Black Horizons; 2436; Crawford Square

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm sorry Hello President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, organizations are sponsoring to honor those who have served in time of war. We'll also look at Mom's house and how they are helping young people in their time of need. We've got all of that and our tenor calendar on today's Black Horizons. But before we examine any of that, let's turn our attention to the Hill District. Much has been said about the Crawford Square development. That's the development that's going on in the Hill and has been going on for some time now. What can be said now is that many new structures have replaced much of what was the lower hill. Soon many of these homes and apartments will be ready for occupancy. If you're in the market for a new

home or apartment and want a place of your own on this prime real estate that's close to downtown, then now is the time to make your move. Joining me to tell us how you may take advantage of what some say is a great opportunity is David Huffland, the assistant manager of Crawford Square. David, welcome to our program. There's been a lot of a do about what has been going on in the lower hill for many years, but you finally reached the stage where many of these buildings and homes are going to be ready for occupancy. There must be great joy at McCormick Barron. There is. There is. We're very happy to see you come. Okay. McCormick Barron developed these things and they have a history of developing these kinds of projects that have been good for various communities. Is that correct? That's correct, yeah. They do a lot of inner city housing and they don't hold back from going into areas that are considered depressed that other people won't invest in real estate. What do you think this is going to mean for this area? I think it's going to mean a lot.

It's going to be good for the community as far as people moving in to the community and to that lower hill which had been vacant for some time. It's going to be good for the economy of the hill area and it's going to be nice to see people moving back in that area. Okay. We have some footage. We showed some footage in the beginning of this and we have some more and we want to roll it right now and take a look at it and ask you to describe. Just what we see, some of these things are still under construction. You may hear some hammering in the background. These look like apartments, is that what they in fact are? That's what they are. Those are apartments that will house anywhere from 10 to 12 units. The design is real nice. The outside is supposed to be that of large houses and each unit is somewhat different than the other units are. So it's not like a plan, it's all the same and you go from one apartment to the other and the other. Exactly, right.

What are some of the amenities? Some of the amenities are, there are washers and dryers in the unit. There are balconies on some of the rear units as you can see there. There is going to be a swimming pool, wall -to -wall carpeting, central air conditioning. We have control of the access parking, off -street parking, and you want to have to fight for parking. You want to have to fight for parking, not there. Some units will even have wood burning fireplaces. Wood burning fireplaces. Wood burning fireplaces. It looks like it might be a great place to live. What about other services? People are always concerned when they move into a community about services, washers, dry as you mentioned, those, but grocery stores, those kinds of things, will they be close? We're hoping that the old Phoenix Shopping Center will be revitalized in that whole community area of the upper part of the hill area will come along with the lower part and that will bring in lots of stores so

people will be close to grocery shopping. People will be a lot close to a lot of other things that they need in the daily necessities. What can I expect if I'm to move into one of these apartments in the way of rent? Where are prices or anywhere from 450 to a one -bedroom up to 695 for a three -bedroom? And then there's various prices in between depending on what size two -bedrooms, because there are actually four different types of two -bedrooms. You can go anywhere from a two -bedroom apartment flat to a split -level townhouse to a regular -sized townhouse, and it also depends on bathroom size. We're going anywhere from one -and -a -half bathrooms to two bathrooms in the units. Will you continue to manage them or will McCormick bear in turn this over to a local agency and are they out of Dodge and washing their hands up? We are McCormick bear. We're the management staff of McCormick bear, so we're there and we're there to stay. So people can count on quality management all the way through? Exactly right. What kind of

services will you provide as the managers in terms of being able to move into these things where you know the fears that people are concerned about gentrification. It's going to be set up for whites only. How are you going to help the people who would displace from these areas move back in, particularly at the rates that you're talking about for apartments? Anybody who would qualify under McCormick bear's criteria, who had been relocated from the area, were basically giving them first preference to move back in. Again, as far as as long as they meet the criteria of McCormick bear. Well, what is that criteria? We do credit reports. We do a past and present landlord history. If you're into the market rent category, we're looking for your monthly income to be, we're looking for your annual income, your monthly income to be sufficient to that of four times what the monthly rent is. If you're into a category what's called affordable rate, which is a tax credit based program, you have

to be at a certain minimum and maximum amount of an annual income. Now these are not subsidized houses already? No, they're not federally low income subsidized housing, what it is is an IRS tax credit based program. What does that mean? Well, what happens is the investors in the property get somewhat of a tax credit break from the government and in turn, what they need to do is make a certain percentage of the units at an affordable rate. To give you a quick example, one person who will qualify for one bedroom has to be a minimum annual income of $14 ,400 and a maximum income of $15 ,204. So it almost sounds affordable for a wonderful new home. Will you be selling homes also later? There will be houses that will be built for sale. It's not just rental area, what about private homes? These look like large homes, but in fact they're in small, not small, but they divide it up into apartments, right? Right. Yeah.

