Just one day after panelists on both sides of the charter surrender debate aired their differences on WREG-TV, News Channel 3, Memphis City Schools board commissioner Tomeka Hart and Shelby County Schools board president David Pickler tried themselves to separate fact from fiction in the ongoing charter surrender brouhaha in a one-on-one televised debate Wednesday on WMC-TV, Channel 5.
The format of this debate was different. Hart and Pickler each stood at a podium on a stage at Mid-town's Playhouse on the Square and answered pointed questions that were culled from the general public, with moderators, Channel 5's Joe Birch and Ursula Madden, fielding them to the debaters.
Since MCS voted Dec. 20 to surrender its charter, and now that a referendum is set March 8 for city voters to decide if they want the Shelby County Board of Education to absorb MCS, questions still abound. Will the merger work? What is the motivation?
Hart and Pickler sought to answer some of those questions in a sparring match that either clarified their position on charter surrender or confused those still looking for answers. A sample of some of the questions, answers and rebuttals is printed below:
Question: As a representative of the Memphis City Schools board, why do you think surrendering the charter and forcing consolation will work?
Hart: It's really important to understand how we got here. The Memphis City School board didn't ask to be here. We were actually responding ... to an action by the Shelby County Schools to create a special school district. That has been kind of lost in the conversation ... the creation of a special school district SCS has been fighting for 10 years. Memphis has been able to fight it legislatively, but that battle changed in November 2010. Shelby County made it clear that they were going to aggressively push for a special school district. So in order to stop that was a motion to surrender our charter.
Pickler (rebuttal): Once again, we have a disagreement on this issue. Actually, it goes back as far back as 1990. Because in 1990, the city school board first considered the option of surrendering their charter. By only a vote of 5-4 did that fail. That you may recall when people in suburban Shelby County even talked about the concept of creating Neshoba County. For 20 years, the Shelby County Board of Education has fought to try to avert a surrender, a hostile surrender, by Memphis City school board by creating special school district status.
Q: What was the original motivation for seeking special status for the Shelby County School district?
Pickler: What we've been looking for over the past 20 years is an opportunity to maintain the legacy of excellence we've had in Shelby County schools. For five years in a row, we've earned straight A's on the Tennessee Report Card. And we're very proud of that honor. Consider if the shoe was on the other foot. If you were the Memphis City School board and earned straight A's over the past five years and you're looking at the possibility, maybe even the probability, of a hostile takeover by the Shelby County Board of Education, take away all of your control, and the school system in Shelby County that perhaps is failing, and earning some of the lowest grades in the state, that's the situation we've been dealing with. We're one of the highest performing districts in the state. MCS unfortunately has had severe struggles.We're attempting to maintain our independence, autonomy, and that legacy of excellence.
Hart (rebuttal): I always love to hear that fantasy world that Shelby County is such a perfect school system when the truth of the reality ... and you can look at the Tennessee Department of Education Report Card ... there are 15 to 20 points that separate the school systems. Shelby County has no score above 60, and they're considered A's and we have 30s and 40s in MCS. So there's not this large gap that somehow people believe that there are between the two systems. So truthfully, we're both struggling, and it's time that we be for real about that. I don't know what happened in 1990. I wasn't on the school board.
Q: Why should Memphis voters support surrendering the charter when no plan has been put in place to explain it to the public?
Hart: That's the time now to put a plan in place. Mr. Pickler and Shelby County can put a plan in place whenever they choose. There are many people calling for a plan. As a matter of fact, Shelby County is the only body that hasn't agreed to a plan. ... I remind us again that we're responding to an attack. We did not ask to come to this fight. In that response to say we're rushing. Well, we wouldn't be rushing if Mr. Pickler had taken special school district off the table. We wouldn't be here. So he wouldn't do that. So shame on us for fighting back.
Pickler (rebuttal): Our board of education on three separate occasions took the issue of special school district off the table. We said we would not pursue that for a lengthy period of time in order for the two school boards to work together. This board of education in Memphis city had the opportunity to pursue a course of consolidation that wouldn't involve 15 months to two years, to take the time to answer the question, to give the people of the city of Memphis the opportunity to have a plan so that all these unanswered questions would not be before us.
Q: Does the quality of the education receive depends on the board leadership and its organizational structure or demographics of its student body?
Pickler: In both districts, we have very diverse populations. Shelby County Schools has one of the most diverse populations in the state. Over the course of the past 10 years, that diversity has increased. And despite the fact that a number of students are suffering from impoverished conditions, our test scores have done nothing but increased. We believe that having the right kind of curriculum, having the right kind of plan for dedicated teachers, the right kind of leadership and strategic plan, does make a difference.
Hart (rebuttal): If you look at the demographics of Shelby County Schools that look like Memphis -- like Northaven Elementary, Millington High School -- you'll see that their performance mirrors. It is about economic disadvantage and I would like to think it was that simple. But I would ask David to look his own report card on his schools where the demographics mirror Memphis, and look at where Memphis demographics mirror Shelby County and we out-perform and perform as well as they do with those demographics.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
School merger still leaves questions unanswered
After Tuesday's (Jan. 25) school merger debate on WREG-TV, News Channel 3, the proponents who favor the dissolution of Memphis City Schools and the opponents who'd rather keep city schools separate from Shelby County Schools were deadlocked once again over their philosophical differences and a resolution to the stalemate.
What transpired at the debate -- as has happened since MCS board commissioners Tomeka Hart and Martavius Jones first dropped the bombshell to surrender MCS's charter -- still leaves those with a stake in public education in Memphis and Shelby County somewhat confused, even as the March 8 referendum vote nears -- unless they're already for or against SCS taking over the administrative functions from MCS without further nudging.
Once again, SCS board chairman David Pickler made it abundantly clear that non-Memphians won't cower to MCS's "hostile surrender" of its charter without a fight. He joined two others as panelists opposing the charter surrender: Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and Rev. LaSimba Gray, pastor of New Sardis Baptist Church.
