This episode features Craig Anderson, the Senior Executive Director of Transportation. Hear Craig talk about why the DPS 5 C's make for a welcoming workplace at DPS. Dayton Public Schools is an urban district with more than 12,000 students in pre-kindergarten through high school. The district’s early learning center, 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 7 high schools are always striving to do more and do better for students! Here’s why you will love Dayton Public Schools All DPS preschools are rated 5-stars by the Ohio Department of Education. The district has one-to-one technology; a Chromebook is available to every student. Two Career Technology Centers allow students to earn career credentials and college credit. The College Credit Plus Program allows students to earn college credit throughout high school. Students can even earn their associate degree before graduation if they choose. DPS is home to one of the world’s 41 Challenger Learning Centers, where students get hands-on experience with science, math, engineering, design, and learn about space travel and exploration. Free breakfast and lunch is provided daily to all students. Seniors earn approximately $20 million in scholarships to colleges and universities across the country each year. Students and alumni have been recognized at local, state and national levels for their talents in the arts, academics, business, civic leadership and athletics Find Us: 136 S. Ludlow Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402 937-542-3000 | info@daytonpublic.com Video is provided by DPS-TV.

COLUMBUS – Ronald C. Todd II is taking on a new role as the Chief of Social Impact & Opportunity at the Ohio Department of Development. Todd previously served as Governor Mike DeWine’s Minority Affairs Liaison. In his new role, Todd will lead minority community engagement efforts and advise on operational and policy issues to support Development’s mission of empowering communities to succeed. “We’re pleased that Ron is bringing his knowledge, experience, and extensive connections to the community to this new position,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of Development. “His expertise will help us serve Ohioans better.” “I’m happy to join the hard-working team at the Department of Development,” Todd said. “Development’s focus has always been my focus – helping the people, communities, and businesses of Ohio.” As Governor DeWine’s Minority Affairs Liaison, Todd was the administration’s point person on minority business development, economic development, K-12 educational establishments and colleges, faith-based initiatives, and government access. He also is co-chair of the Governor’s RecoveryOhio Minority Health Working Group. Before joining Governor DeWine’s administration in 2019, Todd was a senior advisor and consultant in the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office under then-Secretary Jon Husted. Todd, a third-generation entrepreneur and decedent of coalminers in West Virginia, grew up in the inner-city of Dayton, Ohio where he was an All-City high school football player at Belmont High School. His efforts earned him a football scholarship to Bowling Green State University. Todd earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus and received a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. He is solemnly and publicly affirmed and ordained as an Elder in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, an Ordained Elder by the Order of Inspirational Bible Church-City of Destiny (Cincinnati, Ohio), and the overseer of Governmental Affairs for the Fellowship of Christian Churches United in Service. He serves on the JobsOhio Black Founders Advisory Council and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood. He is married to Janice S. Todd and has one daughter, Kendall S. Curtis. The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov .

Improving access to capital would benefit Dayton's commercial real estate businesses (Editor's Note: This Business Owner Spotlight was curated from Elevated Dayton's response to their COVID Can’t Stop Us small business questionnaire. If you are a woman, veteran or BIPOC business owner in Dayton and would like to share your insights and experiences, we would love to hear from you.) John Lumpkin is the CEO of Lumpkin & Lumpkin Group, a Dayton-based commercial real estate development company. Elevate Dayton caught up with Lumpkin recently to learn how the pandemic has affected his business and how he has responded. Lumpkin said COVID-19 halted several significant projects due to funding drying up, and he had difficulty accessing capital. He focused on networking and sought funding outside of the region, he said. Asked what banks, credit unions and community development finance institutions (CDFIs) could do to better support him and other small business owners, Lumpkin replied: “Make access to capital easier for small businesses especially in the real estate development business.” Lumpkin said he is grateful for his family and his health, and he is looking forward to ramping back up development projects in the coming year.

