Sphere: Related Content(wacotrib.com) The city of Waco is continuing to withhold funds from the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce as the organization staggers under declining membership, financial reporting problems and power struggles.
Formed in 2004 as an alternative to the scandal-ridden Heart of Texas Black Chamber of Commerce, the Cen-Tex group won a city economic development contract for $54,000 a year.
But the city has not released funding since November 2005 because the chamber has failed to fix financial reporting problems highlighted in an audit in the 2004-05 budget year. City officials said the chamber also has failed to meet performance measures the city requires of its economic development partners.
In the meantime, the fledgling chamber has seen its membership drop from 70 to about 20 in the last year.
The city declined to renew its contract with the chamber in the new fiscal year beginning in October 2006. At the same time, it canceled its contract with Downtown Waco Inc. because of allegations of financial improprieties.
The city still has $54,000 budgeted for the African American chamber this year, but the chamber must first show how it will comply with the city’s requirements, City Manager Larry Groth said.
“In their contract, they are supposed to be providing services like working with small businesses,†Groth said. “We didn’t see any of that going on. They’ve got some organizational issues. It’s hard to meet the performance measures when the organization isn’t organized.†(more…)
Something Obama failed to mention on his recent trip
From abcnews.com "Hours before his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president, President Obama delivered some tough love to African leaders, urging them to get their houses in order so they can better provide for their citizens. In a meeting this morning with the leaders of Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria, Libya and Ethiopia, Obama spoke about his personal connections to both Africa and poverty, and challenged the leaders to set prioritiesfor combating poverty and hunger. According to a top White House aide, 'You could have heard a pin drop.' [...] "The point I was making was that my father traveled to the United States ...
Mamie “Peanut” Johnson: Featured video for the week
Since switching to this latest template, I haven't taken the opportunity to talk about the random videos you see on the right sidebar. This week's featured video is of the living baseball legend, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. Taken from the website of the Negro League Baseball Players Association (NLBPA) Born: Sept 27, 1935 Right-handed pitcher Indianapolis Clowns 1953-55 Mamie, who along with Connie Morgan and Toni Stone, was one of three women to play in the Negro leagues. Mamie Johnson, the daughter of Gentry Harrison and Della Belton Havelow, was born on September 27, 1935, in Ridgeway, South Carolina. When she was only seven years old, ...
TRENDS: Hair tips via You Tube
For the past year or so I have noticed a steep incline in the amount of videos that are being uploaded by our sistahs instructing other Black women from everything from makeup trends to how to sew in a weave. On the home front I can tell you that my wife has spent numerous hours either at the kitchen table or curled up on our bed learning new ways to style her hair or find out the latest trends on hair braiding. Personally I find this trend very interesting because I can see it at some point developing into an ...
“Judge not…”
Matthew 7:1 is one of the most quoted scriptures in the Bible these days. Even people who do not subscribe to the teachings of the Bible will quickly whip out that passage of scripture and use it as a speed pass to cancel out any criticisms regarding their moral failings. The very Bible that most people today try to dismiss as "out of date", not relative for today, or not to be taken literally is the same Bible these individuals use to deflect criticism of their behavior. Now let's read versus 1 and 2. "Do not judge, or you too will be ...
Finding and losing history
History found Records of freed Va. slaves placed online History possibly lost (suburbanchicagonews.com) "A property once covered in unique objets d'art and so renowned even the Smithsonian Institution took notice now is slated for demolition. Kane County officials this week took further steps toward tearing down the long-abandoned African-American Heritage Museum and Black Veterans Archives in Aurora Township by approving an application to the Circuit Court for demolition of 'dangerous and/or unsafe building.' 'This is the very beginning stage' of the demolition process, said Mark VanKerkhoff of the county's Development Department. It could be three to four months before the building actually is torn down, ...