So you will be selling homes later? We will be selling homes later. How much farther do you have to go as far as construction is concerned? And selling the homes they just broke the ground this week and I really can't give you a time barrier on when that's going to be, but it's up and coming in it soon. Okay. If people are interested and want to get in touch with you in the office or find out more about renting or buying a home in Crawford Square, what do they do? How do they call you? They can call our office and we're open from 830 to 530 Monday through Friday and they can reach us at 281 -9955. If they're interested in purchasing, they can contact Lena Spearman from Reality World and they can get in touch with her at 361 -504. Okay. You're that first number again because people are going to get confused with all the others. The rentals are the only ones you have right now. Right. Exactly right. Yes. 281 -9955. They would help them. Thanks for being here. Thank you. A success with Crawford Square and I hope people really will be able to move back in who we're displaying. We hope so too. All right. Thank you. Well, Veterans Day is November the

11th. We are getting a bit of a jump on it here at Horizons, but we want you to know all about the activities that are being planned. W -Q -E -D is planning something special for all vets, but something really special for black vets. On November 11th, we will air two programs that are truly part of the American experience. I'll be right back to tell you about one of them after you see this preview of a profile of the unit that the movie glory was based on. They are the forgotten soldiers of America's bloodiest war, over 175 ,000 black Americans who fought for justice and the end of slavery. They wanted to be part of that struggle to get freedom for all black people. Now, after 126 years, this is their story. Morgan Freeman, married to portrait of the brave men of the 54th Massachusetts colored infantry. Profiles, the Massachusetts 54th colored

infantry airs November 11th at 11 p .m. Now, earlier that same evening, a new program titled Liberators Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II will air. We are the only people who ever had to fight in order to die for their country, so I'm sure that you understand what the title of that program means. Again, it's Liberators Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II, and it airs on Veterans Day November 11th at 9 p .m. With me now are a couple of veterans who serve their country well doing war and are serving even better doing peace. Here are Mike Forner, the Veterans Resource Center, and Chris Jenkins of the Black Vietnam Era Veterans Incorporated. Gentlemen, welcome to our program. I guess we are so much past the experience of Vietnam now, but not really past it. We see presidential politics still arguing whether or not someone served and someone did not serve. What's interesting to me of all the 27 million men who were eligible to serve in Vietnam, only two and a half million actually

went, so anybody who's questioning anyone's service or patriotism should ask themselves, what did you do during the war? I would think. I would totally agree with that. I find it very hilarious. At the time, more people were trying to get out of going to the Vietnam War. Now they bring up an issue of who didn't want to go. The mass exodus of people going to Canada, the reestablishment of these individuals coming back to the United States. None of that became a big issue, but now they want to argue about who didn't want to go. Nobody wanted to go. I mean, I don't understand why that's such a big issue, and I think Mike was gone, who. How about that, sir? I think the question would have been answered very loudly and very pointedly if someone had to survey some of the troops out in California and Seattle, Washington as they were hoarding clings and ships heading for Vietnam. I don't think too many people were

excited about going at that time. Well, now we're back. You guys are serving in different kinds of capacities. I'm particularly excited about what the black Vietnam era veterans are doing. Tell us about your tour of duty home and what's going on there, Chris. The tour of duty home has been open for two years. It's located at 6700 McPherson Boulevard. It's a home for homeless veterans with possible substance abuse history. The individual, we can house up to eight individuals and we've been fooled since opening. Programs that we offer there are credit history pair, NAA counseling, and also group counseling. We offer discharge upgrade because a awful lot of veterans through the Vietnam War came back with bad paper for our most amazing situation. I can't believe how many brothers I knew who were like, you know, 150 days from getting out, and they take bad papers because they couldn't take it out. That's right, and

that decision at an 18 and 19, well, 19 and 20 -year -old person made at that time, here they are, they're 40, 42, and it's following them tearing them apart, probably destroying their families. It's making it very, very, extremely hard for individuals to find employment or to maintain employment. So, those decisions, you'd be surprised, but those decisions affect your life for a very, very long period of time. Mike, you must be happy to see groups like this come together because it aids the kind of work that you're trying to do, I guess it's being part of the federal government system. Well, the BBEV actually started, it was formed by a group of veterans who had sought some assistance at the VA Veterans Administration, the Vets Center. And after adjusting somewhat and being assisted by the Veterans Administration, these veterans form a self -help group to continue and support each other in the community. And the results of that self -help group is the BBEV, which has been existing now with Chris