Nominations are open for YWCA Dayton’s 26th Women of Influence awards. Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton Women of Influence Awards have recognized and honored the most influential women in the Dayton area, women who have made a difference in their community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Past honorees have included such influential local women as former Mayor Rhine McLin and Virginia Kettering. “Women of Influence is a chance to recognize innovators, thought leaders, and changemakers. These are women who make our community stronger by sharing those gifts to break down barriers and help the most vulnerable among us thrive. That is the mission work YWCA Dayton has done for over 150 years, and we are honored to lift up these women in pursuit of that vision,” said YWCA Dayton President & CEO Terra Williams. Nominations can be submitted online at www.ywcadayton.org/woi and are due by Sept. 1, 2023. Honorees will be recognized at the Women of Influence awards luncheon on March 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Dayton Convention Center. With an average attendance of 800, the ceremony is the largest nonprofit luncheon in Dayton. Each year, 100% of proceeds from this fundraiser support YWCA Dayton’s shelter, housing, leadership, and advocacy programs. This critical fundraising ensures we can always be there for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking, whether that’s providing emergency shelter or advocating for survivor rights in the statehouse. Honorees are selected by YWCA leadership and a volunteer Women of Influence committee. To be considered for the Women of Influence award, nominees must: Demonstrate a commitment to, and use her influence to further, the YWCA mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all her profession and community Give back to the community through her time, talent, and/or resources Not currently serve on the YWCA Dayton Board of Directors Not be employed by YWCA Dayton, including contract work More about YWCA Dayton Founded in 1870, YWCA Dayton is the oldest social services organization supporting women and children in Montgomery County and Preble County. We are a champion of women and girls in three key ways: direct service programming, community outreach and education, and advocacy and public policy support. In Montgomery and Preble County, this includes operating the only domestic violence shelters, the oldest 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 937-222-SAFE, the only accredited Rape Crisis Center, four housing programs, and a range of prevention and outreach programs. For comprehensive information, visit www.ywcadayton.org .

Stivers School for the Arts senior Eryk Charlton, who aspires to become a lawyer and a community leader in Dayton, has been awarded the prestigious W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award that provides full tuition, room and board to the University of Dayton and a four-year paid internship with the city of Dayton. The scholarship honors W.S. McIntosh, a civil rights leader in Dayton in the 1960s. McIntosh led one of the first major civil rights protests in Dayton, organized community groups and was executive director of the Dayton chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality. He was shot and killed while trying to prevent a robbery at a downtown jewelry store March 4, 1974. The McIntosh award is presented in his memory annually to a graduating African-American high school student residing in Montgomery County. Recipients must be committed to the ideals of social justice and demonstrate potential for community leadership. The goal of the rogram, established in 1987 by professor Pat Palermo and City of Dayton human resources analyst Mike Herrlein, is to encourage local students to attend UD and stay in the area after graduation by supporting their education and helping them develop professional experience while in school. Charlton told the scholarship selection committee, “McIntosh was a courageous hero that stood for equality, and I want to follow in his footsteps.” A student-athlete, pianist and member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Society, Charlton also has been involved in the community as a volunteer, including following the Memorial Day 2019 tornados that also displaced his family; an intern with the city’s Human Services Planning and Development Department; and a participant in the Al Ka Pals Youth Community Service Organization, Dayton Young Black Professionals and other groups. Charlton also writes a blog, Charlton Initiative, on issues of identity and racism. “He is a ‘roll up the sleeves’ type of person who always puts service before self,” said Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Gerald Parker, whom Charlton has shadowed after the pair met at the city’s annual MLK memorial walk. More information on the McIntosh Scholarship is available on the University’s website. (Source: https://udayton.edu/news/articles/2020/12/mcintosh_scholar.php)

Watch the full interview from WRGT/WKEF Fox45 at https://dayton247now.com/sports/content/spirit-of-giving-high-school-sophomore-plans-surprise-for-senior-living-facility “I just thought of a great idea one day. I was like hmmm, I have Golden Age Karate, It's Christmas time coming up. Let's spread some cheer,” said Jeffrey Wall, the organizer of a Christmas gift giveaway. Christmas time is all about the spirit of giving, and a sophomore at Chaminade Julienne High School, made sure that dozens of residents at a senior living facility, got a taste of that holiday cheer. “If everybody would do what he does it would be a wonderful world to live in,” said Brenda McGraw, a resident at Mad River Manor. “They helped me get to where i am so now it’s my now my turn to give back,” said Jeffrey. And it all started, with a karate class. “When I got my black belt I decided I wanted to help out others so I was like, who doesn't get a lot of love and attention? And I said the independent living facilities and nursing homes. So it just blew up from there,” said Jeffrey. The class is called Golden Age Karate, and Jeffrey Wall holds it for the for the seniors at Mad River Manor. “I’m trying to get my kick move so I can jump up a little more but I enjoy it. Everybody should learn how to do self-defense. You don’t know who’s going to come up behind you and karate chop,” said McGraw with a laugh. With every punch, kick, and karate chop, Jeffrey got closer to the residents there. So when the holidays rolled around, he planned a surprise gift giveaway. But, it’s not easy for a high school student to find enough presents to give to an