive due to technology and social media. The former Golden State Warrior also discussed what pushed him into taking control of his own career. “If we can carve ourselves some space out in America and go sit in a corner with our money, our resources, our brands, and our intelligence, we have an incredible opportunity to start to look at what does the greater world look like and how do we start to activate it,” Davis said. “So what triggered it for me is I became my own agent. I kinda stepped out on a limb and became an outsider-insider. If you look at the NBA now, you see these guys going into tech and investing.” The Black Business Month Block Party hosted other interviews and discussions with award-winning podcaster Gia Peppers, Dr. Kari Williams, Karen Civil, and others. The interviews will be posted on Black Enterprise, so stay tuned.

Let’s Celebrate and Support! August is National Black Business Month. Let’s get ready to bingo! Yvette Kelly-Fields, nonprofit executive by day and a local food blogger of What’s for Dessert? by night, in partnership with 20 locally owned Black businesses and a non-profit is hosting a month-long game of bingo to encourage the greater Dayton community to support Black businesses during the month of August. The August designation as National Black Business Month began in 2004 when the holiday’s founders John William Templeton, a historian, and Frederick E. Jordan Sr., a civil engineer, as business owners saw the lack of support Black business received particularly as it related to capital. According to a survey of more than 400 Black small business owners conducted last year by Groupon and National Black Chamber of Commerce, 80% said they faced more challenges launching their businesses due to their race, 74% said they have had fewer opportunities due to a lack of capital investment and resources targeted towards Black communities, and 76% of Black-owned businesses said they were negatively impacted by COVID-19, but only 5% of those that applied for Paycheck Protection Program loan received one. It is for these and other reasons they have sought to elevate these businesses in the eyes of government officials, corporate heads, and the public at large “to drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African American businesses." While public policy can bring capital to businesses in the form of government grants, contracts, and corporate diversity supplier programs, the average every day person can bring capital to a Black business by simply and intentionally spending with Black businesses. “Cash flow means everything to staying in business. The quickest way to increase cash flow is to increase paid customers. Therefore, we said yes to provide media support to this project. It is a fun and exciting way to engage shoppers and encourage interaction between business owners and the public,” shared Donerik Black, publisher of the Dayton Weekly News. “As the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Dayton, it is important that our business and other Black owned businesses have the opportunity to thrive economically. This is only possible with access to capital and to paying customers.” Sponsored by Bob Ross Auto Group, one of the oldest Black dealerships in America and only one of four Black female-owned dealerships, this year’s National Black Business Month celebration gets a boost with a fun game of bingo which is easy to play! To take part, cut out the bingo card in the Dayton Weekly Newspaper during the month of August or download a bingo card at nbbmdayton.com, visit and make a purchase at a participating business establishment during the month of August, or enter by donating to a participating charity or accessing legal, insurance, and realty services. Every purchase is an entry. Players must simply email their receipt or confirmation of service to info@nbbmdayton.com. Or players can keep receipts and email them once they have a BINGO to get 10 entries. There are weekly drawings for prizes including gift cards to Gem City Market, Speedway gas and a grand prize of a $100 Visa gift card. All entries are eligible for the grand prize. Winners are chosen at random from among all qualified entries. Participants can enter as many times as they like to increase their chances to win, but only one weekly winner per household. For a list of participating businesses and complete contest rules go to nbbmdayton.com. What’s for Dessert is a local food blog written by Kelly-Fields. Shoppers are encouraged to share their experience of National Black Business Month Dayton Bingo on social media under #NBBMDayton, #NationalBlackBusinessMonth, and #ShopBlack. For additional information, please contact Yvette Kelly-Fields at (937) 974-1920 or nbbmdayton.com.

