Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

Local rapper Head-Roc has a message for Walmart

Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

By: Tamara Braunstein

Local rapper Head-Roc released a new track last week calling out the social justice issues of allowing Walmart to infiltrate some notoriously impoverished neighborhoods in DC.

The video, produced by Empower DC, is shot in black and white and relies heavily on imagery reflective of the Chocolate City moniker, especially small, minority-owned and operated businesses. Subtitles are provided, but one of the most interesting moments occurs around the 1 min. 23 sec. mark, when Dr. Jared Ball, “the Funkinest Journalist,” cuts into the track with the “Three Walmart Commandments”:

1. Move in and crush competition by underselling
2. Pay workers nothing and block unionization
3. Take all that money, put it into the Walton Family Foundation, and turn that into political influence to protect yourself and make even more

Mr. Head-Roc goes on to rap that “the Walton families are big contributors to bigoted representatives and senators…results in Black and Brown casualties.” Despite Walmart’s conspicuous self-promotion to win our approval, it’s clear from this video that some residents are aware and wary of the big-box’s intentions. But what does it mean on a broader scale?

Has Walmart become just another embodiment of DC’s classic racial socio-economic disparities debate?

The original 99 percent

By Shannon Mouton

The 99% are frustrated, fed-up and downright angry.

They are angry for several reasons,

We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent. [from We Are The 99 Percent]

And while they are entitled to their feelings, many people of color, especially Blacks and Latinos, have had these feelings for decades or longer. People of color are the original 99 percent. For the majority of the 20th century, we were locked out, kicked out, held down, beat down, pushed aside, put asunder and so on, while a majority of the American majority prospered under the guise of the American Dream.

It isn't that people of color don't agree with the movement or support its principles, we're wondering what took you so long to join the fight? So when people wonder and speculate why the #OccupyWallStreet movement isn't more the diverse, for many of us the answer is simple..."It's your turn, I'm taking a break."

Trade Tips: Transparency Brings Trust

Trade Tips: Transparency Brings Trust

By Nicole Hayes

When will they learn? Hermain Cain’s presidential campaign is undergoing “damage control” and communications crisis as he issued statements this week to address allegations of sexual harassment toward two female employees when he headed the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. The women referenced being subjected to “inappropriate behavior and inappropriate sexual conduct” from Cain and at least one woman received a monetary settlement. Over the past two days, Cain has given several varying statements to the public on whether the allegations were true, if there was a settlement or “agreement” made to satisfy the women’s complaints. Cain complained that he’s the subject of a “witch hunt” and a “bull’s-eye has been placed on his back.” But isn’t that kind of a given when you’re running for public office? Even the more reason for full transparency. Now, the trust he may have held with some public supporters is waning.

As witnessed in past examples of some public figures’ inability to be fully transparent, even a small drift from the truth can be sensed by people and the media. The media can be unforgiving and relentless when pursuing the truth…and they will surface the truth. With no escape in sight, some will choose that moment to give full disclosure of their transgression to seek our forgiveness and understanding.

We wrote on this topic in June with regard to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and the public shunning he faced for his 10-days of deceiving the media and public.  Like many other public relations counselors, we provided guidance how to best manage such situations. The golden rule: Tell the truth. Be as transparent as you can with the information you have that moment. Get ahead of your story and control it so no one else does. Transparency brings trust. Some may not like your honesty but most will respect you for it.

Note: We’ll keep these tips in our archives for repeat offenders.

Video: See Something, Say Something

See Something, Say Something

By: Ryan Duncan

We've been following the Occupy Wall Street protests around the country and the world, and are inspired by the passion and bravery of these Americans who have seen injustice and decided to stand up and do something about it. So often, we are accustomed to just go along with whatever is the status quo, we feel the problems are too big and complex for us to be able to truly fix or change in any way. But as we saw with Rosa Parks, sometimes all it takes is for one person, or a small group of people, to stand up and refuse to accept an injustice they see, to start a movement that can really change the world.

In this week's video post, we have a sub-group of the Occupy Wall Street protesters turning their attention to school reform and education. The group is called, Occupy the DOE and they are protesting against the Panel for Education Policy (or PEP), which enacts policy for the New York City Dept. of Education. The PEP replaced the Board of Education when Mayor Bloomberg took control of the schools in 2002. It is intended to be a democratic forum where people voice concerns, prior to the panel's vote on educational policy. However, due to special interests and lobbyists, most decisions are made prior to any votes occur. This is not a democracy. And these people, teachers, and parents have had enough and are saying something about. We challenge everyone out there, that if you see something, say something!



Occupy Wall Street—A Timeline

Occupy Wall Street—A Timeline

The Occupy Wall Street protest, which began in September as a small encampment of mostly young activists with more emotion than clearly stated objectives, was mostly ignored by the media. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the protests quickly became a subject of ridicule. But then something happened: Occupy Wall Street exploded into a nationwide series of demonstrations drawing support from unions and mainstream liberal groups, with comparisons to the powerhouse Tea Party movement and revolutionary pro-democracy protesters in Egypt's Tahrir Square. How did that happen?

