Former Rwandan tour guide (and current Paw Paw resident) retells story of African elephant through illustrated child's book

"A good children's book touches the heart of it's young readers, and leaves them with a lesson learned. Mutware, The Amazing Elephant of Akagera Park, Rwanda is one of those books. This soft cover children's book, geared to a level that encourages reading, is a true story based on the experiences of Francois Nambajimana as told to Kathleen Weisner.

Francois Nambajimana of Paw Paw is a native of Rwanda in central Africa, where he was a renowned tour guide and expert on the natural places and animals of his native country. He shared his knowledge with many tourists until problems in Rwanda following the civil war brought him to the United States in 1999.

Nambajimana is an expert on the famed Mountain Gorillas of Karisoke Park in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. He learned his skill from the late Dian Fossey, who founded the research center there."

www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20442336&BRD=2188&PAG=461&dept_id=414962&rfi=6

Economic Condition for Blacks Has Worsened: National Urban League

"As the US struggles to dig out from a "great recession," blacks and Hispanics are more than three times as likely as whites to live below poverty, according to a report released Wednesday.

That's one stark conclusion of an annual "State of Black America" report, issued by the National Urban League, a civil rights group based in New York.

Also, a jobs gap with white Americans has widened. African-Americans had a jobless rate 4.6 percent higher than that of white Americans as the recession began in 2007, and now that difference has grown to 6.8 percent. Hispanic Americans don't confront as large a chasm with whites, but the gap for them has also grown significantly in the past 30 months, according to Labor Department data."

www.csmonitor.com/Money/2010/0728/Recession-widened-jobs-gap-between-blacks-and-whites

KIDS COUNT: Michigan slips to No. 30 from No. 27 in child well-being

A lack of secure jobs and a high rate of infant mortality have pushed Michigan's Kids County ranking down from 27th to 30th. According to the report, "Michigan was among the 10 worst states when it comes to lack of secure parental employment, ranking 44th, with the number 1 state being the best or lowest rank."

Read the full report at: http://www.milhs.org/Media/EDocs/MichiganFactSheet.pdf

Teenage Volunteers Inspire & Learn in Battle Creek

"Sixty volunteers -- 49 of them teenagers -- (recently) participat(ed) in Grand Rapids-based Youth Unlimited's SERVE project. Hosted by River Walk Community Church on Wagner Drive (in Battle Creek), the high school students cleared brush, worked on houses, painted, organized donated goods and more throughout Battle Creek...

It was the group's time at Kambly Living Center, a facility for adults with developmental disabilities, that had the most impact on at least one volunteer."There was one lady there named Holly," Lauren Koiter, 15, said of a resident there. "She was the sweetest lady ever."

Koiter, who is from Caledonia, Ontario, said she and Holly became attached to each other.

"I've never really been comfortable around people who were mentally or physically disabled," she said. "It makes me wonder why I wasn't and why they were. I got along really well with her and had a great time."

www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100724/NEWS01/7240316/Serving-others-in-Battle-Creek

22 Statistics That Prove The Middle Class Is Being Systematically Wiped Out Of Existence In America

"The 22 statistics that you are about to read prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the middle class is being systematically wiped out of existence in America.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at a staggering rate. Once upon a time, the United States had the largest and most prosperous middle class in the history of the world, but now that is changing at a blinding pace."

Read more at the Business Insider:

www.businessinsider.com/22-statistics-that-prove-the-middle-class-is-being-systematically-wiped-out-of-existence-in-america-2010-7#ixzz0ucORgv00

Migrant Farm Workers Challenge to Legislators "Do My Job"

"Opponents of proposed immigration legislation in Michigan have invited lawmakers to spend the day picking blueberries Saturday.

The United Farmworkers Union has issued the "Take Our Jobs Challenge."

West Michigan organizer Jose Flores says the challenge is meant to show how difficult farm work is, and that immigrants aren't taking the strenuous, low-paying jobs away from anyone."

www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1679549/Michigan.News/Farmworkers.Invite.Lawmakers.to.%27Take.Our.Jobs%27

Note:

Jose Flores is a West Michigan community activist who lives in Grand Rapids. Dr. Flores is an educator with extensive experience in Bilingual Education for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. He currently is the publisher of the Grand Rapids based Community Voice/La Voz.

lavozweb.com/

Unemployment Extension Does Not Help Those Who Have Exhausted Their 99 Weeks

"Help is on the way for 2.5 million Americans, including thousands in Michigan, who are unemployed.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an unemployment extension on Thursday by a vote of 272 to 152. President Barack Obama could sign the extension as early as Thursday evening.