entire living facility. So, he asked Instagram for help. “The Instagram followers help me by giving me local businesses to get things from like minority businesses, any businesses like that, and they also sent me gifts. So those were very helpful. I got some blankets, some massagers for their feet, all kinds of things. We got a s’more maker, which I kind of wanted for myself, but since I was in a giving mood I decided to let the seniors have it,” said Jeffrey Along with all that, there were a few personal presents too. “When I got back to my apartment I cried because those flowers really touched my heart. Being a cancer survivor, it really touched me knowing that someone thought enough about being give me some flowers,” said McGraw Jeffrey says, he’s just getting started. With both the giveaways, and his karate classes “It just warms my heart to know that I'm making the world a better place. Seeing them smile just makes me all happy inside,” said Jeffrey “I hope he goes farther into the future in teaching everybody how to do karate because that's a nice thing. I enjoy it,” said Linda Harden, another one of Jeffrey’s students. Even though, there are some moves that the seniors are still working to perfect. “I can't jump into the air like he can. I can't do that. He jumps up into the air and I'm like ‘Oh Lord’” said Linda with a laugh. (Source: DAYTON, Ohio (WRGT/WKEF) -- by Andre Johnson, Jr)

DWN Staff speaks to local leaders. Andre Hill, an unarmed 47-year-old Black man, was killed during an early-morning encounter in a residential garage in late December. Authorities said, "a neighbor reported a person who was repeatedly starting and stopping the engine of an SUV at around 1:30 a.m. on a residential street." Body camera footage showed former Columbus police officer Adam Coy approaching Hill, who was holding a cellphone in his left hand. Coy fired his service weapon. Hill fell to the ground, as Coy yelled for him to show his hands. The video did not show Coy providing medical care. Hill later died of his injuries. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced at a press conference on Wednesday night that Adam Coy, has been indicted for Hill's murder. "Coy, accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, was indicted for murder in the commission of a felony, felonious assault, dereliction of duty for failing to activate his body camera and dereliction of duty for failing to tell his fellow officer that he believed Hill presented a danger," said Yost. The grand jurors did not indict Coy for purposeful murder. Your Dayton Weekly News staff reached out to Erica Fields, Executive Director of the City of Dayton's Human Relations Council, for comment. Ms. Fields shared her hope that the happenings in Columbus will lead to change in Dayton. "This is significant. It is an important step toward justice, but definitely not enough. While I’m encouraged by the decision of the grand jury to hold Officer Coy accountable for his actions, this is yet another reminder why police reform is so incredibly necessary in cities across this country. It’s not just about the creation of and strengthening of policy, it’s about ensuring polices are carried out and implemented in the spirit for which they are written….. and that officers are held accountable any time there is a violation of those polices. Columbus is taking a great first step with the creation of the city’s first Civilian Review Board, which will oversee the police department. It’s my hope that as Dayton and the region continue to look at police reform we move beyond superficial changes. We need to rethink public safety, start investing in community services, ensure abusive officers are held accountable and address racial and economic inequities that contribute to disparities in public safety." Donald Dominick, leader of the Dayton Ohio Chapter of the New Black Panther Party , was also asked about his views of the developments out of Columbus. Like Fields, Dominick sees hope for the region. "The arrest and indictment of Adam Coy is a victory for the community of Columbus, Ohio and a victory for all those families of victims of police violence. His arrest and possible conviction gives hope for those who are engaged in police reform in Dayton." Dayton City Commissioner, Jeffrey Mims, weighed in. Mims is co-chair of Dayton's Use of Force Group , a group tasked with assessing all recent incidents in which force was used by Dayton police to look for patterns of biases, which will inform a review of use of force policies. In response to our request for comment, Mims said " Andre Hill's death was tragic and avoidable. We entrust officers with a tremendous power to enforce our laws and use lethal force when necessary. Officer Adam Coy abused our trust when he arrived to a non-emergency call and chose to shoot first and ask questions later. The Attorney General's decision to indict Officer Adam Coy is the first step in achieving justice for Andre Hill and his family. However, our fight against abuses of our trust does not stop at this indictment. Through our community police reform process, the City of Dayton is actively working to ensure this tragedy is not repeated." While the termination, arrest and indictment of Adam Coy gives hope to people in Columbus, and throughout Ohio, Police reform is not just a local issue. It is a national issue to which the Biden-Harris Administration has responded with a renewed commitment to reforming the justice system. However, reversing layers of policy that have disproportionately affected communities of color, and simultaneously unwinding decades of mistrust, is no easy task. Hope rises, but skepticism exists. Elements of this article were taken from A CBS report by Victoria Albert. For more details on the shooting, or to read the full CBS News article, visit https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andre-hill-shooting-adam-coy-charged-murder-ohio/

Online forums for Dayton Commission and Mayor candidates - April 27th and 28th. This year, there are 7 certified candidates for the Dayton City Commission, but there are only 2 seats available. There are 3 candidates for Dayton Mayor. There will be a primary election on May 4th. The Dayton Weekly News wants you to be an engaged voter that has heard from the candidates on the issues that matter. We requested questions from our readers and solicited feedback about the format. Based on the responses, we changed from a live stream to recorded interviews and are making these videos available to you beginning today. Click on the candidate video below to view the interviews, or view candidate profiles and access campaign related links at DaytonWeeklyOnline.com/Forum . Candidates for Mayor Rennes Bowers Gary Leitzel Jeffrey Mims Candidates for Commission Scott Sliver Darryl Fairchild Shenise Turner-Sloss Jared Grandy Stacy Benson-Taylor Valerie Duncan

