News Around our Nation- Philly Closes 23 Public Schools, Generously Builds $400 Million Prison Where Kids Can Hang Instead Priorities are out of whack in Pennsylvania.

Out of 200 Chicago-Area High Schools, These Are the High Schools Supporting the Mass Black Male Graduation:  Air Force Academy High School Amundsen High School Austin Community Academy High School Bowen High School Chicago Talent Development High School Michelle Clark High School Crane High School DeVry Advantage Academy High School Dunbar Vocational High School Farragut Career Academy High School Hales Franciscan Catholic High School Harlan Community Academy High School Hirsch Metropolitan High School Kenwood Academy High School Manley Career Academy High School Phillips Academy High School Raby High School for Community and Environment Richards Career Academy High School Rickover Naval Academy High School Robeson High School Simeon Career Academy High School St. Rita of Cascia Catholic High School Uplift Community High School Wells Community Academy High School    On Saturday, June 29, 2013, All of Black Chicago and Every 8th-Grade Black Male in the Midwest Should Attend the Black Male High School Graduation Ceremony and See...   The Pouring of Libations The African Drums Ceremony The March of The Elders  Performance by Generations for Progress  Keynote by Lupe Fiasco The Pledge of Young Black Men 500 Black Male High School Graduates Every young Black man in America should be at this ceremony. Young Black men must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, teacher, pastor or mentor. Every adult must bring a young Black man, or a group of young Black men, to gain admission to this event. Chicago State University is the place to be for young Black men on June 29, 2013.  All young Black men attending should wear a shirt and tie.  Dress to excel!!! Admission by free ticket only.  You must RSVP for tickets.  Please call773.285.9600 to RSVP or for more information.

In Michigan, record number of school districts operating under budget deficit, officials say By By Kathleen Gray June 6, 2013 It's not just urban school districts, like Detroit, Ecorse and Pontiac, that are operating with deficits, state School Superintendent Mike Flanagan told legislators Thursday morning. Fifty-five districts, including Mt. Clemens, Brighton, Pinckney and White Cloud, are spending more money than they're taking in and are subject to state review. It's the largest number of deficit-ridden schools the state's seen, Flanagan said. "Some may have experienced an enrollment decline over the summer, or maybe you don't have a good financial person," Flanagan said. "Sometimes there are boards that don't want to make the tough decisions and they have assumptions in their budgets that just aren't reasonable." He told legislators on a joint House and Senate Appropriations subcommittee that if he had his way, there would be countywide school districts and he would have the authority to dissolve districts that clearly weren't emerging from deficit. Such is the case in the Buena Vista school district, which temporarily closed its doors in May because it had run out of money. "The world is full of critics and we need playwrights," he said. "Why don't you give us a county system to look at. We're not capable or have the staff to do something like that. I would welcome you guys telling me what laws and what procedures we have to change." Click Here to Read Full Story

See what people are saying about this speech by Michelle Alexander about The New Jim Crow!    Elijah Garrett  This video should be the most watched video on Youtube! This video is the answer to the why we need change in society, in America, in the world. If this video get's to it's peak, the world will inevitably be on it's way to change!  MLK would be proud of Michelle Alexander!  I know I am!  Karen Glover Burkett  I am so very happy that she called it redesign and saying she was against this kind of thinking. I am so glad she has awaken and taking action. I love this video. Blufrenzy93  Very insightful ! I did my thesis on black males and education and a lot of what you mentioned was in my paper. It is sad that these stats have not changed since I last did my research. David Philippart  I hope Michelle Alexander runs for public office some day. She has my vote! Frederick Nichelson  This is the realest of the real. Thanks M. Alexander. You nailed it. Plain and simple.  rahim mcneil What a fantastic speech! This is the type of person we need representing race relations in the country. LaTrone Slade  Awesome research and a real EYE opener!  Racism is not dead and can only be attacked through our own minds. Change the conditions and thought process. yungworldz  She is the truth! marty mart  I have watched several of Michelle's videos--her research is very thorough- undisputable GenuineSpirit1000  Where do i sign up to help bring about change? Change really needs to happen!!!! Please click here to see and hear Professor Michelle Alexander speaking on "The New Jim Crow"! Click here to purchase and read her book, "The New Jim Crow'

Philly Closes 23 Public Schools, Generously Builds $400 Million Prison Where Kids Can Hang Instead Priorities are out of whack in Pennsylvania.    Kristen Gwynne is an associate editor and drug policy reporter   June 7, 2013   Philadelphia is so broke the city is closing 23 public schools, never mind that it (Pennsylvania) has the cash to build a $400 million prison.  Construction on the penitentiary said to be "the second-most expensive state project ever" began just days after the Pennsylvania School Reform Commission voted down a plan to close only four of the 27 schools scheduled to die. The penitentiary, which is technically two facilities, will supplement at least two existing jails, the Western Penitentiary at Pittsburgh and Fayette County Jail. Pittsburgh's Western Penitentiary was built in 2003 with the original intention of replacing Fayette County Jail, but the prison has struggled with lawsuits claiming widespread physical and sexual abuse of prisoners.  Scheduled to be completed in 2015, the new prison's cell blocks and classroom will be capable of housing almost 5,000 inmates. Officials said there will be buildings for female inmates, the mentally ill and a death row population.  The youths of color disproportionately affected by school closings can just hang out there. Click Here to Read Full Story

