Voting November 8th 2016

President Obama has a commercial running stating that he will take personal if you don't vote. Sad that his failed eight years in office was all personal for him, along with the banks and insurance companies and not about the people who voted for him. Voters in low income communities feel more abandonment from our government than ever. Thanks to personal agendas of politicians versus the peoples agendas. Personal agendas reflect the out of touch with all of society mentality and is the reason so many eligible voters are not voting or have switched parties to vote for independent candidates who speak to the needs and desires of people wanting to be represented in our local, state and federal government.

i set out to interview African Americans and other cultures about the November 8th 2016 election to get their feel. Most are disappointed with how the Democratic platform was stolen from Bernie Sanders because of the personal agenda that will do anything to try to become the first woman president. Then the democratic party wanted to blame Bernie Sanders and say that it's all his fault that we the people with our own minds and votes left the democratic party. When in reality Bernie Sanders was the only reason we choose to support a democrat and the democratic party didn't want to listen to the people's choice because of their own personal agendas. #BernieOrBust is the voice of the people not corporate America. 

i recently saw and shared a video by Diamond and Silk. These women are fed up with the democratic party and have valid reasons. They support Donald Trump and were being labeled coons versus women with their own personal opinions about the democratic party. These women are not paid by white people to entertain white people, they are expressing their views. If these women are cooning so is Oprah Winfrey (who fits the following definition to a T, i mean she put white people all over free national t.v. and blacks on her paid cable channel) and any other black person performing for the white democratic candidates. 

Cooning is a verb derived from the word coon. A coon was/is a person of african decent whose sole purpose was/is to entertain white people. These 'coons' started out as wearing black face, characterized by haveing big eyes and painting big red lips on their face. These people would tap dance, play instruments and sing. 

Modern day coons are blacks who play stereotypical roles and black entertainers that promote ignorance.  

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cooning

The name calling and labeling for personal opinions is the thorn keeping African Americans from being organized. Yes there are African Americans who will sell out other African Americans and we have to call those traders out because they are killing us. But just cause you don't agree with someone else opinion doesn't make them a coon. Especially when other African Americans enjoy and support the entertainment. #EducationStartsAtHome Don't put your personal agenda of blackness on the rest of us. This is how the conscious African American community separates itself from the rest of the African American community and create deeply rooted wounds. (President Obama is a perfect example) If they are really so conscious they should be able to understand that we are a culture of differences and icebergs need to be considered before acting like paranoid white people labeling people within our culture. 

Here is the facebook conversation: based off this video that you can view here https://www.facebook.com/theviewersview/videos/728320867317029/?pnref=story

Comments

Nate Carter Tim Doby and I once disagreed on what "cooning" was. Here is Cooning 101. I AM NOT FOR CLINTON, NOR TRUMP. But these 2 here......OMG!

Like · Reply · 1 · October 29 at 8:16pm

Margo Jones They just sound even more insane and look as if their heads are going to pop off the necks maybe they should !!!!!

Like · Reply · 22 hrs

Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey entertainment people, entertainment!!

Like · Reply · 20 hrs

Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey they have a right to their opinion, which i find valid, wish they knew about the green party and other options for their vote!!#JillSteinPresident2016

Like · Reply · 20 hrs

Nate Carter No one is questioning their opinion. Some of what they say is true. I am referring to the manner in which they express their opinion.

Unlike · Reply · 2 · 20 hrs

Write a reply...

Margo Jones I agree they do have the right to their own thoughts , and for those who do not agree with their thoughts have their rights they just never make sense or speak with any common sense maybe some folks like that?

Like · Reply · 19 hrs

Nate Carter Margo you are correct. If you have not listened to them before this. They speak as if they are representing Black Folks. My initial comment had to do specifically with "cooning". My gripe with them is not about what they are saying. If they choose Trum...See More

Like · Reply · 18 hrs · Edited

Margo Jones You are so right, I heard them speak before I could not understand anything they said had no rhyme or reason.

Like · Reply · 18 hrs

Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey entertainment gets the job done and people talking!! #itsonlyentertainment

Like · Reply · 18 hrs

Nate Carter Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey but are they talking about the right topic? Most people in modern society miss the message and focus on the messenger

Like · Reply · 18 hrs

Margo Jones I am now thinking we just may be giving them to much time and attention. Let them rest in peace. Thanks for the positive feed back

Like · Reply · 17 hrs

Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey Nate Carter they are so on point with the topic of the election, wish they knew about other candidates running and had mentioned them. i respect their opinion, they are not lying or stealing from anyone, just expressing their opinion rather we agree or not. i'm a producer and i would hire these two to get messages out for me because i enjoy their performance. wouldn't be surprised if some outlet doesn't pick them up for marketing!!

Like · Reply · 17 hrs

Margo Jones That is what they said about movies and tv shows that exploited Black Americans. I am finish commenting on these two women, They are waiting for you to hire them. One quick thought how do lying and stealing have to do with anything. I am out you truly have a wonderfull day.

Like · Reply · 1 · 17 hrs

Nate Carter Sorry Alicia, if you would use these 2 to promote something other than something "ghetto fabulous" you would be contributing to their coonery. But I digress.

Like · Reply · 1 · 17 hrs

Alicia Elizabeth Dorsey Nate Carter can't please everyone and i don't try!!

