Conrad Tillard IS Running For City Council

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Rev. Conrad Tillard IS Running for City Council:

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

This is part of an indepth interview conducted  with Rev. Conrad Tillard, newly declared candidate for Bedford Stuyvesant's 36 Councilmatic District.The interview took place at Peaches, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Wednesday, April 24, 2013.


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You might say that Conrad Tillard is following the time honored saying of "better late than not at all."  At least that's the word on the street from Brooklynites in Bed Stuy who thought they were facing a three way race for the soon to be vacated seat of Assemblyman turned City Council maven Al  Vann.  The race has now expanded to six since his entry into the fray.  

Al Vann has had the enviable position of living his life in service to his constituency, and now having done an extremely great job, is preparing to step down - though not necessarily walking off into the sunset just yet.   However, he is leaving some mighty big shoes to fill, and some great footsteps to follow  Foot steps Rev. Conrad Tillard feels he is more than capable and prepared to fill.  His opponents are none too happy about this "late entry into the fray."  

Comments/complaints of "why now?" can be heard all over. 
 
However according to the clergyman and  former Nation of Islam leader, the Minister Conrad Muhammad, of Harlem's Muhammad's Mosque No. 7:  "I watched and waited for the current candidates to come forth with platforms that would really speak to the needs of Brooklyn, Bedford Stuyvesant, education, and the youth.  But there was so much lacking until it was frustrating.  I have been attending all the meetings of relevance to issues that confront Bed Stuy, and they weren't there.  I stood in solidarity with people in the community whose children had been gunned down; who had been raped or robbed; I was at Boys and Girls High school for the hearings on the possible closing of the school.  They just weren't there, or any of the other several hundreds of meetings and events I've participated in over the past few years.  Where have they been, and what is it that they now bring that will really address the issues that face Brooklyn over the long haul?”

He continued with confident solemnity: “I searched my heart; I spoke with the Almighty, and I was told that if it was to get done, I would have to be the one to do it.  I could not wait for someone else to do the job that has yet to be done to make Bed Stuy whole.  And that's why I'm entering; and that's why I will win."

Anybody who knows his or her Bible knows it's not about when you enter, but why.  It's not about whose backing you politically; it's about who the people feel will really work for them; and who has their backs spiritually, mentally, physically and visibly. Conrad Tillard has consistently been that person.  Not just for the past three or four years; but for nearly three decades, since the 80's when he, as a college student, worked with the Reverend Jesse Jackson in his first campaign bid for the Presidency of the US.

"I've cut my teeth on the issues that drive our people, that matter to us most."  Subsequent to Rev. Jackson's defeat in his bid, Tillard signed up with the Nation of Islam, and quickly became the right hand for Min. Louis Farrakhan in helping to reach out to constituents in Central Harlem.  Later he formed an organization CHHANGE, that reached out to the Hip Hop Generation, and got them involved in being more responsible to their community via their votes and support for community organizations.

Not one to be pigeonholed, or put in a box of limitation, Rev. Conrad Tillard, has always put the people first, regardless of the opinions or consequences.  This has made him both popular - someone to be reckoned with - and at times, a target of his detractors.  Since his emphasis has always been on the people, communities, neighborhoods, where the people live, work, worship and play, you're more likely to find him out among the people, interacting, supporting, teaching and participating - whether it's fashionable or not, popular or not.  He is comfortable in his community, whether it's behind the pulpit, in an audience, on a picket line, a panel, dealing with rap and spoken word artists; mediating gang activities, or participating in children's program activities.   

When asked what some of his plans were for the future of Brooklyn's Bed Stuy community, he replied:
“I've been working with the communities of Brooklyn and Bed Stuy since coming to New York in 1989; when I first had my radio show on WBLS.  I am more than familiar with the issues confronting Brooklyn,” Wanting to be clear that he has garnered the educational creds to go along with the street credentials, he stated: “I really need to illustrate my educational background.  There are a generation of us who didn't join the nation of Islam from prison, but who were well educated.  I came out of college in Philadelphia; first worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson when he ran for President.  After that, I joined the Nation of Islam and worked as Minister Farrakhan's head of Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 in Harlem.  So we were on college campuses; we were heavy students; we were the crème of the crop; and we joined the nation.”

In fact, Tillard's dedication to the African American community is quite impressive, stemming from his days as an adolescent. He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, PA. In African American Studies in 1983, at a time when the colleges were all but phasing the department out. and worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson's bid for presidency through 1984. “I was one of the few African Americans studying our history during that time. It was deliberately being phased out of the schools as well as the colleges and the universities. This was before (Henry Louis) Gates and that crew came up with a different version of African American studies, and it was more acceptable – I was really doing the unadulterated research.” Additionally, Tillard posses an MA Divinity from Union Theological Seminary; a ThM from Princeton.” He also has his degree from Harvard Divinity School. Couple that with the 17 years of discipline under the Hon. Louis Farrakhan, and you've got a force to be reckoned with.

He states: “The beautiful thing about life is that I've had exposure to life at a lot of different levels – from the poorest of the poor, to the elite. There are not a lot of people, in terms of the human condition, that I cannot sit down and talk to. I have been in crack houses, in prisons, in populations – not in the waiting rooms, when I go I go into the populations. Gang meetings, but I've also sat down with the elite of society. I've sat in classrooms, I've sat in meetings; and so I really understand life in a broad way. All my life I've been involved in issues of importance and concern to African Americans. People ask how I'm going to attract white voters; I don't think white voters are any different than anyone else. They evaluate people's experience and credentials. And they just want to know that a person can serve. My experience allows me to engage people at every level of life.”

