There is so much mess going on in the world these days — from our anti-science, anti-urban, anti-commonsense legislature trying to rein in our exemplary state health director, to the president’s daily displays of dishonesty, to our mounting death toll from the coronavirus [now more than 78,000 and rising rapidly], the relentless assaults upon our cratering justice system [lynching in Georgia, the expurgation of charges against Michael Flynn], etc. – that we thought today is a good day to consider some of the good news that you may missed in the first four months of what has already been a very long year.
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| Ohio Health Director Amy Acton |
We want to highlight two area nonprofits and four individuals today. Other institutions and individuals are certainly deserving. We invite your nominations and suggestions for future acknowledgement.
First, the nonprofits.
The Fund for Our Economic Future • Almost two years Cleveland lawyer Jon Pinney delivered remarks at the City Club of Cleveland about our city’s dead last status on a multitude of national rankings. In the discussion that followed one civic leader was quick to step up and acknowledge personal and institutional responsibility for the area’s “ego-system” that contributes to the city’s dismal performance by stifling civic leadership opportunities for nonwhite males.
That leader was Brad Whitehead, president of The Fund for Our Economic Future [FEF]. He characteristically put his money where his mouth was with two significant actions; he stepped down as president to make way for a new generation successor, and he led a major board restructuring that elevated a richly diverse octet of young and talented new leaders to the FEF board.
Bravo to the Fund!
Saint Luke’s Foundation • The Saint Luke’s Foundation webpage proclaims its mission “is to achieve health equity by addressing social determinants of health for people in neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke's and throughout Cuyahoga County” and that “Zip codes have more impact on health than genes. Healthy environments include safe, well-maintained housing and neighborhoods with sidewalks, playgrounds, parks, trees & full-service supermarkets.”
Their recent nationwide search to find a new president and CEO led them right down the hill to Burten Bell Carr where Tim Tramble has been on the frontlines of health, neighborhood and community development, and public safety for the past twenty years.
Sometimes it takes courage, integrity, and fortitude to do the right thing, even when the path is clear. Tramble exhibited those qualities repeatedly while growing BBC from a tiny CDC into a highly-regarded powerhouse.
Saint Luke’s trustees are to be commended for selecting Tramble to expand upon those successes over an even larger vineyard.
George Fraser and LaRese Purnell • No one knows what the new normal is going to look like when the current pandemic is finally brought under control. The overwhelming likelihood is that while some things remain the same, there will be major shifts in American life.
The pandemic has revealed once again the inequities in our country with respect to health, housing, employment, and education. As W. E. B. DuBois knew 120 years ago, there are historic and systemic reasons rooted in American soil and the American experiment in human exploitation. Just as public policies from the colonial era until now have socially engineered and predetermined many of the disparate outcomes we now see magnified under the microscope provided us by COVID-19, it will take progressive and equitable public policies to save this nation that our current president is working to tear asunder.
But, as Booker T. Washington knew, black Americans can’t wait solely upon public policy or the good will of others. We must constantly do for ourselves.
In every arena where we have been able to compete with a measure of fairness, African Americans have proven worthy, even if the face of a dominant culture that denigrates our worth, devalues our assets, and ignores our pleas. It is vital that this opposition be resisted on every plane: political, commercial, cultural, psychological and narrative.
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| George Fraser |
In similar but different ways, Fraser and Purnell are exemplifying during this current crisis positive examples worthy of study and emulation. Fraser, for example, has initiated a series of thrice-weekly podcasts featuring thought leaders from around the country who have been dispensing sage analysis and counsel to the national African American community. He has drawn upon a lifetime of networking and marketing expertise for this three-month program — “The New Black Power: Excellence. Leadership. Wealth”. Podcasts air 7-8PM ET every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday through June 11; tomorrow’s guest is Dr. Ken Harris, CEO of the National Business League.
Purnell — an accountant, restauranteur and serial entrepreneur — has been working closer to home, using his collection of businesses and confreres to feed the elderly, advise small business owners, and generally provide free services to those in need. He has also been broadcasting interview programs via Instagram.
Savvy businesspeople recognize opportunity in crisis. Rather than cower, they tend to stand large. When the pandemic subsides, these two will be remembered for their service, and their empires will no doubt expand. This is called doing well by doing good. We love to see it. And we’d love to see their examples emulated.
Amy Acton • Ohio’s health director is proof that you don’t have to bluster, prevaricate or bully to be a leader. If you don’t know what she’s done for Ohioans these last few months, you haven’t been paying attention. Here are three ways to quickly get caught up:
— tune in to ohiochannel.org at 2PM almost any day of the week and watch her dispense critical information and public health advice.
— Watch this seven-minute video to understand how and why she is such a trusted and effective communicator.
— Compare Ohio’s COVID-19 infection and mortality rates with those of virtually any other state to understand what a marvelous job she is doing.
Wole Coaxum • This guy is obviously not a household name. But he grew up in Shaker Heights, became a big-time banker in New York City, then set that career success aside to devise a program to help those who are locked out of the system in which he thrived. His story is told in this recent issue of CODE M magazine. [Full disclosure: I served as the magazine’s editor for several issues and commissioned the cover story profiling his work.]
These are good news stories we think Real Deal readers will appreciate. We know there are others and we invite you to alert us to those you believe deserving of celebration. Send them to us here.
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