WINTER 2021 INSIDE TALK BLACK WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE PROFILE OF ALMA SPEED FOX AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN PIONEERS Homer Floyd Harrisburg Jesse J. McLean Pittsburgh Lisa Rhodes Philadelphia Randal Taylor Pittsburgh 2021 Black History Makers 2021 Black History Makers Clifton P. Pitts Mon-ValleyWWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 34 | TALK MAGAZINE • WINTER 2021 INSIDE TALK PUBLISHER’S NOTES This new year will mark the 59th year Talk Magazine has been educating and informing the Pennsylvania minority consumers. In 2020, we faced COVID-19 that effected all businesses and effected minority businesses event more. The PPP Funding, passed by Congress, for African American and small businesses ended up in the hands of major corporations. Thank God a new President in 2021, Joe Biden, that has a plan to help managing the COVID-19 response, help for small businesses and this country’s ongoing systemic problem of racism and equity for black and brown people. Our Black History Makers for 2021 reflects the continued work of other dedicated citizens to improve civil rights for all people. Those we honor today, Homer C. Floyd, Randall Taylor, Lisa Rhodes and Jesse J. McLean are examples of our community citizens across Pennsylvania who don’t forget the work continues. Talk Minority Action Group will honor today’s Black History Makers on February 20, 2021 at our Virtual Black History Celebration from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. All are welcome to attend, and we will email the link for the event soon. If you are not on our network list, please contact us at 412.823.4007 or contact@talkminorityactiongroup.org. The LJS Group / Talk Magazine / TMAG Luther J. Sewell, Jr. / Publisher Roxanne N. Sewell / President & Editor theLULAdesigns / Graphic Design & Layout Tené Croom / Contributing Writer Fiordaliza White / Contributing Writer PO Box 143 Monroeville, PA 15146-0143 (P) 412.823.4007 info@talkmagazineonline.com www.talkmagazineonline.com 06 College News 08 Talk Across PA 10 Business News 12 Latino News 14 Black History Makers 16 Health News Black Women Running for Office pg 20 Profile of Alma Speed Fox pg 22 Winter 2021 African American Women Pioneers pg 246 | TALK MAGAZINE • WINTER 2021 COLLEGE NEWS THEIL Thiel College is launching a new graduate degree and an undergraduate program and welcomed several new members to its Board of Trustees. The College will begin enrolling stu- dents in its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the fall of 2021 and in its Master of Arts in Counseling program in the fall of 2022. The intensive and innovative graduate program will feature a social justice component and is arranged so that undergraduate students can complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. The College added several new members to its Board of Trustees. Highlighting those appoint- ments are: • Recent graduate Terri Eddy ’19 was named Thiel College’s first young alumni represen- tative to the Board of Trustees. Eddy is the youngest board member and will serve a three-year term as a full voting member of the Board of Trustees. • University of Pittsburgh administrator Antonio Quarterman, Ed.D. ’08 is serving his first three-year appointment on the Thiel College Board of Trustees. Quarterman is the Director of the Institute for Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. • Ohio-based financial professional and entre- preneur Ricardo Daley ’96 is serving his first three-year appointment on the Thiel College Board of Trustees. • Magisterial District Judge Mary Odem, J.D., is serving her first appointment on the Thiel College Board of Trustees. She is the first black woman in Mercer County to be elect- ed a magisterial district judge. Her district includes Farrell, Hermitage, West Middlesex, Wheatland, and Shenango Township. • For the latest Thiel College news, follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ thielcollege. • LINCOLN by Susan Snyder Lincoln University president Brenda A. Allen has been named one of the 10 most dominant historically black college leaders for 2021 by a national nonprofit organization that advocates for the schools. Allen received the honor from the HBCU Campaign Fund, which was formed in 2012. Also recognized were the presidents of Howard, Morgan State, Livingstone, Tennessee State, Langston, Kentucky State, and Mississippi Valley State Universities and St. Philip’s and Morris Colleges. Last month, Lincoln, received a $20 million dollar gift from MacKenzie Scott, the ex- wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. “It was just amazing,” Allen said. The good news meant a lot after the events earlier in the year. In July, trustees voted in private against seeking a new contract with Allen, which led her lawyer, Gov. Tom Wolf, and Attorney General Josh Shapiro to file lawsuits, claiming the board had violated the state’s Sunshine Law and its own bylaws by voting in private. Allen had led the school for three years at that point, earning widespread support among faculty, students, and alumni. More than 14,000 people signed an online petition backing her. The board ultimately held another vote in public and agreed to negotiate a new contract. Brenda A. Allen From top left clockwise: Antonio Quarterman, Mary Odem, Ricardo Daley, and Terri Eddy continued on page 27WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 7 COLLEGE NEWS SETON HILL Derry Area senior Caitlyn Crook will contin- ue her academic and athletic career at Seton Hill University. Crook, joined by her brother Micah Crook, mother Benita Crook and father James Crook, plans to go to Seton Hill for nursing, while also joining the track and field team, com- peting in throwing events like shot put, discus and hammer throw. Crook, who received the Women in Science Day scholarship, is a treasurer of the Mu Alpha Theta honors program, along with a member of the Academic Excellence society. She was awarded the Walt Whitman Award for throwing during her freshman year, in addition to most improved as a sophomore. Since her freshman year, Crook has also reached the WPIAL Championship meet. CHEYNEY by Pete Bannon Claire Lane is proof that it's never too late to complete a college education – even when you're a grandmother. She will graduate with honors from Cheyney University in May with a bache- lor's degree in social relations and a concentra- tion in criminal justice. "It keeps me young," said Lane, who served more than 20 years as a Philadelphia police offi- cer and detective. She earned an associate degree from the Community College of Philadelphia while working full time as a police officer. After her retirement from the police depart- ment, Lane joined the Defender's Association of Philadelphia and used the same skills she developed as a police detective to become an investigator for the public defender's office. "I had an associate degree, but I always wanted a bachelor's degree and I always wanted to go to Cheyney. I just never got to do all of that," Lane said as she recalled the years of working full time and raising her family. "I had always wanted to do that for my mother, too. She had always urged me to get an education, but I never finished and got that degree." CARNEGIE MELLON After a comprehensive national search, Wanda Heading-Grant has been selected as Carnegie Mellon University's inaugural vice provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and chief diversity officer. Heading-Grant, who is currently vice president for DEI at the University of Vermont, will begin her new role at Carnegie Mellon on April 1. She will also hold a faculty appointment as Distinguished Service Professor in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. During her 30-year tenure at the University of Vermont, Heading-Grant has advised senior leadership on essential policies, programs, and strategies to achieve inclusive excellence while ensuring every member of the university com- munity received the support necessary to thrive. She established programs and policies fundamen- tal to the advancement of DEI, including tools to enhance and innovate employee performance and professional development opportunities. Heading-Grant has been widely recognized for her dedication to social justice issues, her sponsorship of women leaders in higher edu- cation and her strong leadership that promotes well-being in the workplace and in the class- room. “Bringing about a more diverse, inclusive and equitable future for Carnegie Mellon University requires sustained engagement from every mem- ber of this community and the commitment of university leadership at every level,” said Jahanian. “As a well-respected advocate and leader in higher education, Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant is a critical addition to the university leadership team and an invaluable asset to our community during this important journey. I look forward to relying on her significant expertise as we work towards ensuring all students, faculty and staff can find a sense of belong- ing at CMU and feel pride in our institution’s role in promoting a more equitable world.” Derry Area senior Caitlyn Crook (second from right) continued on page 27Next >