about 12 years. So that, and it is a self -help group, they're continuing to do the work that was started within the Vets Center services, but this work is being done by veterans supporting other veterans now. I think that that's a super feeling, it must be a very modest, too, because Mike was one of the original founders of the organization, so he didn't want to bring that up, but yes, I have to give it to him. There's some other issues that need to be looked at around Veterans Day. Number one, it's the 10th anniversary of probably the most visited monument in Washington right now, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, isn't it? Well, the 10th anniversary will be celebrated on November 11th, and it will be the 11th, November 11th will be the end of an entire year of activities that have been sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation. The major activities that have been going on will

terminate in Washington, DC, beginning on November 4th in where we'll have a whole series of activities, seminars, workshops, art exhibits, exhibitions, and programs dedicated to homeless veterans, this is one of the major one impact programs that will be held on that week, and these activities will run from November 4th through November 11th in Washington, DC. What's the biggest problem you see Vets having now? The major problems that Veterans have is the major problems that all, if particularly in the City of Communities have, you have an unemployment, you have an drug and alcohol problem, you have in homelessness, you have in situation with the lack of educational opportunities, these are the problems of the major population in general, but Veterans make up a very significant proportion of all problems to individuals in these areas, like veterans of homeless, in the Pittsburgh area, we estimate that the males

age is 35 to 55, roughly 60 % of the males in the City of Pittsburgh that are homeless are veterans. Chris, the time is running short, but you're reaching out to more than just veterans, right? You're reaching out to young people too. That's right. Our veteran's, our tour duty home has entered a mentoring program with the Pittsburgh public school system, and we are mentors at the Fulton Elementary School. We have come up with a program called 60 Acres in the Mule, 60 Acres in the Mule, it's a very unique program because it's joining all of the rights of past as programs in the City. We are joining them together for a program that happens after school period is overweight and also during the summertime, so it's one of the very first programs of its kind that we'll be dealing with that. We will be teaching applied math and science through, at the 60 Acres in the Mule, complex itself. It's up in Kaniyat Lake, and one mile from Kaniyat Lake, a mile and a half, it sounds like a super opportunity to get kids away from an

urban environment. From the urban environment, get them out into nature. To be with other men, so that they can learn about what it is to be a man. A lot of those rights of past as programs are just not happening for a young man. I think they result in the kinds of things that we see now. Is there a phone number? People can call the veteran's resources. Well, the veteran's resource in it's available to all veterans of the Vietnam, Eero, the Persian Gulf, the Panama, and of course, veterans that are in Grenada. Our number is 678 -7704. We're open from 8 to 430 Monday through Friday and in the afternoon by appointment. Okay, and Chris, if they want to get in touch with your group. Our organization, two phone numbers, 3618 -8794, it's a tour of duty home, and our main office, number is 3618 -331, and we're again also open to all veterans. Gentlemen, we thank you for being here, and we appreciate the information that

you've passed on, and hope veterans will be able to take advantage of it. That's our pleasure. Happy Veterans Day, team. All right. Welcome home. It's time now for our Tana calendar. By now, most of you know that it is our arts calendar, but some of you don't, because I still get requests to plug all sorts of non -arts -related events. Well, you can't get that stuff by me, okay, so I'll stop sending it. This is our arts calendar. This week, we begin with what has to be one of America's oldest forms of African art. Basket weaving. If you always wanted to see and appreciate this ancient art in action, here's your chance. Now until Sunday, November 1st, noir lifestyles invite you to meet Jerry B. Taylor, sweet grass basket maker. There's a reception today from 4 to 9 p .m. and tomorrow from 2 p .m. to 6 p .m. noir lifestyles is located at 1 -1 -07 East Carson Street on the south side, from one information

call 4 -3 -1 -1 -1 -3 -1. Now until December 11th, from 10 a .m. to 7 p .m., the Kingsley's African Heritage Program will have an exhibition of traditional African artifacts at the Kingsley Center, located at 61 -18 pin circles south. You will see hundreds of masks, statues, textiles, and bronze items for additional information calls 6 -6 -1 -8751. News for you, Museum Buffs. From November 6th through December 27th, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts opens migrations of meaning. In the National Gallery, this exhibition explores the interaction between African, Indian, and European traditions on the contemporary art of the Americas and the Caribbean. Migrations of meaning also raises issues which include education, cross -cultural appropriation, and the vitality of the visual arts in the next century. For information call 3 -6 -1 -0 -8