Here's what to do now, and why, from IRS.gov. COVID Tax Tip 2021-69, May 18, 2021 The federal income tax deadline has passed for most individual taxpayers. However, some haven't filed their 2020 tax returns or paid their tax due. If an individual taxpayer is owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late. On the other hand, tax owed and not paid by May 17, 2021 is subject to penalties and interest . Anyone who didn't file and owes tax should file a return as soon as they can and pay as much as they can to reduce penalties and interest. Electronic filing options, including IRS Free File , are still available on IRS.gov through October 15, 2021, to prepare and file returns electronically. Taxpayers should then review their payment options . The IRS has information for taxpayers who can't pay taxes they owe. Some taxpayers may have extra time to file their tax returns and pay any taxes due. This includes some disaster victims , taxpayers living overseas , certain military service members and eligible support personnel in combat zones . Filing soon is very important because the late-filing and late-payment penalties on unpaid taxes add up quickly. However, in some cases, a taxpayer filing after the deadline may qualify for penalty relief. For those charged a penalty, they may contact the IRS by calling the number on their notice and explain why they couldn't file and pay on time. Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often qualify for administrative penalty relief. A taxpayer usually qualifies if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other requirements. For details, taxpayers should visit the first-time penalty abatement page on IRS.gov. State filing and payment deadlines may be different from the federal deadline. A list of state tax division websites is available through the Federation of Tax Administrators. Filing Past Due Tax Returns File all tax returns that are due, regardless of whether or not you can pay in full. File your past due return the same way and to the same location where you would file an on-time return. If you have received a notice , make sure to send your past due return to the location indicated on the notice you received. Why You Should File Your Past Due Return Now Avoid interest and penalties File your past due return and pay now to limit interest charges and late payment penalties. Claim a Refund You risk losing your refund if you don't file your return. If you are due a refund for withholding or estimated taxes, you must file your return to claim it within 3 years of the return due date. The same rule applies to a right to claim tax credits such as the Earned Income Credit. The IRS holds income tax refunds in cases where their records show that one or more income tax returns are past due. They hold them until they get the past due return or receive an acceptable reason for not filing a past due return. Protect Social Security Benefits If you are self-employed and do not file your federal income tax return, any self-employment income you earned will not be reported to the Social Security Administration and you will not receive credits toward Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Avoid Issues Obtaining Loans Loan approvals may be delayed if you don't file your return. Copies of filed tax returns must be submitted to financial institutions, mortgage lenders/brokers, etc., whenever you want to buy or refinance a home, get a loan for a business, or apply for federal aid for higher education. If You Owe More Than You Can Pay If you cannot pay what you owe, you can request an additional 60-120 days to pay your account in full through the Online Payment Agreement application or by calling 800-829-1040; no user fee will be charged. If you need more time to pay, you can request an installment agreement or you may qualify for an offer in compromise . What If You Don’t File Voluntarily Substitute Return If you fail to file, the IRS may file a substitute return for you. This return might not give you credit for deductions and exemptions you may be entitled to receive. The IRS will send you a Notice of Deficiency CP3219N (90-day letter) proposing a tax assessment. You will have 90 days to file your past due tax return or file a petition in Tax Court. If you do neither, the IRS will proceed with their proposed assessment. If you have received notice CP3219N you can not request an extension to file. If any of the income listed is incorrect, you may do the following: Contact the IRS at 1-866-681-4271 to let them know. Contact the payer (source) of the income to request a corrected Form W-2 or 1099. Attach the corrected forms when you send the IRS your completed tax returns. If the IRS files a substitute return, it is still in your best interest to file your own tax return to take advantage of any exemptions, credits and deductions you are entitled to receive. The IRS will generally adjust your account to reflect the correct figures. Collection and Enforcement Actions The return the IRS prepares for you (our proposed assessment) will lead to a tax bill, which, if unpaid, will trigger the collection process. This can include such actions as a levy on your wages or bank account or the filing of a notice of federal tax lien . If you repeatedly do not file, you could be subject to additional enforcement measures, such as additional penalties and/or criminal prosecution. Help Filing Your Past Due Return For filing help, call 1-800-829-1040 or 1-800-829-4059 for TTY/TDD. If you need wage and income information to help prepare a past due return, complete Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return , and check the box on line 8. You can also contact your employer or payer of income. If you need information from a prior year tax return, use Get Transcript to request a return or account transcript. Get the online tax forms and instructions to file your past due return, or order them by calling 1-800-Tax-Form (1-800-829-3676) or 1-800-829-4059 for TTY/TDD. If you are experiencing difficulty preparing your return, you may be eligible for assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. See Free Tax Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers for more information. Already Filed Your Past Due Return If you received a notice, you should send a copy of the past due return to the indicated address. It takes approximately 6 weeks to process an accurately completed past due tax return.