Blending whiskey was never part of Victoria Eady Butler’s career plan. She spent decades working in law enforcement, most recently as an analytical manager for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center in Nashville. But her great-great grandfather was Nathaniel “Nearest” Green, an African American distiller who is considered the godfather of Tennessee whiskey and who taught a young Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. As a descendant of such a legend, Butler, too, seemed destined to make her mark on the industry. Butler entered the world of premium whiskey through Fawn Weaver, who had connected with the Eady family while researching Green’s story. Weaver is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in Shelbyville, Tennessee, as well as an author, entrepreneur, and the woman responsible for bringing Nearest Green’s story to national attention. When Butler retired, Weaver hired her as director of administration for the distillery. But it wasn’t long before Butler’s responsibilities started to evolve. While working for the distillery Butler became even more intrigued by her ancestor’s story. Curiosity quickly gave way to a fervent interest in the crafts of distilling and blending whiskey, and Butler started learning as much as she could. But perhaps even more important, when it came to blending whiskey Eady found that she had innately sharp instincts and a palette she could trust. In May 2019, Butler was invited to curate the first batch of Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, which hit the market two months later and immediately started winning awards. When Butler curated the second batch, the accolades and awards kept coming. By November of that year, Butler was elevated to master blender. “I really believe whiskey is in my blood. My great-great grandfather started making whiskey in the 1800s, and I believe those skills transcended in me,” Butler said. “Now, after being awarded and honored with Master Blender of the Year, I know I’m on the right track.” Butler is the first female African American master blender of a major brand and the first Black woman to win Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky for Master Blender of the Year. “Prior to joining the team, I never would’ve guessed this is where I would be today. It’s been a fantastic ride, and I love every minute of it,” Butler said. “This work has unleashed a passion in me that I didn’t know was there.” The Nearest Green Story Butler has been listening to stories about her great-great grandfather for as long as she can remember, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that she fully understood the magnitude of his contribution to the world of whiskey. We know little of Nathan “Nearest” (or “Uncle Nearest”) Green’s early life. Records show that in the 1850s he was enslaved near Lynchburg in Lincoln County, Tennessee, operating a whiskey still on a farm owned by Reverend Dan Call. Green was well known in the area (and beyond) for distilling exceptional whiskey, and Call described him as “the best whiskey maker I know of.” He continually experimented with ways to improve the smoothness and flavor of the spirit, and is credited with perfecting what became known as the Lincoln County Process. This process uses sugar maple charcoal to filter whiskey before aging. It gives Tennessee whiskey its unique flavor profile and distinguishes it from bourbon. By the late 1850s a young Jack Daniel, whose family lived nearby, left home to work on Call’s farm. By that time Green was fully in charge of the distilling, and he took Daniel under his wing and taught him how to make whiskey—including Green’s new and distinctive “Tennessee style” whiskey using the process he had perfected. "Equipped with an all-female executive team – and now a female master blender – Uncle Nearest is the only whiskey brand owned by an African American woman. It's also the fastest-growing American spirit in history." Daniel later bought Call’s still. Green was a free man by then and Daniel hired him as his first head distiller, making Green the first known African American master distiller in the U.S. Three of Green’s sons and three of his grandsons worked at the distillery after him, continuing his legacy. Several of his descendants are a part of the staff at the Jack Daniels distillery today, including a number of Butler’s siblings. In 2013 the governor of Tennessee signed a law stating that Tennessee whiskey must adhere to the Lincoln County Process, since that process sets Tennessee whiskey apart from other spirits—further testimony of Green’s lasting impact on the industry. A Brand with Many Firsts Weaver founded Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2017 as a way to ensure that Nearest Green’s legacy would live on. Equipped with an all-female executive team – and now a female master blender – Uncle Nearest is also the only whiskey brand owned by an African American woman. After celebrating 10 consecutive quarters of 100% growth, Uncle Nearest is also the fastest-growing American spirit in history. When asked about the secret to the brand’s success, Butler is quick to reply: “Fawn Weaver is a brilliant business woman. She is very driven and has a passion for distillery life. We’re also working in our lane. We don’t let statistics or articles or other people decide our destiny. We run at an accelerated pace every day, but we do so with excellence.” Weaver and her team launched the brand with their 1856 Premium Batch Whiskey, an 8- to 14-year-old, 100 proof whiskey named for the year Nearest Green perfected the Lincoln County process of distilling whiskey. It was awarded the gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020. Next, the 1884 Small Batch Whiskey is a 7-year-old blend named for the last year Green put whiskey