In some states the extension will mean retroactive payments could go out as early as next week, but there's one group that won't benefit from the extension.

They're known as '99ers,' people who have used up almost two years of unemployment benefits."

www.wwmt.com/articles/won-1379351-99ers-extension.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Does the United States Spend Too Much on Incarceration? The Conservative British Periodical The Economist Thinks So

"America is different from the rest of the world in lots of ways, many of them good. One of the bad ones is its willingness to lock up its citizens... One American adult in 100 festers behind bars (with the rate rising to one in nine for young black men). Its imprisoned population, at 2.3m, exceeds that of 15 of its states. No other rich country is nearly as punitive as the Land of the Free. The rate of incarceration is a fifth of America’s level in Britain, a ninth in Germany and a twelfth in Japan...

As a result American prisons are now packed not only with thugs and rapists but also with petty thieves, small-time drug dealers and criminals who, though scary when they were young and strong, are now too grey and arthritic to pose a threat. Some 200,000 inmates are over 50—roughly as many as there were prisoners of all ages in 1970. Prison is an excellent way to keep dangerous criminals off the streets, but the more people you lock up, the less dangerous each extra prisoner is likely to be. And since prison is expensive—$50,000 per inmate per year in California—the cost of imprisoning criminals often far exceeds the benefits, in terms of crimes averted. "

The above is from The Economist, an arguably conservative British weekly periodical.

For the entire article, please visit:

www.economist.com/node/16640389

Volunteers share books and life experiences with summer-school students to help summer reading programs

More than 60 volunteers are helping students by sharing their love of reading this summer. In addition, they are also talking to students about collegiate and career experiences. The students range from pre-kindergartners through fifth-graders.

As a Big Brother volunteer, I understand how challenging it can be to get a disinterested child to read. The work being done by these volunteers is commendable. It takes a lot of time and work to sit with children, helping them navigate obstacles and inspiring them to pursue reading further. For students who have fallen behind in their reading level, the prospect "catching up" is not only a lot of work, but can also bring up feelings of embarrassment.

Bagels and Books is funded by KPS and organized by Kalamazoo Communities in Schools). Coco Pratt-Cook, KCIS director of mentoring and tutoring, said the event supports a districtwide literacy focus and gives community members a chance to get involved in local schools and help promote a college-bound culture.

The volunteers included Kalamazoo City Commissioner Don Cooney, Kalamazoo Promise Executive Director Janice Brown and Kalamazoo Public Schools board President Carol McGlinn.

Students each were allowed to take home one book. The books were supplied to KPS at discounted rates by Michigan News Agency and Kazoo Books and donated by the Kalamazoo Early Reading First program.

Read the full article: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/07/sharing_books_life_experiences.html

NPR: Eating Nutritiously A Struggle When Money Is Scarce

The battle to provide nutritious food for low-income families continues to generate national media buzz. An NPR report dialogues some of the obstacles families face, specifically focusing on getting picky children to eat healthy foods on a limited budget. A particular quote stood out from the report:

"You can get leaner cuts of meat, but then they're more expensive. You can get fresh fruit every couple of days and blow half of your budget on fresh fruits and vegetables in a week's time, easy."

In Michigan, the maximum amount an individual can receive for EBT benefits is $200 dollars a month. Families can receive more depending on their income and amount of children.

Think about this: $200/month food budget amounts to about $6.50 per day.

Could you create a healthy, nutritious budget for yourself with a $6.50 day budget? If so, would it leave your taste buds anguishing? Do you think your children would happily enjoy it?

Read the full article: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128621057&sc=fb&cc=fp

Increased Food Assistance Available to Those Losing Unemployment

"Families who have lost their unemployment insurance benefits because of a congressional logjam need to file an adjustment for increased Food Assistance benefits by Wednesday to get a bump for August.

That's the word from officials with the nonprofit Center for Civil Justice, who said Friday that more than 85,000 families who receive food and unemployment benefits are facing a loss of unemployment checks. To get an increase in food benefits for August, Michigan's Department of Human Services has to be notified in writing by July 21."

www.detnews.com/article/20100718/POLITICS02/7180312/Food-aid-available-for-Michigan-jobless-losing-benefits#ixzz0u2Mg6yVf

Reuben Sandwich Eating Contest Raises Money for Calhoun Medical Clinic Serving the Uninsured and Under Insured

"They came. They saw. They ate.

