If you've seen a black and red flag with a gold sword, here is what it means Learn about what it symbolizes and its significance for Black Americans. Its History and Symbolism As the name of the flag suggests, the Black American Heritage Flag is a symbol that represents the culture and history of African Americans. For centuries, people from all over the world have waved the flags of their homeland to display a sense of pride for where they came from. And after being created in 1967, this flag is now embraced by Black Americans celebrating and honoring America's Black culture. You will typically see the Black American Heritage Flag flown during Black History Month, if not year-round. And although the flag does not include all of the colors used to represent Black History Month, each color in this flag and its symbol has a distinct meaning. Learn all about the Black American Heritage Flag as we look at the details of what the flag stands for, who designed it and why it needed to be created. What Does the Black American Heritage Flag Mean? The Black American Heritage Flag represents the pride and accomplishments of Black Americans. But it is even more than that. Along with celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans, this flag also symbolizes the struggles and pain that were endured throughout history. In remembering both the accomplishments and the pain, this flag was created as a way to make progress and offer hope to Black Americans. The flag is made up of the colors red and black with a distinct symbol in gold. A lot of thought went into the design of the flag and each part of it has a significant meaning. Like the colors for Black History Month, red represents the innocent blood shed by Black Americans throughout America's history and black signifies pride in the Black race. The color gold, in the symbol, represents intellect, prosperity and peace. And the symbol itself—made up of a blunted sword and a fig wreath—has its own meaning. The sword is meant to instill pride and the fig wreath symbolizes peace, prosperity and everlasting life. Who Created the Black American Heritage Flag? Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson designed the flag in 1967. However, their inspiration began much earlier, when Charles realized that other groups of people, like those with Italian and Hispanic heritage, had a flag at parades, while African Americans did not. Charles and Jackson put a lot of thought, research and intentionality into creating the Black American Heritage Flag, as Charles also wrote a book called The Rallying Point. In it, he describes the struggle to promote the Black American Heritage Flag. It details all of the ups and downs that Charles and Jackson went through while attempting to pro-mote the flag. Their story is a lesson in perseverance against all odds. As Charles says in the book, "That we have survived at all is testimony to that strength and greatness and that survival is warrant enough to justify finding pride in who we are. The flag was meant to symbolize that pride. It still does." Black American Heritage Flag vs. the Pan-African Flag The Black American Heritage Flag is sometimes confused with the Pan-African flag, the red, black and green flag created in 1920. The two are different symbols with different origins. The Pan-African flag represents the global Black diaspora, while the Black American Heritage Flag was created specifically to represent African American history and culture in the United States. Why the Black American Heritage Flag Still Matters In general, flags are used as a visual symbol of a cause or identity. The use of flags goes all the way back to ancient Roman times, representing military affiliations on the battlefield. Today, flags are used to unite and remember the past. Each country can turn to its respective flag to feel that sense of solidarity and loyalty to its homeland. For this very reason, the Black American Heritage Flag was created.

God is still planting Maybe our assignment this week is simply to find one patch of ground around us and help the garden grow again. By Rev. Joshua D. Ward, Pastor Omega Baptist Church Sometimes you can look at the world around you and know: This is not the way it is supposed to be. Children shouldn't have to grow up afraid of being shot. Parents shouldn't have to bury their children. Families shouldn't be destroyed by addiction. People shouldn't go hungry while others have more than enough. People shouldn't be judged by the color of their skin. Something within us recognizes that we were made for something better. Jesus once said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field.” I've always focused on what Jesus says next—that the tiny seed eventually grows into something surprisingly large. But recently another word caught my attention: Field. The Bible begins with God planting a garden. The garden represents life as God intended it: humanity in right relationship with God, with one another, with creation and even with ourselves. But things went wrong. By Genesis 3, the ground produces thorns and thistles. The garden has become a field—a place where good things can still grow, but where they struggle alongside things trying to choke the life out of them. Sounds a lot like