in a barrel. It was also a 2020 Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Finally, the 1820 Single Barrel, 11-year-old whiskey is the rarest of the three expressions. Only 1% of the barrels selected ever make it to the bottle, and it can only be purchased at the Nearest Green distillery. Butler notes that the brand was created in an atmosphere of inclusion with a team that reflects America. “We want people to know that everyone is welcome for a seat at our table,” she said. While that may account for some of the brand’s success, there’s no overlooking the fact that it’s also very good whiskey. The future looks bright for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and Butler is excited for what lies ahead. The brand has been able to maintain its status as an award-winning whiskey. Growth continues at an unprecedented rate. And the opening of the second phase of the distillery creates new opportunities for success as a premier visitor destination. Above all, the legacy of Nearest Green is now firmly entrenched, never to be forgotten. “The focus is, was and always will be Nearest Green,” Butler said. “His legacy is what drives me, and it’s what drives our entire team.” The Nearest Green Distillery Although the first phase of the Nearest Green Distillery opened in the fall of 2019, it closed to visitors in 2020 due to COVID-19. With the opening of phase two, which took place on June 19, 2021, or Juneteenth, visitors can once again enjoy tasting, tours and more. Located in Shelbyville, Tennessee on what was once a Tennessee Walking Horse farm, the facility includes a single barrel warehouse, family tasting room and restaurant. A new Welcome Center pays homage to a collection of Tennessee inventions, from Tennessee whiskey and Tennessee Walking Horses to Tennessee music and plenty of Uncle Nearest merchandise. Go for the whiskey or go for the history. Either way, it’s worth the drive. If you can't make it to the Distillery, master distiller Victoria Eady Butler shares a favorite cocktail recipe to make at home: Lasting Impression 1.5 ounces Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey 2 dashes Regan’s orange bitters 1 tsp. raspberry preserves ½ ounce simple syrup ½ ounce fresh lemon juice Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously (to break down the raspberry preserves) until everything is chilled and combined. Strain into a glass (without ice) and enjoy. Glassware: Nick and Nora coupe or martini glass. Garnish: Orange pigtail. Note: This cocktail may sound sweet, but it’s not; the lemon gives it a great balance. Learn More About Nearest Green's Story If you want to learn more about Nearest Green’s extraordinary legacy, this short film produced by the Uncle Nearest team explores his life and contributions to American distilling. You can also read more on the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey website. This article was written by Lori Murray and originally appeared on July 08, 2021 at OHLQ: Ohio Liquor.

Just ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, a Naomi Osaka Barbie Role Model doll was released by Mattel. It celebrates the athlete who became “the first Japanese player to win a major title in a singles match” in 2018, according to a press release . The Naomi Osaka Barbie® doll is a part of Barbie’s celebration of “real-life role models” which is comprised of “remarkable women who are breaking boundaries and inspiring the next generation.” The fully posable doll sports a familiar Nike outfit Osaka wore during the 2020 Australian Open. “It’s such an honor to be a part of the Barbie Role Model series, and to remind young girls that they can make a difference in the world. I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big and to know that if they believe in themselves that anything is possible!” Osaka said. Per the press release, “Barbie has always encouraged girls to use their voice to stand up for what they believe in” while empowering them. Naomi has accomplished this, “on and off the field,” in several manners. The tennis star has used her platform to advocate for racial justice and empower athletes who are female. Osaka holds the current status of being ranked the no. 2 tennis player by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). “We are incredibly honored to spotlight Naomi Osaka as part of our Barbie Role Model series. She has paved the way for future generations of girls to dream bigger, and through her unwavering courage and honesty, shown the world the importance of being your own biggest champion. Naomi continues to break boundaries on and off the court and is a powerful role model to fans everywhere,” said Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel. In 2019, Osaka’s likeness was included in Barbie® Shero a group of women. However, the new doll is part of Mattel’s Black Label® series of dolls. Image courtesy of Olympics.com In addition to Osaka fans of all ages, doll collectors may also have an additional reason to add the new doll to their collections. Per the AP and ESPN, the tennis champion who is “the world’s highest-paid female athlete” received the Best Female Athlete award at the 2021 ESPYS on Saturday night. The public appearance marked Osaka’s first time returning to the spotlight since the tennis player withdrew from the French Open and skipped Wimbledon, while citing a need to tend to her mental health. Osaka will return to the tennis court to represent Japan in the Tokyo Olympics. The games will be held in Tokyo beginning later this month without spectators at the venues, due to COVID-19 concerns, according to details provided on the sporting event’s website. You may click here to purchase the new Osaka doll. This article was written by Andrea Blackstone and originally appeared July 12, 2021 at BlackEnterprise.com.