On the flip side of the argument, those who support the charter surrender -- panelists City Councilman Shea Flinn, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, and Jones -- argued their point just as mightily that a charter surrender would not be the deathblow to the district's 11,000 teachers and support staff, and its 105,000 students, as it has been rumored.
In a direct question to Pickler, Hardaway asked, "Do you plan to fire 11,000 people on March 9 (if voters pass the referendum on March 8)?"
"That would be a completely irresponsible comment for anyone to make," he said, adding, "It is not our intention to do anything to harm any child in Memphis City Schools. However, we would have to take a look at the economic situation. We would have to see what changes that need to be made."
Although Gray sat relatively quiet on the side with those who oppose the charter surrender, he noted unequivocally that his greatest fear would be the loss of jobs to privatization. "The administrative staff of Memphis City Schools would be in question," he said, including "the initiatives of Dr. (Kriner) Cash."
Pickler said there are fundamental and philosophical differences between the way SCS has operated and the way MCS has operated, such as MCS's in-house custodial workers versus SCS's outsourcing of custodial workers.
He pointed out that SCS has had greater success in the district compared to MCS. "We've had a strategic plan, a tactical plan," he said. "Ten years ago, our school system didn't have the same level of report card as we do now.
"As a district, we have challenges every single day. We have a very significant population within the school district who are economically challenged. We've been able to overcome that by placing our resources in the right areas."
Chris Peck, editor of The Commercial Appeal and one of two questioners, responded to Pickler's assertion with a question: "If you've had this great success with planning in a diverse school district, why wouldn't you be able to build on that success?"
"We've already begun working with the staff of Memphis City Schools to ensure what can be done, will be done," he said, noting that hundreds of questions still need to be answered "and cannot be resolved until it comes up in a court of law."
For example: What would happen to charter schools and optional schools if a merger occurs, since SCS doesn't operate either one? WREG political analyst Otis Sanford asked Jones. "There are opportunities in charter schools. If they are effectively raising student achievement, they can use them in Shelby County. If we're talking about optional schools -- if they're successful -- they can use them in Shelby County."
In a kind of dig at Pickler and SCS's purported success in student achievement based on the district's report card, Jones added, "We're purporting that 55 is exemplary and excellent. To purport to parents and children that you're performing exemplary and you're getting 55 out of 100, we're telling our kids a falsehood."
In back and forth exchanges, Pickler was singled out the most because of his public stance against charter surrender. He has been the most vocal and unswayed by those on the other side seeking dissolution of city schools. He came to the debate with questions too.
"If we are trying to build a unified system and come together for the best interest of all children, then why are we ... denying 30 percent of Shelby County a voice in the process?"
He said suburbia should have a voice in the matter since Shelby County contributes 40 percent of MCS's funding.
Jones responded forthrightly, saying, "Because of the strategy you tried, Mr. Pickler, with 30 percent of Shelby County trying to seek special school district status, you excluded 70 percent of the rest of Shelby County."
Flinn said it all boils down to MCS's right to determine its own fate. "If Germantown chooses to plot a municipal district course, they should have that right of self determination."
He said if Germantown, for example, gets to vote on whether Memphians pay an extra tax, "then I expect to vote on the Germantown mayor. I expect to vote on the Shelby County school board and probably the board of alderman too."
Flinn argued for a unified school district and unified community. "We need to revamp education to make it better for every kid," he said.
Jones was succinct in one of several exchanges with Pickler. "Before Shelby County pursued their separatist effort to create a special school district, we wouldn't have had no need to do this."
What transpired at the debate -- as has happened since MCS board commissioners Tomeka Hart and Martavius Jones first dropped the bombshell to surrender MCS's charter -- still leaves those with a stake in public education in Memphis and Shelby County somewhat confused, even as the March 8 referendum vote nears -- unless they're already for or against SCS taking over the administrative functions from MCS without further nudging.
Once again, SCS board chairman David Pickler made it abundantly clear that non-Memphians won't cower to MCS's "hostile surrender" of its charter without a fight. He joined two others as panelists opposing the charter surrender: Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and Rev. LaSimba Gray, pastor of New Sardis Baptist Church.
On the flip side of the argument, those who support the charter surrender -- panelists City Councilman Shea Flinn, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, and Jones -- argued their point just as mightily that a charter surrender would not be the deathblow to the district's 11,000 teachers and support staff, and its 105,000 students, as it has been rumored.
In a direct question to Pickler, Hardaway asked, "Do you plan to fire 11,000 people on March 9 (if voters pass the referendum on March 8)?"
"That would be a completely irresponsible comment for anyone to make," he said, adding, "It is not our intention to do anything to harm any child in Memphis City Schools. However, we would have to take a look at the economic situation. We would have to see what changes that need to be made."
Although Gray sat relatively quiet on the side with those who oppose the charter surrender, he noted unequivocally that his greatest fear would be the loss of jobs to privatization. "The administrative staff of Memphis City Schools would be in question," he said, including "the initiatives of Dr. (Kriner) Cash."
Pickler said there are fundamental and philosophical differences between the way SCS has operated and the way MCS has operated, such as MCS's in-house custodial workers versus SCS's outsourcing of custodial workers.
He pointed out that SCS has had greater success in the district compared to MCS. "We've had a strategic plan, a tactical plan," he said. "Ten years ago, our school system didn't have the same level of report card as we do now.
"As a district, we have challenges every single day. We have a very significant population within the school district who are economically challenged. We've been able to overcome that by placing our resources in the right areas."
Chris Peck, editor of The Commercial Appeal and one of two questioners, responded to Pickler's assertion with a question: "If you've had this great success with planning in a diverse school district, why wouldn't you be able to build on that success?"
"We've already begun working with the staff of Memphis City Schools to ensure what can be done, will be done," he said, noting that hundreds of questions still need to be answered "and cannot be resolved until it comes up in a court of law."
