BNICEH for Green-Youth-Disability-Health-Tobacco Prevention

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health Celebrates 24 Years as of March 24 - Yeah, Yeah!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:24:00 +0000

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health

Twenty-four Years

Still Here, Hanging In There, for Disability,

Paratransit, Civil and Human Rights.

Standing Firm for Human Services,

Black Lives, All Lives

With No Funding, With Volunteers

Moving Forward In 2016

Until We No Longer Can

Actress , former model and youth spokeperson for BNICEH

Miss Ramissa

Board Meeting at Advocate Masonic Medical Center

over 10 Years ago

Dr. Maat at NorthSide Community Federal Credit Union (CU)

Annual Meeting representing Black Network In Children's Emotional Health,

PWDs, persons with low income, served 19 years on CU board

2006 at Pace headquarters - ParatransitRiders

Prayer before Board Meetingin Arlington Hts

Paratransit Herb Hoffman outside RTA headquarters

protesting Pace increase and poor service

Grateful to President Obama for his statement

that Landlords should not discriminate against

ex-offenders by refusing to rent to them solely

based on having a record or having been arrested

Some events we have supported or participated in or that some of our members participated in:

Not Dead Yet rally (photo by Dr. Maat)

Protest at children's nursing home in Rogers Park where

12 children died

in which PWDs want the nusring home shut down

(photo by Dr. Maat)

ADAPT, AFSCME, IL Single Payer Coalition,

IMPRUVE, NA4J (Northside Action for Justice)

The Alliance For Community Services

Dr. Maat at Network 49 - Loyola Park meeting

with collegaues, Network 49 organizers

Katy Hogan, Ed Mullen, Michael Harrington

Marchers around City Hall from diverse groups neigborhoods (photo by Dr. Maat)

Kathy Powers protesting closing of Chicago city public health clinics

that affect many Blacks, women, children and cost only 25 cents monthly.

Great sign (photo by Dr. Maat)

One of my favorite tee shirts at MH protest at City Hall (photo by Dr. Maat)

Could you see me wearing a similar tee shirt.

It would fit a variety of situations for me related to race, gender,

wheelchair use, activism, advocacy, education, beliefs,

disability, religion, spirituality, political affiliation.... ((~_~))

Fix Paratransit, Set up Rider-Owned Green Paratransit, Hire Youth, too, to Stop Violence: Impruve Video 5 22 15 by Wanda Carter

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 16:06:00 +0000

Stand Up With BNICEH in 2015-16: Black Lives Matter, Lives of PWDs Matter, Youth Lives Matter, Paratransit Riders' Lives Matter

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:10:00 +0000

Black Lives Should Not Be Neglected To FulFill a Gentrification Plan Or Reclaim Of their Neighborhoods or the City By Those Escaping the Suburbs

Lives of PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) should not be put on hold to FulFill a Plan to Institutionalize Them in Nursing Homes and Jails

Youth Lives Matter

They should not be Misled to Think that they Can Earn the Same Living Without An Education In School or Online

Or Without 1-On-1 Mentoring By A Successful Entrepreneur

Reach the Same Financial and Social Status As A Millionaire or Billionaire Who Has Political Connections Or Inherited Wealth

Whether that Millionaire or Billionaire Dropped Out of School or Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Black Youth Should Be Trained to Identify

the Signs of Racial Profiling and Racism and

Learn How to Avoid Them, Reverse Them or Obtain Credible Evidence to Prove Them

Should They Be Arrested

All Youth, Especially Black & Hispanic Youth,

Should Be Provided with Tools of Survival

Other Than Guns, Bullying, Drug Sales and

Other Unlawful Activity

Paratransit Riders Should Not Have to Wait 2 hours on A Ride Scheduled In Advance

Nor Be Rode Around for 2-3 Hours From One End of the City to Another Many Miles Away In the Opposite Direction When They Are Only A Few Minutes From Their Destinations

Paratransit Riders and People In Wheelchairs Should Not Have to Wait 6 Hours on an Open Taxi Order

or Never Be picked Up By a Wheelchair Taxi on an Order Placed with Open Taxi here or elsewhere

Whether Called from the App or hailed from the street or phoned in the day before

_________________________________________________

All Lives Matter

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

We stand up for fairness, inclusion, youth, human rights, civil rights, disability rights and the right to live. We have a right to run for office whether our disability is hidden or visible, whether we have a million dollars in campaign funds or personal wealth or only a few dollars.

We have a right after arrest to be represented in Court by an advocate or lawyer who overstands or innerstands or comprehends disability law or disability rights and when the disability requires medical intervention, receive it.

We have a right to a fair trial by judge or jury. We have a right to compensation for false arrest due to racial profiling or disability discrimination that causes us distress, more disability or illness, or loss of income, dignity, employment or housing. We demand that judges, lawyers, and law enforcement be trained in disability rights and policy , so as not to mistake seizures, muscle spasms, involuntary movements due to cerebral palsy or Parkinson's, ADD, ADHD, PTSD, deafness or hearing loss, and Tourette's, etc., for intoxication or intentional disrespect of law enforcement.

We are green. We support organic, plant-based dining, health, tobacco prevention, IT literacy, government of the people, employment of people who are disabled at equal pay for supported employment or equal work, and real government transparency.

We are hosting two Black History programs:

FREE - Monday Feb. 16, 2015 * at Eisenhower Center Conference Room 1701 S. 1st Ave. Maywood IL
12-4 pm. Doors open at 11 a.m. for vendors to setup and program setup RSVP on facebook or to Cecelia Jackson 773-544-9488 Bring children, guests, but be sure to register. Refreshments served. Black History charades and youth Black history Quiz. Vegan, vegetarian, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and without canola oil Vendors, contact Dr. Maat 773-916-MAAT Bring your own tables. Small love offering required of vendors. Call for information or. Limit: 5-10 vendors
* This is a federal holiday. President's Day. No school.

FREE - Sat. Feb. 21 1-4. Doors open at noon. No admittance during libation, candlelighting so arrive early or after 1:30 pm. at 21st Century Classroom pictured above
846 S. 17th Ave, Maywood IL Light refreshments. Smaller venue. RSVP to Cecelia Jackson 773-544-9488 bniceh@yahoo.com No vendors except performers selling their books or DVDs or CDs and volunteer selling her hair products.

Looking for seven Black elders, each one to represent one of the 7 principles of Black living, aka Nguzo Saba; people who are 65 and over to give one sentence explanation of the principle they represent and why.
Must actually be an example of that principle and a positive force in the family, church, school or community. Dress Africentric.

Looking for 7 youth who represent positive ideals or walking in the footsteps of wisdom to escort them and one to bear the Afrikan flag during the march-in of elders to be seated. Any age from 13 to 40 as escorts. Any age from 10 and up to carry the flag.

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health, an IL nonprofit, which has been affectionately referred to as BNICEH "be nicer" or abbreviated by financial institutions and others, as it is generally too long a name to fit in their database name field, was founded at a time in March 1992 when Black youth were being labeled with psychiatric disorders at high rates and warehoused at alarming rates in juvenile detention facilities, group homes or psychiatric facilities without adequate holistic treatments that did not require them to have chemical treatments or electroshock therapy or be removed from their families or homes to be treated properly. It was lucrative for residential treatment facilities to recommend institutionalization for the child and no respite care for the family caregivers.

The youth were falling through the cracks and miseducated or abandoned due to their race, behavior or being at risk of mental illness, or having fetal alcohol syndrome, fetal crack cocaine addiction or severe reaction to toxic environments or trauma.

Some had labels of ADD, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, Tourette's syndrome, and OCD, though most were labeled with conduct disorder and oppositional defiant behavior.

Some had primary physical disabilities with secondary behavioral health issues or disabilities that parents and school systems misunderstood or could not or would not handle effectively.

Black Network In Chldrens Emotional Health (BNICEH) eventually became a voice for Black youth in behavioral health, child welfare and juvenile justice in December 1992 whether from Chicago, New York, Mexico, Jamaica, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, Compton, Europe or the nations of Afrika (intentionally spelled in the Swahili language) and a charter chapter in the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

Other children were just labeled juvenile delinquents. Our programs were so successful that others began calling us to help their children who were not Black, but were from families that had low income.

In the disability movement, we prioritize our focus to work with and on behalf of youth from the Black community, but we work with youth of any race or culture who are both disabled and non-disabled, referred to as simply one term when we say "This-Abled," a word coined by Javier Robles. In addition, we have the Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality or IMPRUVE, our accessible transit arm to prioritize its work in accessible services and paratransit and organize with other disability advocates and activists.

In this time of trials and thinkers, we call on youth to join our movement, register and vote in massive numbers, and help us stop the violence against them, reverse the economic downturn and boot out unworthy and shameful elected officials not only in Chicago and Illinois but across the nation.

Black Network n Children's Emotional Health is the parent company to IMPRUVE,
Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality, a member of Chicago ADAPT and Alliance for Community Services.