Rev. Tillard may have come “late to the game” by politically correct standards, and might not be part of the established "clubs" but he is just what the doctor ordered for the salvation of Brooklyn.  

One of the hottest topics in BedStuy is the threatened dismantling of Boys and Girls High School, something which Tillard strongly opposes, have recently hosted a hearing for the Education Department and the Bed Stuy Community as to why the current mayor should back off. “I would advocate for the end of mayoral control of our schools. To not give our children a quality education is sentencing them to poverty and jail and death. So it's a form of child abuse. And that's why I will use the bully pulpit. I'm going to get in trouble with some people in City Council, because I'm going tell parents, don't complain about teachers alone; it's a partnership. It's not a baby sitting service. You've got to work with the teachers to make sure your children get an education. My wife and I both work in Bed Stuy. My youngest son goes to school in Bed Stuy – little Barack -- and I spend a lot of time volunteering my time at Boys and Girls High School. The Bedford Academy, and the Community Stakeholders Board. Emma Jordan Simpson and Bryan Favors, and the community and I work together trying to improve the educational standards in District 16. And I am the number one fan of Boys and Girls High School Basketball team. Two years ago, when they won their first state championship, working with Congressman Ed Towns, I made sure that the families had a bus to go up there and celebrate the first state championship ever in the history of Boys and Girls High School. We took two buses up to Albany with the good help of Congressman Ed (Edolphus Towns, D. Brooklyn, US Congress, Ret'd) and I made that happen.” 

Tillard, likewise took a stand when Medgar Evers College faced the threat of dismantling under Pollard, after 20 years of successful progress under former Pres. Edison O. Jackson. He, along with the late, great activist Brother Jitu Weusi, Dr. Brenda Greene, Esmeralda Simmons and yours truly, were part of an ongoing coalition that early on identified the dangers of pollard and the super imposition of CUNY over Medgar Evers University.  He volunteered the use of his Church hall for necessary strategic meetings.

 He advises Brooklyn's voters, from those residents who have been there a life time to the newcomers to consider carefully the impact on the future of the community if they don't carefully scrutinize the candidates for this soon to be vacated seat. . To the youth who have not gotten involved because they don't see the relevance to their lives, he stated emphatically: “WE CAN'T BE GIANTS WITH GRASSHOPPER MENTALITIES! The person who succeeds Al Vann is of major pivotal importance to us all. Everyone takes their cue from that seat. We need visionary strong leadership. That's what I offer; that's who I am.”

Now that you know, what will you do?

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Can Conrad Tillard Win in His Bid for Bed Stuys 36 CD Seat?

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By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

CONRAD TILLARD IS A CANDIDATE FOR BED STUY'S 36 CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.  

Some were admittedly stunned by the announcement.  To others it came as no surprise - in fact it came with a sigh relief of something akin to joy:  CONRAD TILLARD has thrown his hat in the ring to become the next city council representative for the 36th Councilmatic District of BedStuy Brooklyn.

 The big question on everybody's mind is Can Conrad Tillard upset the apple cart  and win? According to Rev. Tillard and his supporters, the answer is resounding YES! From his opponents and detractors, however, there is a fearful "Oh no!"

Notice I said “Oh no!” not as in “No” but as in, “Oh no! Why now? Why him? What do we do now? Tillard's entry into the already hotly contended race is definitely a game changer – one that places Bed Stuy squarely on the winning side, should he emerge the victor. He is far and beyond the best candidate for the job, when you consider his vast experience, resources, savvy and ability to interface with people of all origins; and problem solve issues at the highest and the most grass root levels.

Conrad Tillard may have come "late" to the table, but he didn't come without an appetite, and he certainly didn't come without gifts – he brought with him his vast resources, contacts and the capacity to stand toe to toe with those who have been instrumental in trying to keep Bed Stuy below the bar.

Like the old saying, “Better Late than Not At All.” And “late” is a relative term that implies there were some assumptions made that now have to be readjusted in light of the fact that it would take five opponents, pooling their experiences to equal the track record Tillard has garnered over the past two and a half decades.

Tillard has been observing the competition and the terrain for the past year to ascertain whether or not the candidates would be able to address the issues confronting Bed Stuy's 36 CD. “I wanted to be sure that my candidacy would be an asset to the community, not just another face on the poster.  I searched my heart; I spoke with the Almighty, and I was told that if it was to get done, I would have to be the one to do it.  I could not wait for someone else to do the job that has yet to be done to make Bed Stuy whole.  And that's why I'm entering; and that's why I will win."”

With nearly 30 years of experience under his belt, and looking way too young for a man approaching 50, Conrad Tillard means to do Brooklyn some good. Bringing his experience and resources to the table, the race is about to rachet up a notch.

While his opponents are each heavy hitters in their own right – a testament to the caliber of residents in Bed Stuy, they are clearly outmatched in this regard. He's an activist whose experience goes back to his early teens when he worked in the campaign for then Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson. That early foray into the realm of political warfare had him interfacing with the Kennedys, and other major players of the Democratic National Party.

After  Jesse Jackson's defeat, Tillard's interest and commitment to the Black community took him to the Nation of Islam. Having completed his BA in African American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, he volunteered to work with the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan, who subsequently appointed him to Muhammad Mosque No. 7 in Harlem, changing his name to Conrad Muhammad. 