For example: What would happen to charter schools and optional schools if a merger occurs, since SCS doesn't operate either one? WREG political analyst Otis Sanford asked Jones. "There are opportunities in charter schools. If they are effectively raising student achievement, they can use them in Shelby County. If we're talking about optional schools -- if they're successful -- they can use them in Shelby County."
In a kind of dig at Pickler and SCS's purported success in student achievement based on the district's report card, Jones added, "We're purporting that 55 is exemplary and excellent. To purport to parents and children that you're performing exemplary and you're getting 55 out of 100, we're telling our kids a falsehood."
In back and forth exchanges, Pickler was singled out the most because of his public stance against charter surrender. He has been the most vocal and unswayed by those on the other side seeking dissolution of city schools. He came to the debate with questions too.
"If we are trying to build a unified system and come together for the best interest of all children, then why are we ... denying 30 percent of Shelby County a voice in the process?"
He said suburbia should have a voice in the matter since Shelby County contributes 40 percent of MCS's funding.
Jones responded forthrightly, saying, "Because of the strategy you tried, Mr. Pickler, with 30 percent of Shelby County trying to seek special school district status, you excluded 70 percent of the rest of Shelby County."
Flinn said it all boils down to MCS's right to determine its own fate. "If Germantown chooses to plot a municipal district course, they should have that right of self determination."
He said if Germantown, for example, gets to vote on whether Memphians pay an extra tax, "then I expect to vote on the Germantown mayor. I expect to vote on the Shelby County school board and probably the board of alderman too."
Flinn argued for a unified school district and unified community. "We need to revamp education to make it better for every kid," he said.
Jones was succinct in one of several exchanges with Pickler. "Before Shelby County pursued their separatist effort to create a special school district, we wouldn't have had no need to do this."
Monday, January 3, 2011
Community spotlight: Antonio ‘2 Shay’ Parkinson
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| Antonio "2 Shay" Parkinson, the community leader. |
The pro bono work that Antonio “2 Shay” Parkinson has been doing to revitalize and refresh the Raleigh/Frayser community could pay off if the voters in District 98 elect him to fill the House seat that came up vacant after the Nov. 9 death of state Rep. Ulysses Jones Jr.
But Parkinson, however, is not looking for a payday for the work that he'd been doing in the community anyway for at least six years. Instead, his love for community and its people most likely were determinants in availing himself for community service on a legislative level. Known for his humble spirit, he had to be convinced nonetheless to seek the House seat.
Four other candidates are seeking the interim appointment as well, but the Shelby County Commission on Dec. 20 decided to defer the vote until the next commission meeting on Jan. 25, five days after the special primary election on Jan. 20. The general election is March 8. Despite the month-long wait, Parkinson said he is running full speed ahead to replace Jones, a mentor and legislative stalwart.
“I had no intentions of running at first,” said Parkinson, 42, who was bombarded with phone calls from District 98 constituents, pastors, and elected officials to pursue the House seat. He’d mulled over the opportunity to become a lawmaker in the Tennessee House of Representatives and decided that a nod from the commission, or a vote from district voters, would advance his calling in community service.
Parkinson, a firefighter at station 61 on Macon Road, doesn’t consider himself a politician, though. However, in the October 2007 municipal election, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Memphis City Council from District 1 and placed third behind first-place finisher Democrat Stephanie Gatewood, currently a Memphis City Schools board member who is seeking the House seat herself. She lost to Bill Morrison that year in the November run-off.
Gatewood, 39, also is mounting a campaign for the seat that Jones had won 13 consecutive times, including the last one on Nov. 2. Three others seeking the House seat are Democrats Brenda Oats-Williams, 50, an attorney; retired teacher Jannie C. Foster; and Nicholas Pegues, a Shelby County Election Commission employee and Republican Party board member. Pegues doesn’t plan to run for a full-term if he gets the interim job.
Parkinson said Jones was a mentor whom he had watched with admiration on the House floor when then-governor Phil Bredesen gave his last State of the Union Address. “I watched him in action. He was a powerful legislator,” he said.
Now Parkinson has the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the late lawmaker who provided moral and financial support for a number of projects dear to Parkinson’s heart, which helped to catapult him in the Raleigh/Frayser community as the quintessential community servant.
“I’m a community leader that wants to find a way to bridge communities,” he said. “None of the successes that we’ve had was because of one person doing all the work. Everything that we’ve been successful at comes because we’ve been able to create collaborations.”
A voice in Raleigh...
The Raleigh/Frayser community is more than Parkinson’s stumping ground, or base of operation. It is a community on the precipice of change because of a number of initiatives that Parkinson has launched and cultivated. He has been the voice of Raleigh for a number of years now, speaking forthrightly for residents, promoting economic development, and leading the charge to restore the community’s vigor and worth.
First, he launched ABetterMemphis.com, a web page that soon morphed into a nonprofit organization with a board of directors and six primary functions: 1) web site, 2) community association, 3) business association, 4) promotions and marketing, 5) events, and 6) voter education.
“ABetterMemphis.com started out as a Web page where people could talk about their likes and dislikes, their challenges. The page was successful and grew exponentially. So we started building on the brand,” said Parkinson.
“The sole purpose of all of these [functions] together is to make the community viable and competitive. The plan was to create a community-organizing template that could be moved to other communities.”
The organization’s mission, he said, is to empower the community through education, organization and advocacy. So why launch a community organization? “A lot of people moved to Cordova and other places. I don’t believe you should have to run away from your community. Your home should be transformed into a comfortable place.”
With ABetterMemphis.com in full swing, Parkinson, the “volunteer” executive director, began organizing community events, candidate forums, and town hall meetings. And if that wasn’t enough, he launched the following offshoots:
• The Voice of Raleigh and Frayser Community Action Network, a membership association of businesses and residents collaborating to maintain, enhance, protect and preserve the community and its property value.