An amazing celebration, highlighting the major accomplishments of political leaders, entertainers, activists, and other changemakers (Pasadena, CA) – Standing on the NAACP Image Award Dinner stage, Dr. Derrick L. Foward couldn’t believe that he was one of the awardees at the week-long 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards. He received a surprise call from Robin Harrison- Hollywood NAACP Vice Chair notifying that he had been nominated by Dayton Branch Treasurer Tiwona Branham. “All I could say was Yes and Thank You,” Dr. Foward said humbly. A contingent of family and friends accompanied him to California to see the award acceptance during the Friday banquet hosted by Actress Bersha Wade, Actor Wendall Pierce and Hollywood NAACP Vice Chair Karen Boykins presented the award at the Friday night Awards Banquet at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Ohio guests included: mother- Dr. Gloria J. Foward; sisters- Dr. Sharon R. Johnson-Foward, Debroah L. Foward, and Valyrie R. Foward; Ohio State NAACP President Tom Roberts; Dr. Dora Brunston- State secretary and Tiffaney Edwards- State Freedom Fund chair; and branch members- Rev. Dr. David I. FoxRev. Aurthur Williams, Harvey C. Bolden, Charisie M. Edmonson-Prison chapter, and Stacey D. Benson. Dr. Foward joined a class of Blacks to be honored by the National NAACP and its Hollywood Branch. This year's NAACP Image Awards was an amazing celebration, highlighting the major accomplishments of political leaders, entertainers, activists, and other changemakers. “It will also be a night that shows how our community can come together and impact each other and the world in a positive way," said Derrick Johnson , NAACP President and CEO. A native of Dayton, Foward has served for two decades as president of Ohio's second largest branch where he raised over $2.9 million for scholarships and local programs. Derrick comes from a family of work ethics, educational excellence and religious beliefs: his father the late Elder Dr. Alphonsa Foward, Sr.- retired Senior Computer Programmer (DESC) and Dr. Gloria J. Foward- retired Senior Management Analyst (WPAFB). Foward graduated from Christ Temple Christian School as class valedictorian and a leader on the Christ Temple Warriors basketball team. He graduated from Central State University with a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Marketing on 1990. He is a Life Member of the CSU GAA, CSU Dayton Alumni Chapter, and Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame on March 1, 2016. He received his Master Degree in Administration and Organization from International Apostolic University of Grace and Truth in 2002 and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from IAUGT on September 30, 2018. Foward retired from Speedway, LLC – now 7-11 Corp after 28 years of service working his way up the leadership ladder from store manager to corporate Account Management Rep. and retired as a Program Manager. Out of 17,000 employees at Speedway, Foward received the coveted Living Our Values ``Volunteer of the Year” Award in 2012. This father of 4 and grandfather of 3, has never forgot to give back to Wilberforce University and Central State University students with career opportunities and scholarships. He also implemented a Proactive Civil Rights Agenda through monthly Educational Community-Based Workshops and Seminars to educate citizens on the front-end of Civil Rights issues. Derrick serves as Vice President of the Ohio State NAACP and is the second top NAACP membership seller in Ohio with over $292,000. Foward serves as a member of the NAACP National Life Membership Committee and Chairs the NAACP National Credentials Committee. As the first Dayton Branch Diamond Life Member, he has lead the Dayton Youth Council to win Bronze, Silver and Gold National ACT-SO Awards. Bradley Ross Jackson received the NAACP’s “Youth Activist of the Year” award at the Friday night Banquet. A member of the Bloomington-Norman, Indiana NAACP, Bradley is its Youth NAACP Council president. Bradley organized a 1,000 person peaceful protest demanding justice for the late George Floyd in Bloomington, Indiana. Among the honorees during the nationally televised Award program will be: US Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) who led the House select committee on the January 6th inserrection investigation. Atty Benjamin Crump, noted national Civil Rights attorney, received the NAACP’s “Social Justice Impact Award.” America’s Black power couple- actress Gabrielle Union-Wade and NBA all-star Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat – accepted the “2023 President's Award.” Queen Latifah, CBS star of “The Equalizer,” hosted the CBS/BET nationally televised broadcast on Saturday, February 25th. She is the first HipHop artist enshrined into Hollywood Hall of Fame. "Queen Latifah is one of our generation's most influential and iconic voices. We are excited to collaborate with the groundbreaking megastar as she hosts the 54th NAACP Image Awards," said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. "As always, we look forward to partnering with NAACP to celebrate Black creativity and ingenuity for an unforgettable night of Black excellence that will inspire, entertain, and empower viewers worldwide." NAACP Image Award sponsors were: by Wells Fargo and sponsored by Bank of America, Gushers, Google, Airbnb, Amazon, FedEx, Lowe's, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Audible, Bacardi, and Mielle. By Bill Ellis, Jr., Publisher - The Reporter This was a special report for the Ohio Black Media Collective.