As head of Mosque No. 7 he was integrally involved with Brooklyn, the Bronx (he was the first on sight after the shooting of Amadou Diallo), Harlem, Westchester, and the world  -- as the spokes person for one of the most powerful advocacy organizations ever. "I've cut my teeth on the issues that drive our people, that matter to us most." 

He's interfaced with gangs in their strongholds, from the Crips and the Bloods and has persuaded them to interface with each other. While at the same time confronting the police on issues of abuse of power and profiling. According to Tillard: “I have a strong relation with the NYPD, and  also their biggest critic.  I have absolutely no problem in saying what's on my mind, and when they are wrong.  As a pastor, he has also grieved with families whose children were innocent victims gunned down by both those factors.  "There is far too much Black on Black violence; and racial profiling targeted at our community.   This will stop under my watch."

Tillard has an aggressive, affirmative, affective blueprint  for Bedford Stuyvesant.  He understands more than most the heavy mantel that is being passed down by Al Vann, who  not only has blazed a path, but left some mighty shoes to fill.  The person who succeeds him cannot be weak willed.  He has a great legacy to follow, while at the same time moving forward to expand and empower Bed Stuys' residents even more.  It will take someone who has already garnered the trust of the stakeholders, who has no hesitancy about taking principled, appropriate stands.  Vann's seat is pivotal for all the other elected officials, who can draw strength from his leadership.

Tillard's  taken principled stands on the following issues: 

Employment: 
   Ending under employment; providing training and entreprenurial opportunities; 

Education:   
    Protecting and rejuvenating Boys and Girls High School; ensuring equitable distribution of funds 
     and resources; save and transform Medgar Evers College

Health and hospitals:   
    Ensuring quality of care, upgrading, not closing hospitals in Central Brooklyn; increasing 
    strict  sanitary condition and better patient care; 

Affordable housing:   
   Putting teeth in Project Reclaim, repurposing and upgrading vacant properties; financial 
    assistance for low/mod income families; 

Parenting skills:    
     Providing parenting skills trainings to young parents; better day care facilities;  

Recreation facilities:  
     Upgrading and re-establishing facilities and programs for youth, seniors and families through
     out Central Brooklyn; 

Ending the crime corridors; 

Ending racial profiling and police brutality.

"I've been working with the communities of Brooklyn and Bed Stuy since coming to New York in 1989; when I first had my radio show on WBLS.  I am more than familiar with the issues confronting Brooklyn, I have been hands on in combating them, and will continue to do so."

 He states: “The beautiful thing about life is that I've had exposure to life at a lot of different levels – from the poorest of the poor, to the elite. There are not a lot of people, in terms of the human condition, that I cannot sit down and talk to. I have been in crack houses, in prisons, in populations – not in the waiting rooms, when I go I go into the populations. Gang meetings, but I've also sat down with the elite of society. I've sat in classrooms, I've sat in meetings; and so I really understand life in a broad way. All my life I've been involved in issues of importance and concern to African Americans. People ask how I'm going to attract white voters; I don't think white voters are any different than anyone else. They evaluate people's experience and credentials. And they just want to know that a person can serve. My experience allows me to engage people at every level of life.”

With all the foregoing thus far state, we would be totally out of line if we did not mention that under Tillard's direction, during his tenure at Muhammad's Mosque No. 7, he and Rev. Calvin Butts gathered and organized more than 250,000 African American men, providing travel and accommodations for them to participate in the Million Man March in Washington DC, the largest such gathering ever of its kind. That kind of effort required resourcefulness, intraction with various groups, economic and educational backgrounds. “It was during this time that I was introduced to President Clinton by the Hon. Louis Farrakhan as his right hand key person for the organizing of the March. I met congressmen and women, media, police, security – it was perhaps one of the most pivotal events in my life.” (and needless to say, the lives of the two million Black men who attended, as well.)

All this goes to the measure of the man who, by some accounts, may have come late to the party, but certainly did not arrive without a ton of gifts. So, Rev. Conrad Tillard is running for City Council in the Borough of Brooklyn, for Bedford Stuyvesant's 36^th Councilmatic District.  With all that he's been through and all that he's accomplished, you might say he's the epitome of the meaning of "Bed Stuy - do! or die




Now that you know, what will you do?


Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Just a footnote: for those of you who are cynical or ignorant about the importance of this or any other election taking place anywhere in the world, but especially in Brooklyn:  You can't afford to sit on the margins or sidelines and gripe and withhold your vote and support for whom ever is running.  We are rapidly losing ground because we seem to have more grousers than voters.  They spend the rest of the year complaining, but don't get off their backsides to make a change.  We can't wait for 2014 for regime change in Congress.  We have to be the change we want to see.  Whether you vote for Rev. Tillard or any of the other candidates, and they are, by the way, all good people who care about Black people, you owe it to yourself and the rest of us to vote.  A whole bunch of Black people died so you could do so, so don't be the one to make their sacrifices be in vain.  
By the way, BILL THOMPSON FOR MAYOR - DON'T GET IT TWISTED - HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE FOR US.  CAPICHE?                            SB & EB - GDW

 

Medgar Evers College in Crisis: Sign the Petition and Take a Stand: If the People Will Lead the Leaders Will Follow

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

This is an immediate notice to Brooklyn's Black Community and those who wish us well. There is a crisis brewing at Medgar Evers College, and it's been allowed to fester and degenerate into a maisma with a cloud of gloom and a crisis of confidence looming over the entire campus, as well as the community.

