58,000 applications filed in USDA DFAP process

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Black farmer harvests cabbage crop

By: John Zippert, Co-Publisher

In a recent zoom call with USDA cooperating organizations, a USDA spokesperson said that they had received 62,000 applications in the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). Of these there were 4,000 duplicate or revised applications, which brought the total applications to 58,000.

The DFAP applicants filled out a forty-page application, providing identifying information, type of applicant, eligibility as a farmer, eligibility as a farm loan borrower or attempted borrower, description of the discriminatory treatment they encountered, economic losses from discrimination, participation in prior claims, complaints and appeals, attachment of documents and additional information, and finally signatures and certifications. Various forms of documentation including land deeds, farm leases, USDA correspondence, farm organization memberships, declarations by friends and neighbors, income tax and farm records and other information to support their case, were required.

USDA officials said all applications have been scanned into a data base with supporting documentation. About half of the applications were submitted online, while the rest were handwritten. Some applicants have received letters asking them to correct deficiencies in their applications, dealing with identification and other required information.

The applications will now be read by a panel of evaluators. Each application will be read and scored by two evaluators. If they materially disagree then a third evaluator will be brought in to decide on the application. After all applications are evaluated, then the third-party evaluators, will recommend a payment plan to USDA based on the $2.2 billion available for the DFAP program from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The USDA officials said that their analysis of the DFAP applications was preliminary and subject to change and further refinement. They said 80% of the applicants never received a USDA farm loan, of the other 20% most received a direct loan and very few received a guaranteed loan. This complies with the experience of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives which has found that more than 80% of their Black farmer members, were not able to get a USDA farm loan.

The USDA spokespersons said, 80% of the applicants listed race as the basis of their discrimination and the overwhelming number of these were Black farmers. About 6.5% were Native Americans. The remainder were Hispanics or had other basis for discrimination beyond race.

They said most of the applicants were from the Black Belt South, with the greatest numbers coming from Alabama and Mississippi, with others from the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, California, and other states.

The USDA officials said they hoped to complete the DFAP evaluation process by the end of the summer and send out checks in late August or early September.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Rural Coalition, Intertribal Agriculture Council, and other cooperating organizations are planning to continue to monitor the process to its conclusion. “We hope every farmer will get a detailed comment on their application and the reasoning for the payment they receive. We also hope for a report, down to the county level of applications received and funded, so we can continue to monitor for improvement in the USDA’s farm lending program,” said Tandelyn Daniel with the Federation.

 

Demopolis selected as site for Healthcare High School

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Governor Ivey, with Demopolis legislative delegation looking on signs bill to create Healthcare High School

By Kirsten J. Barnes, Communications Director for the Alabama Senate Minority

Alabama is embarking on an innovative journey as it embraces training high school students
to focus on the healthcare industry.

By the fall of 2026, the Alabama School of Healthcare Science will open to high school
students from 9th and 10th grade who are interested in focusing on a broad range of
healthcare fields.

“I am honored that the state of Alabama chose my district to house this new school,
said Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). “This school will give communities throughout the state, along with hospitals and doctors’ offices a steady stream of trained medical professionals and staff.

Governor Kay Ivey came to the Demopolis Civic Center yesterday to sign the legislation. She was accompanied by State Senator Bobby Singleton and State Representative A. J. McCampbell and others to sign House Bill 163 creating the new high school.
”
The high school will be open to students from throughout the state and will be a residential
school like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama
School of Math & Science in Mobile, and Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham.
“I want to thank Gov. Kay Ivey and all the legislators who supported this effort. Demopolis is
ready to make you proud,” Singleton said.

This school will be located next to Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, allowing students to
have classroom and practical experience daily. The students will graduate with certificates in various programs related to science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine that will address the chronic healthcare workforce shortage in Alabama. Graduates will have the ability to immediately enter the workforce, while others will build a strong foundation for advanced studies at both two-and-four-year colleges and technical schools.

The initial legislative appropriation will be $15 million and will allow the school to open in the
fall of 2026 with approximately 400 ninth and 10th graders in the first year and then add an
additional grade each year.

“While the school is under construction, we will partner with the University of West Alabama
to house students,” Singleton said. “We have matching dollars that will come from private
foundations to help with the costs and construction.
”
The school will be in Marengo County, a growing community that is poised to support the
needs of the school. There is also a partnership in place with The University of Alabama at
Birmingham.

Additionally, the school may also offer short courses, workshops, seminars, weekend
instructional programs, and other innovative programs to students not enrolled as full-time.
students in the school.