Starting a business can be an exciting, but it can also be challenging. To succeed, you will need the right tools. For over two decades, Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (MVCAP) has offered the Micro-Enterprise Business Development and Training Program to help individuals interested in starting and maintaining their own business take the necessary first step. In partnership with Montgomery County, MVCAP also provides funding for small businesses in need of financial assistance for growth. The US Census Bureau estimates that 92% of small businesses are microenterprises. A microenterprise is a business operating on a small scale, often with a sole proprietor and fewer than ten employees. Microenterprises are often started with a small amount of capital from the owner’s savings, contributions from friends and family, or a small bank loan. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of U.S. small businesses fail within the first year. When microenterprises fail, the investment is lost. For many, a small business failure can make a bad situation worse. One of the most common reasons for business failure is a lack of planning. The Micro-Enterprise Business Development and Training Program is a 10-week business development course offered in Montgomery County and gives prospective business owners all the tools necessary to start their business successfully. Students learn about key business functions and the main components of a formal business plan. By thinking through business scenarios, students identify and plan for the many pitfalls that can lead to business failure. The course also focuses on the managerial skills needed to grow and maintain their enterprise. Course topics include managing business records, financing your business, managing cash flow, pricing your products/services, and more. “Over the years, our professionals have helped hundreds [of individuals] understand what it takes to start and run a small business,” says LaSandra James, Director of Micro-Enterprise and Computer Learning for Miami Valley Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area. “We look forward to returning to in-person classes in the future. Our small classes provide plenty of individualized learning and encouragement, but when in-person, the group tends to bond and form lasting business relationships. Having a network of people that are going through the same business challenges can make a difference in your ability to persevere and stay focused.” “The goals of the Micro-Enterprise Business Development and Training Program are to provide motivated and committed entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive business training and obtain needed start-up capital and technical assistance,” adds Wright. “The course gives a firm grasp on the requirements to start and run a business successfully. MVCAP’s Micro-Enterprise training is a vital component that fills a void for so many disadvantaged individuals in the community. The class has allowed dreamers to pursue lifetime goals. Some students were at first reluctant, but most have gained the courage and the means to confront their fears and take the necessary step forward in changing their lives and possibly sustain a position of self-sufficiency in the community,” says RoShawn Winburn, Instructor for the Micro-Enterprise Business Development and Training course. To reserve your spot in the next ten-week session, complete the required, pre-registration online at https://mcmicro.eventbrite.com. The next class starts Thursday, April 15, and all classes will be conducted online, from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. each Thursday. For more information, please contact Caroline Christian at 937-341-5000 x172. Miami Valley Community Action Partnership is a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit Community Action Agency, committed to eliminating the causes and conditions of poverty and promoting self-sufficiency by providing programs and services in the Miami Valley.

From DPS News 11/13/2020 Shantele King, a senior at David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center, is one of two Ponitz students to be honored with a state-wide math recognition from TODOS, an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This achievement recognizes students who have demonstrated sustained success and progress in mathematics, as well as leadership in or out of the classroom regarding mathematics education. King and her fellow classmate, Adam Washington, were each honored at a virtual conference at the end of October. When King was asked to write an essay to accompany her nomination for the award, she said she did not think that she actually had a shot at winning. For many years, King did not enjoy math and did not consider herself particularly good at math. However, she said that changed when she came to Ponitz her freshman year because she had several teachers who helped her understand the material she had been struggling to grasp. She credits their one-on-one attention with not only helping her to better understand math, but with leading her to actually enjoy her math classes. Eventually, she even thought it was fun to work out more difficult math problems. “It really has to do with the teacher,” said King. “Math is a complicated subject. But it’s not as hard as people think it is. It has a lot to do with who’s teaching you, how they’re teaching you and if they’re explaining it to you the right way.” Mr. John Foster, the Ponitz instructor who nominated King for the award, is one of the teachers she credits with her success. At the awards ceremony, Mr. Foster said he appreciates that King comes to class with an open mind and desire to learn and grow. He also said both King and Washington are joys to have in class, and are perfect representations of dedicated, bright students. King, a biotechnology student, and Washington, a dental student, will both graduate from Ponitz in the Spring.