• The Raleigh Fire Victims Fund & Donation Center, a fund drive started after seven family members lost their lives in a fire at Avery Park Apts. The fund provided donations of household items and helped to defray funeral expenses;
•Toys in the Garden (which soon became Toys for Tatts), an annual event first started in the Horton Gardens public housing complex in Northaven that provides toys for children at Christmas;
•The Fresh Starts Community Baby Shower, an annual event promoting healthy pregnancies and lifestyle awareness as it pertains to infant mortality in zip codes 38108, 38127 and 38128. The venue: Breath of Life Christian Center.
• The Harvest Ball, an annual fundraiser to benefit other nonprofits in the community with a mission to empower the citizenry of Memphis. It is held at the Raleigh Springs Mall at 3334 Austin Peay Hwy., and;
• The Block Party for Peace, an annual event Memorial Day weekend, also at the Raleigh Springs Mall, that promotes peace, empowerment and opportunities for employment, education and health within Memphis and the surrounding areas. It is a three-day jobs fair, college fair and health fair.
• Board member of Methodist North Community Advisory Council. Facilitator of the Partnership Program between Methodist North Hospital and Craigmont High School to give students an opportunity to shadow and intern with health industry professionals.
“I’m humble that we’ve been successful,” said Parkinson. “People can see the difference and the movement inside of the Raleigh and Frayser communities.”
Parkinson’s crowning achievement to date may be the re-branding and revitalization of Raleigh Springs Mall. “The mall is the largest commercial retail space in the whole Northwest region of the Memphis Metro market,” he says. “What we want to do is make sure that the mall has its proper place.”
The mall (built in 1971) is nearly, or at least, 100 percent occupied, said Parkinson, owing some of the mall’s success to the partnership with ABetterMemphis.com. The organization will set up headquarters, along with other businesses, in 6,000 square feet of office space.
“ABetterMemphis.com is working with the mall (in marketing, media and events), but not necessarily on the mall’s payroll,” Parkinson said. “It’s within the mission of A Better Memphis that the mall survives, flourishes and grows in the Raleigh community. Whatever we can do to make those businesses flourish, that’s what we do. The mall's success is our success.”
About Raleigh...
Since the economy has nose-dived over the years, the Raleigh community, like others, is making strides to right itself economically. According to the Web site About.com, the population of Raleigh is 43,000. The median age is 29.6 years; median household income, $39,217; and average home value, $101.068.
Raleigh is located in the northeast section of Memphis and bordered by Egypt Central on the North, Interstate 40 on the South, Old Brownsville and Sycamore View Roads on the East, and New Allen/Warford Road on the West.
So the revitalization of Raleigh continues.
“ABetterMemphis.com started out as a Web page where people could talk about their likes and dislikes, their challenges. The page was successful and grew exponentially. So we started building on the brand,” said Parkinson.
“The sole purpose of all of these [functions] together is to make the community viable and competitive. The plan was to create a community-organizing template that could be moved to other communities.”
The organization’s mission, he said, is to empower the community through education, organization and advocacy. So why launch a community organization? “A lot of people moved to Cordova and other places. I don’t believe you should have to run away from your community. Your home should be transformed into a comfortable place.”
With ABetterMemphis.com in full swing, Parkinson, the “volunteer” executive director, began organizing community events, candidate forums, and town hall meetings. And if that wasn’t enough, he launched the following offshoots:
• The Voice of Raleigh and Frayser Community Action Network, a membership association of businesses and residents collaborating to maintain, enhance, protect and preserve the community and its property value.
• The Raleigh Fire Victims Fund & Donation Center, a fund drive started after seven family members lost their lives in a fire at Avery Park Apts. The fund provided donations of household items and helped to defray funeral expenses;
•Toys in the Garden (which soon became Toys for Tatts), an annual event first started in the Horton Gardens public housing complex in Northaven that provides toys for children at Christmas;
•The Fresh Starts Community Baby Shower, an annual event promoting healthy pregnancies and lifestyle awareness as it pertains to infant mortality in zip codes 38108, 38127 and 38128. The venue: Breath of Life Christian Center.
• The Harvest Ball, an annual fundraiser to benefit other nonprofits in the community with a mission to empower the citizenry of Memphis. It is held at the Raleigh Springs Mall at 3334 Austin Peay Hwy., and;
• The Block Party for Peace, an annual event Memorial Day weekend, also at the Raleigh Springs Mall, that promotes peace, empowerment and opportunities for employment, education and health within Memphis and the surrounding areas. It is a three-day jobs fair, college fair and health fair.
• Board member of Methodist North Community Advisory Council. Facilitator of the Partnership Program between Methodist North Hospital and Craigmont High School to give students an opportunity to shadow and intern with health industry professionals.
“I’m humble that we’ve been successful,” said Parkinson. “People can see the difference and the movement inside of the Raleigh and Frayser communities.”
Parkinson’s crowning achievement to date may be the re-branding and revitalization of Raleigh Springs Mall. “The mall is the largest commercial retail space in the whole Northwest region of the Memphis Metro market,” he says. “What we want to do is make sure that the mall has its proper place.”
The mall (built in 1971) is nearly, or at least, 100 percent occupied, said Parkinson, owing some of the mall’s success to the partnership with ABetterMemphis.com. The organization will set up headquarters, along with other businesses, in 6,000 square feet of office space.
“ABetterMemphis.com is working with the mall (in marketing, media and events), but not necessarily on the mall’s payroll,” Parkinson said. “It’s within the mission of A Better Memphis that the mall survives, flourishes and grows in the Raleigh community. Whatever we can do to make those businesses flourish, that’s what we do. The mall's success is our success.”
About Raleigh...
Since the economy has nose-dived over the years, the Raleigh community, like others, is making strides to right itself economically. According to the Web site About.com, the population of Raleigh is 43,000. The median age is 29.6 years; median household income, $39,217; and average home value, $101.068.
