< PreviousBUSINESS NEWS Re-opening PA for Business After Coronavirus Will Be Piecemeal and Data-Driven: Health Secretary by John Luciew One question dominated Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine’s Saturday press briefing: When and how will PA re-open after the coronavirus shutdown? In answering the many and varied press questions on the topic, Levine sketched out how state officials were preparing to re-open Pennsylvania for business. But as for the biggest question of all – when? – Levine couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say. Truth is, the resumption of business in the state won’t be one big, grand re-opening. Rather, Pennsylvania will reboot piecemeal, with some counties, even specific municipalities, getting the all-clear based on key COVID-19 data, while other parts of the state will re- main shut down, Levine indicated. “(We) are working on plans for when and how Pa. will re-open in progressive, iterative fashion. Now is not the time. We have to protect the public health and save lives,” Levine said. As for the data that will drive that re-opening position on a county-by-county, even municipal- ity-by-municipality basis, Levine said the total number of cases in an area, the number of new cases being reported there, as well as the percentage of positive test results per capita all will play a key role. “When we see COVID-19 is going down … and there is much less community spread, I think that is the time in certain area of Pennsylvania to lift the ban,” Levine said. She added the data-driven resumption of business would be done in a “progressive way” while “watching closely for new outbreaks.” In response to a reporter’s ques- tion, Levine acknowledged smart phone apps that trace users’ daily geographical footprints and who else they encounter in daily routines could be coupled with other apps tracking people’s temperature and other health data points in order to better monitor and control future outbreaks once stay-home orders are lifted. “There is a lot of different data we will be looking at in specific counties, and even specific municipalities,” she said. “How prominent COVID-19 is in that area. When we see all those measures going down in a progressive way for a period of time, that is when we will be lifting those closing orders.” While weeks of social distanc- ing by Pennsylvanians has “bent the curve” of the pandemic here, Levine said COVID-19 peaks will be different in various parts of the state. For example, Philadelphia and surrounding counties could be reaching their surge points in the coming week, while other parts of the states are further away from the highpoint in their coronavirus curves. Saturday morning, Pennsylvania has more than 21,000 diagnosed cases, including more than 1,000 medical personnel, of the corona- virus, covering all 67 counties, and nearly 500 deaths, all adults. And in praising Pennsylvanians for working together to keep one another safe by isolating, Levine said now’s not the time to relent. “We’re going to be watching the data,” she said. “The virus determines the timetable. It is impossible to give you a date. I can’t tell you a date. Now is the time to continue those measures, not get rid of them.” Minority-owned Media NOT FORGOTTEN in Stimulus Legislation by Stacy M. Brown, For New Pittsburgh Courier African American-owned media companies and small businesses are included in the massive $2 trillion coro- navirus stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Senate. “Yes, this does include minori- ty-owned media. They are included as small businesses,” a top-ranking Sen- ate source told NNPA Newswire. A closer read of the 888-page leg- islation reveals that $10 million has been allocated for minority business centers for technical assistance. Another $10 million has been designated for the Minority Busi- ness Development Agency within the Department of Commerce to provide grants to Minority Business Centers and Minority Chambers of Commerce to provide counsel- ing, training, and education on federal resources and business response to the COVID-19 for small businesses. In response to COVID-19, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade organization of the nation’s African American-owned newspapers and media companies, established a Coronavirus Task Force and Resource Center to assist the Black community through the pandemic. The task force and resource center “appears to meet the criteria for fed- eral assistance through the stimulus bill,” the Senate source added. The legislation also eliminates the Minority Business Center program’s non-federal match requirement for three months. It allows for centers to waive fee- for-service requirements through September 2021. “All of us had to come together to agree on bipartisan legislation to send an infusion of desperately needed resources to our public health systems, state, local, and tribal governments, small businesses, and American work- ers,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated. “Our nation is no stranger to adversity. But during difficult times, our nation comes together to help and support each other,” Schumer added. “Democrats are ready to give