Those of you who know the history of Medgar Evers College know that this school did not come about because of the generosity of the City University System. There was no benevolent being there who suddenly woke up and said, "Wow! There's no historically Black college or university or school that speaks to the needs of the Black students in New York, let us establish a college for them." No, that did not happen.

What did happen is the people like Jitu Weusi, Albert Vann, Annette Robinson, and other stalwarts of the community, got to together with the Brooklyn community, put together a plan and demanded a college be established that was more in line with the unique needs of the Black students. And it took months, to bring this about. It took years to find a president whose leadership finally made Medgar Evers the stellar college it has become under the City University System. Under his 20 years of leadership, Medgar Evers has made great strides, with more yet to come.

Well that progress appears to be halted in its tracks under the mis-direction of the newly appointed president, William Pollard. It took 20 years for Medgar Evers to gain its credibility, and in less than one year Pollard has apparently caused them to either reverse or disappear. Not only has he stated that he was not hired to lead a Black College; applicants from the surrounding community, who used to be able to apply directly for admission, now have to go through CUNY Central for admission. This has decimated the number of Black students who would have had the opportunity to begin their higher education.

To make it even more bizarre, Pollard has severed the contract with Carver Federal Savings (a Black Bank), and instituted CitiBank instead. What's up with that?

Additionally, Pollard asserted that there were students who were receiving financial aid illegally - and has terminated several students' lifelines to obtaining a higher education.

Now this might be understandable if Pollard was of any other ethnicity. But Pollard is allegedly African American (I'm reserving what I could really call him. There is a name for an individual who stabs his own people in the back, and gets paid to do so -- and since we all know what that name is, I don't need to go there - use your own imagination and experience).

The problems facing Medgar Evers has been compounded by the actions on the part of Howard Johnson, the individual selected as provost, who has caused several essential programs to be evicted from the campus. The combination of the two individuals have turned twenty years of progress backwards. MEC, despite the new buildings, is facing a downward spiral as a result of these two who serve to the detriment of the students and the community.

The Medgar Evers College Coalition for Academic Excellence and Mission Integrity comprised of community members, professors, elected officials, and students, have been meeting consistently to try to stem the tide of this effort to undermine Medgar Evers' primacy as a Black school.

But here's my dilemma: With all this roiling right under the noses of Black people in Brooklyn, with the very future of their children's education in jeopardy, I want to know why is everyone else in Brooklyn sooooo quiet? Why is it that there aren't thousands of Brooklynites surrounding that campus demanding Pollard's exit? Why haven't our elected officials put their foot down and demanded his exit? Why all the posturing and the meetings. Why are we sitting here watching a car wreck as though we're driving down the I-95, waiting to see how many casualties before we act? What the Sam Hill is going on with us, with this wait and see attitude?

Don't we have enough assaults on our education with adding insult to injury?

I recently saw a movie on Ancient Mali, where they discovered thousand year old libraries that had to be protected from white maurauders who did not value our culture. They were able to devise ways to protect those treasures so that today the world marvels at the fact that our civilization predates the European system, and there is concrete evidence of that fact.

At the present moment, I am looking at a situation where the same genetic codes that caused us to protect our treasures then have to be re-inculcated now - before its too late. Our children, their education, our community, our accomplishment are individually and collectively treasures, and it is incumbent on us to protect it.

It doesn't matter if you never attended, or ever plan to attend Medgar Evers College; just as it does not matter if you or any of your children ever attended Paul Robeson (also under siege in Brooklyn); it's about the entire society of which you are a part. It is to be treasured because we developed it for us by us. It is not to be violated by interlopers who are paid to come in eviscerate progress made through devotion, dedication, diligence, blood, sweat and tears. It is as sacred as any church. It is just as much a treasure as gold, silver, or millions of dollars. Because it is an investment into our futures, our self-esteem, our self worth, our very empowerment.

So, why is the Black community so quiet? I am posting this in my blog, and I want each individual who receives it to send it to ten of their friends, relatives, associates - whether they live in Brooklyn or not - and tell them to get involved: Sign the petition below, write your congressman, write your city council representative, write your assembly members, write your state senators and tell them that you want Medgar Evers delivered from the hands of those that are looking to destroy it, and new leadership immediately established, if not sooner.

Not since the Civil Rights Era has there been more at stake. Many students who are now the grandchildren of those of that era, have chosen to take a stand against the denigration of Medgar Evers College, including the MEC NAACP. They have engaged other students who appear to be fearful of reprisals, in taking a principled stand to maintain Medgar Evers College is the only semblance of an Historically Black College/University in the North. Taking a cue from the examples of their parents and grandparents, these students understand the necessity of being involved in their future, and not sitting idly by while others destroy what has been so hard fought to bring into existence. It is heartening to see that our students are willing to take the baton and continue the mission.

Reaching back to the Mali documentary, I mentioned earlier, there was a theme song that has remained in my conscious-soulness, and I'm sharing the title with you here:

"IF THE PEOPLE WILL LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW"

Let that statement marinate in your mind for a moment. IF THE PEOPLE WILL LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW!!! We are the people. We are responsible for our leaders. If they do something we don't like, or if they don't represent us appropriately, we have the right and responsibility to put them on blast, and make them take corrective actions. We can either let them lead us by the noses, or we can take principled stands. In this instance, if we don't let the so-called leaders know of our displeasure, and of our desires, they will pretty much go along without having any inkling of our concerns. But once we stand up, stand together, and put our demands in their face, they either have to accede to our needs and demands, or get out.

It is time for the community of Brooklyn to take back their leadership, and send a signal to our representatives to get the job done now.

