Another good news story emerged through the ‘fog’ of bad news that has plagued us. This good news, good luck story finds a Black Florida businessman the recipient of a $52 million grant from the Florida Lottery Commission. Yes, this Brother hit the lottery for $52 million in 2010. Instead of blowing his winnings, Miguel Pilgram started his own real estate company and invested his winnings into rebuilding the Black Business District in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Pilgram’s dedication to the revitalization of the Black community in Ft. Lauderdale begins a renewal of using “Our Own” dollars to strengthen our communities. This is the type of initiative we have the power to replicate individually and/or collectively. It’s the type of initiative that affirms our power to create self-sufficient communities.
As I search for praiseworthy achievement in our communities, I am reminded of President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. Now, New York City has stepped into the lead with the “Men Teach” initiative. The goal of “Men Teach” is to recruit male teachers of color into public education so that young Black men and other young men of color will have real-life role models who reflect the tangible opportunities available to them. 900 of the targeted 1,000 teachers have already been recruited. I applaud this effort because research shows that having a Black teacher significantly reduces the likelihood that students of color, especially males, will drop out of high school.
The “Real Good News” is that, increasingly, our people are waking-up and staying WOKE!
(Dr. E. Faye Willliams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. www.nationalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788)
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