It is so great to be greeting you on the other
side of 2020 - now in 2021 and to look back at all we've done over the
past year.
We've so much to be thankful for - we have a new President
in the personage of Joe Biden! We have the first ever female,
African
American Vice President, and HBCU graduate, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha - one of the
most prestigious Sororities, Kamala Harris!
Lincoln University has been the recipient of
one of the largest and most generous contributions from a single
individual in the amount of $20 Million Dollars - as a marvelous
pre-Christmas gift.
How wonderful and how exciting.
And most important and significant of all is
the fact that, WE, over 15,000 Lincoln University Alumni, came
together to protect and reinstate our beloved Alumna and President, Dr.
Brenda Allen from the assaults and nefarious machinations of a Board of mis-trustees who had gone off the rails and had put personal interest
and greed ahead of the best interest of our Alma Mater!
Our unity, our devotion, our dedication let to our
ultimate defeat of their efforts, and the triumphant return of Dr. Brenda Allen to her righteous place as President of Lincoln. This is both epic and heroic.
Without her at the helm, none of the foregoing would have happened. And because of her, we are rising in the realm of HBCUs.
Without her love and dedication for Lincoln
University, we would not have come through the Covid Pandemic and given
hundreds of freshmen students, as well as upper class students the vital
education they need, and set them on their paths to continued
greatness.
So, starting the year off right, the AALUPA is
hosting Dr. Brenda Allen as our guest of honor for our first meeting of
2021 - Virtually, of course. We'd all collectively love to give her a
big hug and a show of gratitude for all she's done to and for Lincoln.
However, since that's not possible, we're asking everyone to kick in a
contribution so we can present her with a special gift.
We'd set a goal
of $3,000 - but also realize that this has been a tough year all
around. So we're asking you to please be as generous as
you possibly
can so that we can demonstrate our love and appreciation for Dr. Allen.
Click on the link below to join JANUARY 28 AALUPA MEETING WITH DR. BRENDA ALLEN HERE:
As
I am sure you are well aware, Philadelphia has the largest number of
Lincoln Alumni living in and around the city.
At least 6,000 of you
make up the population - not to mention those in the surrounding
communities and counties.
We all owe Lincoln so much for what we've
accomplish and what we've yet to accomplish, and it would be truly
embarrassing to know that you had the opportunity to contribute to your
Alma Mater in some small or significant way and didn't do so.
It's
obvious that the awareness of the contributions of HBCUs to the quality
of life and the very fabric of this nation is being recognized. But
what would it look like if those who actually attended those very HBCUs -
especially our Alma Mater, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
the first ever degree
granting University in the world - did not make it our priority to
support and make our contributions.
For an update on recent events that have transpired at LINCOLN U visit our website (aalu-philachapter.org).
In
the meantime, make sure you sign up for the meeting and mark your
calendars for Thursday, January 28, 2021 7:30 PM for our first Alumni
Meeting of 2021.
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH FELLOW ALUMNS AND MAKE SURE THEY LOG ON TO THE LINKAND BE FRONT AND CENTER FOR THE MEETING
As many of you know, I've been a feature writer, interviewer, commentator and photojournalist for quite some time. Over the years I've written for and about the great and near great, sung and unsung Black men in our community - some were leaders, others regular brothers and sisters who were trying to make a difference.
I've done interviews, personality profiles, breaking stories, celebratory articles, obituaries, and have basically done it for the love of it, for the most part - because I do love my brothers and sisters, and I know that the mean stream white media will either distort, misinterpret, or completely overlook who we are and what we do.
Every year I go cover the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington DC from a "lay person's perspective, because the decisions and efforts on the part of our Black elected officials are important to us all.
Most of this has been unpaid. Not that I didn't want to be paid, but the Black publications I write for don't have the budget to afford such services; so I've basically footed the bill on my own. Rather than than not have the information made available so you can be kept abreast of what matters to us as a people.
I've always considered my writing a gift and a blessing; and am proud to be able to tell our story. And still do, but this year - 2013 - has been the toughest year of my life - emotionally, losing my husband, Lou Wilson on January 7, 2013; and the rest was kind of like a domino effect from that point on, spiritually, physically, mentally and financially - I am at the point where I have more month than money - or zero dollars and zero cents.
Empower4U
The Black Report Thanks for your donations and support - GDW
This means I can't pay for my internet, my cell phone bill, replace the camera that died on me - yes the one I use to take those great photos of you when you're getting that award, or making that speech. Transportation to and from events have become a challenge, as well.
I don't like to borrow money from friends or anybody for that matter without a clear pathway of how and when I'm going to be able to pay it back. That's the sure way to lose friends. It goes without saying that there has to be a tipping point, and I've come pretty close to it.
Of course, if I win the Mega Millions, obtain an a sugar daddy, a sponsor, or a rich relative suddenly leaves me a major inheritance, or a position that pays me a decent enough salary, I can live a normal life like the rest of my peers. And don't think I'm not working on all the above - because I am. However, at this point, none of them have materialized.
I hate the word "struggle" the concept is one that I've avoided because it's a perpetuation of a negative situation. I've been in prayer and mediation, visualization, and all the other metaphysical approaches; checked my belief systems, my forgiveness patterns, so I think I'm good there. But the money just hasn't manifested.
When I put the "Donate" button on my blog (and you would have been so proud of computer illiterate me - it took me hours to figure out how to do that), I thought, my readers will see this and want to make a donation because they really value my writing. It's actually tied into PayPal, and is tax deductible. And I do get some really great feedback from you. However, even though I put a little caption at the bottom: "Thanks for your contribution and support - GDW" so far, nobody has done so. WoW!
And since I'm constantly assailed with solicitations from all over the world, who state their case so eloquently, before asking for a donation, I began to realize that maybe I haven't stated my case eloquently enough, and that's probably why you overlook the donation button; or you say maybe next time; or you thing, I don't have enough to donate now, I'll do it later. Believe me, I do understand - I've had the same thoughts myself when it comes to Move On, eCares, the DNC, and others whom I have supported in the past.
The donation can be as little as $3.00 to $5.00. And that will make a world of difference to me. Of course, if you want to send more, that would be wonderful, as well. In either case, I totally appreciate your generosity in keeping the wolf away from my door. And believe me, he's been howling quite loudly lately. If you contribute $5.00, I can actually make it through to 2014 solvent, instead of a net negative in my account, and put some food on my table.
At the end of each of my articles I always close with "Stay Blessed" because we are each put here to be a blessing to each other; so we are already blessed - it is our job to stay blessed.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Have a wonderful holiday.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
