CHANGING OF THE GUARD—Rev. Dr. J. Van Alfred Winsett, pastor emeritus, hands over the church’s bible to Rev. Dr. Vincent K. Campbell. For more than a year, Ebenezer Baptist Church, in the historic Hill District, was without a senior pastor after the retirement of their longtime shepherd Rev. Dr. J. Van Alfred Winsett in May 2012. But the church that has overcome many obstacles, including two fires and a major rebuild, now welcomes new leadership into their next era under the direction of their new pastor-Rev. Dr. Vincent K. Campbell of Nashville, Tenn.
A SHOW OF SUPPORT—Friends, family and members of the community showed support for Leon Ford Jr. at a rally on Oct. 16 at the City-County Building, downtown. From left: Attorney Benjamin Crump; Latonya Green, mother; Ford; Leon Ford Sr., father, and attorney Monte Rabner. (Photos by J.L. Martello) Family, friends and community members showed up in numbers to the Allegheny County Courthouse for a rally held Oct. 16 to show their support for then Pittsburgh teen Leon Ford Jr., who was shot multiple times by a Pittsburgh Police officer during what many say should have been a “routine” traffic stop and to show their outrage for the criminal charges he still faces.
SURVIVOR—Lauren reflects on her abusive past that turned her into a survivor. (Photo courtesy of Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh) For 10 years, everyday was a fight for Lauren’s life. It all began at the age of 18 when she began dating her now ex-boyfriend and the father of her child. Little things would trigger changes in his mood. At first he was shoving, then he escalated to choking and trying different maneuvers to get her to pass out, but never punching or anything that would leave marks. She experienced trips to different emergency rooms or urgent care facilities after the fact, but it was one incident in 2011 that was her wake-up call.
PARENTS—Lisa White and Jason Paylor Sr. light candles in honor of their son. More than three years after the day that changed her life forever, Lisa White still struggles through tears when she talks about the Oct. 2, 2010 shooting that took her, then 17-year-old son, Jason Paylor Jr., away from her.
Phillip w/ Mom, sisters, and daughter (Causes.com Photo) After more than a year of no action and unanswered questions involving the incident that resulted in her son being paralyzed, Kelly McKenzie is demanding action from the Westmoreland County district attorney and access to the case information.
The summer has officially ended and hopefully the senseless Black on Black violence will too. With 71 homicides in Allegheny County thus far this year, the total is still less than that of last year’s total at this time which was 79. There is still hope for a less deadly year than that of 2012.
NICOLE MANNS WITH INVENTION Every woman has bought a lip-gloss, gotten to the end and been frustrated with not being able to get that last bit because the applicator was too short, and then had to throw it away. With the average cost of a “good” lip-gloss being more than $12, it feels like you’re throwing your money into the trash along with the tube. Well Nicole Manns, a resident of Penn Hills and a cosmetic consumer who was also frustrated with wasting money and make-up, decided to create Nikki’s Magic Wand, a portable, sleek, yet flexible tip that allows you to reach where most applicators cannot; thus eliminating the waste.
LEON FORD JR. Leon Ford Jr., the then 19-year-old who was shot by Pittsburgh Police officers November 2012, during what many believe should have been a routine traffic stop in Highland Park, and is now paralyzed, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, three Pittsburgh police officers, and the former and acting police chiefs.
MACALUS HOGAN, MD (Photo courtesy of UPMC) As the weather remains nice, more and more people are hitting the pavement in the quest for more physical exercise. But as their exercise increases, so does their chance of getting a foot or ankle injury. But UPMC has a new face, with just the experience to get people fixed and back on their run. As of Sept. 1, UPMC Health System welcomed MaCalus Hogan, MD, its newest and first African-American orthopaedic surgeon.
Time to stand up and speak up With 2013 more than half way over, as of the end of August Allegheny County has had 62 homicides, 42 of them being Black individuals. That is 10 less than last year around this time where there were 72 homicides, 59 of them Black and 55 Black males. There is still the potential of having a less deadly year than the last.