For more information, contact: kirsten.Barnes@alsenate.gov. or phone: 334-261-0331.

School board holds special meeting on school personnel

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The above scholars completed the requirements for the Structural Welding Certificate from Wallace Community College in Selma on Friday, May 10, 2024. Pictured left from right: Janice Jeames Askew, Scholar : Jeremiah Bullock, Nicholas Henley, Michael Gibson, Jr. Kalvin Jones, Jakaylon Bridgemon, Curtis Jordan, Zacary Rutledge, Welding Instructor, Dr, Corey Jones, Superintendent, Scholar John Cockrell, Jaylon Mitchell and LaTravis Jones. Also in attendance was Teresa Atkins, Greene County Career Center Director.

The Greene County Board of Education held a special call meeting, Thursday, May 9, 2024 with a focus on school personnel. All board members were present as well as Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones, Board Attorney Hank Sanders, GCHS Principal Ms. Andrea Perry, Robert Brown Middle School Principal Ms. Tammy Anderson, Eutaw Primary Principal Dr. Brittany Harris and CSFO Ms. Marquita Lennon.

Shortly after the official opening of the meeting, following roll call and approval of the agenda, Attorney Sanders certified an executive session for the board. President Leo Branch explained that the session was called to discuss personnel issues that may involve good name and character, legal matters that may involve strategy and safety. The Principals and CSFO were asked to remain in the session with the Board, Superintendent and Attorney. The executive session lasted approximately two hours.

When the board resumed its open meeting, President Branch announced that no decisions were made and no actions taken in executive session.

In previous board meetings Superintendent Jones did caution the board that budget cuts would be necessary for the next school year, especially in personnel. The ESSER funds which provided support for additional Academic Coaches would end this fiscal year.

In the open session, the board acted on the following personnel items.

* Approved resignation of Mr. James Gaines, Transportation Supervisor for the Greene County School System, effective June 30, 2024.

* Approved supplemental contract for Janice Jeames-Askew to serve as Athletic Director for GCHS for 2023-2024.

* Approved supplemental funding agreement for in school personnel.

County pays taxes on co- owned Greenetrack property

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The Greene County Commission held it regular monthly meeting, Monday, May 13, 2024 with all commissioners present. A carryover from the Commission’s work session the prior week was a discussion of the property taxes due on the Greenetrack property, which is co-owned by the Greene County government. To avoid allowing that property to be listed for public auction, the commission voted unanimously, in this meeting, to remit the taxes due, totaling $33,365.48. The general concern was that someone would outbid the county at public auction.
Another carryover item from the work session related to consideration of the commission establishing a Greene County Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority. The Authority members would serve as volunteers surveying and recording unkempt and dilapidated cemeteries throughout the county. It was unclear what steps would follow or what the commission could do with this information, since many long-dated cemeteries are on private properties. Commissioner Allen turner offered the motion to establish the Authority, but it failed for lack of a second.
In other business, the Commission acted on the following:
* Approved an Intergovernmental Equipment and Service Agreement.
* Approved contract with Yellowhammer Network, LLC – right-of-way for fiberoptic network.
* Approved using a portion of the $100,000 ARPA funds for some Courthouse and Activity Center upgrades.
* Approved establishing the Greene County Recognition and Appreciation Program.
* Approved request of the Society of Folk Arts & Culture for use of courthouse restrooms during 2024 festival activities.
* Approved purchasing full page graduation ad in special edition of the Democrat newspaper.
* Approved change orders for courthouse renovations.
* Approved travel for engineer and assistant engineer.
* Tabled Solid Waste Collection proposal until a public hearing is held. The commission noted that there will be no change in fees and no employee layoff.
Cancelled the executive session listed on the agenda.
CFO Macaroy Underwood’s financial reports for April 2024 included the following bank balances: Citizen Trust, unrestricted $3,118,166.45; restricted, $4,537,889.86. Merchant & Farmers, unrestricted $6,159,028.49; restricted, $6,287,315.88; Investment Funds totaled $896,515.53. Accounts Payable totaled $1,169,916.23. Payroll transfers totaled $291,807.98 and Fiduciary was $50,283.29. Electronic Claims paid for March 2024 were $70,102.67.

Daisy Bates, Arkansas civil rights icon honored with Capitol Statue

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Members of Daisy Bates family at unveiling of her statue

Daisy Lee Gatson Bates, an Arkansaw civil rights icon was honored last week, in a bi-partisan ceremony, by placing her statue in the Nation Statutory Hall in the Rotunda of the U. S. Capitol in Washington D. C. Each of the 50 states has two statutes of people representing their state in this prestigious location.