Raleigh is located in the northeast section of Memphis and bordered by Egypt Central on the North, Interstate 40 on the South, Old Brownsville and Sycamore View Roads on the East, and New Allen/Warford Road on the West.
So the revitalization of Raleigh continues.
If Parkinson should be appointed or elected to fill Ulysses Jones Jr.’s House seat in District 98, “the first thing on my agenda will be jobs -- employment, employment, employment. My top three priorities are jobs, economic development and education.”
If not, he said the mission of ABetterMemphis.com is just the same: jobs, economic development and education. “An educated workforce, I think, is vitally important to North Memphis and Shelby County.”
About Antonio ‘2 Shay’ Parkinson...
Parkinson has lived in Memphis since leaving the United States Marine Corp. in 1990. He served four and a half years and exited honorably with the rank of corporal. In fact, it was a drill instructor, he said, who nicknamed him “2 Shay,” which came from a cartoon character called “Touche' the Turtle.”
Born in Oakland, Calif., Parkinson spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles and finished high school in Port Arthur, Texas. He is married and has two biological children and three step children ages 24-6, all girls. He has been a fireman for 21 years with the Shelby County Fire Department. His rank: lieutenant.
He is the president of The Voice of Raleigh and Frayser Community Action Network, former president of Frayser Exchange Club, former vice president of the Raleigh Community Council, and past chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission.
He also is an active member of Breath of Life Christian Center.
(A version of this story was first published in the Raleigh community newsletter, "It's All About Raleigh.")
If not, he said the mission of ABetterMemphis.com is just the same: jobs, economic development and education. “An educated workforce, I think, is vitally important to North Memphis and Shelby County.”
About Antonio ‘2 Shay’ Parkinson...
Parkinson has lived in Memphis since leaving the United States Marine Corp. in 1990. He served four and a half years and exited honorably with the rank of corporal. In fact, it was a drill instructor, he said, who nicknamed him “2 Shay,” which came from a cartoon character called “Touche' the Turtle.”
Born in Oakland, Calif., Parkinson spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles and finished high school in Port Arthur, Texas. He is married and has two biological children and three step children ages 24-6, all girls. He has been a fireman for 21 years with the Shelby County Fire Department. His rank: lieutenant.
He is the president of The Voice of Raleigh and Frayser Community Action Network, former president of Frayser Exchange Club, former vice president of the Raleigh Community Council, and past chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission.
He also is an active member of Breath of Life Christian Center.
(A version of this story was first published in the Raleigh community newsletter, "It's All About Raleigh.")
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Destination Iraq: 'I knew what I was getting into'
On Aug. 31, President Barack Obama declared an end to combat operations in Iraq seven years after more than 4,400 U.S. troops loss their lives in a gung-ho war effort that left an ill-fated country in tatters and the American people grappling with a recessive economy and coping with political infighting.
It's "time to turn the page," said President Obama, making good on a campaign pledge to draw down tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Iraq. Despite the number of battle-weary troops returning home to their families, there are others preparing to deploy in what has been dubbed "Operation Iraq: Enduring Freedom."
Six U.S. Army reservists from Memphis are part of that number receiving orders to report to Iraq after a 20-day training period ends at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Fort McCoy is a 60,000-acre military installation where reservists and active-component military personnel from all branches are trained.
Sgt. Eric Heard, Sgt. Courtney Prewitt, Spec. Stephen Cowart, Sgt. Lecarto Pendleton, Pfc. Derrick Smith, and Spec. Benito Casino Henry Jr. will report for training on Dec. 31 and afterward spend up to a year in Iraq. They will be leaving with the 380th Engineering Battalion from Greenville, Miss.
"We were involuntarily transferred (from the 441st Engineering Battalion in Millington) for mobilization to go help them in Mississippi," said Henry, 28, who is spending the time that's left with his wife, Renetta Williams-Henry, 27, and their children, Reiahnna Sanaa Henry, 3, and Braylen Carlito Henry, 2; and Henry's children prior to marriage, Bre'Niesha La'Sheala Henry, 5, and Benito Henry III, 3.
"I'm trying to spend as much time with my family as I can," said Henry, who married Renetta more than two years ago. "We don't know how long we're going to be over there."
Once the reservists are processed, they'll be apprised of their mission. For now, Henry, who has served with the 380th one weekend each month since May, doesn't know what the mission entails or where he might end up once he and the others set foot on Iraqi soil.
"Operation Iraqi Freedom" began March 20, 2003. Since then, sectarian violence, along with the threat from al Qaeda, continued to mar the country even after former president George W. Bush called an end to combat operations aboard the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
"Mission accomplished," Bush declared then. But the war lingered on.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes on its Web site various hazardous exposures that U.S. troops had encountered, or can expect, during their tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, another country withering from violence and internal combustion.
Some of those hazards include: (1) Burn pits: smoke exposure from dioxin, hydrocarbons, ash, etc.; (2) CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating System), burning paint from military vehicles; (3) Contaminated water that could cause cancer; (4) Exposure to cold and heat; (5) Depleted Uranium, which causes any number of illnesses; (6) Infectious diseases, such as Brucellosis, Malaria, Shigella, Nontyphoid Salamonella, which cause cancer and other ailments; and (7) Toxic embedded fragments from bullets and shrapnel.
"All I got to do is trust in who I'm trusting and return home with all my fingers, toes, and all that," said Henry, referring to his faith in God. "That's what I signed up for. So I can't complain. When I signed that contract, I knew what I was getting into."
Renetta didn't have an inkling of what war looks like in Iraq and Afghanistan, for that matter, until the images were continuously being flashed across the television screen. But when Benito broke the news several months ago that he was being deployed, "I was in denial. Then I felt numb and angry."
No one really knows what is going on over in Iraq, she said -- not even Benito.Then she asked herself: "What are we fighting for? Why does he have to be gone for so long? He has a family."