Though a state nonprofit in Illinois, we are a national group, intentionally not a 501 (c)(3), seeking help from volunteers and supporters of humane human services, justice, political equity, and higher quality of living with and for those we represent and those we support.

Dr. Ayo Maat recommends William Dock Walls III in the February 24, 2015 mayoral race and a massive demonstration against those and their sponsors who refuse to invite and allow him to speak in equal time at mayoral forums with the other four candidates.

Dr. Maat also recommends in 2016, Bernie Sanders for President, and ran for delegate in March 15, 2016 IL primary.

In paratransit activism, we call for a massive letter writing campaign, phone calling to the appropriate legislative and FTA offices, and federal service provider/contractor, and demonstration against those who refuse to help paratransit riders regain dignity in services and provide us with on time drop offs and pickups and fair and appropriate routing by all carriers.

At this time, BNICEH's affiliate IMPRUVE, which assisted in lawsuit in 2007 Crosby et al v. Pace et al 07 C 6235 in which plaintiffs settled with Pace, RTA and CTA in 2012 for the same or similar violations of the ADA and FTA policy as occuring now, recommends six actions now and throughout the year:
www.impruve.org

1. Target SCR, a multimillion dollar Black paratransit provider first for the most incompetent routing, late pickups and arrivals way beyond Pace standards and inhumane service to seniors and other riders of paratransit who are disabled without thought for their well-being, need to get to work or healthcare or school or theatric performances, need to get home to allow personal caregivers to ASSIST THEM WITH FOOD, MEDICINE or GETTING TO BED, or fact that they have taken them miles out of the way in circuitous routes often riding them around for 2-3 hours after being one hour late on pickups that occur during good weather and no traffic disaster or war that caused the delay !!!!!!!

2. Renew efforts for Congressional Transit Summit on Paratransit, Wheelchair Taxis and Medicars with Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (IL-9) at the helm with several Congressmen as co-sponsors and possibly Senators and Congressional transportation Committees from both Houses of Congress working with the Planning Committee already formed by Rep. Schakowsky, but step up the pressure and stop allowing this to be pushed back every year while people suffer and the states and cities do nothing

3. Target CDT, an even more lucrative multimillion dollar paratransit provider next for having the next incompetent routing, equal late pickups and arrivals way beyond Pace standards and inhumane service to seniors and other riders of paratransit who are disabled without thought for their well-being, need to get to work or healthcare or school or theatric performances, need to get home to allow personal caregivers to ASSIST THEM WITH FOOD, MEDICINE or GETTING TO BED, or fact that they have taken them miles out of the way in circuitous routes often riding them around for 2-3 hours after being one to two hours late on pickups that occur during good weather and no traffic disaster or war that caused the delay!!!!!!!

To their credit, CDT has a bit more compassion and will often call you when running late. Or you can ask for relief through supervisors if you can reach one at night that will intervene if you are the victim of such inhumanity. In most cases, they will send another vehicle if you know that they are about to take you on a route that takes you in opposite directions far from your destination and would keep you in the vehicle far too long.

4. Target the Mayor's Office, Pace, RTA and FTA for protests and relief from unfair and circuitous actions of the paratransit instead of more years of time wasting meetings with Pace that have led to empty promises and worse service even for people who are blind despite meetings that the Friedman Place and ADA Advisory Committee have had with Pace.

5. File Public Accommodation complaints with Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Cook County Commission on Human Rights and Illinois Department of Human Rights to show unequal transportation service that is not comparable to fixed route trains and buses using federal and state dollars and failure to provide reasonable accommodations for protected classes: seniors and persons who are disabled

6. Work with Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality (IMPRUVE) to establish our own green paratransit owned by people who are not only disabled and competent,

but people who have compassion for persons who are disabled, care about improving the service first and employing screened and qualified persons who are disabled, retirees, youth and ex-offenders. Then Lobby the federal government (FTA US DHHS) and Congress, state and city government (CTA, IDHS, RTA, IDOT, MOPD (Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities), Mayor's Office, City Council Dept. of Transportation, Chicago Dept. of Economic Development to award us the contracts to supplement this horrible impostor of compassionate service and professionalism.

Though some of my friends from the Disability Network supported another candidate and are not acquainted with what William Dock Walls III has to offer to the disability community and all other persons in Chicago, I still recommended and supported him.

He is the real thing, unbossed and independent of the machine that holds the 99% hostage to false promises and the wiles of the rich and powerful as they refuse to pay their fair share while we are taxed, services cut, wages below a fair living standard, have low disposable income, and need a champion for our cause who does not take orders from the elite political empire that has eroded Chicago with its privileged system of favors and corruption.

In 2016, I am proud to support Bernie Sanders as a clean, honest human being and no-nonsense public oficial and presidential candidate. He is the real thing for all people, unbossed, indeendent, democratic, and is not bought by the billionaires on Wall Street. He will clean up campaign reform financing, unfair tax loopholes to the billionaires, disproportionate incarceration of Black males, unfair labor contracts, fracking, and other issues.

I remain as always in Love and Peace bringing order to chaos as your local and national advocate for disability, civil, human, political and organic, non-GMO food rights, and animal rights. I am pro-Life, pro-God, pro-choice for women, and pro-good. No malice intended toward any human being. Maat (two syllables pronounced mah-ott as in Mama and dot)

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

Stay in Touch- BNICEH will be 23 in March 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:26:00 +0000

Still there after all this time

Now we are counting on your help.

Call Secretary Cece to volunteer

or get invite to annual meeting

TBA for December 2014

773-544-9488

Calling All Youth, This-Abled, to Stand Up for Human Services and Human Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:55:00 +0000

Youth are the present and future face of

human rights, disability rights, civil rights,

IT and Government Transparency movements,

Political Revolution, Spiritual Evolution & Entrepreneurship

In the disability movement, we work with youth who are both disabled and non-disabled, referred to as simply one term when we say "This-Abled," a word coined by Javier Robles. In this time of trials and thinkers, we call on youth to join our movement,vote in massive numbers, and help us stop the violence against them, the economic downturn and boot out unworthy and shameful elected officials.

LET'S TURN IT UP

SPEAK OUT WITH PASSION AND COMPASSION

CONNECT WITH

AYLP

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health (BNICEH)
Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality (IMPRUVE)

JUST UNITY

SEIU

AFSCME

ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES (ACS)
NA4J

THE BEST IN YOU

First, local action in your city and state

Next stop: The Capitol

Rally for what is right

Stand up for your rights

Be something to reckon with that is great

Do not let a gun or criticism dictate your life

Be a vessel for Light, Truth, Honor and Integrity Based on

The Demand For Better Leaders

Contact Just Unity in Illinois to train to run for office

and Wellstone Foundation in Minnesota

to train to organize communities and win elections

Youth and seniors are our biggest assets.

Don't Count Yourself out if you are in either category

STOP KILLING & HATING EACH OTHER

CALL A TRUCE ON SHOOTINGS

THEN ORGANIZE TO REBUILD YOUR COMMUNITIES

ASSIST YOUTH WHO ARE DISABLED

WITH HUMAN SERVICES:

Housing, Personal Care, Education, Employment

Job Coaching, Mentoring, Business Development

Tutoring, Vocational Training
and

L O V E

Your help and comments are welcome

This is How I Used to Travel to get to Doctor in Suburbs - trip_to_howard_train_station.mp4

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:26:00 +0000

Chicago September 13, 2013: Physicians, Activists, Clients Coming Together To Take Action on Medicaid and Maximus Pvt Contract

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 22:45:00 +0000

FYI and post or tell clients, persons who are disabled, seniors, young people, relatives, friends, physicians, therapists, church members, club members, healthcare advocates

Services by Maximus Have Not Improved Human Services in Illinois

We can't leave behind those who are not green and do not have healthcare, or stop fighting because our next door neighbor and doctors can't or won't IMPRUVE takes pride in marching annually and being supported by our non-disabled peers in our advocacy work on behalf of Persons who are disabled. We take pride in rallying with ACS against the Maximus contract that drains funds from the state budget to pay for services by a private contractor that are not user-friendly by people who are not accessible, and may have cut 42,000 persons from the program who still qualify for services.

Who Do You Stand with Regarding Medicaid Cuts

and Maximus Private Medicaid Contract?

Julie Hamos, secretary of Illinois Health and Family Servoecs whoch propvidies Medicaid, Link, SNAP, Aid to Aged, Blind, Disabled (AABD)

stands with Maximus.

IMPRUVE, BNICEH and I stand with the people and Alliance for Community Services.

Take action Friday September 13. Meet at Starbucks at 7:45 am, then rally on at 8 am to 401 S. Clinton to demand that the contract for Maximus be cancelled now, not extended, not cancelled much later, but now.

The action on Friday Sep. 13 at 8 am by Alliance for Community Services (ACS) of which BNICEH and IMPRUVE are members is at 401 S. Clinton is important if we truly support a govt that represents the people and less privatization that lays off real workers certified to deliver the social and human services that support the needs of real people who need affordable healthcare.