Take a look at the key events below.

June 9
Canadian anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters registers the domain name OccupyWallStreet.org.

July 13
Adbusters calls for a Sept. 17 protest, where "20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades.

Aug. 23
"Hactivist" collective Anonymous releases a video pledging its support for the protest.

Sept. 9
Supporters of Occupy Wall Street start posting their photos and stories to a new "We Are the 99 Percent" Tumblr page.

Sept. 17
The protest begins, with about 1,000 people gathering in downtown Manhattan and walking up and down Wall Street.

Sept. 19
Roseanne Barr becomes the first celebrity to endorse Occupy Wall Street.

Sept. 20
Police start arresting mask-wearing protesters, using an arcane law dating back to 1845 that bans masked gatherings unless part of "a masquerade party or like entertainment."

Sept. 24
About 80 people are arrested during a permit-less march uptown, and video of the event — especially the use of pepper spray on a group of women — earns Occupy Wall Street its first major media coverage. An OWS-inspired protest starts in Chicago.

Sept. 26
Filmmaker Michael Moore addresses the crowd at Zuccotti Park. Noam Chomsky sends his regards.

Sept. 27
Actress Susan Sarandon and Princeton academic Cornel West show up at the protests.

Sept. 28
Transport Workers Union Local 100 becomes the first big union to support Occupy Wall Street via a member vote.

Sept. 30
An internet hoax that Radiohead will play for the protesters draws a crowd downtown.

Oct. 1
Some 700 protesters are arrested in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. The mass arrests push the protests to the front page of newspapers and the top of TV news broadcasts. OWS-inspired protests start in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.

Oct. 3
Protesters dressed as "corporate zombies," in full zombie regalia and clutching fake cash, parade down Wall Street. The protests have spread nationwide, including Boston, Memphis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Hawaii, and Portland, Maine.

Oct. 5
At least 39 organizations, including New York City's largest labor unions and MoveOn.org, join Occupy Wall Street for a march through New York's financial district. Organizers say 10,000 to 20,000 people marched; the media puts the number somewhere below 15,000.

Oct. 6
About 4,000 protesters march in Portland, OR. More demonstrations unfold in Houston, Austin, Tampa, and San Francisco.

Oct. 7
Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticizes the protesters in a radio interview, saying they are "taking the jobs away from people working in this city" and that the protests are "not good for tourism."

Oct. 8
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, shuts down after a crowd shows up to voice opposition to U.S. drone strikes abroad. The demonstrators are joined by members of the Occupy Wall Street offshoot Occupy DC.

Oct. 10
Mayor Bloomberg softens his earlier criticisms, and says protesters can stay in New York as long as they want — so long as they obey the law.

Oct. 13
 Zuccotti Park owner announces that protesters must vacate the park.

Oct. 14
Owner backs off and avoids a standoff between the demonstrators and police.

Oct. 15
The wave of protests spreads worldwide, from Europe to the Americas to Asia

Oct. 18
President Obama delivers a mixed message on Nightline, saying he "understands the frustrations" of the protesters, but that the movement  is "not that different from some of the protests we saw coming from the Tea Party."

Oct. 21
The host of an opera radio show aired by NPR affiliates is fired for participating in the Occupy DC movement.

Oct. 24
Progressive icon Elizabeth Warren takes some of the credit for the movement, telling Newsweek that she "created much of the intellectual foundation for what [the protesters] do."

Oct. 25
The Egyptian activists who toppled Hosni Mubarak lend their support to the protesters. In Oakland, CA, police clear about 170 protesters from their encampment outside of City Hall and arrest 97 demonstrators.

Oct. 26

Big Labor gave an Occupy Wall Street rally in Manhattan a big boost this week, bringing the estimated number of participants in New York alone to roughly 15,000.

New report finds that in the past three decades, the richest 1 percent of Americans have seen their income grow by 275 percent since 1979, compared to the nation’s poorest 20 percent who had only an 18 percent increase (see PDF).

So what is Occupy Wall Street so angry about?

Show Your Sponsor Some Love!

Show Your Sponsor Some Love!

By: Joyce Taylor, with David Latham

Behind most unemployed job hunters is a working spouse, parent, partner or friend. Someone you live with who is supportive during your ongoing search, but who has their own fears about the endeavor. Most sponsors become overwhelmed with the financial load as they postpone retirement, or delay other plans until your financial situation improves. If you are dependent on someone else to pay the mortgage/rent, buy groceries and bear the brunt of other living expenses, here are a few tips to deal with the frustration that often accompanies this type of situation.