The questions keep coming to Renetta. And she doesn't have the answers. What will she tell the children in their father's absence? "They'll going to ask about their daddy," she said. "So I'll just tell them that he's at work."
Renetta works two jobs and plans to quit them as soon as Benito and the 380th are deployed. "I'm planning to spend the time with my children and stepchildren. They'll already miss one parent. I don't want them to miss both of us by me being at work."
Benito expects to finish the mission by February 2012. Then he'll return to Memphis once again as an Army reservist. Until then, he'll be on active duty status, beginning Dec. 31. "After 180 days of active duty, I'll be considered a veteran with benefits," he said. "I'll have more days than that. Then I'll have more money and benefits to take care of my family."
Renetta, more than anything, would prefer her husband to stay home.
It's "time to turn the page," said President Obama, making good on a campaign pledge to draw down tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Iraq. Despite the number of battle-weary troops returning home to their families, there are others preparing to deploy in what has been dubbed "Operation Iraq: Enduring Freedom."
Six U.S. Army reservists from Memphis are part of that number receiving orders to report to Iraq after a 20-day training period ends at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Fort McCoy is a 60,000-acre military installation where reservists and active-component military personnel from all branches are trained.
Sgt. Eric Heard, Sgt. Courtney Prewitt, Spec. Stephen Cowart, Sgt. Lecarto Pendleton, Pfc. Derrick Smith, and Spec. Benito Casino Henry Jr. will report for training on Dec. 31 and afterward spend up to a year in Iraq. They will be leaving with the 380th Engineering Battalion from Greenville, Miss.
"We were involuntarily transferred (from the 441st Engineering Battalion in Millington) for mobilization to go help them in Mississippi," said Henry, 28, who is spending the time that's left with his wife, Renetta Williams-Henry, 27, and their children, Reiahnna Sanaa Henry, 3, and Braylen Carlito Henry, 2; and Henry's children prior to marriage, Bre'Niesha La'Sheala Henry, 5, and Benito Henry III, 3.
"I'm trying to spend as much time with my family as I can," said Henry, who married Renetta more than two years ago. "We don't know how long we're going to be over there."
Once the reservists are processed, they'll be apprised of their mission. For now, Henry, who has served with the 380th one weekend each month since May, doesn't know what the mission entails or where he might end up once he and the others set foot on Iraqi soil.
"Operation Iraqi Freedom" began March 20, 2003. Since then, sectarian violence, along with the threat from al Qaeda, continued to mar the country even after former president George W. Bush called an end to combat operations aboard the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
"Mission accomplished," Bush declared then. But the war lingered on.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes on its Web site various hazardous exposures that U.S. troops had encountered, or can expect, during their tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, another country withering from violence and internal combustion.
Some of those hazards include: (1) Burn pits: smoke exposure from dioxin, hydrocarbons, ash, etc.; (2) CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating System), burning paint from military vehicles; (3) Contaminated water that could cause cancer; (4) Exposure to cold and heat; (5) Depleted Uranium, which causes any number of illnesses; (6) Infectious diseases, such as Brucellosis, Malaria, Shigella, Nontyphoid Salamonella, which cause cancer and other ailments; and (7) Toxic embedded fragments from bullets and shrapnel.
"All I got to do is trust in who I'm trusting and return home with all my fingers, toes, and all that," said Henry, referring to his faith in God. "That's what I signed up for. So I can't complain. When I signed that contract, I knew what I was getting into."
Renetta didn't have an inkling of what war looks like in Iraq and Afghanistan, for that matter, until the images were continuously being flashed across the television screen. But when Benito broke the news several months ago that he was being deployed, "I was in denial. Then I felt numb and angry."
No one really knows what is going on over in Iraq, she said -- not even Benito.Then she asked herself: "What are we fighting for? Why does he have to be gone for so long? He has a family."
The questions keep coming to Renetta. And she doesn't have the answers. What will she tell the children in their father's absence? "They'll going to ask about their daddy," she said. "So I'll just tell them that he's at work."
Renetta works two jobs and plans to quit them as soon as Benito and the 380th are deployed. "I'm planning to spend the time with my children and stepchildren. They'll already miss one parent. I don't want them to miss both of us by me being at work."
Benito expects to finish the mission by February 2012. Then he'll return to Memphis once again as an Army reservist. Until then, he'll be on active duty status, beginning Dec. 31. "After 180 days of active duty, I'll be considered a veteran with benefits," he said. "I'll have more days than that. Then I'll have more money and benefits to take care of my family."
Renetta, more than anything, would prefer her husband to stay home.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A brass note and Handy Award for Memphis' own
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| Lewie Steinberg was on hand Sunday evening along with other members of the family for the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame induction ceremony honoring the legendary Steinberg family, which included Milton, Nan, Morris, Luther, Wilbur, Martha Jean and Diane. (Photo by Wiley Henry) |
Add to that list the names of three more legendary entertainers who were inducted into the 2010-11 Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame this past weekend. The Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame was founded in 1986 to honor those whose musical contributions had largely gone unnoticed.
The induction ceremony for influential pop group Big Star was held Saturday, Nov. 13, inside of B.B. King’s Blues Club. The group was formed in Memphis in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. After an early breakup and personnel changes, Big Star reemerged in 1993 and continues to influence the music of other artists, according to industry critics. Hummel and Chilton died earlier this year.
On Sunday, Nov. 14, bluesman "Sleepy" John Estes (1904-1977) and the Steinberg family were each honored with a brass note during a ceremony inside the Historic Old Daisy Theater. Family and friends were on hand to support the honorees.
Eight members of the family were honored: Milton Gus Steinberg (pianist/patriarch, 1910-1950s), Nan Steinberg (vocalist, 1930s-1940s), Morris Steinberg (saxophonist), Luther M. Steinberg (trumpet/piano), Wilbur Steinberg (vocalist/bassist), Lewie Steinberg (bass/trumpet), Martha Jean Steinberg, international radio personality and radio station owner/executive, and Diane Steinberg-Lewis (pianist/singer/songwriter/ producer/actress/teacher).