our unanimous consent to speed up the consideration of the bill and get the job done. Let’s get it done for America’s workers.” Opinion: Crippling Impact of Corona- virus on Black Businesses by Defender News I have talked to many African American business owners about the effect that COVID-19 has had on their business, and there were mixed reviews. Some businesses were struggling, and others were having record days. All of the businesses had lost revenue in one way or another. Hair salons saw many seniors cancel their appointments because they were in the high-risk category for COVID-19, and people who had big ticket hair appointments on the books (i.e. braids, weaves, etc..) were also cancelling with many local stylists because they didn’t want to be around that many people for an extended period of time. Many local restaurants saw lucrative catering jobs float out the window as companies allowed people to work from home and the state and county governments limited gatherings to less than 250 people. Times were getting tight for many, but they were still able to survive. But this week, state and county officials put a dagger right in the heart of the African American busi- ness community. They not only closed restaurants, bars, and gyms. But they limited gatherings to less than 50 people, which definitely eliminated the thought of going to church, and they also shut down barber and beauty shops – which are dispropor- tionately represented in the African American community, as a signifi- cant number of African American entrepreneurs fall under three categories – restaurant owners, hair- stylists and barbers. Combine their closings with the loss of revenue to the African American church com- 8 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020BUSINESS NEWS munity, and the economic pillars of our community are potentially in dire straits. This is not to diminish the economic impact and hardships that the Greater Seattle business community is facing with regards to COVID-19, because we all are suffering. Many people are out of work and others are struggling to pay business and personal bills. But our political leaders must recognize the impact that their decisions have on people of color, and the Black people who advise them need to talk to them only in terms of Black folks when it comes to our issues. Now in fairness to our political leadership, they have utilized all of the tools at their disposal to help slow the spread of COVID-19 to what they hope are manageable levels that won’t overrun our local health care systems, and I don’t think many of us want to be in their shoes right now. While I do agree that our politi- cal leaders have done a great job in handling our current health crisis, I believe they could have given our business community a little more guidance in what they were expecting them to do, rather than believing that people would know what to do and act accordingly if they truly wanted a better outcome. For instance, I believe they failed to communicate with the barber/ beauty industry that they should have voluntarily staggered their work times and significantly limited the number of clients inside their business at one time, if that was an option or optimistic outcome. I also believe that restaurants should have been advised to limit patrons to about 20-25 percent of their normal capacity. Again, a failure, in my opinion, to properly communicate the desired actions, outcomes and possible next steps, if any. At this point, all of that is water under the bridge. We can point fingers and blame all over the place. We can blame the people who kept packing clubs, bars and restaurants. We can blame the owners who allowed people to come in and spend money without regard to maintaining proper social distanc- ing measures to help limit personal contact with one another. Or we can blame the politicians that made the tough decisions that we elected them to do. But the truth of the matter is that we all must face the reality that more change is coming – either vol- untarily or involuntarily. If people do not get the message and alter their social behavior, we may see a complete lockdown. As it stands right now, we have the ability to leave our homes whenever we want. But if we, as a community, continue to push the envelope we may see more of the freedoms go away. Fortunately, our community has a long history of adapting, trans- forming and uplifting ourselves out of difficult situations and building monuments in new frontiers that await the masses. How Black Businesses can survive in Coronavirus Lockdown New Pittsburgh Courier With commerce drying up and the entire service economy grinding to a halt in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that business leaders, from the captains of industry to mom and pop bakeries, take pains to navigate this crisis carefully and deliberately. This is not the time to panic. Businesses can survive this – and business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Liz Elting can speak to how. Elting, who famously shepherded her company TransPer- fect from a dorm-room startup into a billion-dollar enterprise through both 9/11 and the 2008 financial meltdown, knows how to handle a growing and unpredictable crisis and wants to help businesses over- come this challenge. NINE NECESSITIES FOR BUSINESS SURVIVAL IN A CRISIS 1 Reassure your team. “You can’t predict the future, but you must do what you can to provide calm, steady leadership by renewing your commitment to the people who work for you. Set the tone, and everyone else will follow.” 2 Have backup plans for your backup plans. “Much of the world is lurching suddenly over to primarily work-from-home arrangements, which comes with its own set of problems. Tools like conference call systems are already being overwhelmed by volume be- yond capacity, so you need to know what you’re going to do when your plans fall through. The whole world is rushing to find technological solutions, and that’s going to take time. Plan accordingly.” 3 Maintain person-to-per- son contact. “After 9/11, flights in the United States were grounded for weeks, which meant that business travel was impossible. Thankfully, here in 2020 we have tools we didn’t have nineteen years ago to keep in touch. That means that it’s time to back off from email and text and engage more over voice or video. Don’t become a disconnected presence.” 4 Proactive communica- tion. “If you weren’t a big commu- nicator before, you have to step up and be one now. You need to be proactive and make sure your team and your customers know what’s happening step by step. Stay connected, stay together, and make sure your team knows they’re not alone. You need to up your commu- nication game. And that extends to clients as well. See what they need, because their needs are changing day by day. The better you stay on top of those needs, the stronger your business will be.” 5 ABC – Always be closing. “You need to hustle like you’ve never hustled before. There will be a strong tendency for potential clients to grow timid in these uncertain times, but the same goes for your competition. Be forthright, be out there, and offer solutions to the problems of this strange new world we’re suddenly in. Don’t retrench. Don’t retreat.” 6 Invest in work-from- home solutions. “I know the temptation right now is to preserve cash. But you need to keep your business running, and that’s not going to happen with half-measures or workarounds. Productivity is already going to be struggling right now; don’t let bad tools make it worse. Find a solution that fits your business, and make it work. Give your team time to get up to speed, too; there is going to be a learning curve, so make sure to emphasize scheduling and goal-setting to keep everyone on track.” 7 Remember that you aren’t alone. “You don’t have to solve this crisis at once, and luckily, it’s not your responsibility to do it by your- self. You’ve hired a team you trust and believe in. Now is the time to lean on their collective experience, intelligence, and wisdom to help make the right decisions.” 8 Reevaluate your finances. “These are going to be lean times the likes of which the United States hasn’t faced in quite a while. Cut where you can. If you are in a po- sition to get out of a lease on office space, well, your team is already working from home anyway. Let the space go, and get that cash back. Do whatever you can to preserve cash flow without cutting people. And the Fed is busy injecting capital into the financial system and slashing interest rates, which means cash is going to be cheap.” 9 Act with integrity. “You need to understand the weight of the historical moment we are in. This is not a time to shirk respon- sibilities or balk on commitments. Reaffirm your commitment to your team. If your company is healthy, you have a responsibility to support your team through this crisis. These are times that make and break leaders, and it’s going to require vision and a commitment to the common good to make it through. We have an opportunity here to not only survive the crisis, but to create whatever comes after. continued on page 28 WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 9LATINO NEWS On Feb. 20, the Greater Philadelphia His- panic Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Alegria Ball, a fundraising event to fund its core programs and honor Hispanic businesses and professionals. Th e Hispanic community in the United States is growing and continuing to make significant contributions and impact each year. One of the ways in which this is being done is through entrepreneurship, as there are currently more than 4.4 million Hispanic-owned business- es in the United States, with the likelihood of that number continuing to rise. “As the Hispanic population continues to grow, it is also maturing and acquiring higher levels of education and wealth,” said Jennifer Rodriguez, president & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In the 30 years since the Greater Philadel- phia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GPHCC) has been established, it has played a huge role in helping influence that growth. During the 30th annual Alegria Ball on Feb. 20, the Chamber celebrated and honored Hispanic businesses and entrepreneurship with its Excelencia Awards. Angel Corella, artistic director of the Pennsylvania Ballet, was awarded