our world. But here's the good news: God didn't abandon the field. Jesus says someone took a seed and planted it right in the middle of it. That's what God's Kingdom is about. It is God refusing to surrender what hatred, violence, greed, injustice and sin have damaged. It is God bringing life back into places where death has taken root. And God invites us to participate. Every time we feed somebody who is hungry, the garden grows. Every time we welcome somebody who has been excluded, the garden grows. Every time we speak for somebody who has been silenced, the garden grows. Every time we choose reconciliation instead of retaliation, the garden grows. Every time we seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly, the garden grows. Maybe that's why Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” That prayer isn't merely asking God to do something. It's volunteering to become part of the answer. When we pray for hungry people to be fed, God may ask us to open our pantry. When we pray for lonely people to find community, God may ask us to make room at our table. When we pray for injustice to end, God may ask us to raise our voice. When we pray for reconciliation, God may ask us to take the first step. The field is damaged, but it still belongs to God. And God is still planting. Maybe our assignment this week is simply to find one patch of ground around us and help the garden grow again. OMEGA BAPTIST CHURCH (937) 278-1006 1821 Emerson Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45406

Imari Burton, Opinion & Editorial Publisher for Dayton Weekly News By RoShawn Winburn, Dayton Weekly News Imari Burton grew up in Westwood, a community on Dayton's west side. She says that shaped how she sees the city. She learned it as someone living in it, not someone looking in from the outside. Her mother's and grandparents' generation remembers when Dayton was a significant, prosperous city. The gap between then and now left her with both pride and a critical eye. "I love Dayton because it feels like home," she says, "but I'm also able to be honest about the things that aren't working." Her path to writing was not a straight line. She holds a degree in media and also studied psychology and criminal justice. She spent about seven years in auto sales, moving up from sales into management, finance and operations, then worked in lending and banking. She has had more jobs than she can count and believes each one made her more well-rounded, since each put her in front of different people, industries and communities. Outside of work, she danced for twelve years, ballet and jazz, and fitness is now a big part of her life. She is into spirituality, personal development and learning, and she also enjoys art, anime, finance, astrology and pop culture. Writing was always there. English was her strongest subject, and as a kid she wrote stories, poems and songs. She just never saw it as a career. Sales taught her that communicating was one of her strengths. Then she stepped away from everything for a while to reflect, research and figure out who she was becoming. She dug into politics, social issues and current events, and started a Substack to document what she was learning. That work led her to DWN through a shared mission. She says she didn't so much realize she wanted to be a writer as realize she has things to say. She sees herself as a teacher and communicator, with writing and speaking as vehicles for that purpose. What drives her is people, and how we can get better, individually and together. She is most passionate about the Black community and the issues affecting Black Americans. She wants conversations about how to improve, challenge ourselves, examine what isn't working and build on what is. She credits her grandmother for showing what is possible when you start with very little, and her mother for teaching resilience and perseverance. She has been through hard things she keeps private, and says they taught her to keep going without all the answers. Readers can expect her to take on economic inequality and the working class, government power versus individual rights, systems that aren't working, and the hidden stories underneath the ones we are handed. She is drawn to controversial topics and gets curious when people seem to be steered toward accepting or rejecting something. A good story, she says, takes real interest, deep research and reflection, and more than one point of view. She is comfortable putting her own perspective in her work. Her beat is culture, controversial ideas within the Black community, media narratives, Black political life and spirituality. She sees herself first as an opinion commentator and columnist, then a podcaster and conversationalist, then a storyteller. One thing she won't cover is sports. She wants to launch a podcast, The Elevation Exchange, and is interested in video interview series and moderating community conversations and live events. She is new to podcasting and video and wants to learn as much as she can. To her, a Black newspaper means power, representation and ownership of our narrative, and she points out that DWN is the only Black-owned newspaper in the Miami Valley. She wants coverage that shows how the news affects Black readers, with resources and calls to action, along with Black history and how we got here. She also doesn't want DWN to choose between longtime readers and younger ones. She wants to connect them. What excites her about Dayton is the talent and uniqueness. What concerns her is the future of the local Black community, poverty and population decline. There is one subject she says she hasn't had a platform for yet: what it feels like to not fit into one box. She wants to talk about ambition, being overlooked, reinventing yourself and identity. She believes many people feel the same way but have no space to talk about it honestly. Follow Imari here and on her Substack page:

