Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Baltimore
Afro-American Newspaper
2519 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-8200
8 Purse Power
The Washington
Afro-American Newspaper
1917 Benning Road NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 332-0080
10 Character Education Profile: College Savings Plans of MD
John J. Oliver Jr.
Chairman/Publisher
Electronic Editor
Melissa Jones 15 Character Education Profile: McDonald’s
Graphic Designer
Denise Dorsey
Anita Jackson
with large commercial business leaders
to encourage them to choose Maryland
as their business location. When large
businesses move to Maryland or choose Director of Economic
to remain in the state, BGE gains by Development
providing energy service to that company,
but also a ripple effect of benefits occur
throughout the region in the form of job
opportunities, spending and an overall
healthier economy.
When I meet with decision makers of new businesses and organizations who are thinking about moving to Maryland or current
organization representatives who might be thinking about moving away, I do what I can to meet their needs and help make Maryland
their home. This means that when I say I will provide them the help or information they seek, I make sure that I do just that. If I don’t
come through on a promise, it could lead to our company losing money or hundreds of jobs across the state.
My mother was very instrumental at teaching me about the value of integrity. At a young age she
told me that people are always watching and talking about you even if you don’t see them and to
make sure I give them only positive things to see and say. It was that conversation that convinced
me to live my life with integrity. Whatever I say I will do, I do it – no matter how difficult the task.
Take my elementary school experience for example. At a very young age I set a goal to excel in
school to become successful. During my elementary years, however, I remember integration was
just starting to take place and I was moved to a different school. There were many times I faced
difficulties and wanted to give up on doing my best, but because I made a goal for myself, I had to
persevere. I figured if I am going to keep my word to other people, I should at the very least make
sure I keep my word to myself.
My advice to students looking to accomplish any goal is to make sure commitments are honored.
By doing so, things will get done, people will notice and you’ll be a better person. Believe me, I
wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.
“Black
women are
making decent
pocket change selling
jewelry, cosmetics, women are making decent pocket change selling jewelry, cosmetics, fashion
fashion accessories accessories and even adult novelties.
While the economic progress of Black women has been duly noted, the
and even adult evidence of wealth building doesn’t match it.
The fact that Black women work is unquestionable. Historically, Black women
novelties.” have entered the workforce at higher rates than White women – and continue to
do so. But despite advanced education, more income, full-time entrepreneurship
and “side hustles,” Black women are still coming up with an empty purse – wealth
wise.
Continued on Page 14
Dare to be Different
is the message my mom drove into me at every
opportunity. This happened particularly in junior high
and then in high school, when I would complain about
being placed in classes with the ‘NERDS”. It just didn’t
seem fair for my parents and teachers to move me out
of classes that I had with my friends and fellow football
buddies. And to have me taking piano lessons too!
Yuck! I sure worked hard to keep that on the down low
with my teammates. Thankfully, she didn’t want to hear
my complaints and I continue to thank her today for not
allowing me to follow the path of the “cool kids”.
There just aren’t that many examples in life of
individuals who fell into success. From the successful
business executive, to that up and coming R&B artist,
or that kid around the corner that received an academic
scholarship – chances are they dared to be different from
the crowd. They dared to work hard on a homework
Jerome Clark
assignment, or hit that note for a band piece just right,
while their friends went on and partied for the night.
Vice President It’s that loving, tough love push for me to be different
that helped me to succeed at the U.S. Naval Academy,
T. Rowe Price then the U.S. Marine Corps, and in my current job in
Portfolio Manager investment management with T. Rowe Price here in
Asset Allocation Group Baltimore.
Understand that every one of us has some unique talent
or skill that we tend to do better than others. As you
hopefully work hard to do well in school, try to figure
out what it is that you tend to do better than others. It may be sports, or a musical
instrument, or maybe a knack for taking pictures – or even (heaven forbid) math is
fun for you. Don’t be afraid to embrace that special talent you have. What may not
seem very cool in junior high may be very cool later in life.
So junior high came and went for me. Decades later, my 9th grade son moved in
with me after years of being out of state with his mom - and he wasn’t doing very
well in school. I tried to place him in tougher classes, but he didn’t want to be stuck
with the “geeks.” Guess what my loving message was to him…*smile*
He’s now a student at the U.S. Naval Academy and I’m thanking my mother for
teaching me to teach him that being different can be a very good thing!
on Economic
Power
By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staff Writer
“G
od made dirt and dirt won’t hurt”… This is a phrase I
remember hearing during my childhood, and it was used
whenever a piece of candy was dropped on the floor. It was
a way of proving the candy was still edible even though it may have been
a little dirty. I realize now as an adult that this phrase applies to so much
more than just candy. Tough times and unpleasant experiences made up
the dirt in my life. Some experiences were made by choice and some were
out of my control. Although they may have been unpleasant and, at times,
I diverted from my path, the determination I had kept me focused on my
ultimate goal of being successful.