Many of you know me, IMPRUVE, BNICEH, NA4J, Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), Illinois Chapter Illinois Single-Payer Coalition (ISPC) ISPC People with Disabilities Committee, disability advocacy groups and others who are opposed to the State of Illinois giv9nga contarct to Maximus whiel people deteriorate in health and well-being, and experienced, certified workers are not allowed to work or help people who apply, re-apply or want to apply for benefits.

All activists, advocates, seniors, people who are disabled, spiritually-directed people (and even if you are not spiritually-directed), human service providers, healers, healthcare providers, please get the word out and try to attend. This is very important. Many of us who receive Medicaid are unjustly being removed or services delayed by inefficiency and intentional misdirection by Maximus.

Illinois is paying Maximus $78 million to do a hatchet job on Medicaid recipients.

Love & Peace,

Maat

Come tell your story or the stories of clients, relatives, friends.

Don't assume that Secy Julie Hamos will do the right thing. She wants to extend the Maximus contract. She refuses to meet with us and she is the one who can cancel Maximus' contract.

Don't assume that your state legislators will stand up for you. Come out and be counted, so everyone knows where you stand and that you want real people to determine your benefits, real people certified by the state to mange your human services case, and real people to answer why there is money to pay Maximus and its staff, but not provide caseworkers at the Skokie IHFS office; no money to pay your healthcare providers, and no money to pay caseworkers at certain other offices.

If you are hearing-impaired, how does Maximus communicate with you? If you are confined to the bed and have no special equipment to answer your phone and your home services provider is not there, are you at risk of Maximus cutting you off from Link, Medicaid and others services such as AABD if you do not answer your phpne or your substitute mailman returns your letter? Have you called and not gotten an answer yet from IHFS?

It took me 8 months, 2 faxes, 2 emails, a letter and 8 phone calls from December to May or June to get Part B Medicare--just received the notice and card September 9 retroactive to March 2013. I also called twice and visited twice--my State Rep and State Senator's office. Thanks to Cathy Smith in Sen. Steans office --she found out a week ago that I had been approved. They just had not notified me!!!

Do you have that type of persistence and time to spend pleading with the state to approve your application for anything?

Most seniors, people with disabilities, people with catastrophic health issues, persons with huge unpaid medical bills, and persons who work, yet qualify for Medicaid or Link or SNAP do not. Most people don't.

Note: I was in collection for my opthamology care and was receiving past due bills for physical therapy.

The phone system-robot-absentee-caseworker of Maximus is unfairly denying people benefits--People such as Ray Smith, whose doctor says he is dying and needs surgery. He does not have Medicaid. He has no income. He is not working. He was denied SSDI though he qualifies and is severely disabled. He is mainly confined to bed and his oxygen is delivered to him--or maybe he is no longer receiving it, since he moved...long story. Does he still need it? Yes.

Counting on your help,

Maat (Ayo Maat, Ph.D,

President, IMPRUVE, BNICEH)

"Order to chaos"

Technology and the Disability Movement 2007--2016

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:32:00 +0000

Certainly a new era in paratransit springs forth with the potential within 10 years to have cutting edge technology on a miniature scale that marries nanotechnology with the green transit industry and disability community.

Though IMPRUVE set a target by 2016 to own its own vehicles or fleet of van pools for those of us who have invested funds and energy into this potential to travel independently, we won’t end our shared role or progress at 2016.

By 2020, we expect to be there with the Green Think Tank for the Disability Community (GTTDC) as users, trainers, and interns of nanotechnology and green technology without the ongoing fights with state legislators for monies and service boards for acceptance of riders as advisors who are taken seriously, seldom to revisit the uncertainties of service, unequal services, and policy that leave riders and other persons who are disabled behind.

Young people are needed to work side by side with elders. Elders are expected to continue to sharpen their thought processes, learn nanotechnology, green technology, and share knowledge within the disability community, so that we are more prepared for the incoming revolution that will result from our evolved vision. We should not stand on the sidelines watching others capitalize on technology, employment and training that we, too, need.

We don’t always have to retire, but at some point for balance, well-being and continuity it may become necessary to turn the reins over to a better-trained, more energetic workforce, taskforce, and thinkers who do not limit themselves to boxed-in logic, the way of limited world thought, and reduced intellect.

To think big, but work on a small scale to be more efficient, reduce costs, be more productive, or stronger, is the way of nanotechnology.

What if we as a disability community worked so smart that we would become a real enabling community with wheelchairs whose battery chargers were powered by solar cells or hydrogen cells that were small enough to fit in the palm of our hands? What if we could charge our solar cars from stored sunlight that fits on a grid as small as a laptop or a cell phone? What if when we travel or find ourselves stranded, or snowed in, or fall and break bones, or have pulmonary attacks, or have ravaging cancer cells or out of control mental illness, we could absorb or eat the equivalent of a green power lunch or breakfast that was so nutrient rich with raw materials to heal bones, organs, disease almost instantly--it would have to be very alkaline and full of sunlight, and we would have to use nanoveganic gardening methods. It would probably have to be used in liquid form and certainly should not be in the form of a pill. It would have to be delivered precisely where needed, self-aligned with the body’s own natural healing properties, and possibly amplified through one’s own thought processes or meditation or prayer.

It could not be left in the hands of those who control the wealth or those who base their thinking or support on politics, greed, or perceived ability. It would have to be available to all, yet forced on no one, and not be priced out of the range of the masses.

The movement continues--that is, the National Paratransit Peoples Movement Assembly as IMPRUVE (Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality), a charter member of the Green Think Tank for the Disability Community (GTTDC) moves forward in its 12th year to improve the movement of people who use or need paratransit or independent accessible vehicles, and work within the green movement for people who are disabled.

We expect to see many of you Sat. July 21, 2012 and each year at the Chicago Disability Pride Parade. And expect to receive your cash donations at our booth on Daley Plaza in person or online here by PayPal or Credit Card.. Stand with us another day for The Green Think Tank for the Disability Community.

Support Fundraisers for IMPRUVE or Volunteer for Our Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 04:48:00 +0000

Donate to IMPRUVE or BNICEH

Next fundraiser is not until November 2012 to sell Carson's books. Meanwhile, we need your support to continue operating as a mostly self-funded nonprofit. It is your choice to decide the amount unless you plan to join and pay membership dues to our affiliate IMPRUVE. Contact us for dues structure (monthly, quarterly, yearly): $30 per year for discount partial membership. $60 per year for full membership with full voting rights and benefits. Thank you. Donate Today by PayPal or use your credit card if you don't have PayPal. It's easy. Just click on the Donate button.

Youth advocates of BNICEH are always busy on projects:

Ramissa Maat, CAU student, model/actress, BNICEH youth member performs at No Exit Cafe--featured in News Star in Rogers Park for her Spoken Word

Photo shows former vice president and treasurer Alyce Battle who passed into transition December 2010 and worked with youth at BNICEH and rode Illinois paratransit

L to R - Battle, former secretary of BNICEH Devon Tripp (pre-w/c days, former youth leaders Ebony Tripp and Cory Martin (whose mother former secretary/VP of BNICEH Ora Martin Harris passed into transition March 2011)

Andrew Tripp also a paratransit rider assists his mother Devon at Family Defense Center Juneteenth celebration at UIC - June 2010

Tyquan Baxter at at Memorial rally of National Paratransit People's Movement Assembly (NPPMA)

Genevarenee Baxter with walker at Memorial rally of NPPMA

Some of Board of BNICEH/IMPRUVE at Lion King November 2011

Fund Raisers - Summer through Fall 2012

"Fundraiser for IMPRUVE - $5 each----BNICEH, parent of IMPRUVE, is selling Carson's Community Day books-August through November 2012, to continue its advocacy work and prepare for Memorial Rally for paratransit riders trip May 2013. Call 773-416-7366 or 773-544-9488 www.bniceh.blogspot.com"

Worth the price for the $10 discount that Carson's gives (Limit: up to 5 ten dollar discount coupons per purchase) and discount coupons on selected merchandise

IMPRUVE is traveling back to Washington for NPPMA Memorial Rally 2013 on behalf of paratransit riders (all ages) who have passed away since 2010.

Discount coupons good in November 2012 at any Bon Ton's, Carson's. Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Younkers, P-A-R-I-S-I-A-N (in Detroit) Dates TBA

Upcoming benefit concert with composer, musician/singer Chuck Idol Sr. (guitarist on right) and the rock band he performs with - TBA

Call 773-416-7366 or 773-338-1090 email: bniceh@yahoo.com

Or bnichevideonews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com www.groups.yahoo.com/bnicehvideonews. We are on facebook, too under

BNICEH Dr. Maat

National Paratransit Peoples Movement Assembly

Impruve Paratransit

Disability, Paratransit and Subject of Abortion, Same Sex Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Senior Harold Bellamy ( a vet near 80) now has electricity, is on a budget plan, is able to keep his housing, still uses the paratransit.   What do you think willl happen to him and others who are dependent on paratransit if there is not enough funding for paratransit, wheelchair taxis, senior transit?