Photo appears courtesy of @ScottyDfoto By RoShawn Winburn, Dayton Weekly News Hazel Joseph Lewis is still driving. At 100 years old, that alone says something about a woman who has spent most of her life going where she pleased, on her own schedule. Lewis, born Sept. 5, 1926, recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at The Art of Work in Dayton. Asked what the milestone means to her, she kept her answer simple: she's happy to still be here. Her nephew, Christopher Joseph, describes his aunt as a rare mix of independence, discipline, curiosity and faith. Within the family, she was always the "cool single auntie" — worldly, athletic, prone to driving sports cars. She swam, golfed, bowled and played tennis for much of her life, and still swims and plays bridge today. Lewis came to the Dayton area in the late 1940s, in the years after World War II, following her older brother, the late Norman A. Joseph. Norman had served in the war and gone on to attend Wilberforce University. Hazel graduated from Uhrichsville High School in 1946 and made her own way to the region shortly after, eventually building a career distinct from her brother's path. She started as a clerk-stenographer in federal civilian service and worked her way up to contracting officer for the Defense Electronics Supply Center, a career that spanned more than 40 years. Retirement didn't slow her down much. She spent another 25 years working part time in data entry for Koehler Components. "We only have one life, so we must take care of ourselves and make it the best it can be," Lewis says in a family biography prepared for her birthday. Her life advice is to stay active, treat people well, pray, give thanks, and keep moving. Faith has anchored her throughout..Lewis serves as a Steward at Greater Allen AME Church in Dayton, and her favorite scripture, Psalm 23, sits alongside a simple rule she's lived by, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She's the last surviving of five siblings born to Caribbean immigrant parents. She has no children of her own, but the extended family that gathered to celebrate her century made clear how far her influence reaches. Joseph says younger relatives can learn from her how to live fully and on their own terms, while remaining, in his words, "a humble servant of God." The National Council of Negro Women recognized Lewis as part of its "Ladies in Their 80s and Beyond" honors. Joseph organized the birthday celebration and chose The Art of Work in part because he works nearby and had gotten to know the venue's provost, Keith Jenkins. "My auntie deserved a beautiful celebration for such a milestone," he said. A century in, Lewis's own words may be the clearest summary of how she got there: "Keep your life moving, be active and involved, and don't be afraid to ask God for guidance along the way.” - Hazel Joseph Lewis The Art of Work is a pioneering, holistic professional development ecosystem in Dayton, marrying productivity, wellness, creativity, and culture under one ascendant roof. The Art Of Work Keith Jenkins, Provost keith.jenkins@sosmartwork.com (937) 312-4468 Performance Place, Dayton, Ohio 45402

Kyra M. Robinson, M.S. What have you done for HBCUs lately? I posed this question to Historically Black College and University alumni several years ago in a published article on philanthropic giving. It remains relevant as HBCUs are discussed in higher education circles and beyond. While there is much to celebrate about these storied institutions, funding and giving are at the center of important, ongoing conversations. As an HBCU advocate and self-described “HBCU Champion,” I strive to share the HBCU story and empower the beloved HBCU community – alumni, students, employees, educators and supporters – to stay engaged with these institutions and committed to their sustainability, significance and future. HBCUs and the young people they serve still urgently need greater investment. HBCUs’ historic underfunding and smaller endowments are well documented. The U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture under the Biden Administration reported that land-grant HBCUs in 16 states had a funding disparity of approximately $12 to $13 billion over several decades. Similarly, at UNCF’s Unite 2025 conference, President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax highlighted the asset inequities between HBCUs and non-HBCUs, noting that "the combined endowments of all HBCUs total approximately $7 billion compared to Harvard University's single endowment of $60 billion." Philanthropists Michael Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, MacKenzie