The seed of success was planted very early in my childhood. My
parents worked very hard and sacrificed many things so that our basic
needs were met. I had to grow up without some of the simple luxuries in
life, which made things tougher to deal with as a child. Although, at times,
I wanted and expected to have more growing up, I see now that having less
helped to shape me into who I am today. This was a dirty situation that was
out of my control, but just as my parents did, I worked hard and sacrificed
early to reap the reward of success later.
Even though I was determined to stay on the road to success, there were
several times that I got weak and, as a result, made some bad choices.
You must remember that just because you divert from the path you’ve
Chanel Jenkins
chosen, it’s never too late to make things right. One of my diversions was
the decision to have a child out of wedlock in my junior year of college.
Because of the responsibility that comes along with having a child, I risked
Assistant Manager losing my full honors scholarship and the independence I had gained. I had
Finance to overcome the challenge of having a child while attending school full
Legg Mason time, and get back on track. Thankfully, I graduated with honors from the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
On your pathway to success, remember we all need a little dirt to help
us grow. Some of the most beautiful flowers on earth are the result of
being planted and rooted in dirt. The smellier and more fertilized the dirt,
the better the results. Always focus on the situations that you can change,
and learn to fight through those that are out of your control. And finally,
keep in mind that it is okay to get a little dirty sometimes.
Purse Power
and buildings is an ongoing theme for
Baltimore City and while it’s not alone
in census neglect, it does serve as an
Continued from Page 9
Deborah Owens, a wealth coach and author of A Purse survival. Your retirement plan is priority,” she said, adding
“Because the of Your Own: An Easy Guide to Financial Security, says the that women should instill in their children early on the
void lies in women’s tendency to put the needs of others value of academic performance and merit as a means to pay
census is only before their own. “We want to create for our children what for a college education.
conducted every the whole civil rights struggle was about – a middle income,
where our kids could get a higher education and graduate
Retirement plans aside, Owens and Sykes agree the
Black community’s vision of wealth could stand to be more
10 years, $10,000 from college and have a good job. And what has happened focused – concentrating less on earning income and more
is we are jeopardizing our own wealth in order to achieve on building wealth. “Having financial freedom has less to
is lost for each that dream,” said Owens. “But the best gift you can give do with money and more to do with your state of mind,”
your children is the ability to take care of yourself when you said Sykes. “Whether you’re making $10 or $100 an hour,
person that’s not retire, because then you don’t become a burden to them.” it’s about what you save; it’s about what you keep. Keep
counted. “ Owens pointed to data released by the Family and
Economics and Nutrition Review that states elderly women
a certain percentage no matter where you are and you’ll
always have versus always feeling like you’re trying to catch
are twice as likely as men to live in poverty, and for Black up.”
indicator of how important census women the rate is almost doubled. “My concern is that Owens implores Black women to band together in this
counts can be. far too many African-American women are ending up at wealth building effort. “We don’t know how much power
“To say it’s extremely vital would be retirement age depending on social security for their sole we have,” she said. “We’ve got to collaborate now as women
an understatement,” said Cheatham. source of income. This is why it’s imperative that we make and use the power of our purses and use it to uplift one
“It’s clear that the past two censuses better choices when it comes to our long-term economic another.”
that have taken place in Baltimore
n “Bikes and Helmets Program” – Another donation made for the purchase of bikes and
helmets to be given to deserving kids at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Baltimore, Fredericks-
burg Virginia and Washington D.C.
Eighth-Graders Only
T
he Afro-American Newspapers’ Character Education character traits in their own lives. Students should then write an essay
Contest was launched 13 years ago to promote positive that best explains why they chose the article and how they plan to use
character development among the nation’s leaders of what they’ve learned to shape their future.
tomorrow -- our youth. • Essays should be between two and four pages in length (double-
We believe good character has to be taught and modeled, which spaced) and must be typed.
is why we have chosen to profile local corporate professionals and • Essays will be judged on neatness, grammar, punctuation and the
business leaders in our publication. student’s ability to give insight on what they learned from the profile.
The featured individuals, time and time again, incorporate positive Judges are impartial volunteers and may include teachers, staff from
character traits -- such as honesty, respect, responsibility, courage local colleges and universities and the editorial staff at the AFRO.
and perseverance -- in their everyday lives, proving to be positive role
models in their community. For more information concerning the Afro-American Newspapers’
For the contest, students are asked to read the featured profiles Character Education Contest, please contact: Diane Hocker, 410-554-
and choose the one that inspires them most to incorporate positive 8243.