Authentic Beale Street Musicians...
Estes and the Martha Jean Steinberg were also honored Sunday evening with W.C. Handy Heritage Awards, presented each year to authentic Beale Street musicians who got their start on the street that catapulted many of them to prominence.
This is the 14th year for the Handy Awards and the 137th birthday anniversary (Nov. 16, 1873) of W.C. Handy (also known as the "Father of the Blues"), for which the awards were named. It was presented by W.C. Handy Museum Preservation and Heritage Tours, Inc.
The first Handy Awards were launched on Beale Street in 1997 and subsequently moved to other locations over the years, said Elaine Turner, awards founder. "We went back on Beale Street, which was the origin of the first Handy Awards."
Beale Street, she said, is where music was generated and "where blues musicians can be exposed to visitors who come to Memphis from all over the world seeking to hear genuine Memphis music."
The honorees for Memphis Blues were the late "Sleepy" John Estes, guitarist; Carl Drew, singer/guitarist; and Johnny Scott, singer/songwriter.
Southern Soul: Archie "Hubbie" Turner, keyboardist; Soul Breed, recording artist; Freddie Durham, baritone singer; and Clifford Marable.
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: Barbara Perry Wright, jazz/gospel vocalist; and Errol Thomas, bassist.
Music Legacy Award: Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg (1930-2000), pioneering radio personality with WDIA-AM, executive and owner of a radio station in Detroit, community activist and minister.
Lifetime Music Achievement: Booker T. Jones, organist, pianist, clarinetist, guitarist, trombonist, singer, arranger, composer and producer.
Master Musician Award: Willie Mitchell (1928-2010), producer, composer, writer, recording artist and engineer.
Welcome Queen Back Home...
The Steinberg family has played an integral part of Memphis music for more than one hundred years. Those who achieved acclaim were no less than stellar musicians. But one of them, Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg, followed a different path altogether than her kinsmen.
The Queen started at WDIA-AM Radio Station as an on-air personality in 1954 and, from that point, rose to national and international prominence during her career in Detroit, where she'd become the executive/owner of WQBH Radio Station. She was inducted into the Black Radio Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
But something was amiss until that day, Sunday, Nov. 14, when The Queen finally got a brass note (with other family members) on "World Famous" Beale Street.
"I feel like this is a portal for the rest of the coming generations to step through. Our father and grandfather put in the work over 100 years ago," said Diane Steinberg-Lewis, the eldest of Martha Jean Steinberg's three children. Sandra and Trienere are the other two.
When Lewie Steinberg accepted the brass note on behalf of the family, she said, "My heart was full to see my uncle accept the brass note for those who didn't see it in their lifetime. The Steinberg family has been recognized."
The honor was a longtime coming, said Steinberg-Lewis, nearly giving up hope that her family's contribution to Memphis music and the world would soon be forgotten. There were 10 Steinbergs, she said. Only three are still living: Lewie, Gladys and Isaac.
Although her name has been inscribed on the brass note as well, she said the portal that her family has opened for others to walk through has been widened because of her mother's six decades in radio and unparalleled contributions.
Since Martha Jean Steinberg's contribution to music differed from the musical talent of her kinsmen, "I felt she should have a separate brass note, and a separate brass note for the Steinbergs. But I'm happy that the Steinbergs have finally been recognized."
Martha Jean Steinberg's contributions: on-air personality, WDIA-AM, from 1954–63; WCHB-AM, from 1963–66; WJLB-FM, from 1966–82; and was an on-air personality, general manager, vice president/president and part-owner/owner of WQBH-AM, from 1982–2000. WQBH was an acronym for Welcome Queen Back Home.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A Dental Practice of Community Service
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| Salim Dove, 13, was in need of a little dental work Thursday, and the best dentist to do the job was his father, Dr. Joseph Dove, who is building his clientele in the Raleigh-Frayser community. Certified dental assistant Kemba Suggars gives the doctor a helping hand. (Photo by Wiley Henry) |
Several of the rooms were already occupied with patients needing any number of procedures that Dr. Dove and his colleague, Dr. Philip A. Carter, offer: extractions, root canals, cleaning, fillings, implants, veneers, tooth whitening, periodontal therapy, and many other preventive and cosmetic restorations.
Dr. Dove has been practicing dentistry for 13 years, six of them in the office complex at 3030 Covington Pike, Suite 150. At 40, he’s building a practice that’s starting to look like a community. Seventy percent of his patients are African American, he said; the rest is Latino. In fact, the neon sign in the window advertises his service to Spanish-speaking patients: “Se Habla Espanol,” which means “Spanish is spoken.”
Dr. Dove himself speaks a little Spanish and some members of his staff are bilingual as well. “We want everybody to come see us. But our targeted patients are those who traditionally don’t go to see a dentist,” he says. “We’re trained to serve the underserved community, which is our community. There is a lack in a lot of areas, so we try to fill the gap in this area.”
The Hispanic population in Shelby County is growing exponentially according to recent estimates ascertained by The University of Memphis. Based on U.S. Census figures, Hispanics comprise about 4.5 percent of Shelby Countians, or at least 60,000 to 100,000 -- legal or illegal -- the U of M estimates. The unofficial count could inflate that number even higher.
The area where Dr. Dove has anchored his dental practice is rife for serving his Spanish-speaking clientele. It is a Hispanic neighborhood where businesses other than Dove Family Dentistry is anchored along Covington Pike near Stage Road and cater both to the emerging Hispanic population and African Americans at-large.
“We found Memphis to be an area in need of quality and minority professionals,” says Dr. Dove, who was born in Detroit and lived in other cities including Idaho and Texas. He graduated high school in Spring, Texas, in 1986; joined the United States Army in 1987; served two years in active duty and five in the Army Reserves; graduated from the University of Texas-Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biology; and then from Meharry Medical College in Nashville with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery.