Can you accept the consequences or provide the accessible transportation and services for those who are disabled and cannot pay for these services?
http://youtu.be/O4IbT_6fMiE

Should the government be funding programs that are unnecessary to the well-being of most of Americans r that can be provided adequately by private sources of funding?   Your opinion is welcome even if you disagree with mine on the issue of Same Sex Marriage and abortion, but please add your name to the letter supporting designated funding in the Surface Transit Bill now or later when it comes up for renewal again in 27 months.

Note: I am still going to be Maat, IMPRUVE and BNICEH will still do disability advocacy, whether or not my friends who are GLBT get married or not. I am still going to love them just as I still love my relatives and friends who have had abortions, gone to jail, or  eat animal flesh.

I am pro-life and vegan, so you won't see me at the circus, zoo, rodeo or aquarium, or with a gun shooting or hunting any man or animal, nor at dog, ostrich or horse races, nor supporting federally funded abortion or birth control pills, and you also will not see me eating the pink slime that is in meat or eating the kidney cells from discarded or aborted fetuses, nor denying a woman's choice that she makes to abort or use birth control pills or have sex out of wedlock or a hysterectomy, nor blocking abortion clinics or interfering with those who staff them .

But I won't promise you that I would not try to talk loved ones out of any of this actvity if so led or I am asked my thought.

As a minister, I have lifetime ordination based on my metaphysical beliefs, but I am retire and I just don't do any type of funerals or marriages anymore anyway.

My ethics and character, and dietary, spiritual, and marital beliefs do not control how the rest of the word acts or feels. They are for me and I share them in openness. I am as always Maat speaking the Truth that I know and leaning as I grow. My duty is to see or envision the best of mankind even if they cannot see their perefection yet or I have to clear the film from my on lens and work on my own salvation.

Ase

Sign Letter for (Federal) Surface Transit Bill by June 14, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:44:00 +0000

BNICEH is supporing IMPRUVE and NPPMA as we work to get designated funding passed wthin the Congressional Surface Transit Bill due June 30, 212. Senate version S1813 is being considered to be passed or revised. It is now in the Conference Committee.

Call, fax or write (from their websites) your federal representative, senators and members of the Conference Committee immediately. There are 47 members of the Conference Committee for the Surface Transit Bill. There are millions of American citizens who travel or bike the roads as drivers or passengers. Don't be silent.

Tell them:
1. to pass designated funding for paratransit, Medicar, senior transit and wheelchair taxis
2. the fundng is assured for regular public transit, but remind them to include it anyway. It also includes hwy infrastructure
3. to support solar-powered NEV cars and green paratransit that is rider-owned, too.

Remember that we are still privileged to live in America despite the budget cuts, party fights, military buildups, and disagreements.

Please add your name or organizational name to our letter to the President, Congress, and Conference Committee. Thank you. Public Announcement For Immediate Release – May 30, 2012 From: National Paratransit Peoples’ Movement Assembly Contacts: c/o IMPRUVE Dr. Ayo Maat, 6951 N. Sheridan Rd 773-416-7366 Chicago IL 60626-3527 Cecelia Jackson, Secy 773-544-9488 To the President, Conference Committee for the Surface Transit Bill (originally S1813), and Congress: Mr. President and Members of Congress: “

Accessible transportation is a basic right and the disability community is not a one size fits all community. We and our supporters are concerned that Congress may not consider in the Surface Transit Bill, the best interests and needs of the people who are disabled who ride paratransit and are forced by FTA policy to pay as much as twice the fixed route public transit fare despite having the lowest disposable incomes in the nation; and the drivers and providers of paratransit, wheelchair taxis and Medicars whose jobs and ability to provide services at reasonable cost to taxpayers are at stake.

The stalemate between the parties is hurting people who are disabled (PWD’s) worse than ever, plunging us deeper into isolation and rushing us to a lower quality of life that places us at risk for avoidable, though catastrophic illness or premature death as funds for paratransit diminish and we are unable to access appropriate affordable transportation to meet our needs and pocketbooks, and get to regular healthcare, worship service, and the activities that allow us to be on equal footing with our nondisabled peers in terms of employment and quality of life ..." - Ayo Maat, Ph.D., founder, IMPRUVE and NPPMA (National Paratransit People’s Movement Assembly)

That is why we as members of the disability community who ride paratransit and have the lowest employment rates and lowest disposable incomes and our supporters request that our voices be heard by Congress, the President, and the public.

We are making the rounds to various Congressmen and Senators to support designated funding from Senate Transit Bill S1813. Without it, paratransit will not be funded. Fortunately, House bill HR 7, which that excluded designated funding, failed. The Conference Committee of both houses has been formed to work on the Surface Transit bill AND GET IT PASSED BY June 30, 2012.

We have a solution to lower costs of paratransit and put some persons who are disabled back to work, but for now, we are focused on getting the Surface Transit Bill passed. We salute those in Congress who are trying to get the bill passed with proper provisions.

We protest national transit policies that amount to Transit Eugenics for persons who are disabled and dependent on accessible transportation. Congress should not neglect us in the equation for surface transit whether considering designated funding for the infrastructure, paratransit, wheelchair taxis, or Medicars.

We sign onto this letter as voters, citizens and residents, disability advocates, businesses or paratransit riders, elected officials, taxi drivers, Medicar drivers, paratransit drivers, or pubic transit advocates. We are happy to add input on a future Congressional Transit Summit (none has been held by FTA since 2004) to ease the burden of improving transit nationally and regionally, even determining how to make surface transit affordable and effective for taxpayers and those who use it or provide the services.

Sincerely, Ayo Maat, Ph.D, president/CEO, IMPRUVE founder- paratransit and disability advocate - IL IMPRUVE (Independent Movement of Paratransit Rider for Unity, Vehicles, Equality - IL (& national) National Paratransit People’s Movement Assembly (NPPMA)- IL ( & national) BNICEH (Black Network In Children’s Emotional Health) - IL ( & national)

P.S. I survived death 3 times. I asked for my life that I might be able to do work that I have a talent in doing and that I love: to help others, heal them of frustration from poverty, unemployment, disability, conflict; teach them, encourage them to Stand, work together regardless of religion, race, age, disability; share with them, work with them. That is why I continue to advocate and work on behalf of people even though we are unfunded and even if most of America does not support our efforts, and Congress is generally unaware of our plight. I know I am wondrously blessed and I'm not afraid to tell you. I want all to know how blessed that we can go to Congress with our issues, help each other across the nation and not be in envy or anger. We don't always have to march long distances--most of us can't do long marches, some of us can't even march, leave our homes or jobs, or stand up physically, but we've got a voice to talk, write, and record our thoughts and issues; or help someone else who can't speak record theirs.. We are not against any personality, but for what is right for all concerned. AND WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.

Support BNICEH at Rogers Park Holiday Market Sat. Nov. 26, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:12:00 +0000

OCCUPY Rogers Park Holiday Market –What Vendors Will Be Selling from 10am-3 pm at 1230 W. Greenleaf Chicago IL 60626
Info: 773-416-7366

Our vendors are diverse small businesses, businesses owned by persons who are disabled, Black-owned and woman-owned businesses, and young people who own businesses.

Vendors will be selling handmade jewelry- wire wrap jewelry, one-of-a-kind-jewelry, hand spun knits and yarn, hand spun scarves-- knitted caps and mittens- handmade pillows - poetry - drawings -- masks--dolls--Wellness products such as Nature's Sunshine, herbs, doctor-formulated nutritional supplements, products to protect from EMFs in cell phones, appliances, PCs, laptops --magnetic and copper jewelry--massage and healing services--coffee--tee shirts-candles--vintage clothing, organic snacks, fruit, nuts, gourmet food and drink mixes, etc.

We have a dee jay. The hosts and the dee jay are disabled professionals who are community-focused. It’s a culturally diverse and SAFE family event-- NO ALCOHOL, NO TOBACCO, NO DRUGS, NO GUNS ((~_~))

“Don’t (sic) cost attendees nothing” but TIME, a voice to sing along, and if you have them, the dollars you saved by not shopping Friday. The vendors come here to sell products or provide services. This is not only Black Saturday, but Healthy Saturday—vendors with health products, healthy food or healthy attitudes are pleased to serve…sell…and profit from your support.

Remember to stop by for the FREE raffle, FREE ornament-making and FREE Children’s Caroling Contest. Winners must be present to win. COME SPEND BLACK SATURDAY AT LOYOLA PARK. Hungry for more after you snack with us? Several restaurants are nearby—some deliver, some are within walking distance.