Over 20 men and women competing in 5th Annual Pastrami Joe's Reuben Eating World Championship Saturday also raised $13,880.67 for Fountain Clinic, a Marshall organization meant to help people with little or no medical insurance...

... There was also a children's competition pitting kids against one another in a race to finish building a pastrami masterpiece while running an obstacle course. Caron said activities like that help teach children about philanthropy."

www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100718/NEWS01/7180339/Reuben-eating-contest-benefits-clinic

More information about the Fountain Clinic and its mission can be found at the clinic's web site:

www.fountainclinic.org/index.html

SW Michigan Food pantries trying to deliver healthy choices

"It is extremely possible to get nutritional food from a food pantry," said (Olivia) Megna, community impact coordinator for United Way of Southwest Michigan. "You're definitely going to get protein in the form of tuna, (or) peanut butter. A lot of times, they will have meat available, because they have refrigeration in freezers. It truly depends on if the pantry has refrigeration and freezer capability. A lot of the pantries do."

Nicole Britten has a different take on the issue. As an epidemiologist with the Berrien County Health Department, she specializes in studying how major diseases and health risks affect populations.

In Benton Harbor's case, Britten feels that hunger can't be separated from lack of access to quality food.

Sociologists have coined a term to describe being cut off from fresh, healthy foods.

"Detroit is considered a classic example of a 'food desert,'" Britten said. "There are not many grocery stores, and transportation is a problem. Benton Harbor would fall into that category as well."

When grocery stores go by the wayside, convenience stores take up the slack, often with costly foods that are sugary and full of fat, Britten said. As a result, residents living in such areas are more likely to develop obesity and other long-term health problems, she added.

"There's a lack of access to high-quality food. I think that is the biggest thing," Britten said.

www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2010/07/13/local_news/1542693.txt

The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Battle Creek gets 25k grant to help end hunger

A recent grant to The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Battle Creek will focus efforts on ending hunger in the Battle Creek Community. The grant will help fund meals for men at the Haven, 11 Green St., and women and children at the nearby Inasmuch House for the next year.

The Haven serves about 55,000 meals a year with 40 percent of the food donated by area businesses or people who have graduation parties, wedding receptions or staff holiday parties. In a community with as much need as Battle Creek, every bit helps.

Until people can fill their basic needs such as food and shelter, actual poverty reduction will continue to be a challenge in Battle Creek.

Read the full article: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100710/NEWS01/7100303/Haven-gets-grant-to-help-end-hunger

Vandalia Celebrates Its Historical Participation in the Underground Railroad

"Vandalia may be a tiny village of just more than 400 people, but it has a big history.

Unfortunately, many of its residents and people in the surrounding area do not know much about its historical significance, according to Carol Bainbridge of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County.

“Everyone asks, ‘where’s Vandalia?’” she said. “I tell them that Vandalia may be a little village but it has a huge, huge, important history. The history of this area, especially this little village, impacted this entire country.”

With events like the Kentucky Raid of 1847 and key stops on the Underground Railroad, the area was influential in the fight against slavery.

Bainbridge and the (Underground Railroad Society) are hoping to help educate the community through the first Vandalia Underground Railroad Days on July 17 and 18."

www.nilesstar.com/2010/07/08/villages-role-in-underground-railroad-history-to-be-celebrated/

(The Carriage House pictured served as a haven for runaway slaves.)

Housing Delinquencies Greatest with Homes Valued at more than $1 Million

There is a common perception that the financial housing crisis was caused by banks and mortgage institutions extending credit to poor or near poor and working class Americans. The theory has been that certain members of the U.S. Congress pushed financial institutions into lowering their credit standards, thus, the housing bubble and subsequent collapse.

In today's New York Times, an article contends that home owners who have homes valued at $1 million or more actually have the nation's highest delinquency rate. "More than one in seven homeowners with loans in excess of a million dollars are seriously delinquent, according to data compiled for The New York Times by the real estate analytics firm CoreLogic."