Her statute and a statue of country music singer, Johnny Cash, to be added in the Fall, replace two statutes of Arkansas 19th century leaders, with a segregationist past, who are not well known today.

Daisy Bates was an influential civil rights activist, journalist, and educator who played a pivotal role in the fight against racial segregation in Arkansas.

In 1954, the Supreme Court, in Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ruled segregated schools unconstitutional. According to her bio, Bates began gathering African American students to enroll at all-white schools after the ruling. Often, the white schools refused to let black students attend. Bates used her newspaper to publicize the schools that did follow the federal mandate. Despite the continuous rejection from many Arkansas public schools, she pushed forward.
When the National NAACP office started to focus on Arkansas’ schools, they looked to Bates to plan the strategy, her bio noted. She took the reins and organized the Little Rock Nine. She selected nine students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock in 1957, whom she regularly drove to school and worked tirelessly to protect them from violent crowds. Bates also advised the group and even joined the school’s parent organization. She was also instrumental in convincing President Dwight Eisenhower, to send Federal troops to Little Rock to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision.
Daisy Bates’ unwavering commitment to equality and justice led her to work closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader in the civil rights movement, in advocating for desegregation and equal rights for all. She worked closely with DR. King and the NAACP to non-violently integrate the schools in the face of white sometimes violent resistance.
Ben Victor, the statue’s sculptor, also shared his perspective on Bates. “Her courage really stands out to me,” Victor said. “I’ve depicted her in motion because she was a woman with a cause. She is smiling, showing her optimism in the face of great adversity.”
Bates, who died in 1999 at age 84, played a crucial role in desegregating Arkansas public schools in the 1950s. Along with her husband, she published an Arkansas newspaper dedicated to the civil rights cause and served as the president of the state’s NAACP chapter. “Every high school, every middle school, every elementary school, every college in this country is the pattern of America today because of Daisy Gaston Bates,” remarked Charles King, President of the Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation, during the unveiling ceremony.
Some of Daisy Bates, close relatives have worked with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in Arkansas on the Black Farmer lawsuits and recent Discrimination Farmers Assistance Program to get justice for Black farmers in Arkansas and across the South.

Newswire : Ghana’s cocoa crop ‘shattered’ by bad weather and poor harvests

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Ghana cocoa harvester at work
May 13, 2024 (GIN) – Everyone or almost everyone loves chocolate, making it imperative to follow Ghana’s production shortfall and similar problems in Ivory Coast.
 
These shortfalls have been fueling historic surges in cocoa prices, forcing customers to shell out more for familiar chocolate bars and other tasty sweets. Samuel Adimado, president of Ghana’s cocoa buyers’ group, estimates that current crop figures were “shattering” and member firms were struggling to remain in business.
 
Ghana is the second-largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world, after Ivory Coast.
 Normally, investment in agriculture is seen as humanity’s best hope of achieving at least two UN global goals: Ending Poverty and Zero Hunger.
 
For Ghana in particular, agriculture is an overwhelming priority as it employs around 45 percent of the labor force (more than any other sector) and contributes some 15 percent of GDP. As many as 800,000 people work directly in the plantation of cocoa, but nowadays many more are involved in the commercial, industrial and service sectors. 
 
Cocoa is iconic for Ghana, not just in terms of economics but also for its national identity, social history – even its climate future. As the saying goes: “Ghana is cocoa, cocoa is Ghana”. 
 
Under normal conditions, cocoa production in Ghana is considered environmentally friendly, as beans grow without watering and need little additional pesticides or herbicides. 
 
However, more frequent droughts and rising temperatures are already affecting West Africa and may even turn large swathes of the region to savanna by 2050, according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 
 
Michael Ekow Amoah, deputy director of research at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), noted: “The challenge that we cannot run away from is climate change.  For Ghana, this means that farmers have great difficulty in planning their activities: some plant too early before the rains, some plant too late.”
 
“Today in Ghana the average age of a cocoa farmer is 55 which is not too good for the future,” says Amoah. COCOBOD has launched a “Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme” as a means of attracting the youth.
 
Last but not least, a final critical issue is land tenure. Most cocoa farmers do not own the land they work on since they are migrant farmers. This does not ensure proper land use practices and adequate benefit sharing among stakeholders.
 
As the surge in prices filters down to retail shelves, chocolate makers like Hershey expect to see a further slow down in demand for their products from cash conscious customers.
 