Scott and others have given extraordinary gifts to HBCUs and HBCU-affiliated organizations. But, relying on external entities, such as African-American celebrities, governmental agencies, charitable foundations and corporations, is not a practical or long-term strategy. The central question – what have you done for HBCUs lately - sparks spirited discussions on social media and elsewhere and often leads to other questions. Does our "HBCU Pride" extend beyond homecomings or reunions? Do we strengthen HBCUs with our gifts – financial or otherwise? Should others contribute if we don't? According to Forbes, the most recent data available cites that HBCU alumni giving rates have stayed around 10 percent for several decades, though it varies from college to college. U.S. News & World Report states the 2023 to 2024 national average rate was 8.6 percent. Yet, many factors prevent some alumni from donating financially. Insights from articles in Kolumn Magazine, “The Endowment Gap Is a Story About Power,” and The Moguldom Nation, “Fact Check: HBCU Alumni Give More Than National Average,” say: alumni are still paying off student loan debt; many HBCU graduates, particularly those who are first-generation college students, lack generational wealth and unlimited disposable income; some institutions lack robust development offices and manpower to reach out to alumni with funding requests; and ineffective alumni engagement, as well as insufficient education on philanthropy and charitable giving, discourages investment in the school's future. While financial donations remain essential for today’s approximately 100 HBCUs, meaningful support can be demonstrated in ways beyond traditional giving. I am convinced all of us can do something to increase HBCU charitable giving. Here are a few suggestions. Educate freshmen on the importance of giving back and foster lifelong support for their alma mater. Encouraging this mindset from the moment they arrive on campus makes them more likely to give later. Join a local alumni association if one exists where you reside or start one. Tell the HBCU story wherever and however you can. Mentor current and prospective students by helping with admission and scholarship applications, internship searches or connections to campus resources. Recruit students at HBCU college fairs hosted by alumni, spearhead HBCU college tours or start an HBCU ministry at your church. Part college fair and part celebration, the annual Dayton Area HBCU Send-Off supports local students attending HBCUs while also exposing the community to HBCUs. Sponsor a local student financially, start a scholarship at your institution, partner with others to create an endowed fund or establish a planned giving arrangement and designate your alma mater as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy. Provide in-kind support to your institution through your time, talents and expertise. Contribute to HBCU-affiliated organizations, such as The Tom Joyner Foundation, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, UNCF or UNCF Inter-Alumni Council. Practice HBCU legacy investing through financial resources and encouraging your descendants to benefit from the educational, emotional, cultural and professional growth that HBCUs provide. If we lead the way, students can attend our schools, stay enrolled, graduate and become HBCU philanthropists themselves. With creativity and ingenuity, alumni can drive transformative philanthropic innovation. Each of us has a role to play. Find yours! Kyra Robinson, M.S., is the student and mentor engagement associate for the Montgomery County Ohio College Promise program.

By Imari Burton, Dayton Weekly News For years, the conversation about work in America keeps coming back to the same argument: raise the minimum wage, and workers will be better off. There is truth in that. But raising the wage floor, on its own, will not fix the deeper problem. Work is not reliably producing economic security for the people doing it. That is the real question worth asking. Not simply whether the minimum wage should be $11, $15, or $20, but why full time work so often fails to add up to a stable life. In Southwest Ohio, that gap between working and getting by is not abstract. It shows up in paychecks every week. The local evidence In Montgomery County, a full time worker earning Ohio's $11 minimum wage, which rises every January under a measure Ohio voters approved in 2006 tying it to inflation, brings home $22,880 a year before taxes. MIT's Living Wage Calculator puts the true cost of covering rent, food, transportation, and other basics for a single adult in Montgomery County at $20.53 an hour, nearly double the state minimum. That gap is not a rounding error. It is the difference between falling short every month and actually getting by. That gap plays out at scale, not just in individual paychecks. According to the 2026 State of ALICE in Ohio report from United For ALICE and Ohio United Way, 39% of Montgomery County households, 25% classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and another 14% living below the federal poverty line, did not earn enough in 2024 to cover a basic household budget. These are working households. Many hold down full time jobs. They still cannot consistently make ends meet. Why the gap exists So if raising the minimum wage alone will not close that gap, what will? Part of the answer lies in a trend that has been building for nearly half a century. According to Policy Matters Ohio's State of Working Ohio 2026 report, worker productivity in Ohio grew 84% between 1979 and 2024, while median compensation grew just 22%. Ohio workers, in other words, have been producing dramatically more economic value than earlier generations, without anywhere near a matching increase in pay. That was not always the case. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows productivity growth in the nonfarm business sector averaged 2.8% a year between 1947 and 1973, then slowed sharply to 1.2% a year between 1973 and 1979. Productivity growth itself was already cooling in that second stretch. What changed after the late 1970s was not just how fast the economy grew, but how consistently workers shared in those gains, however large or small they were. Not everyone agrees on how big the gap is Not every economist agrees the gap is as large as it looks. Harvard economist Robert Lawrence, writing for the Peterson Institute for International Economics, has argued that once total compensation, including benefits, is measured consistently with productivity and adjusted for inflation the same way, pay and productivity actually moved together fairly closely between 1970 and the early 2000s. The late economist Martin Feldstein made a similar case in a 2008 National Bureau of Economic Research paper, finding that labor's share of national income in 2006 (64%) was close to where it stood in 1970 (66%), once total compensation, not just wages, was counted. That disagreement is not just an academic footnote. It reframes the question. If total compensation, benefits included, has tracked productivity reasonably well for long stretches of the past half century, then the more urgent question is not only how big the paycheck is, but how much of a worker's total compensation actually shows up as spendable income rather than benefits that do not help pay this week's rent, and whether the gains have been shared evenly across the workforce or concentrated at the top. The question that actually matters None of this settles the argument over whether Ohio's minimum wage should be higher. It should not have to. A higher minimum wage can genuinely help a worker cover this month's bills. That is real, and it matters. But it is not, by itself, an answer to the larger question raised by a 39% ALICE rate in Montgomery County and a widening productivity gap statewide. Why does full time work not reliably translate into economic security, and what combination of wages, benefits, cost pressures, and policy would actually change that? Until that question gets a serious answer, any debate over the next dollar added to the minimum wage will keep circling the smaller problem instead of the larger one. Sources Ohio Department of Commerce; Policy Matters Ohio, State of Working Ohio 2026 (minimum wage, productivity/compensation figures) MIT Living Wage Calculator, Montgomery County, Ohio (data updated Feb. 15, 2026) United For ALICE / Ohio United Way, The State of ALICE in Ohio: 2026 Update on Financial Hardship, Montgomery County report U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm business sector productivity growth rates Robert Z. Lawrence, Peterson Institute for International Economics Martin S. Feldstein, "Did Wages Reflect Growth in Productivity?" NBER Working Paper No. 13953 (2008)

Who Will Own Our Neighborhoods? By DJ Sessions, Sessions Lending Group Let me be honest with you. For years, we have watched change come to our neighborhoods without us. New buildings go up. Old neighbors move out. Property values rise, and somehow the people who lived there the longest are the ones who benefit the least. We see it in Dayton. We see it in Cincinnati. We see it in Columbus. And too often, we find out what happened only after it already happened. I want to talk plainly about that, because I believe we can change it. But only if we stop watching and start owning. Renting the Present, Losing the Future There is nothing wrong with renting. Many of us start there, and many of us stay there longer than we planned. But we have to be honest about what renting does over time. When you rent, you are paying for a roof today while someone else builds wealth off your payment for the rest of their life. That is not a small thing. In our community, the gap between those who own and those who rent is one of the biggest reasons wealth does not pass from one generation to the next. We work hard. We pay on time. But at the end of it, too many of us have nothing to hand down. Ownership is how that changes. Ownership Is Bigger Than a House When I say ownership, I do not only mean a home, though that is where many of us should start. I mean the corner store. The barber shop. The daycare. The trucking company. The buildings on our own blocks. Right now, in too many of our neighborhoods, we live there but we do not own much of what is there. And when you do not own it, you do not control it, and you do not benefit when it grows. Business ownership matters just as much as homeownership. When