Give thanks for More Health, More Life, More Substance for All to sustain Themselves and Grow Despite Economic Outlooks! Asè (ah-shay)

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health (BNICEH) Looking For New Advisors, Volunteers, Directors in 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:42:00 +0000

Time for new life. BNICEH is searching for youth and adults who want to volunteer and share our mission, values and purpose. Read what we have done on our newsgroup and note the projects that we host or have supported:

Black Mental Health Forum
No Butts No Booze Back to School Fest
IMPRUVE Paratransit Campaign
Chicago Together
SmokeOut video production
Family Job Affair
Watoto Speak - Vols I & II
SmokeOut Newsletter (youth production)
et al

WE NEED YOU

Help us plan the 2nd Black Mental Health Forum
Raise funds
Organize youths
Engage youth in anti-violent activities and street truces
Get youth involved in green technology and nanotechnology
Help youth move out of poverty into entrepreneurship

www.groups.yahoo.com/group/bnicehvideonews

BNICEH requests your help for IMPRUVE--buy Carson's booklets from us; Attend fundraisers, A

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:21:00 +0000

Help us get to DC to Rally for Transit Freedom and Justice Nationally for Paratransit Riders

Fundraisers for 2011 - Winter to Spring

Fundraiser through Sat. February 26, 2011 - Support BNICEH (parent company of IMPRUVE) in Carson's Community Day Event now through February 26, 2011. To help BNICEH for IMPRUVE's trip to DC and general support --buy discount books for $5. Buy discount books now from us!!! Call 773-416-7366 or 773-255-2113. The five dollars goes directly to us when you buy from us (not while we are in the store Feb. 26). On Feb. 26, we turn over monies to Carson's from sales of $5 coupon booklets; they share the money among all groups present in the store selling by issuing a check by mail, weeks after event ends. The $5 Discount books contain coupons up to $200 in value that include: $10 off coupons, 30%, and 50% off coupons, and other specials. We are registered with Evergreen Plaza and Edens Plaza Carson's in Wilmette IL, but the books we are selling are good at any Carson Pirie Scott, Bon Ton, Be. 19, members can pay $15 at door rgner, Parisian across the nation.

Sat. March 5, 2011 - 1030 N. Clark Chicago IL 60610 6-11 pm , dine until 10 pm in private room, then move to play power games. Or play board games (checkers, dominoes, backgammon, Scrabble) and cards (bid whist) until 9 pm. Stay until 1 am in Dave and Buster's. Fajita Buffet or Special Menu Upon Early Request and Payment --Raw Organic Vegan - $35 due February 19, 2011. With $ 20 Deposit by Feb. 19. Members can then pay $15 cash or money order at door. No personal checks. Money order, Bank check or Credit Union check. Request flier impruve2@yahoo.com
Sat. April 9, 2011 - Leona's Pizza Party 6935 N. Sheridan Rd Chicago IL 60626 5:30-8:30 pm Veggie w/tofu Skewer or Raw psychedelic salad w/avocado Vegan Option must be requested & paid in advance. Silent Auction. Performance by Bruh Luh. $25 due by March 31, 2011. Non-members at door $30. Members may pay deposit of $15 by March 31, 2011 and $10 at the door.

Sat. May 7, 2011 - Leona's Pizza Party 6935 N. Sheridan Rd Chicago IL 60626 5:30-8:30 pm Pizza Party. Veggie w/tofu or Raw psychedelic salad w/avocado Vegan Option must be requested & paid in advance. Silent Auction. Performance by Bruh Luh. $25 due by April 30, 2011. Non-members at door $30. Members may pay deposit of $15 by April 30, 2011and $10 at the door.

National Paratransit Peoples Movement Assembly formed by IMPRUVE in 2010

Going to DC May 23-27, 2011 to rally for paratransit riders and take Declaration of Transit Justice and Freedom to Obama adminiustration, FTA, Congress and U.S. Access Board in memory of two directors who passed in 2010 in December and July respectively:

Director Emeritus Alyce Battle, 1st vice president 1999-2009 , treasurer 2005-2007
Director Emeritus Omar Basheer,   president (1992-93) and vice president 1991-92, 1994-95
and in memory of paratransit rider Tracey Berry who passed in April 2010
and BNICEH volunteer and child welfare advocate Judith Catlin who passed in January 2010.

BNICEH and IMPRUVE Board 2008-2010: Dr. Ayo Maat, pres; Dr. Jackie Haas, Patricia Baxter, treas.; Cecelia Jackson, secy (missing: Alyce Battle (decesaed 2010), Jeanette Exom, Donna Lewis, Harold Bellamy, Joanne Tillis)

Joanne Tillis, director- At ACT One Cafe, Rogers Park 2010

Photos of paratransit riders,  other persons who are disabled, families of members, and youth who have participated in our events or events that we attend or support:

Dr. Ayo Maat, president, at NorthSide Community Federal Credit Union (NSCFCU) annual meeting Member of Board of Directors, NSCFCU

Board of BNICEH and IMPRUVE at Lion King, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Nov. 2010

Patricia Baxter, Treasurer,  Chair, IMPRUVE Fundraising Committee

Geneva Baxter, IMPRUVE Fundraising Committee

Ernestine Standberry, Tom Babbington, Dr. Jackie Haas at rally for
fixed route public transit and paratransit re: DoomsDay fares
at State of Illinois Thompson Center 2007

Liz Bracken at RIC 2008

Cecelia Jackson, secy and vice president (on medical leave 2011),
at RIC Computer Lab 2008

Prayer vigil, IMPRUVE with Paratransit Riders Arlington Heights IL Preaying for right action
re: paratransit fare hikes and policy 2009

Tyquan Baxter, IMPRUVE Fundraising Committee, Tech Support
at Loyola Park Afrikan Heritage program 2008

Jeanette Exom, former Outreach Director, IMPRUVE, (on medical leave 2010) at sit-in, Jan. 2008
at Currency Xchg to protest monthly paratransit pass cancellation

Peggy McCusker at RIC 2008

Herb Hoffman at RTA rally to protest paratransit zone system 2008

Richard James at RIC 2008

Actress-model Ramissa Maat, CAU student, former member BNICEH Youth Board

Trish Hardy, vocalist with 40 years performing experience, modeling earrings by Maat at IMPRUVE fundraiser,
Leona's after wailing the blues from her wheelchair, November 2010

Dock Walls

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:01:00 +0000

New Chicago 2011 Denies Inclusion of Speaker, Blames IRS

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:29:00 +0000

If our youth are going to run things in the future, we must clean up our acts, the election process and the manner in which campaign forums are held. Foremost is reinstating fair play and being inclusive.

Open Letter to New Chicago 2011 and Amisha Patel, The Grassroots Collaborative and the Voters of Chicago Who Deserve to Hear from All Candidates

I am appalled at the lack of fairness, inclusion, and flexibility of the New Chicago 2011, which to my knowledge includes the Jewish Council On Urban Affairs as a member of the Grassroots Collaborative. According to letter to William Walls III (Dock Walls) from Amisha Patel, he is not invited to speak on Tuesday December 14, 2010. That means one group has determined for voters whom they should listen to in the Chicago Mayoral Campaign race and whom they should not.

It should not matter if I support Dock Walls. I do. But I support social justice, corporate responsibility, and fair play more. And I will get the word out and ask people to flood the offices or inboxes of the Grassroots Collaborative, New Chicago 2011, Jewish Council On Urban Affairs and attend the forum or blast the Internet to let all know how much they support fair play.

This is not just about the man Dock Walls, but the principles of fair play that he stands for and the fact that not just he, but 4 candidates were excluded based simply on how many signatures they turned in, not how many were valid or went unchallenged.

Moreover, why is it based on signatures alone?

I will be sure to include this information to my facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, BNICEH and IMPRUVE families and members, if I have to stay up most of the night and ask them to email their lists and call their contacts tolt them know of his miscarry of justice by organizations that I thought support social justice.

I have lived in this city over two score (that's over 6 decades). I have not been asleep at the wheel, bombed out on alcohol or drugs, locked up, or in a country where there is no contact with other people or access to media.

What the Chicago media has done to erode campaign fairness is a sin. What you are doing by excluding a viable candidate such as William Dock Walls and others whom people need to hear to make a sound judgment and informed consent is almost akin almost to fixing the election so candidates chosen by you are favored.

By not exposing persons to all or most of the candidates, at least those whose petitions proved to be sound and unchallenged from the beginning, you give validation to the candidates who are being challenged, and invalidate those who worked hard to get on the ballot and did it without paying for signatures or excluding those who could not get as many petitions from the disability community and non-disabled community due to barriers of inaccessible facilities, buildings, and weather.

I can tell you for those who are disabled and believe in fair play who went out for William Walls III aka Bill Dock Walls to get signatures as hard as it was to get over construction sites, brave the cold weather and the cold suspicious hearts of residents who thought we might be begging and did all but fall over our wheelchairs trying to get away from us before they could hear us out, we are not happy with the New Chicago 2011's decision. We also did not support you excluding the other 3 candidates. We get enough of that from WVON and the major networks.

I just watched an excellent mayoral forum held at UIC on Channel 19 CAN-TV on Sunday from 5-7 pm. I did not know most of the candidates, but it was a pleasure having the opportunity to hear the ten of them on every question. That is what a democratic process is suppose to do. Noticably absent were three candidates who turned in the most petitions and are being challenged, but you have invited them to your forum. Unlike what you did, they were not excluded. They were just not there to publicly answer the panel's questions. Andy Shaw did an excellent job of representing the Better Govt. Assn. By the way, all asked excellent questions that resonated with the issues of which voters are most concerned.