At the time of writing this, the Mega Millions Jackpot was estimated at a staggering $1.55 billion! Very few people will struggle with determining how to treat themselves, but when our thoughts shift to those we care about, deciding what needs to address can get a bit cloudy. Winning the lottery is a life-changing event that offers a unique opportunity to provide for loved ones. For lottery winners, careful planning is essential to ensure that family members enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling quality of life, based on American standards of living. Yet, we must be careful to ensure that our support does not create dependency. Your purpose should be to uplift, not create financial strain. Let’s explore things you should contemplate when determining how you’ll provide for close family with your new wealth. Immediate & Extended Family Start by addressing the needs of immediate family members, such as spouses, children, and parents. Set aside a portion of the winnings to cover essential expenses like housing, education, healthcare, and transportation. Consider establishing trusts or investment accounts that can provide a steady stream of income over the long term, ensuring that your loved ones have a secure financial future. While it's natural to want to help extended family members, it's important to set clear boundaries. Assess the needs and financial situations of each individual and determine how best to provide support without compromising your own financial security. This could involve offering one-time financial gifts, helping with education expenses, or contributing to specific needs like medical bills. Education & Skill Development Investing in education and skill development can be a meaningful way to improve the quality of life for family members. Consider creating education funds for children's higher education or vocational training for those seeking to acquire new skills. Providing opportunities for learning and personal growth can empower your family members to lead fulfilling lives. Health & Well-being Access to quality healthcare is crucial for maintaining a high standard of living. Consider covering health insurance premiums or creating a health savings account to ensure that family members can access necessary medical services. Promote healthy habits and wellness by offering gym memberships, wellness programs, or funding for preventative care. Home ownership & Housing Helping family members achieve home ownership or secure stable housing can significantly improve their quality of life. Whether through direct assistance with down payments or co-signing on loans, consider ways to make home ownership a reality. For those already owning homes, assisting with property taxes or maintenance costs can provide peace of mind. Emergency Funds Life is full of unexpected challenges, and having an emergency fund is crucial. Encourage family members to establish their own emergency funds using a portion of the financial support you provide. This will help them maintain financial independence and cope with unforeseen expenses. Setting Boundaries While your intention is to provide support, it's essential to set clear boundaries to prevent dependency and financial strain. Encourage family members to develop their own financial skills and goals. Offer guidance on budgeting, saving, and investing to empower them to manage their newfound wealth responsibly. Now, let’s see what this might look like if you have the winning ticket! If you take the lump sum, you may receive less than the $1.55 billion. However, we will use this number to try to keep it simple. Next, to estimate the amount a lottery winner would collect after taxes in Ohio, we need to consider both federal and state taxes. For this exercise, let’s assume the federal tax rate on lottery winnings is 24%, and Ohio has a state income tax rate of 4.797%. It's important to note that tax laws and rates can change, so it's recommended to consult with a tax professional for the most accurate calculations. Let's calculate the estimated amount after taxes: Initial Winnings: $1.55 billion Federal Tax (24%): $372 million State Tax (4.797%): $74.27 million Total Tax: $446.27 million Amount After Taxes: $1.10373 billion Now, let's allocate funds for family members based on some common goals: Reasonable Home: The cost of a reasonable home can vary greatly depending on location and size. Let's allocate $300,000 per family member for a home. $300,000 Reliable Car: Allocate $30,000 per family member for a reliable car. $30,000 College Education: Allocate $100,000 per family member for college education. $100,000 Start a Business: Allocate $200,000 per family member for starting a business. $200,000 Reserves: Allocate $100,000 per family member for emergency reserves. $100,000 Total Allocation per Family Member: $730,000 If your plan is to provide for a sibling, two children, and two parents you would need to allocate a total of $3.65 million ($730,000 x 5 = $3.65 million). Your remaining amount after taxes and the family allocations is still $1.10008 billion* ($1.10373 billion - $3.65 million = $1.10008 billion). Winning the lottery presents a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of close family members. By approaching the distribution of funds with careful consideration and a long-term perspective, you can ensure that your loved ones enjoy a high quality of life that aligns with American living standards. Balancing financial assistance with personal responsibility and empowerment will ultimately create a legacy of prosperity and well-being for generations to come. * Please note that these calculations are rough estimates and don't take into account potential investment growth, inflation, or other financial considerations. It's advisable to work with a financial advisor to create a comprehensive plan tailored to individual circumstances and financial goals.