Here is one of my favorite videos from the fabulous Diamond and Silk youtube channel. I love how they entertain and get their message out. Wish they were supporting #JillSteinPresident2016. These women speak volumes for how African Americans feel about the democratic party.

Our vote is our right as citizens of The United States of America. Please do the research and exercise your rights. I'm voting Green party Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka to get the green party on the ballot for the next Presidental election so that more people know that we have others who can govern our country the way we want to be govern!! 

The Free Library of Philadelphia is hosting a free concert to promote voting and past elections. 

Sunday, November 6

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Location

Free Library of Philadelphia1901 Vine Street

Philadelphia

PA

19103

If you would like to help voters at the poll please contact Joe Certaine jcertaine@gmail.com 

The Octavius Valentine Catto Voter Empowerment Initiative is building a non-partisan Election Day infrastructure to respond to and troubleshoot complaints, at the polls, on Election Day November 8, 2016. We are recruiting volunteers who can work with Election Protection attorneys to ensure that voter's rights are protected from harassment, intimidation or other irregularities on Election Day.

We have all heard that Pennsylvania (especially Philadelphia) is targeted for an influx of right wing "poll watchers"  who are seem to be committed to suppressing voter turnout in places like Philadelphia, Chester Delaware County, Norristown Montgomery County and other jurisdictions where people of color are concentrated. The Catto Initiative is recruiting volunteers in  communities of color who will  respond to complaints and work with attorneys, on the street, to ensure that every eligible voter is ensured of their right to vote.

Election Day Observers will work with attorneys who are specialists in Election Law. The Observers will attend a two-hour training organized by experienced professionals in the Election process prior to being assigned.  We need your help!  It is time that we stood up for ourselves to protect the legacy of our empowerment and to protect our right to vote. The time for conversation is over. We must take a stand and protect the rights fought for by so many. Please indicate your support by emailing your contact information to me. I will contact you with the time and location for the training. Please help, we can only count upon ourselves to protect our right to vote. Thank you.

Joseph C. Certaine

O.V. Catto Voter Empowerment Initiative 

Philadelphia Department of Human Services Community Oversight Board Meeting October 28, 2016

There are some adjustments going on in Philadelphia Department of Human Services to better serve the families who have come in contact with the department. What was reported during a public meeting was that Philadelphia is making the necessary changes within the infrastructure of the systems that make up DHS. I learned of these changes four years ago during a community discussion held at our Philadelphia Library, One Book One Philadelphia Orphan Train series. Was glad to learn that Gary Williams, Chief Learning Officer at DHS is helping to improve DHS. He always seems a bit stressed, and i guess his job of fixing the broken system could be a bit stressful. So much confidence in Mr. Williams was shown today and i do like what is happening to support our families.

The hotline referrals and investigations continue to grow but there is work being done to screen these referrals and investigations to see if the referrals necessarily need to be addressed by DHS. Members of DHS will be visiting New Jersey and Pittsburgh to learn about their preventive techniques. We learned that many of the investigative units are still under staffed. Case workers may have to do some investigating to fill in for the short staffing. There is a push to get more investigators and have case workers with the maxium of ten cases at a time. Currently our case workers are at 10 to 16 cases with the assistance of the Community Umbrella Agencies.

(Example of the CUA's support services)

During the report back on the progress of the CUA's we learned about how effective the partnerships are. The CUA's help with prevention of removal of children from families, by connecting families to resources needed to keep them together. This is a young and growing relationship between DHS and the CUA's. Also mentioned was the young workforce coming into the caseworker field and how they may not be mature enough to separate their personal beliefs/feelings from the families that they serve. A suggestion was to have these caseworkers trained by supervisors who can monitor and help these caseworkers recognize protocol versus personal decisions. Former Mayor Wilson Goode and Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D. – Commissioner, DBHIDS also expressed their years of advocacy and the need for role model training. We were told that in New Jersey they do mock trainings to help their staff learn the various situations that the staff may encounter and how to handle the situation.

I was advocating for a family who are victims of domestic violence and wanted to know how could the mother and family be punished when they are victims. i was told that mothers can lose their children if there is domestic violence in the home because the mother is unable to protect the children. My argument was that the mother is a victim also and should not be victimized by DHS, the family needs help. There was mentioned that our Mayor Jim Kenney is also concerned about domestic violence in Philadelphia and looking to build more resources to address that issue. Commissioner Cynthia Figueroa stated that if they were to pull data by domestic violence that would probably be a big chunk of their cases. Makes sense to me that DHS would be able to focus on the families of domestic violence with support services versus pulling them apart. i received cards from First Deputy Commissioner Jessica Shapiro who can be reached at 215.683.6010 jessica.shapiro@phila.gov and Deputy Commissioner Kimberly Ali 215.683.6014 kimberly.ali@phila.gov and will be contacting them to see how we can better serve families of domestic violence.



i also met Ms. Phyllis Stevens, Executive Director of "Together as Adoptive Parents, Inc."They offer support groups, respite care centers, tutors, subsidy information, therapists and more resources. We have a demand for great foster parents because for whatever reason some families are not able to reunite.

The best news was that more families are being reconnected sooner. There is work to not have our youth in shelters for long periods of time. Our homeless youth are getting more support through Supervised Independent Care and Waivers to help support their transitions.