We cannot let this slide. I am not angry, but I am weary of the games played in this town to exclude people we need to hear.

I would like to know how in this world did the sponsors of Tuesday's mayoral forum expect us to accept their refusal to allow 4 of the candidates who are not being challenged (incl. William Walls III) to be included, based on mere petition numbers. What would you decide if like in Portland, only 50 signatures were required? Only invite the first six in line when petitions were turned in? Or the first six to call and ask to be invited? I shudder to think what basis you would use in the future. And why six? It's not based on Feng Shui, some mystical reason, or astrology and indeed it should not be.

When people pay for petition signatures or have huge campaign financing behind them, that is no indication that they are the best or only candidates that should be presented before the people who will be voting.

In fact, that takes it out of the realm of a public forum and makes it a forum of selective candidates--sort of elitist, what does that say about New Chicago 2011 and who is pulling your strings or financing the forum. Perhaps a better name for the collaborative would be Same Old Chicago 2011.

This is no different than the unfair system that we are trying to get rid of now as it exists within the Chicago Board of Election Commission.

The weather is not the only thing that is fierce in Chicago. Here's my weather advisory for the forum -- watch out for backlash from a Chicago that stands for fairness, expects it, and won't support those who want to carry on business as usual in presenting candidates to the public.

One final question--did you exclude the 4 candidates, because your funding or position has been threatened? because the argument you used to exclude Dock Walls was less than weak,--"can't jeopardize your IRS 501(c)(3) approval"-- it was right up there with the worst excuse for not turning in homework: "my dog ate it." So IRS not only gives you nonprofit status, requires you to file 990 tax forms, but now determines for nonprofits whom they can invite to speak at forums and you have decided that to keep from violating 501(c)(3) rules, you cannot invite those with the lowest signatures even if they met the requirements of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, are unchallenged and are on the ballot. If true, sounds like the IRS is wasting our tax dollars and violating one of Maat's 42 laws--
30. I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern. Sounds like someone has had a lobotomy of that part of their brain that includes reasoning.

Sincerely in Love and Peace, I am
Maat

Dr. Ayo Maat
Coordinator of GreenThink Tank for the Disability Community
President, Black Network In Children's Emotional Health (BNICEH) and
(IMPRUVE) Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality

btw, Maat is not just a name. Maat is the energy of Justice, the one who weighs the heart on the scale of truth to be sure nothing is weighing down the heart. Maat abhors injustice, disorder, chaos; and favors those who have not cheated anyone at the scale due to injustice or skimming. Balance of the scale is required. There are 42 laws or principles of Maat--these are two of them that most of us should use for self-examination: I have not acted hastily or without thought and I have not acted with insolence.

Memorial Service for Former Vice Pres of BNICEH Dec. 6, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Memorial to Alyce A. Battle Dec. 7, 1943-Dec. 2, 2010 set by BNICEH and IMPRUVE.

Time: 1-3 pm
Location: Access Living
115 W. Chicago Ave. 2nd floor
Chicago IL 60610
a
Another ancestor has passed. Ase!
Info: 773-416-7366

Alyce serevd long and served well as vice president. She helped with the SmoekOUt program at Probation Challenge run by IMPRUVE, manned the phones for 7 years for BNICEH's Hotline 21 Show at CAN-TV (Chicago Access Corp.), donated to support the music fest, stayed active as a witness with the federal paratransit case Crosby et al v. Pace, RTA, CTA in IL Northern District, served as vice president for both BNICEHa dn IMPRUVE, volunteered with BNICEH's youth prevention programs, FASA and NAMI. She sang in her church's choir for years. She supported the Chicago mayoral campaign of William Dock Walls III.

BNICEH is More Than A Black Network and Disability Advocacy Group for Youth, We Advocate for Green Employment and Health

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:08:00 +0000

When the family becomes a respected icon of American society, we will stop sending heartless politicians and bureaucrats to state legislatures, Congress, and the judicial system to

Criminalize Youth Worth Saving
Spend More on War than Community Programs and Character Education
Anesthesize Their Parents
Enact Child Welfare Policies and Family Law that Are Archaic, Create Heart and
Mind Damage, Make It Difficuly to Believ We Live in A Civilized 21st Century
Neglect Youth Who are Disabled
Ignore Families, Lawyers,and Social Workers Who Speak On Behalf of Them

We sponsored the first National Black Mental Health Forum in Chicago in 1993. We are a charter member of Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Consortium.

BNICEH (be nicer) receives no funding currently, but is working to redevelop our programs that gave youth an alternative to drug use and dealing, unlawful gang activity; provided training, jobs, and stipends for young people; and trained parents as advocates and organizers, knowledgeable of child welfare law and human rights.

We are looking for more youth to serve on our youth advisory board and more youth who have behavioral health disabilities or are at risk for behavioral health disabilities.

Call if you would like a scholarship for Juneteenth luncheon--Family Reunification Day sponsored by Family Defense Center at 840 S. Wood UIC - student center west Chicago June 19, 2001 10 am -2 pm.

Call us at 773-416-7366 or email bniceh@yahoo.com
Dr. Maat (Maat--pronounced mah-ott)

Demo of Sujee Hand Therapy and Opportunity to Train To Be An Acutherapist

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:42:00 +0000

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Maat, president of BNICEH and member of Black Business Builders Club(BBBC), reminds us that the Black Community is one of the first communities that suffers long-term health and nutrition issues when alternative healthcare and insurance is not accessible to them.

Moreover, we have seen many well-off Black figures who can afford good healthcare make their transitions within this decade: Bernie Mac, Michael Jackson, Gayle Sayers, Eddie Levert, Isaac Hayes, Rick James, James Brown, Barry White, et al.

Barefoot Medicine is here now and available to all regardless of income. Training and Seminars will be presented all over the world. Introductory Seminars may be made available free to disability, senior and low-income communities when there are sponsors.

AcuCenters can be set up by Black business persons in their communities for profit or nonprofit.

Meet Sy Bounds, the Blog Professor, blogging coach, and creator of innovative digital flash drive technology, to drive your online green business e.g. healing or medical practice, jewelry business, art and crafts business, sustainable living, green building and architecture, bicycle repair shop, appointment setting and scheduling, taxi or other transportation, etc.

Sy Bounds is the technology person who created the digital flash drive business technology used by Dr. Frank Yurasek
Acucenters, Teishin Institute,
and physicians working across the nation and in Guatemala.

Learn how you can work with others to set up Acucenters and train to revolutionize global healthcare. Learn how Dr. Frank Yurasek, healers and other health practitioners are using digital flash technology of the blog professor Sy Bounds to perform best practice in digital technology, safeguard patient directives and medical information, run their businesses more effectively, use a digital public health model to heal the planet.

Sponsored by BNICEH "be nicer;" since 1992, an Illinois nonprofit in Rogers Park community of Chicago concerned with green living, sustainable health and living, youth and family community health, disability issues, ATOD (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug use) and prevention, mental health and emotional well-being, financial literacy, and eliminating poverty and poor health where possible.
BNICEH is the Black Network In Children's Emotional Health. Our Recreating the Village ATOD projects provided successful mentoring, employment, volunteerism, No Butts No Booze music fests, family job affairs, for 13 years in Rogers Park for youth, families, and community residents.

BNICEH is co-sponsoring with Green Think Tank for the Disability Community and Acuwerks, the dynamic talk by key speaker Dr. Frank Yurasek of Oriental Medicine Society, Acuwerks and HealLand:

Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital
Date: Sat. July 11, 2009
Time: 2-6 p.m.
Where: United Church of Rogers Park
Overdier Hall - 3rd floor
1545 W. Morse
Chicago IL 60626

FREE

www.bniceh.blogspot.com

The Chicago seminar July 11 is Free and open to physicians, nurses, healers, business owners, as well as students, seniors, youth, people who are disabled, and the general public thanks to Acuwerks, Dr. Yurasek, Dr. Maat, BNICEH and Green Think Tank for the Community.

More sponsors are welcome for these seminars in order to be able to include the public. You can host or Invite Dr. Yurasek and associate partners Dr. Khalil Abdul-Rahim, Dr. Christian Nix and Gabriela Ardila to present an online seminar, too. Just ask. Contact acuwerks@gmail.com or maatzenzuu@comcast.net

Demo of Sujee Holopathic Hand Therapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9QngUoF-O8 or

An AcuFlash Digital Laser demo will be done July 18 in Chicago at Rogers Park Ethnic Book Fair and Artist Market sponsored by Ibeji Center Info: 773-761-7306/ Location: 1615 W. Morse Ave. Chicago 60626

Info on July 11 seminar at www.bniceh.blogspot.com

www.acuwerks.com

www.drmaat.multiply.com/journal

www.greenthinktankfordisabilitycommunity.blogspot.com

The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. -Thomas A. Edison US inventor (1847 - 1931)

Why I Support No More Shootings, Not Just No More School Shootings

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:55:00 +0000

How Many More Funerals Will You Attend By 2016
How Many More Youth Will Be In Wheelchairs
How Much More Youth Anger Will Go Unchecked with No Character Building
How Many More Shootings Have to Happen Before You Get Tired, Repulsed, Angry?
Whose Child, Which Student, What Young Person Will Be Next?
What Family Member? What Innocent Bystander?