When: Saturday, March 1, 7:30 PM and Sunday, March 2, 4:00 PM Where: Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402   On March 1st and 2nd at the Victoria Theatre, audiences get to cheer, applaud, and contemplate the visions of four dynamic Black women creators. And this, just in time, too, as we as a nation are called upon to re-affirm the positive values of a diverse, inclusive and equitable society. Winifred Harris, activist artist, community organizer, and entrepreneur, seeks to balance the beautiful escapism of dance and the realities that form today’s aesthetic and cultural values. In her world premiere  Shadows Just Before , dancers explore the expansions and contractions of their shadow selves. To music by Claude Young and John Batiste, dancers alternate calm meditative moments with startling bursts of speed and passion. DCDC Associate Artistic Director, Qarrianne Blayr, who is also performing in the above work, uses actual voicemails as a prompt in recalling the warmth engendered by familial endearments. In  Call(ing),  five women respond to delivered messages in unison passages and assisted solos that vivify communal support. Ms. Blayr’s contemporary choreography is informed by her deep knowledge, and application of West African dance to modern dance aesthetics. Kia S. Smith’s South Chicago Dance Theatre are DCDC’s special guests. Ms. Smith is an alumnus of DCDC’s 2nd company, who has gone on to further acclaim (Dance Magazine’s  25 to Watch , is among her many honors and recognitions). Her multi-cultural dance company will perform an excerpt of her full length ballet,  Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley.  The company of eight dancers are sleek and accomplished movers.   Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley , underscores the robust contributions of Black people to jazz culture in Chicago. Countess V. Winfrey’s  huMAN/NAture  is a sumptuous banquet of movement, visuals and sound. The sound is provided by Ms. Winfrey’s brother, jazz composer Wesley Winfrey, performed live at these shows. The dramatic, and ever evolving backdrop of verdant trees, indigo sky and floating flowers, was designed by Kanetha Scott. Ms. Winfrey’s multi-section work is epic in its depiction of evolving spirits. Luscious movements of entwined lovers, meticulously timed spinning and leaping men, and women strong enough to carry men twice their size completes this vision of a community gone from elemental to exuberant. Tickets can be had by going to  daytonlive.org/dcdc  or calling 937.228.3630 Visit us at  www.dcdc.org  and on Facebook/Instagram: @daytoncontemporarydancecompany Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) was founded in 1968 to create performance opportunities for African American dancers. 56 years later, it remains rooted in the African-American experience, committed to the presentation of accomplished movement artists on the global stage. Known for its extraordinary artistic expression, precision, and athleticism, DCDC also believes dance is for everyone, and includes dance education as an essential mission goal.   DCDC’s Qarrianne Blayr in  huMAN/NAture  Photo credit Scott Robbins ..\Pictures\Qarianne in motion humannature.jpg South Chicago Dance Theatre Photo credit Michelle Reid ..\Pictures\SCDT  Performance2 - photo credit Michelle Reid.jpg

The Dayton Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in partnership with Kroger, Fuyao, and retired entrepreneur William Pollard, is proud to host its 5th Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway for families in need. This community event aims to bless families during the Thanksgiving season with a complimentary turkey and holiday essentials. Event Details Section: Who:  Families in the Dayton Region When:  Friday, November 22, 2024 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Where:  NAACP Dayton Headquarters, 915 Salem Ave , Dayton, OH Each family is eligible for one turkey, with a maximum of two turkeys per vehicle. Valid ID required. Founded in 1915, the Dayton Unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the city’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the Dayton Region and Montgomery County are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Their core goals are to Inform , Educate and Empower the Citizenry as they pursue justice and equality for all Americans. For additional information about the event or to learn about the services offered by the NAACP, please contact (937) 222-2172  or visit www.naacpdayton.org . Officers of the Dayton Branch NAACP,   Dr. Derrick L. Foward, President “NAACP Image-Award Winning Activist” Mattie P. White, Vice President Tom Roberts, Second Vice President Willie A. Terrell, Jr., Third Vice President Clair M. Thompson, Secretary Tiwona L. Foward, Treasurer Lauretta Williams, Assistant Secretary Harvey C. Bolden, Assistant Treasurer