we own the businesses on our streets, the money stays closer to home. We hire our own people. We keep our corridors alive. That is real community power, and it does not come from anyone giving it to us. It comes from us deciding to own. Two Ways In: Build It or Buy It A lot of people think you have to start a business from scratch. That is one way, and it is a good one. But there is another way we do not talk about enough. Right now, all across Ohio, older business owners are getting ready to retire. Many of them have good businesses — real customers, real income, real employees — and no one to take over. When those businesses close, our neighborhoods lose jobs and services we needed. We can be the ones who step in and buy them. That is called acquisition, and it is one of the most overlooked paths to ownership we have. You do not always have to build something new. Sometimes you keep something good from disappearing, and you keep the jobs right here at home. Why I Do This Work I did not learn this from a book alone. I’ve spent years in lending, and I’ve put in the work to understand development and business ownership through programs like the NAREB Developers Academy and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. I mention that only so you know this is not talk. These are real, proven paths, and they are open to us. But knowledge does not build anything by itself. Action does. Your Move This Week So here is my challenge to you, and I mean it seriously. Pick one ownership goal for the next twelve months. One. A home. A rental property. A business you start or a business you buy. Write it down. Then take one real step this week toward it — a phone call, a meeting, a plan on paper. We cannot change what already happened to our neighborhoods. But we can decide who owns them going forward. Let it be us. SESSIONS LENDING GROUP (SLG) Daniel "DJ" Sessions, Founder 513.801.1947 sales@sessionslending.com 301 West First Street Suite 205, Dayton, Ohio 45402 NMLSR ID .271823 & 2531674

By Wanda Haynes, Certified Sommelier Dessert is a seductive end to a wonderful meal and highly sensual when paired with wine. So, I’ve decided to pair my favorite cakes with high-quality sweet dessert wines. Alabama Lane cake is a bourbon-laced cake and traditional in the American South. It was invented or popularized by Emma Rylander Lane, a native and resident of Georgia, who developed the recipe. A multi-layer white sponge cake filled with a rich, bourbon-spiked custard packed with pecans, coconut, and golden raisins. Also known as a prize cake, it is the official state cake of Alabama. Pair this baked legend with a rich, sweet, high acidity late harvest Chenin Blanc. Defined by prominent flavors of ripe apricot, honey, and tropical fruits. Leaving the grapes on the vine longer concentrates their natural sugars and builds a luscious, full-bodied profile. Blue-berry Buckle cake is a single-layered, old-fashioned coffee cake filled with fresh blueberries and topped with a sweet crumb streusel. It gets its name because the cake "buckles” under the heavy weight of the fruit and topping as it bakes. A rich cake batter and the fresh berries are folded into the batter, as to not turn the batter blue. The topping is made from flour, coconut, a hint of orange zest, butter, and nutmeg. Pair this fresh berry darling with a new wine from Italy. The NV Canella Mimosa GranRiviera ready to drink, made with Prosecco and fresh squeezed orange juice. With a satiny, tangy, finely carbonated mouthfeel, only 6% ABV, and a gorgeous orange color. A crisp, scrumptious, refreshing Mimosa that is lovely for brunch or anytime. Southern caramel cake is a heart breaker, and I have much love for it, it has warm loving memories attached to each decadent slice! This Southern style cake is a traditional multi-layer yellow cake covered in a cooked, old-fashioned caramel stove-top icing. Simple ingredients are used to produce this cake and generational knowledge used to make it. Rich in texture and flavors of heavy cream and smooth dairy butter. Pair this southern gem with a late harvest Riesling dessert wine made from grapes left on the vine past the normal harvest date to build high sugar, balanced by natural acidity. Aromas of honey, stone fruit, lower alcohol levels, and often from Washington State with pride. Texas sheet cake is a large chocolate cake baked in a jelly roll pan, topped with warm, pourable fudge icing, and typically studded with toasted pecans. Its distinct trait is the fudgy, crackly icing layer, which melts right into the warm cake for an ultra-moist, dense texture. I prefer the cake without nuts and love the thick chocolate taste and the simplicity. The base is often made with buttermilk and cocoa powder, giving it a light, tangy, and deeply chocolatey flavor. The frosting is made by boiling butter, cocoa, milk, and powdered sugar. It is poured over the cake while both are still hot. The name could refer to the slogan “everything’s bigger in Texas". Pair this bigger than life chocolate sheet cake with sparkling Lambrusco from Italy. Known for its bright berry flavors, refreshing acidity, and food-friendly versatility. Choose your favorite cake, experiment with wines, and find your true passion for all things sweet.