How Are Youth Not Afraid to Shoot or Kill Others; or Shoot, Smoke, Snort or Huff Drugs; or Burn Out their Mucus Membranes or Decrease their Brain Function; or Disrespect their Elders; or Use Aerosol Sprays and Creams that Pollute their Skin, Hair and the Environment; or Deny their Creator,

But Are Afraid to Try Kombucha; Herbal Tea; Broccoli; Vegan Burgers; Lentil Soup; Portabella Mushrooms; raw plant-based foods; Alkaline Water; Xango, Noni, Goji or Red Xingia Juice; Real Juice (100% or pressed) that is not from a concentrate or mix of chemicals, water and 10% juice, (and not Kool Aid or mercury-laden, corn-syrupy or watered down drinks with refined sugar, Nutrasweet (aspartame), artificial flavors and coloring)?

How Many More Dollars That Could Be Helping Will Go For War, Target Practice, Gun Purchase, Violent Video Game Purchase, Marketing of Lies, Underage Drinking, Drug Treatment without real cure(i.e. Methadone, Nicotine) for Drug Addiction (i.e. Heroin Addiction, Tobacco Addiction) and Funeral Costs (More Spent on Funerals than Providing Community Supports for Families, Persons who Are Disabled, Local Home-Based and Small Business, Youth Employment)?

How Many More Shootings By and At Police, Soldiers in War, or Families at War Before You Have Had Enough?

How Many More Hunting and Fishing Trips Will You Go On Before You Realize It is Not Building Character, Our Global Infrastructure, Or Helping the Planet

I am concerned that mediation, self-awareness, breathing, negotiation, meditation, reflection, anger management and mentoring are being replaced by shooting to kill and misdirection of anger without a second thought about consequences spiritually and emotionally, not just physically to the families, and other youth, not to mention that it is lucrative for the morticians, nursing homes, hospitals, and insurance companies. Oops, almost forgot--this is the 21st century, many of our healthcare facilities and practitioners are not getting paid timely, as they should, by the state and other health insurers; and most of our community is uninsured or underinsured, and opposed to cremation instead of burial, healing instead of drugs and surgery, and unaware or afraid to use barefoot medicine and other non-invasive methods such as spiritual treatment (prayer, laying on hands), fresh air, sunshine, pure water, veganic food (organic food grown without animal manure, animal products). Okay, I'm woke now.

We do mortgage workouts; how about character-building workouts by people who have character, integrity, balance and violence and anger workouts by people who are not violent or do not have repressed or obvious anger, before these planned and often impulsive shootings can occur?

How can it be healthy and contribute to the prosperity, health and well-being of a community; race; species; gender; and peer or ethnic group to say that you do not support gun control, but it is okay to condone these shootings or carrying of weapons, because of Constitutional protection; and allow imbalances caused by youth spending most of their life in violence, playing violent games, listening to violent lyrics, watching rap beefs, watching videos from self-proclaimed leaders training them in how to become criminally-minded, under the guise of freedom of speech?

That has to be a boring life--snuffing out young lives like alpha and omega beasts in the wilderness vying for survival and food; having sex as if licensed to impregnate or give birth and have taxpayers or the parents to pay the cost of youth's unbridled passions; celebrating the birth with gift-giving and much ado as if a rite of passage, then abandoning the child(ren) because you have not grown up yourself or want to move on to the next experience; drinking 40s and vodka (manufactured or promoted by hip hop stars)while our community does not thrive, but continues to have rising illness and mortality rates, local businesses, esp. in the Black community fail while Wal Mart, Aldi and others make huge profits as you continue to bypass your Mama's or Daddy's businesses and other local merchants that cannot offer the huge discounts you seek, smoking kush and cigarettes thinking they are harmless, because cannibis is a herb and your Granddaddy is still alive and still smoking, never creating anything of value, never exercising character, not paying attention to the signs of the time....

Be like the kangaroo--it never moves backward. It can't. Move forward. Be grateful. Gratitude expands blessings. Don't worry about anything. Just be wiser today. Spiritually discern to make the wisest choices.

Let nothing crush you. Rise immediately. - Mary B. Eddy, CSB

Love and Peace,

Maat (bringing order to chaos)

Ayo Maat, Ph.D., M. HS

P.S. Check out July 11 "Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital" - arm yourself with some real protection and higher knowledge from the Most High or from AcuWerks, Freedom and Victory Publishing, the Principles of Maat, and Sy Bounds. Research. Be dependable, not expendable.

"Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital" at UCRP -- BNICEH and Green Think Tank...Sponsor

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:18:00 +0000

BNICEH is co-sponsoring with Green Think Tank for the Disability Community and Acuwerks, a dynamic talk by key speaker Dr. Frank Yurasek of Barefoot Medicine Society, Acuwerks and HealLand:

Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Yurasek, this introductory session is FREE to the community.

Date: Sat. July 11, 2009
Time: 2-6 p.m.
Where: United Church of Rogers Park
Overdier Hall - 3rd floor
1545 W. Morse
Chicago IL 60626

Dr. Maat of BNICEH and Green Think Tank for the Disability Community says Listen Up:

Check out the details at the website and blogs listed. And remember to tune in to Rogers Park station "From the Heartland" WLUW FM 88 FM Sat. July 4 from 9 - 10 am for more information, or come down to eat and listen to the show at Heartland Cafe 7000 N. Glenwood Ave Chicago IL 60626:

Meet Sy Bounds, the Blog Professor, blogging coach, and creator of innovative digital flash drive technology, to drive your online green business e.g. healing or medical practice, jewelry business, art and crafts business, sustainable living, green building and architecture, bicycle repair shop, appointment setting and scheduling, taxi or other transportation, etc.

Sy Bounds says

New Gen Digital Flash Drive Technology is the way to go and stay ahead of the game; along with using blogging and Google tools, it's best practice for digitized business.

BNICEH and Green Think Tank...Sponsors Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital by Dr. Ayo Maat is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.multiply.com/drmaat/journal.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.home.comcast.net/~ayomaat.

Black History Month In Rogers Park, Chicago neighborhood: Afrikan American Book Exhibit

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:12:00 +0000

You are invited to Black History Month In Rogers Park, a diverse American neighborhood

America Celebrates the Black Family
9th Annual Black History Month Event at Loyola Park

Free Admission and Pot Luck Served

When: Sunday February 22, 2009
Time: 11:00am -3:00 pm (elders procession, libation begins at 11:15 am)
Place: 1230 W. Greenleaf, lst floor Gym
(Accessible by wheelchair-see an attendant to use the elevator lift)
For information: Call 773-761-7306 Selena Derry (Awoleye)

International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry
Afrikan Creation Story: The Movie
Exhibit of Afrikan-American History Books

•Libation Ceremony – Lighting of Kinara Candles (Dr. Ayo Maat)
•Black National Anthem: Lift Every Voice and Sing
• Historical information, Book Exhibit, Cultural Education
• Music by We Be Jamming DJ Rob, Urban Sounds, Drumming by Dan McNeil and youth

Please Be On Time -- Plan Not to Miss Libation -- No Admittance During Libation

Meet the Elders of Rogers Park Selected as our Council of Elders – the Bolozi Wazee:
Kelan Phil Cohran, Ora Harris, Dr. Ayo Maat, Selena Derry (Awoleye) confirmed

Bring Your Family and Neighbors

Es Gratis - Bienvenidos - Byenvini

La programa es un celebracion de las culturas negras

Loyola Park Advisory Council
Afrikan Heritage Program
1230 W. Greenleaf
Chicago, IL 60626

February 14, 2009

Dear Patron:

Loyola Park Advisory Council is planning a special Afrikan Heritage program in honor of Black History Month on February 22, 2009. This year we have the International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry.

As the program coordinator, I am working with Mary Hopkins, Mary Bao, Sandra Glpsie, Katie Hogan, and Anita Sims of Loyola Advisory Council to present a program that will add rich culture to the Rogers Park community while providing fun, education, food, music, and performers that all ages, all genders can appreciate.

We need your help to make this event successful. Please attend. Although the event is free, please feel free to help us offset costs by donating cash or service, or food (especially looking for donations from restaurants or caterers).

Sincerely,

Selena Derry (Awoleye) Planning Coordinator
On behalf of Loyola Park Advisory Council

Honor elders who share wisdom. Live the dream—make it happen. Be known by your character. Let your word be your bond. Keep crime in check. Make decisions responsibly. Love for the sake of living. Help a worthy person. Mentor a child. Bring order to chaos. YES, WE CAN!