By Charles McDonald, Founder and Principal, Actualize Impact and Founder and CEO of Community Engagement Partners (CEP) Picture this: A world where racial justice and equity are no fantasy, but the very heartbeat of society. Can you see it now? What do you see? This is more than an idle question. It’s a call to hope, to dream, and ultimately, to act together. As for me, I see a world where Black people are leading and governing communities in ways that nurture and embrace all forms of life on Earth. I conceive a wealth so vast and evenly distributed, it transcends the conventional monetary concept. I envision reality where the hell of "hunger," "prison," and "poverty" are concepts so foreign they hold no power or meaning. It's a world of no ACE scores. A place where PTSD and cortisol never assails the body. As we peel back the layers of this envisioned world, we can see that it's not only a dream but a call to collective action, a blueprint to be unfolded. Now, imagine if there existed an organization which took this audacious vision and strived tirelessly to make it a reality. The hypothetical transforms into the tangible with the introduction of Community Engagement Partners (CEP). CEP undertakes the delicate yet significant task of connecting two spheres - the realm of possibilities and the sphere of realities Black leaders committed to equity and justice face across the United States. On one side, there exists an array of potentials, of dreams waiting to be realized; on the other, the harsh realities that often hinder these possibilities. Acting as a bridge, CEP facilitates a passage, ensuring these envisioned ideals can traverse the chasm, secure a firm foothold, and ultimately, flourish despite these realities. Through cultivating trust, sharing resources, and crafting innovative partnerships, CEP allows dreams to not only root but thrive, transforming the imagined world of equity and justice into tangible communities of prosperity. The potency of CEP's approach lies in its core values: Justice and equity. We prioritize establishing trust-based relationships with Black leaders deeply rooted in their communities, aiming to bolster their visions in their unique ways. At times, this involves illuminating the often 'invisible' to the eyes of funders. An example of this was our partnership with the My Village Project (MVP), a volunteer-driven alliance led by Black leaders and comprising over 90 organizations serving families and youth throughout Jacksonville, FL. Despite eight years of excessive demands and inadequate funding, within their first year of partnering with CEP the relationship yielded a seven-figure grant for MVP with a significant national funder. Our resources – financial, human, and logistical – are always at the disposal of our community partners. When aiding in the establishment of the Transformational Alliance of Black Leadership and Excellence (TABLE) in Cincinnati, Ohio, we provided such resources. With founding members hailing from every significant sector in the city, TABLE is now primed to be a central hub to catalyze, incubate, and champion transformational Black leaders aiming to resolve Cincinnati's most critical issues. Another instance is our collaboration with Elevate Dayton, a team of extraordinary Black social entrepreneurs in Dayton, Ohio, which led to the inception of the One Digital Dayton platform, an innovative AI-driven digital platform committed to bridging Dayton's mile-wide economic gap. This platform unifies various stakeholders - business owners, job seekers, economic developers - in a single, shared digital ecosystem grounded in equity and economic mobility. Our efforts alongside Elevate Dayton have carved a path for coalition-building at both local and national levels around One Digital Dayton, and steered us toward seeking funding opportunities through the Economic Development Administration’s Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program. Given CEP’s small budget and team, we take immense pride in what we have been able to accomplish with our community partners. What underlies our effectiveness is our commitment to living out the values we hold. We share our resources (dollars, knowledge, and connections), devoid of any strings attached. There are no clandestine fees for fiscal sponsorship, no implicit quid-pro-quo, and no facade of tokenism to veil our hidden agenda. We believe to truly be a beacon of justice and equity begins with extending trust to others. Express your love, validate the expertise and groundbreaking approaches to change making driven by Black leaders, and you'll discover that trust has a way of being echoed back. Building heartfelt partnerships starts with being clear about your beliefs, interests, expertise, and having the self awareness to know their limitations. Our journey toward equity and justice is more enjoyable when we move together, and our work is more impactful when we address the underlying policies and ideas that reproduce inequity and injustice in new forms. At CEP, we recognize that the pursuit of justice and equity is a multifaceted journey, laden with obstacles yet also rich with rewards. Our commitment to authenticity, trust, and shared power is unwavering, regardless of the resources we dedicate. We offer our experiences as a lesson to funders genuinely invested in enhancing outcomes in Black communities: Both financial and relational investments only bring about significant change when rooted in the principles of equity and justice. No pathway exists that is "race-neutral or justice-neutral" that can lead to prosperity for all Americans. Yet, this is the very path that funders allocate billions of dollars to each year. After George Floyd's tragic murder in 2020, funders and corporations pledged a record $11.8 billion towards racial justice. But where are we now? Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity reports that less than two-thirds of this historic pledge reached its intended recipients. A recent announcement from the Ballmer Group, New Profit, and Echoing Green’s partnership emphasized the grim reality: "Despite Black and Latine leaders making up around 10% of nonprofit leadership in the U.S., they receive a mere 4% of philanthropic funding. Data shows that early-stage Black-led nonprofits operate with 24% smaller revenues and 76% smaller unrestricted net assets, indicating an ongoing bias and a lack of trust in Black leaders within the funding landscape." Further analysis reveals that among the top 20 recipients of racial equity and justice funding, only two (Unidos US and Equal Justice Initiative) were originally established by and for communities of color. These stark realities underscore the urgent need for a genuine commitment to justice and equity in philanthropy. What lived experience teaches us is that funders launch their own racial equity efforts with the belief that they have better solutions than the ones embraced by Black communities. During one of our earliest attempts to hold space between a funder and Black community leaders, CEP was warned by foundation staff that our "ideas" were too disruptive of their vision, and put us at risk of being "cut-off" from future opportunities with the foundation. We were told "program officers share notes and avoid organizations that make their work difficult." We were “moving too fast,” and foundation leaders “weren’t ready to embrace racial equity.” Ironically, these comments came after CEP had been privately invited to share these "ideas" with the foundation's board, who were responsive to our approach, eventually resulting in a landscape-altering investment from the foundation in the visionary work of our community partners foundation staff were eager to dismiss as not worthy. That experience has not stopped us from dreaming big, but it has shown us that dreaming in the presence of gatekeepers can be perilous. The lack of adequate and available funding for our approach to change is nothing new, and serves as a helpful reminder that the challenges CEP has faced are widely felt among Black leaders and organizations regardless of whether or not they choose to unapologetically center equity and justice. A seasoned educator and community organizer once shared some insight with me that helped put things in perspective: "Foundation staff and boards have difficulty discerning between helping and controlling the work of Black leaders." Indeed, program officers struggle with the “help” vs. “control'' dynamic. If CEP received a one year, unrestricted grant for every time a program officer has shared that they view their role as “translating” or “interpreting” the work of grantees to final decision makers, we would be funded well into the next millennium, and our office would likely be on the moon, staffed entirely by philanthropic robots dedicated to equity and justice. All jokes aside, authenticity, partnership, and trust form the core of CEP’s approach to our pursuit of creating more prosperous and resilient outcomes with our community partners. We have no intention of deceiving anyone about the type of impact we seek to make. We need your help in the process, but we are not asking for your permission. Here are three actions funders can take today to support racial equity and justice: Fulfill and Expand Racial Equity and Justice Funding Commitments to Racial Equity: Fund Black-led and governed organizations centering racial equity and justice. Particularly those not typically on the radar in the places like the Midwest and Southeast. If you're unsure of where to begin, consider supporting CEP and our partner organizations such as Elevate Dayton, TABLE, and MVP. Additionally, we highly recommend supporting COAACC, a central Ohio-based organization of which CEP is a proud member. Introductions can be provided upon request. Support the Ongoing Development of Your Staff and Board: Partner with Camelback’s Capital Collaborative as they hold space for white identifying funders to diversify their networks and make their grantmaking more equitable. Hire firms like ShiftED Consulting that specialize in developing leaders with the knowledge and tools to eradicate anti-blackness and white supremacy, both individually and systemically, to foster inclusive and thriving environments. Invest in Community-Based Solutions for Racial Equity and Justice: With roughly 262 state, county, and municipal declarations acknowledging racism as a public health crisis across the U.S., and Ohio leading with about 32 such declarations, there's an immense opportunity to align with organizations like CEP and Black Community Innovators. Together with like-minded local officials, we can confront racial and social inequality from all angles, tackling issues both "upstream" and "downstream". The potential for change is extraordinary! We're inviting the funding community to join us in a mission that might seem impossible. Yet, it's a mission our ancestors embarked on and one our current leaders carry on daily. We're not seeking permission, but rather, your genuine partnership. If you truly wish to be a part of this journey, don't hesitate to connect with me at charles@cepartners.io. Disclaimer: This article is written by Charles McDonald, Founder and Principal of Actualize Impact, and Founder and CEO of Community Engagement Partners (CEP). It's important for readers to be aware that Community Engagement Partners (CEP) is a financial supporter of Elevate Dayton's One Digital Dayton workforce and economic development initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Elevate Dayton or One Digital Dayton. 0 Like0 Comments