-7 -3. Remember, if you have an arts event, I say that is arts event, that you would like to have on our Tana calendar, please write to us at the Tana calendar, 4 -8 -0 -2 -5th Avenue, Pittsburgh P .A. 15 -213. Mom's house was founded to offer single low -income student parents an opportunity to complete their educations and get good jobs and break the welfare cycle. Here to tell us more about Mom's house, Beth Bainis, who is the program director for the Mom's house located in Swissville and Tequima, a Mom's house graduate and her daughter, Martika. Welcome. Thank you. How are you doing? Fine. Okay. Glad to see you here. Beth, may I just ask you a little bit more about Mom's house? What sort of relief are you able to provide for young mothers who want to continue their education? We offer a series of different services for our clients. The biggest service being free child care while our clients are at school. We also offer tutoring, parenting classes,

and help with needed items such as clothing and food. Mm -hmm. As a graduate of Mom's house, how was that help, able to help you? Let me ask you that, Tequima. Help me in many ways. It helped me to relieve some of my stress because whenever I had stressful problems I'd always go to Beth and tell her about all my problems. So that helped me relieve some of my problems and sometimes when I ran out of food, needed food, I'd kind of say, Beth, I need some food. She'd give me some food, make sure she ate, and make sure she had clothes on her back. You call her Tequima, but her name is Martika, right? She's Martika. Okay. She's waving at the camera. She was herself on TV. When she was a beautiful young child, would you have been able to make it really without Mom's help? I don't think so, because I would have had to rely on people like her aunt and my, because my aunt and different people would always have something to do so where they can't take kids. And I

would have to miss days of school so that I could take her because you can't take a child to high school. Mm -hmm. So you were in high school when you got pregnant, and so you were able to continue because of the daycare, not only the financial help, but the daycare. Understand Mom's house also gives scholarships for people who are seeking other kinds of education, is that correct? Right. We offer fundraisers that all of the moms participate in, and then they in turn can apply for a Mom's house scholarship in April that will help them with school. Mm -hmm. She sees herself with, she's going to be quite a talker, I guess, when she gets to be some size and she's a beautiful child. If, again, you were talking about fundraisers. Did you participate in the fundraisers and the mother? Yeah, every year. I have participated. I have rolled back into her hair. Every year since 89, I've participated, no, not 89, since 90, I've participated in the rocker thorn.

We just had to thirt, rocker thorn, and I always participated in an individual fundraisers. We had at the house, like, for selling individual items. So it's worth it, for you. And each Mom's house has to raise its own money to help you. You get some community development propaganda, but you really raise your own money, is that correct? Right, right. We have a person who's in charge of coming up with the money to fund the program. It's very expensive to keep the clients and their children there because we serve both the mothers and the children as a big expense. Tika, how old are you? One? You older than one. One more. You just one? Two. Two? Okay, two things. All right. When you're raising the money, are you always, and I guess it is true of organizations that are trying to help, you're probably always a little bit short and could use a little bit more help. Exactly. We provide all the diapers for the children as well as the food, right, and

it is a big expense, so we can always use any kind of outside help that we could possibly get. And the moms really help a lot with their fund raising that comes in handy. I guess you could help a lot more if you had more to help. How many people are you able to assist? Well we can take 25 children within the program, but it's actually 50 because we serve both clients and their children. And then there's an additional moms house in Brookline, and they can take 18 children there. Is there a way that people can help? Is there a phone number that you can give if people are interested in offering assistance to moms house? You could call either of our offices. The moms house in Brookline is five, three, one moms, and the one in Swiss Valley is 271 baby. Tika, you can't sit still. You want to come over and sit with me, and you can stay with me. Oh, she'll get shy now. OK, I don't get it still. I guess

you're going to be a mom's house volunteer the rest of your life for what they've been able to do to you. Probably. I mean, it's a good organization, and I have a golden heart as I've been told when it comes to kids. I just love kids. This is longer than that model. I mean, I love her, no, but as long as in that model, and I'm better with other people's kids. OK, well I'm sure you do well with Tika, and she's a beautiful young child, and I'm glad you were all able to be here again at phone number one more time. Five, three, one moms, or two, seven, one baby. OK, thanks very much for being here. We appreciate it, and we hope that people will get involved and help moms house house. Thank you. Well, we're all out of time for this edition of Black Horizons. I'm Chris Moore, saying that remember, you can hear me on WCXJ Radio 1550. I'm the hardest working man in show business, and I'll be there on Black Talk every week day morning from 7 to 10 a .m. Come here. You want to see yourself on TV? There you are right there. Look at it. You want to look at the monitor. But we'll leave a see you there, or we'll see you here. OK,

way by. Look that way and way by. Bye. Bye. Bye.

Bye. Bye.