See reservation/donation list below. (Restaurants: Call if you need someone to pick up food dishes early Sunday morning Feb. 22):

Please reserve the following:

Donations

_______ I would like to help donate food (estimated 80-100 people will be in attendance)
_______ I am not donating a food dish or cash, but will attend.
_______Yes! I will donate this/these food dish (es) or beverages and list the ingredients ______________________________________________________________
_______Yes! I WILL attend. Please reserve ____ seats for ____ adults____ children
_______No! I WILL NOT attend, but will donate $ _______ to cover entertainment or where it can best be used. _______ No! I WILL NOT attend, but I will deliver a food dish. ______
_______ No! I WILL NOT attend, and I need someone to pick up the food dishes listed above.
_______ Yes! I will volunteer to ___ pick up food donations ___ cleanup ___ serve food
__escort the Council of Elders __decorate tables on February 22 ___ take news photos
__ videotape to show on CAN-TV or for the Advisory Council archives
______ I want to earn community service learning credits for volunteering

RSVP Deadline: Friday Feb. 20, 2009

Name ____________________________________________________ age if a youth ________

Title or Position _________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/Zip___________________________Phone/Cell ______________________/______________
Fax____________________ Email ____________________________________________________

Please find enclosed a check in the amount of $_______________ or I will deliver cash $ _____ to the Loyola Advisory Council at Loyola Park 1230 W. Greenleaf or call to arrange for cash pickup. Call 773-761-7306. Please make check payable to Loyola Park Advisory Council. Your cash donation may be deducted as a contribution under Rogers Park Community Council, the fiscal agent for Loyola Park Advisory Council.

Please reply to Selena Derry (Awoleye) 773-761-7306 or Loyola Park 773-262-8605
Email to selenaderry@sbcglobal.net or mail to: Loyola Park Advisory Council Black History Month 1230 W. Greenleaf Chicago, IL 60626

<

Obama Day at Chicago Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Community Alert: January 10, 2009 - See New LOcation

IT'S OFFICIAL! -

Obama Day - A Celebration Fit For A King!!

January 15, 2009

Move forward into 2009. Be there to celebrate two great occasions. Obama Day on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday anniversary. Mark your calendars for January 15, 2009 10 a.m. in downtown Chicago at 77 W. Washington Chicago Temple First Methodist Church (indoors). Sign on. Call 312-525-0010. Your input is critical. Groups that work on issues of housing, disability, personal care, transportation, seniors, human rights, education, union organizing, or faith-based initiatives are all encouraged to participate.
Mission and information is posted at www.FromWallStreetToYallStreet.com

Working subcommittees are planning for what they would like to see President Obama focus on or accomplish during his first 100 days in office.

The Logistics Committee is planning transportation for people who are disabled, homeless, have no transportation access near them, or have difficulty paying extra carfare for nonessential travel. Carriers and taxi drivers can call to volunteer transportation.

Call 312-525-0010 now to join a working committee, sign up your organization, or for next meeting locations.

Join others and me on the Human Rights Committee to formulate our message regarding transportation for people with disabilities and our federal litigation concerning transportation; plus input on housing, children and their families, etc. Call me at 773-416-7366.

Please join and help prepare the “Poor People’s Agenda” or donate funds or feasible ideas to the work, or work on the committee of your choice. Meanwhile I am working with IMPRUVE, BNICEH and ZenZuu to restore people who are disabled from poverty and pity. Ase´ (ah-shay)

Tobacco Quiz Bowl Winners - 1st Place and Grand Prize - Regular Category & MVT and MVP

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:22:00 +0000

Top Winners in City Finals held September 23 at UIC Student Center 750 S. Halsted for 2006 BNICEH first annual Tobacco Quiz Bowl live in NE, SE and SW regions of Chicago:

Grand Prize - Most Valuable Team (MVT) -
Winning Team: Powerful
Dalila Johnson accepted for the team; Team Region: SW

Most Valuable Player (MVP) - Abisayo Ariwoola, age 12; Sponsor: Lola Ariwoola; Team: Chi Town's Finest; Region: NE

1st Place - Regular Category - ages 7-10 Winning Team: Eagles
1st Place - Regular Category - ages 11-14 Winning Team: Chi Town's Finest
1st Place - Regular Category - ages 15-18 Winning Team: No Limit

Congratulations. Keep posted for other winners in 2nd and 3rd places, and Unique Category, all age groups, all places.

Tobacco Quiz Bowl Winners - 3rd Place - Regular Category

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Maat) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:19:00 +0000

Top Winners in City Finals held September 23 at UIC Student Center 750 S. Halsted for 2006 BNICEH first annual Tobacco Quiz Bowl live in NE, SE and SW regions of Chicago:

3rd Place - ages 7-10 Winning Team: Goudy Winners Team Captain: Cortez Young, age 10
3rd Place -ages 11-14 Winning Team: Northside Warriors Team Captain: Courtney Murphy, age 12
3rd Place - ages 15-18 Winning Team: 2/B announced (consolation contest)

Special Acknowledgements:

Most Valuable Players - NE Regional Semifinals:
Cortez Young, age 7, Team: Goudy Winners
Courtney Murphy, age 12, Team: Northside Warriors

Congratulations. Keep posted for other winners.

BNICEH for Green-Youth-Disability-Health-Tobacco Prevention

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health Celebrates 24 Years as of March 24 - Yeah, Yeah!

Fix Paratransit, Set up Rider-Owned Green Paratransit, Hire Youth, too, to Stop Violence: Impruve Video 5 22 15 by Wanda Carter

Stand Up With BNICEH in 2015-16: Black Lives Matter, Lives of PWDs Matter, Youth Lives Matter, Paratransit Riders' Lives Matter

Black Lives Should Not Be Neglected To FulFill a Gentrification Plan Or Reclaim Of their Neighborhoods or the City By Those Escaping the Suburbs

Lives of PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) should not be put on hold to FulFill a Plan to Institutionalize Them in Nursing Homes and Jails

Youth Lives Matter

They should not be Misled to Think that they Can Earn the Same Living Without An Education In School or Online

Or Without 1-On-1 Mentoring By A Successful Entrepreneur

Reach the Same Financial and Social Status As A Millionaire or Billionaire Who Has Political Connections Or Inherited Wealth

Whether that Millionaire or Billionaire Dropped Out of School or Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Paratransit Riders Should Not Have to Wait 2 hours on A Ride Scheduled In Advance

Nor Be Rode Around for 2-3 Hours From One End of the City to Another Many Miles Away In the Opposite Direction When They Are Only A Few Minutes From Their Destinations

Paratransit Riders and People In Wheelchairs Should Not Have to Wait 6 Hours on an Open Taxi Order

or Never Be picked Up By a Wheelchair Taxi on an Order Placed with Open Taxi here or elsewhere

Whether Called from the App or hailed from the street or phoned in the day before

_________________________________________________

All Lives Matter

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

Stay in Touch- BNICEH will be 23 in March 2015

Calling All Youth, This-Abled, to Stand Up for Human Services and Human Rights

Youth are the present and future face of

human rights, disability rights, civil rights,

IT and Government Transparency movements,

This is How I Used to Travel to get to Doctor in Suburbs - trip_to_howard_train_station.mp4

Chicago September 13, 2013: Physicians, Activists, Clients Coming Together To Take Action on Medicaid and Maximus Pvt Contract

Technology and the Disability Movement 2007--2016

Support Fundraisers for IMPRUVE or Volunteer for Our Projects

Donate to IMPRUVE or BNICEH

Youth advocates of BNICEH are always busy on projects:

Fund Raisers - Summer through Fall 2012

Call 773-416-7366 or 773-338-1090 email: bniceh@yahoo.com

Or bnichevideonews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com www.groups.yahoo.com/bnicehvideonews. We are on facebook, too under

BNICEH Dr. Maat National Paratransit Peoples Movement Assembly Impruve Paratransit

Disability, Paratransit and Subject of Abortion, Same Sex Marriage

Sign Letter for (Federal) Surface Transit Bill by June 14, 2012

Support BNICEH at Rogers Park Holiday Market Sat. Nov. 26, 2011

Black Network In Children's Emotional Health (BNICEH) Looking For New Advisors, Volunteers, Directors in 2016

BNICEH requests your help for IMPRUVE--buy Carson's booklets from us; Attend fundraisers, A

Dock Walls

New Chicago 2011 Denies Inclusion of Speaker, Blames IRS

Memorial Service for Former Vice Pres of BNICEH Dec. 6, 2010

BNICEH is More Than A Black Network and Disability Advocacy Group for Youth, We Advocate for Green Employment and Health

Demo of Sujee Hand Therapy and Opportunity to Train To Be An Acutherapist

Why I Support No More Shootings, Not Just No More School Shootings

"Barefoot Medicine Goes Digital" at UCRP -- BNICEH and Green Think Tank...Sponsor

Black History Month In Rogers Park, Chicago neighborhood: Afrikan American Book Exhibit

Obama Day at Chicago Temple

Tobacco Quiz Bowl Winners - 1st Place and Grand Prize - Regular Category & MVT and MVP

Tobacco Quiz Bowl Winners - 3rd Place - Regular Category

BNICEH Dr. Maat

National Paratransit Peoples Movement Assembly

Impruve Paratransit