Below is a petition that you can copy, paste and sign in reference to the Medgar Evers College crisis. Please sign it and send it back to the email address highlighted below.

Also included is an update on the Coalition's activities to save Medgar Evers. Your help and support are needed immediately, if not sooner. So make it your business to be a part of the solution, not a part of the side line.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
_______________________________________________

PETITION (cut and paste to print petition Email to MECCoalition@gmail.com or call 718.710.4528):
The Medgar Evers College Coalition for Academic Excellence and Mission Integrity

January 5, 2011

Hon. Matthew Goldstein
Chancellor
City University of New York
535 E. 80th Street
New York, NY 10075

Re: A Call for the Resignation of Dr. Howard Johnson as Provost of Medgar Evers College

Dear Chancellor Goldstein:

I am very disturbed by the changes which have occurred since Dr. William Pollard became president of Medgar Evers College in August 2009. His policies have compromised the ability of the institution to serve its students and his policies have demoralized the College’s faculty. I am not adverse to change and recognize that it is necessary for the growth of any institution. However, this administration’s policies have hindered the ability of the institution to ensure the academic excellence and integrity of its mission as defined by the founders and stakeholders.

Many of the issues stem from the actions and unprofessional working style of the Provost, Dr. Howard Johnson, and from his lack of commitment to the mission of the College. Among other actions, this provost has violated CUNY Bylaws, union contracts and the Medgar Evers College Governance Plan in the non reappointment of faculty; removed chairs for spurious and unsubstantiated reasons; reduced support mechanisms and faculty resources for student success; oversaw the withdrawal of support for the Medgar College Preparatory School’s Dual Enrollment Program; and issued an eviction notice to the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions despite its formal approval by the College’s governing body, the College Council.

In view of the actions cited above and more, I request that you direct President Pollard to ask for the resignation of Provost Howard Johnson immediately. I am sure that the resignation of Provost Johnson will initiate the steps to resolve these critical issues at Medgar Evers College.

Yours truly,

Full Name: *_________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________

Comments: _________________________________________________





__________________________________________________


Email to MECCoalition@gmail.com or call 718.710.4528.

What’s Going on at Medgar Evers College? - THE FACTS

Presented by the Medgar Evers College Coalition for Academic Excellence and Mission Integrity (aka The MEC Coalition)

• Petition Letter to the Hon. Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor of the City University of New York
• Petition Letter to Dr. William L. Pollard, President, Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York

In view of the actions listed below, the faculty of Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York (MEC) affirmed a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE in the current Administration, and specifically, in the Office of the President, Dr. William Pollard and in the Office of the Provost, Dr. Howard Johnson.

At a meeting held by the Committee of the Faculty of the Whole, 89% of the faculty issued a vote of no confidence.

Under the administration of President Pollard and Provost Johnson, the following have occurred:

1. The administration has violated CUNY Bylaws, union contracts and the Medgar Evers Governance Plan in the non-reappointment of faculty.
2. The administration has disseminated notices of non-reappointment to faculty and staff via campus police, email, and visits to classrooms (in front of students), and offices.
3. The administration has removed the Chair of Education for spurious and unsubstantiated reasons (Per PSC Contract, Chairs in CUNY are elected by faculty, not appointed by President and Provost). The Chair of Education had been elected by the faculty in her department
for a three year term.

“WHAT WOULD MEDGAR DO?” STAND FOR JUSTICE!
On Monday, January 17, 2011 at the 25th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, (where Dr. William Pollard was invited to speak), we conducted a Silent Demonstration to protest the desecration of the mission of Medgar Evers College. The Mission of MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE Is UNDER ATTACK!
4. The administration has reduced support mechanisms and faculty resources which include:
* Elimination of the Writing Center
* Elimination of the Center for Teaching and Learning
* Reduction of tutors in the Learning Center budget
* Reduction of staff in the College’s library
* Reduction of staff in the Student Computer Lab
* Reduction of resources and research opportunities for the Psych Lab
* Blocking of funding supporting faculty/student research and the mission of the College
5. The administration has issued an eviction notice to the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions despite its adherence to the formal application process and subsequent approval by Medgar Evers College’s governing body, the College Council, in accordance with the Policy Guidelines for Centers, Institutes, Consortia and Special Initiatives at The City University of New York (approved by the Board of Trustees, 27 February 1995) and the Medgar Evers College Governance Plan.
6. The administration has not hired faculty positions in academic departments, yet has hired numerous high level administrators and consultants.
7. The administration has withdrawn support for the Medgar Evers College Preparatory School’s Dual Enrollment Program which provides high school students with opportunities to take college level courses while enrolled in high school.
8. The administration has not announced a Master Plan or direction for MEC, after an entire year of governance.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF Medgar Evers College
* MEC was founded four decades ago during a period of institution building by communities of color across this country and in Central Brooklyn, specifically, to address the need for access to higher education, to be coupled with community engagement and development
* MEC has a proud history of leadership and involvement in advocacy that advances and promotes the political, cultural, social, economic and academic power of people of color in Central Brooklyn
* MEC is rooted in the progressive history of Central Brooklyn through its academic, professional, advocacy and civic programs
* MEC has created a culture of academic excellence for students and faculty
* The actions of the administration, as represented by the Offices of the President and Provost, demonstrate a lack of commitment to the “community–oriented” mission of Medgar Evers College and the community stakeholders of Central Brooklyn who helped to birth Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College also:
* Transforms the lives of individuals within their communities and the global world
* Provides students with access to high quality professional degree programs
* Offers 17 baccalaureate and 8 associate level degree programs in the liberal arts, science, health, business, and education
* Provides students who move from associate level to baccalaureate level degree programs with high academic standards
* Maintains a national and international presence through its Centers
* Offers conferences, seminars and workshops that support academic programs and student success

