If you are looking for a smart way to invest your tax return, you might be interested in attending an event presented by Univest Banking Insurance Investments and hosted by Valley Wealth Alliance. Steve Redmond founded Valley Wealth Alliance, a non-profit organization providing financial literacy services for low-income communities and minority-owned businesses. You will learn how to make informed decisions about your money and how to achieve your financial goals through various investment options. The event will occur at St. James AME Zion Church, 410 Union St., Allentown, PA, on Friday, March 15, from 6 to 8 PM: Rev. Terry Young, pastor.
To register, please get in touch with Steve Redmond at steve@valleywealthalliance.org.
This is an excellent opportunity to network with other like-minded people and to get expert advice on how to grow your wealth and secure a brighter financial future.
Don't miss it!
LehighValleyNews.com | By Tom Shortell
Aug 17, 2023
Phoebe Harris and April Riddick called on the Allentown NAACP to go to bat for city workers facing racism in Allentown. NAACP officers did not publicly address a letter sent to Mayor Matt Tuerk last month, which called on him to root out racism in the workplace.
At NAACP ALLENTOWN UNIT, we are committed to fighting for civil rights and social justice for all. Our mission is to use our legal expertise to empower marginalized communities and promote equality in all aspects of society.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Nadeem Shahzad, the city's human resources director of nearly two months, claimed he was illegally fired Friday at a time when City Hall is facing scrutiny over the treatment of minority employees.
In a Friday evening email to Mayor Matt Tuerk, Shahzad said he intended to pursue federal and state litigation against the city for terminating him without valid cause.
"My hope is that through the legal process, the truth will prevail and justice will be served," Shahzad wrote in the email obtained by LehighValleyNews.com
In a text Saturday evening, city spokeswoman Genesis Ortega said that Shahzad was not terminated but resigned. She declined further comment, saying the city does not comment on personnel matters.
City council unanimously hired Shahzad on June 28. He previously served as director of human resources for Delaware County and regional human resources director for Nassau County, New York. Efforts to contact Shahzad seeking comment Saturday were not immediately successful.
In the email, Shahzad alludes to a discussion between him and Tuerk over "the treatment of minority employees and the perceived bias in hiring practices." He also wrote that he refused to follow directives about firing another HR employee because he believed it was against the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
"My intention was never to disrespect your leadership, but rather to advocate for an environment where every individual feels valued and appreciated for their unique contributions," Shahzad wrote.
"It is concerning that a little over a month after Nadeem started that he's already leaving. I think we're owed an explanation from the administration."
Ce-Ce Gerlach, Allentown City Council member
Tuerk did not immediately return a phone call or text seeking comment Saturday. Council members Cynthia Mota, Santo Napoli and Ce-Ce Gerlach said they learned of Shahzad's departure late Friday but knew few details.
"It is concerning that a little over a month after Nadeem started that he's already leaving," Gerlach said. "I think we're owed an explanation from the administration."
Shahzad's termination comes about a month after the Allentown NAACP sent a five-page letter to Tuerk expressing grave concerns over reports of racism and discrimination under his administration.
The allegations ranged from white police officers being allowed to cheat on tests — thus giving them a leg up on opportunities for promotions — to the city failing to follow its own bylaws over job postings to not providing minority employees the same job training opportunities provided to white workers.
The letter had the names of the chapter's leadership, but President Walt Felton and Vice President Dan Bosket said the letter was not authorized. NAACP leadership would not publicly discuss the status of the letter during a general membership meeting Thursday night, and Bosket declined to discuss the letter or its allegations Friday.
Tuerk has not commented on the allegations within the letter but denied in an email to all city employees that his administration was ignoring allegations of racism or discrimination.
In that email, he encouraged employees to report allegations of discrimination to his office, the legal department or HR — which is now without a director.
Rev. A. Addison Young and Mrs. Esther Lee, two prominent civil rights leaders, met at Payrow Plaza on Sunday, August 27. They were part of a commemorative event marking the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. The pastor of St. James AME Zion Church in Allentown and the president of the NAACP Bethlehem Branch exchanged greetings and shared their memories of the original march.
St. James A.M.E.Z welcomes its new pastor, A. Addison Young, a dynamic and inspiring leader. You are invited to join us for worship every Sunday at 410 Union Street, Allentown, PA. The service begins at 11:30 AM and lasts for about an hour. Come and experience the power of God's word and action through Pastor Young's ministry.
Check voter registration here: http://vdo.fyi/ca/a58c9m
Here's how the NAACP showed up in the news in 2023
The time is now. By becoming a member of NAACP, you'll join a network of activists standing up to injustice, fighting back against systemic racism, and answering the call for equality.
We're committed to dismantling racism and disrupting inequality to create a society where all people can truly be free. Our work includes civic engagement, systemically building racial equity, and supporting policies and institutions that prioritize the urgent needs of Black people, who are most impacted by race-based discrimination.
From city halls to the Supreme Court, using advocacy and litigation, we will secure civil rights for everyone.
Each and every NAACP member makes a difference to the complex, ongoing work of advancing racial equity. have driven the hardest-fought wins for civil rights and social justice — with you by our side, we can accelerate the next milestones for Black Americans.
Police officers don't make schools safer. But police presence in schools does increase the likelihood that Black students will be introduced to the legal system and then remain in it. I
MSNBC: Leaders of March on Washington 60th anniversary seek 'a continuation' of original movement
Leaders including Reverend Al Sharpton, Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson, and Andrea Waters King join Morning Joe to emphasize the ongoing challenges, from hate crimes to eroding civil rights. The event aims to showcase unity across racial, gender, and generational lines and emphasizes the need for collective action to address pressing societal issues.
The Hill: Civil rights leaders reflect on the state of the struggle ahead of March on Washington
NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who was alongside Courtland Cox, one of the co-organizers for the march and a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, said 60 years after the march, the fight for civil rights will still continue.
Former President Barack Obama unpacks his hopes for inspiring a new generation of change-makers through his book “A Promised Land” and the Obama Foundation, the ways America’s position on the world stage has evolved, why the fight for justice calls for a variety of voices, and how he feels watching the latest chapters of history unfold since leaving public life. #DailyShow #TrevorNoah #BarackObama
If you're a woman with your own business or a woman looking to start your own business and need business funding, this video is for you. There are so many business grants out there and even better, there are hundreds of business grants, JUST FOR WOMEN. In this video, I explain the top 4 business grants for women and provide resources to find more grants and tips on actually getting awarded a grant.
Should There Be Covid Testing in Schools
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