By: Ben Jealous With the holiday season approaching, it seems that our country could not be more divided. That division has been perhaps the main overarching topic of our national conversation in recent years. And it has taken root within many of our own families.   Blood may be thicker than water, but for many American families it seems like it is not as thick as politics. Or, if not politics specifically, then the cultural rifts that have been widened and inflamed within our political debate.   Maybe our national healing can start with our families, around the holiday table.   There are mixed views within my own family, just like there are in millions of American families. And within my family there are stories of division and stories of healing.   My family traces its roots in America on my dad’s side back 400 years to Massachusetts – the home of the first Thanksgiving. My mom’s family has also been here the better part of 400 years, but in Virginia and Maryland, tracing back to that area's earliest white settlers and their African slaves.    When my parents fell in love as young civil rights activists in Baltimore and got married, their marriage was illegal in Maryland. Their relationship was taboo at the time. My father’s family disowned him for marrying a Black woman and he lost his inheritance.    So, I grew up on America’s racial fault line. And learning about my own family’s history has provided an important perspective on the nature of division both within the family itself and the country – our big, messy American family.   Using DNA research to trace my own family’s origins, I discovered that like President Barack Obama, I am distant cousins with former Vice President Dick Cheney. That revelation was interesting. But the revelation that I am also distant cousins with Robert E. Lee was a little harder to swallow. I was the youngest ever national president of the NAACP. He was the Confederate general who essentially fought to preserve the institution of slavery.   The Civil War itself was a conflict that famously divided families. “Brother against brother” is a phrase commonly used to describe those divisions that emerged within many American families, especially in the border states like my home state of Maryland.    And after the Civil War, America’s divisions certainly did not go away. But there are inspiring stories of coming together as well that simply have not been told as much as the stories of division and oppression.   My grandmother’s grandfather was at the center of one of those stories. In the years immediately following Reconstruction, Edward David Bland – who had been born into slavery – led Virginia’s Black Republicans into coalition with former white Confederate soldiers to form a third party that took over the Virginia state government.    How many of us grew up learning that freedmen and the same Confederates that had fought to keep them enslaved actually came together to form a winning political party based on the common desire to save their state’s public schools?   Known as the Readjusters, the bipartisan, multiracial movement won all statewide elected offices and controlled the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1881 to 1885. In that time, they abolished the poll tax and the whipping post, radically expanded Virginia Tech and created Virginia State University, and readjusted the terms of the Civil War debt to save the free public schools and take the state from a financial deficit into a surplus.   That is just one story that illustrates how as a country we have managed to work through our divisions and move forward. We have common ground. We just need to look for it. And it should not be that difficult to search for and find that common ground within our own families.   Families can be great composites of many different backgrounds and experiences, just like America itself. And just like America, there can also be room for different viewpoints within families.    Most of us want the same things: a better life for our children, safe communities, good schools, freedom. That we might have different perspectives on what some of these things mean does not make for insurmountable differences. Instead, it begs for conversation and ultimately understanding of why we see things differently. Because whether our ancestors arrived as settlers or immigrants, were enslaved or were among this land’s Indigenous peoples, what we have in common is we are all in the same boat now. Whether we sink or float, it will be together. And to truly thrive, we must heal our divisions. Within our own families is as good a place as any to start.   Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn to Earn Dayton has aligned with community partners to implement a local pilot program that would “level the playing field” for tenants facing eviction, by providing low-income renters with legal representation to help them navigate the complex court system. The new pilot program seeks to provide legal counsel and wrap-around services to 125 tenants who face eviction in northwest Dayton. During the October 23rd City Commission Work Session, Erica Fields, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, shared that the “Without an attorney, tenants are at a significant disadvantage and left to navigate the complex eviction process on their own, demonstrating a critical inequity in the current housing court system.” About 97% of tenants in eviction cases in Dayton Municipal Court are self-represented, according to court data shared during a Dayton City Commission work session last month. In contrast, only about one in 10 landlords and property owners in local eviction cases are self- represented. The vast majority have private lawyers. “Legal counsel helps tenants in eviction cases obtain more favorable outcomes, which could include negotiating a move-out or a repayment plan,” said Debra Lavey, senior attorney with ABLE. Lavey said, “The main goal is to keep people in their homes when possible. Providing tenants with legal counsel should help prevent homelessness and increase housing stability.” The pilot hopes to meet the varied needs of tenants, providing legal representation and social work, education, and empowerment. While the underlying goal is eviction prevention, the outcome could look different depending on the tenant’s needs. The program will pay for a full- time staff attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc. (ABLE) to represent tenants. It also will help cover the cost of services and support from a part-time social worker, a paralegal and an administrative assistant. Supporters say lowering eviction rates has proven to significantly impact family economic mobility, neighborhood stability, and student success. “Our tracked data underscores the critical role of housing in student achievement. Chronic absenteeism significantly heightens the risk of dropout, lower academic performance, and unpreparedness for college or career. Housing instability is by far the greatest predictor of students’ chronic absenteeism from school. This highlights how the housing insecurity crisis disproportionately affects our young learners,” said Fields. According to court data shared by Emma Smales, Director of Data and Impact for Learn to Earn Dayton, more than 3,100 eviction cases were filed in Dayton Municipal Court last year. About half of those filings were associated with residential properties in the 45405 and 45406 ZIP codes, which cover large parts of northwest Dayton. Partners shared that residents have long advocated for an access to counsel program in Northwest Dayton through The Power of Place Plan, a comprehensive community vision for NW Dayton neighborhoods. A key aspect of this pilot is the data tracking and comprehensive evaluation, as the team works to determine how to scale to program to a larger geography and track if eviction prevention now may lead to greater economic mobility. Using the expanded data, the team will review of the challenges and successes in implementation, determine the estimated cost and fiscal impacts of implementing an ongoing eviction right to counsel in Northwest Dayton and in scaling across the region. Partners shared that jurisdictions implementing right to counsel programs have seen cost savings related to housing social safety net responses and in economic value preserved by retaining residency.  The pilot recently launched Nov. 12 and has been designed leveraging the national expertise of Stout, and will be implemented by local legal aid organization, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE). Support for the program has been provided by Blue Meridian Partners and the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation of The Dayton Foundation , with support from the Wright-Patt Credit Union Sunshine Community Fund. Additional partners include Dayton Tenants Union, Omega CDC Learn to Earn Dayton and others. Tenants facing eviction living in Northwest Dayton (zip codes 45405 and 45406) with a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, pregnant or have children living in the home are encouraged to apply directly or through a referral agency for ABLE ’s services through the Legal Aid Line intake line at 1-888-534-1432 or www.legalaidline.org or visit ABLE’s Dayton office a 130 West Second Street, Ste. 700, Dayton, Ohio 45402.

At 25 years old, Chico Minor Jr. from Dayton, Ohio, has transformed his life thanks to NPower. After feeling stuck in jobs without a future, Chico found a path to success through NPower’s tech training program.   Initially, Chico envisioned a career in education, whether as a teacher or by opening his own childcare center to positively impact young lives. However, as he found himself in a repetitive work routine, he began searching for something more fulfilling. That’s when NPower appeared and helped him shift his mindset and career goals.   Now employed at Reynolds and Reynolds, Chico sees a bright future ahead. "My future after NPower looks like having a never-ending career and continuing to grow wherever I end up for a company," he shares. His advice to both his younger self and others: “Be patient—everything will come together.”   Chico's journey is a testament to the impact NPower can have on young adults seeking meaningful careers in technology. His dedication and perseverance have paid off, and his story serves as an inspiration to anyone looking to make a change.