The Students
* Capture first place prizes in prestigious competitions like the Wharton Undergraduate Marketing Conference case competition
* Present their original research and scholarship at conferences across the globe
* Participate and are leaders in national student business associations of NABA (National Assoc. of Black Accountants, AMA (American Management Assoc.), CISTA (Computer Information Systems Technology Association, MECPA (Society of Public Administration), and MIA (Minority Investment Assoc.) which have won numerous awards.
* Are members of honor societies (Delta Mu Delta and Kappa Beta Delta) and participate in national and regional conferences that promote personal and career goals
* Matriculate as the first in their family to pursue higher education

About The Faculty

* Include distinguished scholars, researchers, and former members of the city, state and federal legislatures of the United States
* Are Involved in a range of research and grant activities in their disciplines
* Received numerous awards within their disciplines
* Include Fulbright scholars and a Guggenheim Fellow
* Collaborate with entities such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct space science research, which included the launching of a satellite for government payloads
* Are Awarded research grants by the U.S. Air Force’s Office of Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education, among others
* Include faculty and directors, who host national and international conferences, including:
o National Black Writers Conference
o Environmental Science Conference
o Social Work Conference
o Diopian Inquiry and Research on Education as Culture Transmission Conference

About The Centers

* Strengthen, enrich and support the College’s academic degree programs
* Serve as vehicles for research, training, advocacy and career development in public service and public policy fields
* Fulfill the College’s mission of communicating the knowledge of tradition, the teaching of scholars and the beauty and profundity of students’ cultural heritage
* Develop non degree and co-curricular cultural programs which serve students and a broad range of community residents
* Fulfill the College’s mission through interaction with community representatives, cultural and public institutions

The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions (CNUS) has operated at Medgar Evers College for the past six years. CNUS provides critical policy research and advocacy training on criminal and juvenile justice system reform issues; develops initiatives, policy recommendations and programs aimed at increasing access, retention, and graduation rates for formerly incarcerated students; and promotes leadership and career development in the fields of public policy and advocacy related to criminal justice and civil rights.

The DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy (DBC) is a think tank dedicated to forging solutions to the challenges confronting people of color living within urban communities in the United States and throughout the African Diaspora. DBC produces research, formulates policies, sponsors conferences, and produces public affairs media programming that advances economic and social justice.

The Center for Black Literature expands, broadens, and enriches the public’s knowledge and aesthetic appreciation of the value of black literature; continues the tradition and legacy of the National Black Writers Conference and serves as a voice and resource for black writers. It is the only Center devoted to this in the country.

The Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) is a community-based legal organization that specializes in addressing racial justice issues. CLSJ provides quality legal advocacy, trainings, and research services in a personal manner to people of African ancestry and the disenfranchised.

About the Medgar Evers College Preparatory School (MECPS)
* The MECPS was created as a partnership with Medgar Evers College
* The MECPS was cited by Department of Education, College Board and President Obama as an exemplary model of high school and college collaboration
* The MECPS was only one of three in the nation to win a College Board Inspiration Award Winner for helping underserved students achieve equitable access to higher education
* The MECPS ranked as one of the top best public high schools in Brooklyn
* The MECPS offers one of the largest Chinese language programs for students not from a Chinese background in the United States

For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/MEfortheCommunity. You do not have to be a member of Facebook to view this Facebook Page.

Send an email to MECCoalition@gmail.com or call 718.710.4528.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

PRIMARY DAY IN NYC VOTE OR SHUT UP

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

SO it’s finally here. Primary day in New York City. And all the candidates are lined up for battle. The winners take all - whatever that means. It’s now or never for many of them.

And, while I can’t tell you who to vote for, I can tell you you had better vote as though you are voting for President Barack Obama all over again. Because this is just what this means.

Each and every vote counts. If you don’t vote, the good the President is trying to accomplish will be diminished exponentially.

Think about it. The Republicans are already trying to make this a self-fulfilling prophesy by saying that during the midterm the opposition part gets the majority. This is a psych! A mind game they play and many of us fall into the trap as though it’s the gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth, but they’re counting on the gullibility of the American public, who have become contented with mimicking what they hear on TV rather than standing for themselves, and getting their information first hand.

So now here we are. And there are some pretty important issues coming up that may or may not hamper our ability to emerge victorious from this primary:

1): The new electronic scan voting machines are being introduced in New York City. Many are concerned that it may either cut down on the number of people voting, or it may cause a great number of inaccuracies. (shades of Florida 2000). However, if we use our intelligence, instead of falling prey to negative suggestions, we can learn to use this nuance the way we have other innovations. In other words, don’t let learning something new be the deterrent to getting out to vote.