“We haven’t seen this kind of reduction in recent times,” said the president of Ghana’s cocoa buyers group. “Rising global cocoa prices have incentivized smuggling, meaning losses could be higher this season. “
 
 

Newswire : VP Harris announces $5.5 Billion funding for affordable housing and homelessness solutions

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By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


A housing crisis is gripping tens of millions of families nationwide, cutting across political lines and sparking bipartisan action in state legislatures.
The root cause of the crisis is a chronic housing shortage, which has driven home prices up by approximately 60 percent after adjusting for inflation over the past decade. The staggering increase has left many families struggling to afford rent or homeownership, and, according to recent data, around a quarter of renters, equivalent to roughly 12 million households, are spending more than half of their income on housing costs, far exceeding the recommended one-third threshold for financial health. On Tuesday, May 7, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a significant funding boost to address the pressing issues of affordable housing and homelessness across the United States.
The White House said the announcement through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) marks a crucial step in Harris and President Joe Biden’s efforts to tackle the housing crisis inherited from previous administrations. Harris announced that $5.5 billion in grants would be distributed to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to states, cities, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and local organizations nationwide.
“Homeownership is an essential part of the American Dream that represents so much more than a roof over our heads,” Harris stated. “That is why President Biden and I are expanding on our historic investments in housing by announcing $5.5 billion that will increase access to affordable housing, invest in economic growth, and address homelessness in communities throughout America.”
The funding, part of the White House Housing Supply Action Plan and the Blueprint for a Renter’s Bill of Rights, aims to boost the housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, enhance renter protections, and invest in more robust, more resilient communities.
“A coordinated whole-of-community approach is crucial to build strong and resilient communities, invest in decent housing, create healthy environments, expand economic opportunities accessible to low-income households, and support aspiring homebuyers and those experiencing homelessness,” Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized in a statement.
The White House said the allocation of the $5.5 billion in grants would go through various HUD programs, including:
$1.3 billion to 668 grantees to build affordable housing through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
$214 million to every state to increase affordable housing supply via the Housing Trust Fund (HTF).
$3.3 billion to 1,254 grantees to build stronger communities through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
$455 million to 130 grantees to connect people with HIV/AIDS to housing and support through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program.
$290 million to 357 grantees to address homelessness through Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG).
$30 million to 23 States and the District of Columbia to support recovery from substance use disorder via the Recovery Housing Program (RHP).
The announcement follows Harris’s recent stops on her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, where she has been highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to support communities and improve access to housing while making it more affordable.
Administration officials pointed out that Harris has been a vocal advocate for homeownership and housing affordability. As Attorney General of California, she helped pass the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, and as a U.S. Senator, she introduced several bills aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing and lowering renters’ costs.
The White House said the latest funding underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis and creating opportunities for all Americans to access safe and affordable housing.
“The funding made available today serves as building blocks to empower communities to take ownership of community development investments and put the needs of residents first,” Todman asserted.
 

Newswire: American Cancer Society launches largest-ever study to probe disparities in cancer outcomes for Black women

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Black women celebrate cancer survival

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The American Cancer Society is embarking on an unprecedented initiative spanning 20 states, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, to investigate the troubling disparities in cancer survival rates among Black women.

Despite overall declines in cancer deaths, Black women continue to face disproportionately high mortality rates, a phenomenon the organization aims to address through its newly unveiled VOICES of Black Women study.

“While cancer deaths have declined, Black women maintain a high death rate,” said Dr. Lauren McCullough, co-principal investigator and visiting scientific director at the American Cancer Society, during a recent briefing.  “With few exceptions, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer, aggressive tumor types, and have higher cancer-specific mortality rates than other women,” McCullough added.

This disparity is especially pronounced in breast cancer, where Black women face a 40% higher mortality rate than white women despite having a lower rate of diagnosis by 4%.

Moreover, Black women are 60% more likely than white women to succumb to cervical cancer and nearly twice as likely to die from endometrial cancer. The VOICES of Black Women study aims to enroll over 100,000 Black women aged 25 to 55, making it the country’s most significant endeavor of its kind. Participants must be cancer-free upon enrollment and will be tracked for 30 years to examine the impact of medical history, lifestyle factors, and experiences of racism on cancer risk and mortality.

“To be eligible for the study, participants must live in one of the 20 states or Washington, D.C., which together account for more than 90% of the U.S. population of Black women ages 25 to 55,” McCullough clarified.