“I went to the military to go to school,” says Dr. Dove, whose parents, particularly his father, instilled into their eight children the importance of getting a good education. His father led by example and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Two years later, he’d become proficient in computers.
“We came up the hard way in Detroit. Nobody gave us anything,” says Dr. Dove, who watched as his father blazed a path for his children to follow. “He had eight children in the ‘70s and managed to obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State. Then he was able to go into computer programming and worked in Saudi Arabia for 15 years as a computer engineer systems analyst. He retired early.”
The methodology that Dr. Dove’s father used to motivate his children to seek loftier goals in life has paid off in big dividends. Two other children are doctors as well: a sister who also has a dental practice, in Atlanta, and another sister who is a podiatrist in Las Vegas, where both parents work part time.
“They are persevering and still together after 41 years,” says Dr. Dove, who has been married to Francine Dove for 16 years. They are the parents of three boys: Salim, 15, a ninth-grader at St. Benedict at Auburndale in Cordova; Naseem, 11, a sixth-grader at Emmanuel Lutheran in the Raleigh community; and Musa, 7, a second-grader, also at Emanuel Lutheran.
What his father did to encourage him and his siblings, he is doing the same for his boys, even if they want to pursue the field of dentistry. “If they want to follow in my footsteps, fine, but pass me. Go farther. Don’t limit yourself,” he tells them. “But don’t take the short cut. It can come back to bite you.”
Talking to children and mentoring them is a service that Dr. Dove takes seriously. It is an extension of his commitment to community service, which is an integral part of his dental practice. He volunteers quality time at Jackson Elementary, his adopted school.
When questions are raised by the students, he answers them with honesty and complete frankness. He engages them like he would his own children in hopes of piquing their interest in higher education and a career pursuit. Dreams can be manifested, he tells them.
“[President Barack] Obama showed you can dream the impossible,” he says. “So we continue to mentor and challenge them so they can grab a hold of their dreams.”
But not all children aspire to greatness or have the available resources to help catapult them out of the muck of poverty, stagnation, lethargy, quick fixes and the ill-pursuit of material possessions. The pursuit of materialism and instant gratification, he says, is fleeting.
“They forget the work that goes into achieving anything. You got to work at it. You got to turn the TV off; pick up a book.”
So when Dr. Dove combines dentistry, mentorship and community service, he’s certain that this trifecta would motivate his patients, particularly the children ages 13-18, to forge ahead with more than a toothy smile. His mission: “to bring something different to the table, to open doors, provoke thoughts, provoke questions.”
“We educate patients (including reluctant men) half of the day,” he says.
Although more men, rather than women, have been known to avoid the doctor’s office, Dr. Dove tries to change that mindset to prevent the possibility of ill-health.” Brothers especially don’t go to the dentist unless something is hurting,” he says. “By capturing them with a toothache, we can educate them on a lot of things. We’d even send them back to their medical doctor for a checkup.”
Dr. Dove says his approach to dentistry is driven by his personality. He is friendly, affable and has a genuine concern for his patients’ wellness and welfare. “Tomorrow is not promised,” he says. “You’re going to get old someday. We all have to keep striving as long as we’re vertical.”
Dove Family Dentistry is open Monday through Saturday. Evening appointments are available as well. Call 901-213-9337.
(This story was first published in the Raleigh community newsletter, "It's All About Raleigh.")
Ulysses Jones Jr. remembered
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| Rev. Robert Mason, pastor of Greater Middle Baptist Church, gave the eulogy Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church. He said the late Ulysses Jones Jr. was a servant who didn't seek acclaim. His children, Ulysses Jones III and Victoria Olivia, spoke about the love they had for their father. |
Those who celebrated the life and legacy of state Rep. Ulysses Jones Jr. on Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church were told to keep their expressions to two minutes. But friends and colleagues took more time to tell their personal stories about Jones' work ethics and love for the constituents he served.
The sentiments were pretty much the same: Jones worked diligently for Memphis and his constituents in District 98 (North Memphis, Raleigh and Frayser); he didn't seek acclaim or possess a haughty spirit; he was a man of his words; he fought to uplift the downtrodden.
The eulogist, Rev. Robert Mason, pastor of Greater Middle Baptist Church, noted Jones' rise from humble beginnings to become a battalion chief with the Memphis Fire Department and a respected lawmaker.
He said Jones was a servant who didn't seek acclaim.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. compared the lawmaker to the early disciples of Jesus Christ, saying he had a calling, just like the disciples, that intersected with his day job. "He was multidimensional," Wharton told the crowd of about 250 people, many of them fellow legislators and firefighters.
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr. recalled a time when he was sheriff and sought support from a top lawmaker in the Tennessee General Assembly. "I was told to see Rep. Jones," he said, realizing there was a pecking order.
Dr. Willie W. Herenton, former mayor of Memphis, said Jones was a good man who took care of Memphis, a man of his words. He said the lawmaker respected him and would tell him if a bill wasn't going to cut the muster.
Shep Wilbun, a longtime friend, spoke on behalf of the North Memphis Round Table, a group of political activists, of which Jones was a member. A former Shelby County commissioner, city councilman, and Juvenile Court clerk, Wilbun said it was Jones who first encouraged him to run for political office.
But no one expected the children of Jones to speak about their father. "I love my daddy... I was his princess," said Victoria Olivia, trying to get past the tears.
Ulysses Jones III said while he and his father didn't agree on some things, he loved him just the same. "I loved my father and he loved me."
Jones was 59.
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| THE NORTH MEMPHIS ROUND TABLE: From left (first row): state Rep. Larry Miller, state Rep. Joe Towns Jr., Rev. Melvin D. Wade, and Rickey Peete. From left (second row): Jim Sellars, Antonio (2-Shay) Parkinson, Randy Wade, Shep Wilbun and City Councilman Joe Brown. (Photos by Wiley Henry) |
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