2): The assumption that because the candidate has been in office a long time, it’s time to bring in someone new. How insipid! Politics is a career like any other position. Politicians are public servants who apply for their positions via the public arena called voting, and they maintain their position via the same way. If they are doing their job correctly, they are returned to their position at the end of the term. It has nothing to do with age, per se, it has more to do with doing the job we sent them there to do. It also has to do with seasoning and seniority. I.e. paying your dues. In doing so you learn the lay of the land, and are able to exercise influence over situations more effectively than the relative new comer.
When I hear someone talking of “new blood”, as though a younger person automatically comes with a set of new concepts that will benefit us all, I cringe. I am not putting down our younger generation, but I am saying that they haven’t necessarily demonstrated their understanding of their role and responsibility in the current society given the amount of work, blood, sweat and tears their predecessors have already sacrificed to provide them with better lives. So, please don’t make age the issue. Look at where they stand when they stand with their people (I.e. us), and whether or not they know they’re Black (yes, I said Black -- remember the name of this blog is ECLECTICALLY BLACK).

3): On the flip side of this statement, however, there are some of our youth I wholeheartedly endorse, including Ms. Latrice Monique Walker, who is running for District Leader in Brooklyn, NY. I’m lifting her name because she has demonstrated her wisdom and involvement far beyond her age. She is one who can be called a continuity between veteran experience and the new breed.

Another area that materially affects our lives has to do with the court system. With Judge Sylvia Ash stepping up from the Court of Appeals tothe Supreme Court, there is evidence that supporting her will not only be a vote for our own self interests, but for fairness and parity for a change. Judge Ash, who has been a constant figure in the community, whether it's about raising funds to help Haitians effected by the earthquake or other nefarious conditions, or at the myriad of community based functions throughout Brooklyn, has ably and effectively served to community; and no doubt will be able to do more if we do the right thing and elevate her to Supreme Court Justice.

I would also like to lift the name of New York City Councilman Al Vann, who passed the baton as District Leader to Robert Cornegy, a young brother who had actually run against him in a bid for his seat on the City Council last year. Rather than deeming him an enemy, Councilman Vann looked at his strengths, sincerity, and experience, and passed the baton on to Mr. Cornegy, who now serves as the district leader, saving a considerable amount of expense and rancor.

Which also addresses another issue about age and length of service. Former Congressman the Rev. Floyd Flake, upon stepping down from Congress to head Allen AME Church in Queens, passed the baton to Gregory Meeks, to serve the balance of his unexpired term. Meeks did so admirably, and upon running for re-election, made it clear that his policies may or may not be the same as Flakes -- I.e., he was no carbon copy -- but that he had the well being of Queens at heart. He has done well in his leadership, thus proving Flake’s choice was a good one.

4): Don’t believe mainstream media’s hostile headline hype. It’s sad that, in this day and age, racism, yellow journalism and character assassination are alive and well and living in Fox News and other racist publications. We are being bombarded with garbage news about Congressman Rangel and others that would have us think that he has suddenly grown two heads and a tail. I’m not saying the Congressman is perfect, but I am saying that the vilification he has suffered is racist and extreme. As you go in to vote, remember that. Remember that the concept is to divide the Black community with innuendo, trickery, lies and deceit. It is to defame the Congressman so that we become confused about who he is in juxtaposition to who we are.

Also remember that the same vilification he is suffering after having taken the helm of the House Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful committee in Congress, is the same thing that happened to Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., his predecessor. The whites know that this is the most powerful position, and they went after him with a vengeance. Also make sure if he is re-elected, that he is reinstated with full honors, roles and responsibility. It appears that the so-called ethics committee only comes into effect when we are in positions of power -- very seldom when Caucasians have “strayed” from the line.

Likewise, when it comes to effectiveness, anyone who doubts the effectiveness of Congressman Edolphus Towns, has not been paying attention to the housing issues, and the greedy attempts to deprive Brooklyn - all of New York for that matter -- of affordable housing. It was Congressman Towns that saved Starett City from being sold to private developers who wanted to turn it into overpriced condominium developments. Because of Towns, Mitchell - Lama legislations have been extended an additional 25 years. Under his watch, legislation to preserve homes that were going under water due to overpriced mortgages have been passed. You need to be very cognizant of who is doing what for you. Fancy words and dog and pony shows don’t ge the job done.

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, along with Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, has been instrumental, likewise, in getting legislation passed to transform overpriced, abandoned condominiums in Brooklyn, into affordable homes. No easy feat when greedy developers were trying to get undeserved breaks from the banks, Washington and other entities. Condominiums built on the foundations of Black neighborhoods that were once thriving in Brooklyn, will once again be returned to the hardworking people who deserve them most. So consider those issues when you go to the polls.

5): Finally, if you don’t get out and vote, you have absolutely no right to complain about anything. They are nickering and diming us to death in New York City, thanks to Bloomberg and his miscreants. We have witnessed rising costs and lower quality in transportation; bogus criteria in school and educational programs; the lack of will when it comes to dealing with the Wall Streeters who have been part and parcel of the recession New York currently faces. I urge you to carefully consider your choices as you vote. Remember, those who sat home in Brooklyn and did not vote for Bill Thompson for mayor - 20% turn out - who are now bearing the brunt of their negligence -- slow to no buses, more and more services closed or reduced in our communities.

Every time you vote, you have to vote as though your lives depend on it. Because it does. Vote as though you’re voting for Obama, because you are. As constituents you are not only participating in the electoral process, but you are signaling that you expect results from them. And then, make sure you get them. Politics is not a spectator sport, it is a participatory, hands on event.

So today, September 14, 2010 is primary day in New York State. It's in your hands, NYC. See you at the polls.

Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

NACA'S BACK IN BROOKLYN BY POPULAR DEMAND

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

I am so proud to announce that we will be bringing NACA - the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America - back to Brooklyn on Saturday, March 20, for two back to back seminars at the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, 1958 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY

WORKSHOP I
The HOME SAVE SEMINAR from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, for those who are facing foreclosure or who are suffering from toxic mortgages. This workshop is specifically tailored for you to begin the process of providing you with counseling services and having your mortgages completely restructured.