Chicago to Close 50 Public Schools While Spending $100 Million on Basketball Arena vs  By Omar Rivero May 28, 2013     Two months ago, the city of Chicago enraged progressives by unveiling plans to close over 50 schools, mostly in the poorest African-American areas, in order to make up for a budget shortfall caused by the Bush Recession and their bloated corporate welfare system.  Adding insult to injury, the city has just announced that it plans to dedicate as much as $100 million in public funds to the privately funded DePaul University for the construction of their new basketball arena. Yes, you've read that correctly: The city cares more about collegiate sports than they do about educating already-struggling African-American youth. The city's plan sparked fierce opposition from the people, culminating in last week's massive protests on the streets of downtown. The protesters made the argument that the school closings would put children at risk by forcing them to travel further to overcrowded schools, making their already deplorable educational situation even worse. The rallies and marches were organized by a coalition including the Chicago Teachers Union, which emphasized the point that the school closures were targeted at predominantly poor and African-American school districts. Click Here To Read Full Story

The Black Star Project supports Occupy The Streets of Chicago with  Father Michael Pfleger     and the  Faith Community of Saint Sabina Friday, June 21, 2013 7:00 pm - 500 free t-shirts at 6:00 pm 78th Place and Throop (1250 west) Chicago, Illinois We invite people throughout Chicago to stand up and declare their commitment to occupy our streets this summer to bring about Peace! Call St. Sabina at 773.483.4300 Call The Black Star Project at 773.285.9600

TEAMDAD Launches An Indiegogo Campaign Entitled: The Father Factor May 28, 2013 Barrington, IL - WHAT - TEAMDAD launches The Father Factor Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to put proven fatherhood resources into public schools around Illinois and across the nation. "Perks" range in price from $2 to $5,000. The three year goal is to provide 500,000 dads of students in public schools, with proven fatherhood resources. Every $100 raised puts a Great Dad Starter Kit, which provide five dads with copies of: - the award winning, national best-seller Be A Better Dad Today! by The Honorable Gregory W. Slayton, - the What My Father Means To Me guide including 24 essays and the 7 session ICAN's framework (Involvement, Consistency, Awareness, and Nurturance), - the TEAMDAD Self Assessment Tool worksheet to provide some immediate feedback on four areas of fathering: Financial, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual, and - the TEAMDAD Great Dad's Coin, which can be carried daily or displayed at work or home to serve as a 24-7 reminder about being a great dad. WHEN - starting today and through Saturday, June 22, 2013 WHERE - at www.indiegogo.com then proceed to The Father Factor page. WHY - Research shows 4 out of 10 or and estimated 24,000,000 children are growing up today in father-absent homes. Children from fatherless homes are more likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, use/abuse drugs and alcohol, become teen parents commit suicide, commit crimes and become incarcerated. TEAMDAD - is a social business venture with a double bottom line. The first is to have a social impact as noted above. The second is to be a successful self-sustaining business. Peggy Hirsch is president of TEAMDAD LLC, a woman-owned social business venture, whose primary purpose is to inspire and equip men to be great dads.  "We believe every child needs a dad they can count on. The research is clear: children thrive when they have an involved father-someone who is present financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually." said Peggy, "We inspire and equip men to be more involved fathers and father figures." For More Information- go to www.teamdad.com

Summer Saturday University This summer, ensure that your children excel in their learning at a Saturday University.Saturday University is one of the newest and most effective educational concepts in America for educating students of color.  It is family- and community-driven education at its best.  As many/most Black children in American schools are failing academically, the only way to successfully educate them is with the support and actions of their parents, families and communities. Register now for one of our 20 free Chicago-area Saturday Universities beginning now.  Please Call 773.285.9600 to register.

This Summer, One Million Young Black Men in the United States Need Meaningful Work. Please Support 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working In Your Community  You cannot fix the problems of young Black men if they don't have meaningful work.   Churches can change this... In times of economic strain, our whole community suffers from the complications of unemployment. In an effort to develop a new model of community outreach and economic sustainability, The Black Star Project is launching the 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working program.   These are the employment facts for young Black men in America: Young Black men have the highest unemployment rate of any group in the country. Unofficially, some academics believe that only 14 out of 100 young Black men have jobs. White adult felons are more likely to have jobs than young Black men without criminal records. Upper-middle class Black youth are less likely to have jobs than low-income White youth. The Black Star Project is offering the opportunity for these faith organizations and faith organizations across America to participate in this program. During this summer, for five or six weeks, each faith organzation will: Take up a special collection of $200.00 per week Hired a young, African American male to work in the church, temple synagogue or mosque for 20 hours per week, or Refer the young man to a local not-for-profit or business to work  Pay the young man minimum wage to $10.00 per hour for 20 hours per week  Ensure that each young man gains valuable work experience Ensure that each young man has valuable mentoring experience To get your church involved in 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working or for more information about this program, please call 773.285.9600. Please Click Here for more information.