So, was the housing crisis caused by banks extending credit to the poor, near poor, or working class? Or is the answer more nuanced? The article hints that perhaps more of the speculation was at the high end of the housing market:

www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/business/economy/09rich.html?pagewanted=1

Medicaid Health Care Benefits and the Michigan Budget

"The biggest wrench stuck in the gears of Michigan’s state budget is the Medicaid health care benefits program for the poor. Without additional Medicaid funds from the federal government, Michigan faces a $560 million shortfall for the budget year beginning October 1.

If you’re lucky enough to not be on Medicaid and think it simply doesn’t concern you, think again.

Medicaid concerns everyone in Michigan. Why and how? ...

Nearly 25 cents of every dollar in the state general fund budget goes to Medicaid — more than $2 billion in state tax revenues overall, with another $8-9 billion in federal tax dollars. Like the prison budget, Medicaid crowds out all kinds of other state priorities, from the desire for low taxes to the desires for environmental protection, low college tuition, healthy downtowns, and lots of other things."

www.thecenterformichigan.net/michigans-giant-burden-and-responsibility/

Some Michigan kids lack summer nutrition safety net

A report from the Washington, D.C.-based Food Research and Action Center found that fewer than one in six of Michigan children eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the school year got those meals in July 2009. So what happens when children who rely on free and reduced lunches during the school year are out of school for the summer?

The Summer Food Service Program provides low-income children more than 45,000 meals at Michigan schools, libraries, churches, community centers and parks. So if these programs already exist, why aren't they reaching the children in need? A lack of awareness is preventing families from using these services to their full capacity.

Confusion among families may also keep participation rates low, said Sharon Quincy, manager of nutrition services for the Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion. Many parents assume the programs have been cut due to budget restraints, she said. But there are more than 200 meal sites around Detroit — so most children can get breakfast or lunch within walking distance.

"People think the program is not going on, so they don't bother to come out," she said.

Read the full article: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/some_michigan_kids_lack_summer.html

Benton Harbor Boys & Girls Club Announces $6 Million Capital Campaign

"The Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor announced plans to reach out to the community for support of a $6 million project that includes building a new facility. The facility would assist the organization with its development plans, which include doubling the club’s membership over the next 5 years. According to a site evaluation study conducted by the board of directors, the current facility at the old Bard School would not be able to accommodate such a sizable increase in youth involvement...

The proposed location for this new 3.5-acre, 30,000 square foot facility is on the edge of Hall Park. This region of Benton Harbor has already seen a great deal of change thanks to one of the highest per capita funded Hope VI projects in the country along with Harbor Habitat for Humanity, the Jimmy Carter Work Project and the Harbor Bluffs housing development. The residents within this neighborhood have provided positive feedback in favor of the project, which is before the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval."

bentonspiritnews.com/clients/bentonspiritnews/boys-girls-club-announces-million-capital-campaign-p3379.htm?twindow=Default&smenu=93&mad=No

Free Press Editorial Chastises Public Defender System in Michigan as "Shortchanging" Indigent Defendants

"Michigan's appalling public defense system has made a sham of the constitutional right to adequate legal counsel. No uniform standards and scandalously low pay, among other things, prevent many indigent defendants in Michigan from getting effective legal assistance and, ultimately, a fair trial.

Inadequate legal representation for the poor is a national scandal. But Michigan's system is among the very worst, ranking 44th among the 50 states in spending -- lower than Alabama, for example. Michigan is also one of only a handful of states that rely almost entirely on counties to pay for and run a public defense system..."

www.freep.com/article/20100702/OPINION01/7020318/1322/Justice-shortchanged-in-public-defense-system

July 2: Anniversary of LBJ's Signing of Civil Rights Act of 1964

"On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson finally signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964—one of the most important pieces of legislation in US history, which outlawed racial segregation in public places, abolished the South’s discriminatory Jim Crow laws, and introduced equal rights for all Americans applying to register to vote. The bill, initially put forth by President Kennedy in 1963, was by no means a final solution to the problem of social division in America—while it allowed African Americans the right to apply to vote, it notably lacked provisions to make the requirement tests for registration fair and democratic—but its passage was a victory for the civil rights movement and its supporters.

Today, to celebrate the bill’s anniversary, we feature a portfolio of images from photographer Dan Budnik, a member of Magnum Photos and close friend of Bruce Davidson, who was introduced to some of the leading figures from the civil rights movement by his art teacher Charles Alston in the early 50s."

www.nowness.com/day/2010/7/2/701/on-this-day--the-signing-of-the-civil-rights-act?ecid=soc1268#close