WORKSHOP II
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM will be specifically tailored for those who are looking to own their own home, and who are in need of the down payment, closing costs and mortgage to do so.

Participation in the workshop is mandatory to access NACA’s services, so participants are required to be there for the entire length of time. Of course, those who are facing emergency situations with their mortgages should bring their paperwork with them.

It is recommended that you go on line and sign up with NACA in advance, get your unique I.D. number ahead of time. While NACA provides free books, it is advised that you bring a notebook and be prepared to take notes. The concept is to educate you while assisting you, so this is not a passive process, but a participatory process.

Participating in NACA’s training is mandatory. NACA is very strict in their formulation of helping people maintain affordable mortgages - they have to be; otherwise the problem becomes a recurring one. Concomitant with their foreclosure prevention program is their home buyer program, which provides first time home buyers with “the best mortgage,” which includes free down payment and closing costs, as well as a mortgage that is 1% below the current prime rate. The services are for primary residential purchases of 1-4 family homes - you must live in the home you purchase. It is not for investors. NACA's programs are predicated on an informed and prepared consumer. The mandatory two-hour workshop that NACA requires their clients to participate in before they provide any service to them.

NACA’s East Coast Regional Director, Ben Codjoe, and Newark, NJ Directors Kerrey Campbell and Darwin Munroe, in conjunction with the offices of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s, Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries, Annette Robinson, Nick Perry, Frank Boyland, Jr., Councilmember Al Vann, and the cooperation and support of Wayne Devonish, Executive Director of the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, are working to provide a permanent NACA office in Brooklyn, NY.

The last time we presented NACA in Brooklyn, it was a bitter cold Saturday, January 2, 2010 - the day after New Years! 700 Brooklynites and people from other communities braved the intense cold to come to participate in the first phase of a comprehensive foreclosure and mortgage restructuring program. So intent were these families to be part of the program, many actually started arriving at 7:00 AM. The temperature was 16 degrees!!  Fortunately for them, the Boys and Girls High security and custodial staff did not force them to suffer outside, but let them in to wait in the warmth of the auditorium. Fortunately, (hopefully) the week end of March 20 (the day before my birthday, March 21) will be beautiful, sunny and balmy.

It's a prelude to what used to be called the homebuying season. There are many "bargains" to be had now that the prices are beginning to come back down to reality, and the interest rates are low. You can actually purchase a home where the mortgage will be the same or less than your rent. This is the time to gather yourselves, family members, friends, and be there to take proper (notice I said proper) advantage of these opportunities to actually own a home that you can afford, live in and enjoy. NACA also controls your interactions with realtors to ensure you are receiving appropriate service in finding an affordable home, and are not being steered by some realtor into a purchase that is more motivated by their commission check than by your ongoing ability to pay and remain in your home. A prepared consumer is a successful consumer. So come out, learn to purchase a home the "NACA" way, and join the ranks of those who are becoming a force for good in your community, your neighborhood, your borough.

NACA was formed 23 years ago to address the then predatory practices that homebuyers faced in Boston, MA. Bruce Marks, at that time a union leader, began leading union members against banks that were guilty of redlining or charging overly high interest rates for homes in certain neighborhoods. Their success in forcing banks to provide equitable services through guerilla methods has saved thousands of homes, and has provided even more opportunities for low and moderate income hardworking Americans to be home owners. However, their program is neither based on income or credit rating. The premise is to control the cost of the property, to make sure the home is the primary residence and affordable.

Tensions that usually arise amongst individuals and families because of being victimized, are mitigated. The counselors from NACA make them realize that all have been ripped off by an uncaring system; that turning on each other does not resolve the problems.  The inordinate amount of cooperation to remedy toxic mortgages will be done as a community, as neighbors, not as adversaries. Divide and conquer has been the ruin of so many good intentions. NACA brings the cooperation, coordination, muscle, money and empowerment to help Main Streeters regardless of whether it’s saving or purchasing a home.

Of course the goal is to establish a permanent NACA Office in Brooklyn, NY. Currently the closest NACA center is in Newark, New Jersey,  in the Robert Treatt Hotel, 50 Park Place (next door to NJPAC).  It’s been there for nearly 10 years.  Needless to say they are inundated.  They are literally handling two states -- New York and New Jersey.  There are also three NACA Centers in Connecticut, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, DC.

For twenty-three years NACA has been in existence and has been in the service of fighting for people who have been ripped off by predatory lenders, red lined by banks, or whose mortgages started off low and ended up totally toxic.  NACA is a HUD approved non-profit organization.

To view the interviews with the participants at Boys and Girls High, NACA or the Javitts December Home Save workshop, log on to ON THE SPOT, www.onthespot.com.  For further detailed information on NACA, log on to www.naca.com. 

As new events are brought to the community, you can also check out this blog, gloria-dulan-Wilson.blogspot.com.  Make sure you spread the word and keep the knowledge going and growing. If you have recommendations or knowledge of other programs that would be beneficial to the Eclectically Black community, please feel free send it to us on the blog. We look forward to hearing from you.

Again, NACA in Brooklyn, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Bed-Stuy Multi-Services Center Auditorium, 1958 Fulton Street, between Ralph and Howard. Take the A/C train to Ralph Ave., the B 25 Bus to Ralph and Howard Stop. See you there.

Stay Blessed &
ECLETICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson