Author: Ray Robinson

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Al Porter Jr. spits the truth about crime fighting and his Hip-Hop Workshops


  1. By Ray Robinson

  2. Al Porter Jr. is a force to be reckoned with. As a cape less crime fighter, he has taken to utilizing the microphone as his secret weapon to bring people together. And, this brother has done a phenomenal job at doing just that.
  4. During a recent phone conversation with this community advocate, leader and undercover super hero-I asked about his longtime gathering of minds and music at his Hip-Hip Workshops housed on the campus of Cleveland State University and about the many exploits and experiences of the Black on Black organization that he belongs to.

    “Black on Black Crime Inc Hip-Hop Workshop was started in January 2004 in the Neighborhood Ping Pong and Chess House which was also the home of BBCI in the Historic city of East Cleveland. The Hip Hop Workshop was started to use Hip Hop to bring families together and with our tagline of “You Can be Mean but keep it Clean” so families can attend”, Porter stated.

Continue reading “Al Porter Jr. spits the truth about crime fighting and his Hip-Hop Workshops”

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Converse Introduces the Chuck Taylor All Star Play Lite CX for Kids

 

What to know

  • Converse is introducing its first lightweight, slip-on shoe for kids with the Chuck Taylor All Star Play Lite CX. It releases beginning March 1st
  • For the first time, Converse’s CX foam cushioning arrives in a kid-friendly silhouette that combines all-day comfort and easy on-off, helping ensure more time for play and less time for lacing up.
  • Strategically placed circular vent holes in the silhouette’s upper help little toes breathe, while the upper’s low cut and open design allows kids to easily slide their foot in and go. The Chuck Taylor All Star Play Lite CX is also simple to clean with water.

Continue reading “Converse Introduces the Chuck Taylor All Star Play Lite CX for Kids”

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Futuristic Cars Abound at Cleveland Auto Show

The Cleveland Auto Show showcased cars from yesterday, today and tomorrow. With every passing year, rising car prices have kept consumers holding on to their cars for an average of 10 years. Some cars at this year’s show topped $80,000-with many crossing the $100,000 mark.

Photos: Ray Robinson

 

 

 

 

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Teacher wins National Female Diversity STEM Award CMSD News Bureau

The late James Brown and his co-author, Betty Jean Newsome, once famously wrote a bestselling song called “It’s A Man’s World.”

The singers weren’t voicing opinions about the workforce that makes up computer science, computer engineering, or most other STEM fields. They may as well have been.

 

In 2022, females were awarded just 20 % of undergraduate degrees nationally in computer science and 22% of the degrees awarded in computer engineering. The rest of the degrees went to men, who dominate STEM-related industries and educational opportunities.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has an answer to this stark gender inequity. Her name is Tamilselvi (Tami) Sekaran.

Mrs. Sekaran is the 11th and 12th-grade computer science and AP computer science educator at the Cleveland Early College High School on the John Hay campus.

Last month, Mrs. Sekaran was announced as a 2023 recipient of the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.

With just over 800 schools being acknowledged nationally for their work toward equal gender representation in Computer Science Principles (CSP), the College Board noted that Mrs. Sekaran intentionally provides all her students with the necessary tools and access to excel in the traditionally male-dominated field of computer science.

“Mrs. Sekaran is a once-in-a-lifetime teacher,” said Cleveland Early College High School principal Staci Starr. “There is something to be said about the number of female students that want to take her class. The amount of time and effort she puts into her students is bar none.”

Mrs. Sekaran discovered her passion for computer science during her own high school experience while growing up in India. As she furthered her education, she also grew her self-confidence. She saw a need to help other females who may have been apprehensive to participate in AP-level computer science courses.

“I believe in my kids, and they trust me,” states Mrs. Sekaran.

“I tell them all, if I can do it, you can do it, and whatever I know, I make sure they know. I encourage them all to at least try, and they know not to tell me ‘No’ before they have at least attempted to do their best.”

The College Board’s diversity award recognizes schools that reach 50% or higher female examinee representation in one or both AP computer science courses or whose percentage of female examinees met or exceeded that of the school’s female population.

Mrs. Sekaran saw 86.4% of her students pass the 2019 AP Computer Science courses (before the pandemic led to remote learning) and 63.6% in 2023.