the Hispanic Professional of the Year award; LUHV Food, family-owned vegan and gluten-free food manufacturer and restaurant, was awarded the Hispanic Business of the Year award; and Visit Philadelphia, with its “Filadelfia - You Gotta Feel It” marketing campaign, was awarded the Corporate Initiative of the Year. Each award recipient highlighted the preva- lence of Hispanic entrepreneurship across Phila- delphia, as well as the diversity that exists among the Hispanic community. Corella, originally from Spain, said he realized he wanted to be a dancer when he was six years old, to less-than-ideal reactions. However, he followed his dream and it has since helped him gain worldwide acclaim and establish himself as one of the most recognizable names in dance. “I think it is really important in the Hispanic community to support your kids, to introduce them to the arts [and] to not feel threatened by it,” he said as he accepted his award. As she accepted her award, Silvia Lucci, co-owner and co-founder of LUHV Food, detailed her journey coming to the United States of Growth and Achievement If you think you qualify, call 412-350-4309. Allegheny County Department of Equity and Inclusion 542 Forbes Ave• 204 County Office Building • Pittsburgh,PA 15219 DEICertification@alleghenycounty.us YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: •Are you a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident? •Is your firm 51% owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual who controls and manages the firm’s daily business operations? •Does your personal net worth not exceed $1.32 million? Jennifer Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Lou Rodriguez, chairman of the Greater Philadel- phia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce during the 2020 Alegría Ball 10 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020 by Jensen Toussaint 30 YEARS in Philadelphia’s Hispanic Community CelebratingLATINO NEWS AT 777 CASINO DRIVE, PITTSBURGH PA 15212 RIVERSCASINO.COM BOOK YOUR EVENT TODAY! (412) 566–4486 VENUE OF ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES Pedro A. Cortes was sworn in as Reading's new managing director at Monday night's meeting of the city council. "It's an honor and a great privilege to serve you and all the citizens of Reading," Cortes said to the council members. "Reading has a special place in my heart." Cortes is a two-time state secretary, having served Gov. Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2010, and most recently serving Gov. Tom Wolf up until 2017. He was the first Latino cabinet member and the lon- gest-serving secretary of state in Pennsylvania history. Cortes said he often came to Reading to recruit for the state government when he served as Penn- sylvania's secretary of state. He said the city's best days are still to come. "This is for me a great opportunity to lend the knowledge [of] the skills I've learned over my 20 years i n state government and training in academics to contribute positively to the revitalization of the city," Cortes said. Reading Mayor Eddie Moran recommended Cortes to the council. He said he's confident that Cortes' vast experience in state government will be beneficial to the city as a whole. "I am honored to have Mr. Cortes on my team, someone of his caliber," Moran said. Cortes said community development is very important. He said it's important to show the commu- nity that it has a friend in the office of the managing director who "is going to listen attentively to the... needs of everyone." Pedro Cortes sworn in as Reading's Managing Director Reading has a new Managing Director from Argentina and opening a family business — as well as the importance of veganism. “At LUHV, we truly believe we can change the world by the way we eat,” she said. “Veganism is considered today the most crucial way to impact the global warming situation.” As the topic of diversity continues to be a buzzword across the city, and the nation, Visit Philadelphia makes sure to promote it as much as possible. “We celebrate diversity,” said Visit Philadelphia CEO Jeff Guaracino. “We live it, we commit to it and we put action behind it every single day.” He further highlighted how tourism plays a role in aiding the Hispanic Chamber’s mission by creating jobs in the industry, in which there are about 103,000 available jobs in the city. As we move forward, the Hispanic community in both Philadelphia and the United States are expected to grow exponentially and continue adding value to the economy. “The Hispanic community of this country is the economic engine of our future,” said Ramiro Cavazos, president & CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. More than 350 attendees were at the 2020 Alegria Ball, including elected officials, govern- ment agencies, financial institutions, community & government affairs staff, economic devel- opment agency staff, Latino leaders, business owners, corporate leaders and more. WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 11HEALTH NEWS Rhonda M. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H Senior Medical Director, Medical Management and Quality Highmark Inc. Corbett’s work started in January when researchers first learned of reports of a unique illness that was similar to pneumonia. It was then that doctors at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland began hunting for a vaccine. Vaccines take a long time to develop, the process taking up to two years at times, and while they may not necessarily be helpful in the beginning of an outbreak, they can prove vital later down the line. Th e team in charge of those eff orts is led by Dr. Corbett. Th ey are currently using the template for the SARS vaccine since the Coronavirus comes from the same family, swapping genetic code to make it more palatable for the current virus in a strategy that Corbett calls “plug and play.” Now Corbett and her team have begun running the first human trials of the vaccine in Seattle, just 66 days after the initial viral sequence release, which she says is “a testament to rapid vaccine development for emerging diseases.” Th e mRNA-1273 vaccine is relying on volunteers to test. Participants will receive two doses of the vaccine that are monitored 28 days apart in an eff ort to see how well the medicine “stimulates an immune response to a protein on the virus’s surface. Phase 1 will only test on 45 patients but the second phase of the trial will require a larger number of participants, Forbes reports. “Finding a safe and eff ective vaccine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 is an urgent public health priority. Th is Phase 1 study, launched in record speed, is an important first step toward achieving that goal,” said Anthony S. Fauci, head of the NIAID. According to Dr. Corbett’s bio, she is “a viral immunologist by training” whose “research interests entail elucidating mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and host immunity as they pertain to vaccine development.” In other words, she’s the right woman leading the charge. In 2008, Corbett graduated from the University of Maryland – Baltimore County with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences and another one in Sociology. She was also an NIH scholar and a Meyerhoff Scholar. She went on to earn her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014. Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes Cases Rising Among Youth in 'Surprising' New CDC Study by Elaina Athans A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study is shining light on an alarming increase of in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children and teenagers. "We were not expecting that," said UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Nutrition Chair Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Type 1 diabetes is a disorder where the body does not produce insulin and cells cannot absorb sugar from the blood stream. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 cases among youth shot up seven percent in the last 10 years, according to the study. Th e number of Type 1 cases is also rising, which is particularly con- cerning for medical professionals since it requires constant maintenance of insulin and can propel kids on a diff erent lifestyle path. "Type 1 diabetes is very difficult to live with," Mayer-Davis said. "It requires vigilance every day through the day to take care of yourself in terms of your blood sugar to avoid really serious acute complications day-to-day, let alone the long term complications." She said that Type 1 is usually prevalent among relatively wealthy, white children, but even that is changing. "African-American kids and Hispanic kids especially, we're see the fastest increase in Type 1 diabetes." Medical professionals don't know why these increases are happening. Medical professionals said diabetes risk is not based solely on what kids- -or adults--eat. Environment also plays a role. When it comes to Type 1, there are warning signs and symptoms parents should be looking out for with their child: • Weight loss • Lethargy • Extensively hunger or thirst • Getting up frequently in the middle of the night to use the restroom "If you can get your child diagnosed sooner rather than later, you reduce risk for really serious complications early on," said Mayer-Davis. AFRICAN AMERICANS AND COVID-19: IT’S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a doctor with the national Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is leading eff orts to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus Dr. Corbett and the Search for a Vaccine 12 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020 COVID-19 (new coronavirus disease) is a highly conta- gious viral disease. Persons acquire this infection from expo- sure to people who have had COVID-19 and by breathing infected droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. Did you know that people can transmit the virus without even knowing they are sick? Th ese “silent spreaders” can carry the virus but show no sign of it (as- ymptomatic people). Others can have the virus and spread it in the early phase of the disease before they show symptoms (presymptomatic people). Th e coronavirus aff ects people diff erently and the medical experts don’t really understand why. What is known that some peo- ple have