Cartoon Characters created by Sterling Haynes. Learn more at sterlinghaynes.com By Professor Sterling Haynes Meet Eric Fleetwood a talented young baseball player studying business at Triton College. The Cincinnati Ohio native currently ranks No. 2 nationally with Junior College Baseball (JUCO). Division I batting average (.488) while adding 13 home runs and 53 Run Batted In (RBI) during a breakout freshman season that has already drawn Division I attention. He frequently grew up as the only Black player on his travel teams, an experience that reflects the broader decline in Black representation across the sport. Black players made up just 6.8% of Major League Baseball (MLB). Opening Day rosters in 2026, down from 18% in 1991, according to league diversity data. MLB continues trying to rebuild the Black participation in baseball. This year marked one of the first times he’s played alongside multiple players of color and Black coaches, giving Fleetwood a firsthand look at the impact representation can have, making him hopeful he can help be part of that shift for younger players of color coming up behind him. Zoom Interview with Eric Fleetwood What inspired you to play baseball? My grandma took me and my brother to the batting cage when I was six years old. When I went in there and started hitting, I fell in love with it ever since. My family got me into T-Ball at a young age at the local YMCA. Growing up, I was a big Reds fan. Brandon Phillips was my favorite player. He was always smiling and having fun. People tell me that's kind of how I am too now. What's your favorite part about baseball? My favorite part is competing with my teammates. I'm still best friends with some of the guys I've met on my T-Ball team. I love hitting home runs. Baseball has given me a chance to meet people all over the country. There is a lack of representation for African Americans in baseball. Do you have any tips to encourage more people to play? When kids see players looking like them, succeeding in that sport, it helps them believe they belong there too. My biggest advice is to give the game a chance and stick with it. Baseball teaches discipline, resiliency, confidence, how to deal with failure. The more kids we can get around the game, they'll fall in love with it. That concludes the interview it was insightful and a pleasure. Fleetwood is set to return to Cincinnati this summer to play for the Hamilton Joes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Baseball has some of the most games in their seasons compared to other sports. Professionally, they range between 80 to 100 games in a season. College level, between 40 and 50. Follow Eric Fleetwood on social media. @Ericfleetwood23 on Instagram. Ericfleetwood3 on X.

Cartoon Characters Mayor Maxwell and Babette are created by Sterling Haynes. Sterlinghaynes.com By Professor Sterling Haynes The vision of a Jewish man and Black man created a ballroom of rising stars. In the 1920s the nightclub scene was flourishing in Harlem, New York. Much like work environments nightclubs were also segregated. Two men had a business idea to bring unity and diversity to the dance floor. Owned by Moe Gale and managed by Charles Buchanan. Gale was Jewish and promoted inclusive talent. Buchanan was from the Caribbean Island of Barbados. They opened The Savory Ballroom March 1926. Located in the middle of Harlem between 140th and 141st street on Lenox Avenue. On the second floor was the 10,000 square foot Ballroom. Occupancy up to 4000 guests. It was named after the Savory Hotel in London. Embodying luxury furnishings, classy ambiance, and upscale customer service. The Savory Ballroom had a no-discrimination policy including staff and patrons. Famous dancers and musical talents such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Frankie Manning performed at The Savory Ballroom. Popular dances at the time were the Lindy Hopp, Big Apple, Suzy Q, and Charleston Step. The floor manager Herbert “Whitey” White formed his own dance group called the “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers”. Estimated annual profits were $250,000 from the late 1920s to the 1940s. Due to illegal activity and social issues the ballroom went out of business in October 1958. The Savory Ballroom’s legacy continues as Savory Park Apartments. Savoy Park is a distinctive rental community in the heart of Central Harlem. Located on Lenox Avenue within a sprawling 13 acres of green space. The area features modern amenities such as a package room, laundry room, 24/7 security, playground, and on-site parking. Conveniently located near several subway and bus lines. Offering studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartment homes. The seven-building community occupies the block where the Savoy Ballroom once stood. The iconic club, known as 'The Home of the Happy Feet', drew legions of revelers between 1926 and 1958. Resources: savoyparkapartments.com, ilindy.com, welcometothesavoy.com