The initiative seeks to confront historical injustices in medical research, which have often excluded or exploited Black participants. McCullough referenced past instances of medical exploitation, including the Tuskegee experiment and the unauthorized use of Henrietta Lacks’ cells.

The study allows individuals to opt out of providing medical records, and their identities will remain confidential in published research. Officials said this would safeguard participants’ privacy and ensure ethical oversight,
 
A brief registration on the study’s website precedes a thorough survey covering medical history, lifestyle choices, and encounters with racism and discrimination.
Enrollment is open in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
“This isn’t just a study; it’s a collective commitment to understanding and improving the health of Black women across the nation,” affirmed cancer society officials. “And that change starts with you.”

R. H. Young Community Center dedicated

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The Robert H. Young Community Center was dedicated on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The community center is named for the long-time principal of the former Carver School, which was purchased from the Greene County Board of Education by the City of Eutaw in 2018.

Mayor of Eutaw, Latasha Johnson, assisted by Valerie Watkins, City Council District 1 member conducted the dedication ceremony. Mayor Johnson said she was proud of the efforts of the City of Eutaw to renovate and develop the R. H. Young Community Center.

“This center houses offices for the Extension Service. It has served as an incubator for small businesses, it was the office for FEMA tornado relief and many other programs. We have used the gymnasium for community meetings, job fairs, health fairs, funerals, birthday parties, family reunions and many other purposes including as a storm shelter,” said Mayor Johnson.

The family of the late Robert H. Young were present, including his wife, Carolyn Young,  who writes a weekly column for the Greene County Democrat,  Also, present were son, daughter-in-law and  past students of the Youngs, who taught and administrated at the Carver School.

Members of the Tuscaloosa Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, of which Young was a member, attended the dedication ceremony and pledged to support the programmatic, construction and maintenance needs of the community center, going forward, in memory of Robert H. Young. Mayor Johnson said the City of Eutaw was searching for grants to improve the community center and welcome aid from residents and others concerned that the city has a usable and comfortable community center facility.

Kickoff held for $6 million Sports Complex at Greene County High School

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This past Saturday morning, May 4, 2024, Dr. Corey Jones, Superintendent of Greene County School Board held a public kickoff celebration for the construction of a $6 million Sports Complex to serve the students and residents of Greene County.

The Sports Complex will include three phases. Phase 1 includes a Football Field with bleachers, lighting, a press box, entrance plaza, which will be surrounded by a running track and broad jump and pole-vaulting areas for Track and Field, toilets, and a concession area. Phase 2 will construct a Football Fieldhouse with home and visitors dressing areas. Phase 3 will include a Softball and Baseball Complex, with toilets and concession stand.

The Greene County Board of Education, with help from our state legislative delegation of Senator Bobby Singleton and Representative Curtis Travis, secured $1.1 million, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Discretionary Fund for Educational Capital Projects, to begin Phase 1 of the project this year. The Board has established a “Sport Complex Committee” of community leaders and volunteers to give advice and help to raise funds for the project.

At the Kickoff celebration, there were several large placards with drawings of the potential elements of the Sports Complex. One of which we have photographed and included with this news story.

Superintendent Jones explained the project at the Kickoff celebration. He was joined by Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson , Coach James E. Morrow, from the City Council of Boligee, Representative Curtis Travis and Board President, Leo Branch of the Greene County Board of Education, in giving greetings and support for the project. The Greene County High School Band and Cheer-Leaders performed several musical and dance numbers.

The initial $1.1 million will be spent on preparing the football field, constructing the track and field areas, and as much of the other facilities that the funds can be stretched to purchase. McKee and Associates of Montgomery, an architecture firm with experience designing schools and school facilities, has been contracted to provide architectural design and inspection services. Contractors will be asked to bid on elements of the project.

The Sports Complex Committee has been meeting regularly to discuss strategies to raise private funds from citizens, organizations, churches, business, and other sources to help match public funds that may become available for the project.

Leo Branch, President of the Greene County School Board, commented, “We want to have a way for everyone, from the smallest donors to the largest, to participate in helping to build this project. We plan to sell bricks or stones, which will be engraved with the names of donors, to construct walkways at the Sports Complex. We also want to offer large corporations that operate in our communities, like Love’s Truckstop, RockTenn, Alabama Power, Consolidated Catfish, Black Warrior Electric, Colonial Pipeline and others, the naming rights on the football field, buildings, and other facilities at the Sports Complex.”

Anyone interested in supporting the Sport Complex Committee may contact the Greene County Board of Education and Superintendent Corey Jones, at 220 Main Street, Eutaw, Al 35462, phone 205-372-3109.