Make a budget, agree on a plan:

Be upfront and realistic about the household expenses, as well as your personal finances. Make a personal budget and align it with your cash flow. Minimize unnecessary draws from savings and eliminate nonessential expenses and costly habits, such as eating out, buying prepared foods, maintaining costly cable TV packages or purchasing new clothes for fun. Although the internet is essential in conducting a job search, the public library is also an option, as well as free public Internet hot spots. If the Internet is tied to the cable TV, review the expense and eliminate entertainment channels, unless of course your sponsor does not see this as a problem.

Talk with your supporter (even mom, dad, or spouse) to get their perspective on the amount of time you can realistically go without making a contribution to the daily, weekly or monthly expenses. Develop a 30, 60, and 90 day action plan to monitor your progress. Even if bringing in an income is not critical, still consider taking a part time job to cover some of the expenses and maintain your self esteem. Employers frequently look for people with diligence and initiative, so being busy while you are looking may be seen as a positive.

If you have not recently been in the job market, look for and participate in free workshops to help you in your approach and in organizing your job search. During employment screens, human resources practitioners eliminate many resumes because they include outdated information or information that is not relevant to the available position. Take the time to learn how to market yourself as a valuable resource for each employment opportunity.

Match your energy with your Sponsor’s:

Unless you work during the day, avoid the tendency to conduct the job search at night, or watch TV until the wee hours of the morning, which is a drain on utilities and may appear thoughtless to the sponsor with whom you reside. If your sponsor begins the day at 5:30 a.m., match their routine and energy by synching your schedule with theirs. Get up, get dressed and get groomed, which will invigorate your emotional energy! Use the newness of the morning to organize your job search activities, or better yet, take an early morning walk or exercise to stimulate your self-awareness. Create a daily work plan: list your activities and complete all actions listed each day. This plan can also be shared with your sponsor to help with their awareness of your efforts.

At the end of your full work day, start or organize dinner! For some, this may be a new life skill, but a lifelong one worth learning. If you don’t know how to cook, the Internet provides a good number of quick, tasty, and budget menus that you can master. Most people appreciate walking into the door to the smell of food cooking and a clean or at least straightened house. Before launching into your job search frustrations, ask about their day and genuinely listen to their story. Be supportive, yet remember most people do not want advice, they just want a place to vent!

Stone Soup anyone?

If you are on a limited or no-income budget, you do not have to become a hermit or miss out on small or special events. Plan a “Stone Soup” gathering where you contact your friends for a social get-together. You can be spontaneous by asking each person to bring an ingredient of their choosing that does not exceed $5.00. Most anything can go into a hearty stew, soup, or salad so you can figure out what to make with the ingredients when your friends arrive! If you prefer more predictability, send out a list of ingredients and ask people to identify their ingredient of choice. The idea is to bring a host of people together and have affordable fun, rather than allowing the predictable job search anxiety to define all of your activities.  Maintaining your social networks and having fun is critical to keeping your sanity throughout the rigorous job search!

HPV Vaccine: A Diversity Issue?

Gardasil is currently the only FDA-approved HPV vaccine for both males and females.

HPV Vaccine: A Diversity Issue?

By: Tamara Braunstein

This week, a CDC panel endorsed males ages 13 to 21 receive the HPV vaccine, previously recommended for females between the ages of nine to 26.

Backlash against the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ decision is anticipated, mostly due to the fact that the Human Papillomavirus is contracted via sexual transmission. However, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and about 75 percent of sexually active women will contract it during their lifetime:

“Most will overcome the infection with no ill effects. But in some people, infections lead to cellular changes that cause warts or cancer, including cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal cancers in men and women. A growing body of evidence suggests that HPV also causes throat cancers in men and women as a result of oral sex.” (The New York Times)

Whether or not people want to acknowledge that children and teens are engaging in sexual behavior (they are, and it’s not always safe), the risks that accompany those decisions persist. And the consequences, it seems, are not equally distributed.

According to the CDC’s own data, Hispanic and Black women have the highest rates of cervical cancer and resulting death rates in the country. Most recent data from 2007 indicates that compared to a national rate of 7.9 percent of females with cervical cancer, 7.5 percent of White women, 10.5 percent of Black women and 11.5 percent of Hispanic women contract the disease.

Not all female-specific cancer is a result of HPV. But from 1998 to 2003, HPV-associated vaginal cancer rates were also significantly disproportionate against Black and Hispanic women as well. The numbers are less skewed for men. During the same time period, HPV-associated anal cancer rates for men reached 1.2 percent for Black men, 0.8 percent for Hispanic men and 1.0 percent for White men.

Even if the new recommendations do prove a “hard sell,” it bears mentioning that in a study among low-income children, boys reported their first sexual experience at a younger age (average 12.48 years old) than girls (average 13.16 years old). And by the way, aren’t low-income youth considered a high-risk population for contracting STDs? So aren’t low-income minorities even more at-risk? I thought so.

Instead of discussing the moral dilemmas in advocating that youth – regardless of gender or sexual orientation – receive a vaccine that can play a significant role in preventing the spread of a serious infection and potential disease, maybe we should be discussing how to make the vaccine more accessible and affordable for the populations already disparately affected?