Cartoon Character Dr. Omar is created by Sterling Haynes. Sterlinghaynes.com By Professor Sterling Haynes A Black American surgeon who devoted his life to improving health care in the African American Community. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania in 1856. His career started as a shoemaker's apprentice and barber. After completing an apprenticeship from a physician, he was inspired to practice medicine. Dr. Williams earned his medical degree in 1883 from Chicago Medical School, currently known as Northwestern University. At the time there was a shortage of practicing black doctors in Chicago. To promote more medical professionals Dr. Williams founded the Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses. Launched in 1891, It was the nation's first Black-owned hospital located in Chicago. Known for its nursing and internship program. Serving communities with diverse staff. In the summer of 1893, a wounded young man named James Cornish arrived at the Provident Hospital. He was admitted with a knife wound to his chest from a brawl. As a life-or-death situation he required emergency surgery. Lacking antibiotics, penicillin and limited medical equipment, Dr. Williams preformed open heart surgery. Using a scalpel he cut a small hole into Cornish's chest. Repairing a severed artery and damaged tissue around the heart. Saving Cornish’s life. Dr. Williams was married and passed away in 1931. Provident Hospital of Cook County continues to operate today. According to a press release, on June 24, 2026, Cook County Health, awarded more than $1.3M in Scholarships to Students Pursuing Careers in Medicine. Bringing the cumulative total to more than $5 million awarded to over 300 students since the fund’s inception in 2022. A significant portion of this year’s funding supporting returning scholars who are advancing through their multi-year degree programs. “Hospitals across the nation are grappling with severe, chronic staffing shortages,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health. “We all see the statistics, and the projected gaps of tens of thousands of nurses, medical assistants, behavioral health specialists, and physicians. But as healthcare leaders and concerned citizens, we cannot simply look at data projections and wait for the problem to resolve itself. We have to build our own pipeline. We have to reverse engineer the solution.” The Provident Scholarship Fund has two distinct tiers: $20,000 Scholarships: Awarded to advanced health professional students, including those enrolled in doctorate-level medical and dental tracks, as well as physician assistant, behavioral health, and nurse practitioner programs. $10,000 Scholarships: Awarded to undergraduate and allied health students pursuing critical roles in nursing, surgical and radiology technology, respiratory therapy, and paramedic programs. The scholarship fund is named in honor of Cook County Health’s historic Provident Hospital. Founded in 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Provident Hospital holds a legendary legacy as the first African American-owned and operated hospital in the United States. Today’s scholarship fund actively advances that foundational mission of equitable healthcare by dismantling financial barriers for the next generation of diverse medical pioneers. columbiasurgery.org, heart.org, cookcountyhealth.org

TROTWOOD, OH — September 3, 2026 — The talented student-artists of The Melatonics, Trotwood-Madison’s premier a cappella vocal ensemble, are preparing to take their music to the next level—and they need the community’s help. The Trotwood-Madison Vocal Music Department and community supporters have launched a $4,000 sponsorship campaign, with a goal of reaching the target by September 28, 2026. How Sponsorships Help Every sponsorship helps provide students with opportunities that require funding beyond the department’s standard operating budget. Contributions will help cover: Travel, transportation, and lodging for performances and competitions Registration fees for ICHSA and Kettering competitions Equipment and production costs for the local “Moment Show” Travel and educational expenses for the students’ return trip to Memphis for the OneVoice festival The Impact on Our Students Supporting The Melatonics is about more than funding performances—it is about investing in students and their future. These opportunities allow students to perform and compete outside their local community, experience high-level music environments, and learn what it takes to prepare for major performances. Through these experiences, students develop valuable skills in discipline, teamwork, leadership, communication, confidence, time management, and perseverance. Traveling and performing also gives them the opportunity to connect with other student musicians, experience new communities, and explore possibilities for their future in music, college, education, and careers. Most importantly, community sponsorship helps ensure that financial circumstances do not determine whether a student can participate. When businesses and community members support The Melatonics, they are helping turn the students’ talent, hard work, and dedication into meaningful opportunities. Every donation helps move these students one step closer to the stage and the experiences they have worked hard to earn. Sponsorship Recognition 🔹 Bronze — $100+: Business name recognition in 2026–2027 performance programs 🔹 Silver — $250+: Small company logo on printable flyers and concert programs 🔹 Gold — $500+: Large company logo on promotional materials plus a dedicated social media shoutout Help The Melatonics Reach Their Goal Secure online donations can be made through the authorized Snap! Raise campaign: Support The Melatonics: https://sms.snap.app/6ZjyNgxl Corporate checks may be mailed to:Trotwood High School Music DepartmentAttn: J. Stokes4400 N. Union RoadTrotwood, OH 45426 For more information, contact:Trotwood-Madison High SchoolPhone: (937) 854-0878 or send email to naglasper405@gmail.com The Melatonics are ready to take their talent to the national stage. With the support of local businesses and the Trotwood community, we can help make these opportunities possible.