“Mrs. Sekaran has the highest expectations for everyone,” said 9th-grade math teacher Ryan Evensen-Hein. “She wants nothing less than your best effort because that’s what she gives to all her students.”

Mrs. Sekaran, who has taught for 15 years, has affected students and staff with her diligent efforts to identify and encourage students to participate in AP classes.

“I can’t tell you how much I have grown in the last two years working with Mrs. Sekaran,” says Evensen-Hein.

“She encourages kids all year long to just simply try, even if they just join an after-school program such as ‘Girls Who Code,’ offered through CASE Western Reserve; she’s a great motivator,” he added.

Mrs. Sekaran is quick to credit the efforts of Mrs. Chelsy Cook-Kohn, Director of the CMSD Tech Talent Pipeline, for being a wonderful resource for training connections through Cleveland State University.

“I didn’t want just to teach computer science, I wanted to teach AP, so whatever further training I needed during this time to teach AP courses, Chelsy helped make sure I got it with CSU,” she said.

Now, as a nationally recognized educator, Mrs. Sekaran knows that the future of females driving technological innovation starts with girls being introduced to computer science courses in high school or sooner. Using their secondary education as a stepping-stone to other advanced STEM educational opportunities helps prepare them for a bright future.

“I want my students to take AP courses,” says Mrs. Sekaran. “I tell them all to come, try it out, and believe in themselves. I’m just showing them the right path for the present work.”

 

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Coit Road Farmers Market Schedule

They’ve been playing with sour dough at Duplaga Farm. They’ll have bagels and English muffins in the morning along with eggs from their farm, some winter veggies, cheese, beef, and other interesting stuff.

 I’m pleased to announce that my fundraiser to provide market food vouchers to veterans raised $594.55 on the Go Fund Me and about $100 more outside of that. This will provide 28 sets of coupons this season. I will kick off the program in June and keep you updated via the FVVP Facebook page. We will continue to accept donations through coitmarket.org. Thank you!

This is the first Saturday of the month which means it’s Work Day in the Food Strong Learning Garden. It will be a beautiful morning to check out all the progress!

We have a change of hours this coming season. We’re going to slide those Wednesday hours back a bit and do a Tuesday evening market! We will be open Tuesday evenings from 5pm – 8pm. This market will include farmers and the other vendors you would expect at a farmers market but also be open to a wide variety of other vendors like flea market vendors, more prepared foods, more crafts, and pretty much everything. We are seeking vendors for this market so spread the word and bring your unique ideas to the market.

Save the date! Saturday April 13th will be our French Toast Breakfast featuring fresh Ohio maple syrup!

đź—ˇ See y’all in the morning! 🔪

Winter vendors

(Clockwise from the east doors)

  • 1) (Rotating)
    2) Miriam’s Pierogi
    3) Gloria’s Boutique
    4) Gwen’s Hats5) Inner City Bakery
    6) Lamar’s Pies
    7) Anthony Daria Honey
    8) Tim’s Urban Oasis
    9) Knivhugga10) Dream Glass Arts
    11) North Coast Novelties
    12) Rahamatu’s Health Clinic
    13) Duplaga Farm
    14) Angie’s Kitchen

    15) Lucky 19 Teas
    16) No Wheat, No Worries
    17) Gloria’s Green Garden
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Legendary Black Singers Sing Broadway Songs at the Regina Auditorium March 3rd

 


Why did Ella Fitzgerald record no less than eight songbook albums devoted to famous composers–all of them (except Duke Ellington) white songwriters for theater and film? “Because the songs are great!” she said, and many of her African American colleagues from the classic era agreed: Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Hartman, Maxine Sullivan, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Short–the list goes on. Continue reading “Legendary Black Singers Sing Broadway Songs at the Regina Auditorium March 3rd”

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Cleveland Clinic Ranked No. 2 Hospital in the World for Sixth Consecutive Year

Cleveland Clinic is ranked as the No. 2 hospital in the world for the sixth consecutive year by Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2024 list, while also being recognized for its commitment to patient experience. 

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (No. 186) and Cleveland Clinic Fairview (No. 232) are also recognized among the Top 250 hospitals in the world.  Continue reading “Cleveland Clinic Ranked No. 2 Hospital in the World for Sixth Consecutive Year”