no symptoms; some people have mild symptoms; others develop severe symptoms including pneumonia, respiratory failure and death. Did you also know that certain medical conditions may increase the risk of dying from COVID-19? High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease, HIV/AIDS are some examples. Age may increase your risk - people 60 years and older, especially those with chronic conditions, may be at increased risk of dying from COVID-19. As of April, 2020, there is no known treatment or cure or vaccine. COVID-19 SYMPTOMS – HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT? According to the Centers for Disease Control, the symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the coronavirus:HEALTH NEWS WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 13 & ffice of workforce planningbusiness & supplier diversity Myneca Y. Ojo, Director • 717.831.7333 • mojo@paturnpike.com FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES & INTERNSHIPS: www.paturnpike.com/yourTurnpike/employment.aspx FOR BUSINESS & CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES: www.paturnpike.com/business/business_supplier_diversity.aspx Driving Diversity & Inclusion through Commitment & Opportunity ceo intern fellows program for diverse groupscommunity participation & cultural awareness • Fever • Cough • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing Other symptoms can include: • Tiredness • Sore throat • Aches and pains • Diarrhea or abdominal discomfort • Loss of smell or taste When to Call Your Doctor or Clinic If you have been in contact with someone diagnose with COVID-19, contact your doctor, clinic or health care practitioner right away for medical advice. If you have emergency symptoms – trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, blue lips or face, seek care right away. African Americans Are More Likely to Die Th e coronavirus can infect and kill anyone – no matter how young or old; woman or man; or race or ethnicity. Not every county or state in the nation is reporting their COVID-19 deaths by race and ethnicity. However, in states where this data is known, for example, Mississippi, Michigan, Louisiana and Illinois, African Ameri- cans are dying in high numbers. COVID-19 AND AFRI- CAN AMERICANS – WHAT IS GOING ON? African Americans have a higher burden of chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and asthma, conditions known to be associated with more severe complications from COVID-19. African Americans may be more likely to live in densely packed areas and live in over-crowded housing. Th is makes social distanc- ing more challenging and increases the risk of spread. African Americans may have also been misinformed. Th ere were many rumors and ‘myths’ circulating in the early days of the pandemic for example - that black people were immune from coronavirus for exam- ple. Additionally, a lack of access to health care that is culturally sensitive, aff ord- able, trusted and respectful and a lack of adequate testing has been an issue. Many African Americans also rely on public trans- portation for their everyday needs, are more likely to work in service sector jobs and unable to work from home – thus increasing their risk of exposure. What is not likely going on? Th at African Americans are not aware that they are dying – because COVID-19 has “hit home.” Most of us know people – they are our friends, athletes, artists, religious leaders, neighbors, family members, schools, co-workers, health care workers, bus drivers – who have recovered or sadly died from COVID-19. WHAT CAN AFRICAN AMERICANS DO TO STAY ALIVE? TAKE ACTION NOW! Here are some tips to help keep you safe during this time. • Continue to heed the official recommendations to stay at home if you can and practice social distancing. Social distancing means staying at least 6 feet away from other people whenever possible and practical. Parents - this does not mean you should stay away from your babies and young children who need your love and close supervision. • Wear face coverings when you are in public. • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds frequently throughout the day. • Avoid touching your face as the coronavirus can enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. • Clean all high contact surfaces at home often. Soapy warm water works well. • Plan your trips to the grocery store and pharmacy – so you have enough food to last two weeks if possible and medicine to last 30 days if possible. • Know the symptoms of COVID-19 and call your doctor, health clinic if you think you might have been exposed or have this infection. • Avoid going to the Emer- gency Room unless you have severe symptoms – difficulty breathing, turning blue around the lips or become confused or lethargic. For More Information • Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 website: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ index.html • Visit the PA Department of Health website: www. health.pa.gov/guides/ responding-to-covid-19/ • Call PA Department of Health 24 hour Hotline: 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1- 977-724-3258)Black History CELEBRATION RECEPTION TMAG 202016 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020SPRING 2020SPRING 2020NG 2NG 2SPRISPRINE •NE •GAZIGAZIK MAK MA16 | TALK MAGAZINE • 16 | TALK MAGAZINE • TAL TAL16 |16 | In the Summer of 2019, Th e Harrisburg City School District had been in the middle of academic ‘hot water’. After several failed attempts at reconstructing the district’s leadership and poor fiscal responsibility, the city came under receivership. Dr. Janet Samuels, Harrisburg School District’s state-appointed receiver eliminated several positions as a part of a very intentionally progressive recovery plan, which included eliminating the position of the current superintendent. In doing so, the city school district positioned current Acting Assistant Superintendent Chris Celmer to fill in as the Acting Superintendent Role by the end of 2019. Just a few months into his position, and with a vigorous plan to create academic guidelines that would ensure college readiness for many of our stu- dents, the national COVID-19 Pandemic swept through our country, eliminating school instruction for much of the spring semester. Plans to bring the city ‘up to speed’ have been interrupted, a feeling that is not unique to the City’s School District at all. In speaking to Chris Celmer, many of the obstacles and challenges he is facing echo across the nation for schools already facing uphill battles in providing strong deliverables for both students and communities. “The COVID-19 crisis will forever change the landscape of education,” said Celmer. “The disparity based on zip code has never been more prevalent than during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Th e biggest challenges facing school districts like Harrisburg before the pandemic centered around financial hardships, limited resources, and leader- ship instability that negatively impacted school programming, strong curriculums and morale surrounding the existing district’s ability to succeed. “Previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest challenge we faced was prioritizing the numerous issues that existed across every facet of the school district and creating real- istic deliverables for our students and community,” he notes. “We had multiple audits that identified over 100 initiatives required to place the district on sounding foot. Many of the issues identified were financial in nature as would be expected in a school district under financial recovery. Th e team was beginning to dig into the academic concerns and planning for the equitable distribution of education across grade bands, then the COVID-19 crisis hit.” Th e COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive shut down of schools across the state, first for 2 weeks, then 30 days, and finally indefinitely. School scram- bled to figure out how to best accommodate for learning in a new normal of quarantine and no opportunity for 1:1 or face to face instructions. IEPs were left in limbo, special needs for learning largely unable to be accommodated. Many districts found difficulty in thinking of high school seniors and what the future held for them. Many schools were putting band-aids on wounds to stop the bleeding. Th e Harrisburg School District, resilient in their eff orts to finish what was started, moved forward. “Th e team remained focused on systemic solutions,” Celmer affirmed, “not quick fixes." Our attention quickly shifted to equitable access of academic enrichment for all students, including our youngest Pre-K learners.” Many schools shifted to online learning, distributing laptops to their students, and organizing Zoom Meetings for ‘classroom’ time that allowed for students to log in and see their teachers, providing real time learning and interaction that the students longed for. With the Harrisburg School District already under scrutiny and with eyes already watching to see how they handle any and all disruptions for learning, Celmer and the team quickly worked on ensuring that the national pandemic would not further the gap in disparities, but would maintain the Harrisburg School District on their path towards recovery. School Board members stepped in to assist with breakfast and lunch distribution, acknowledging the reality of food instability and how that hindered learning. Community leaders helped with online learning and navigating the online portals and free resources available for many. Schools eventually off ered laptops as well, despite the idea that funding and resources might have eliminated that as a feasible resource for the students. Still, many wondered how the already resource depleted district would handle crisis management during this time. “Our district adminis- trative team is determined not to use the inequality and disparity as an excuse for not doing everything we can to support our students” Celmer boldly stated. “Eq- uitable access for our students is the challenge, which is why we are using a blend of academic resources, written journaling, technology, social media and television to reach our students and families. Since the onset of the crisis, we have been working in collaboration with several community partners to address food insecurities. (l-r) Harrisburg School District Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer and court-appointed Receiver Janet Samuels 16 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020 The Harrisburg City School District Crisis and the by Fiordaliza WhiteWWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 17 | 1 | 1COMCOMLINE.LINE.EONEONAZINAZINKMAKMA.TAL.TALWWWAKMAGANEONNECOMWWWAKMAGANEONNECOM.LILI. | 17.LILI. | 17WWWWWWWWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 17WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 17 GGTZTZ In addition to providing districtwide academic enrichment tips, tools and educational resources, there is free, over-the-air broadcast programming in partnership with WITF, PBS KIDS, and PBS Prime Time for all Pre-K through 12th grade students. Th e District also recently rolled out a three-day Drive-up/Walk-up Device Distribution Plan for students in grades 9-12 at two high school campuses.” Within a short time period since Governor Wolf made the announcement to close schools indefinitely for the year, the District launched an innovative partnership with the City of Harrisburg and it’s government access television channel, WHBG-TV 20 to broadcast and stream curriculum content in the areas of English Language Arts for K-5th grade students and Mathematics for 1st-8th grade students on a daily basis. Students in Pre-K-12th grade will continue to have access to high quality academic enrichment via the partnership with WITF for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science Content. “Our partnerships with WITF and WHBG-TV 20” he says, “are representative of the selfless collaboration that is required 365 days a year to move a challenged school district forward, not just during a once in a lifetime pandemic. Th e organizations that genuinely want to help our children and district have risen to the occasion of this crisis, and I thank them!” For many in the city, the future of the high school students remained a mystery. Proms, graduations, job security and college resources were all eff ected by this pandemic, with many not knowing when or even if college and next steps were as steady as they once were. Some are realizing that college, as it once was, may not off er the security in jobs as it once advertised, with many essential workers being grocery store workers, bus drivers, etc. Th e idea of college versus workforce is one that has hit our nation quite hard. Th e reality of everyone’s new normal shifted by the pandemic, the economic downfall, and our society’s ‘facelift’ in adjusting to what once was to what it needs to be in order to keep us stable. In asking about workforce versus collegiate opportunities, Celmer off ered the following: “As for post-secondary education, in my opinion, the conversation should have always been focused on preparedness after high school. The work of preparing students for a two-year technical school, community college, four-year degree, the military, and/or workforce opportunities must be intentional, systematic, and focused. The supports for students looking for a college pathway should be no more or less than those look- ing to enter the workforce. This is the direction the state has taken with the Chapter 339 model which aligns with my personal beliefs as an educator and parent. I believe a school district should play a role in supporting students post high school, but it will require a funding commitment as well as a shift in mindset.” Celmer’s ideology echoes many teachers and leaders who feel that holistic education prepares individuals for life after high school, with less focus on prepping for college and more intentional focus on prepping for the real world, no matter what you choose to do after graduation. College readiness, for many, is simply about receiving enough education to make an informed decision about your future and understanding how to weigh your options for a bet- ter life. Th e pandemic has taught many that their visions for their future can be achieved in several diff erent ways, with colleges even allowing less entrance exams and more online options to accommodate for the new normal and new means of interactions amongst students and faculty. Regardless of the outcome of the pandemic, one thing is clear: Th ose who were already in an uphill battle have mastered the art of resilience for times like these. Th e Harrisburg School District has made unapologetic strides in moving the needle in a positive direction, with Celmer acknowledging that the village approach has led to the best possible outcome for the Harrisburg School District. “Th e way you tackle great challenges is you put all the diff erences to the side and do what is best for all children. In this regard, the Harrisburg School District has made significant strides during the COVID-19 crisis.” It is the hope of many communities that districts across the state, in situations similar to the City of Harrisburg or those with newfound hardships as a result of the pandemic, are learning to utilize already existing resources to navigate through this new way of educating. Th e new normal still holds great promise for our young learners. 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