Walmart's Build-Your-Own-Switch-Bundle Deal Is Back And Better Than Ever

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Livestream: President Obama, Clintons to Offer Remembrances at Funeral for Rep. Elijah Cummings

The funeral for Rep. Elijah Cummings takes place today after hundreds of mourners lined up for a Friday morning viewing at Cummings’ church of 40 years, New Psalmist Baptist Church.

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Hundreds line up to attend Elijah Cummings Baltimore funeral

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — The body of congressman and civil rights champion Elijah Cummings returned Friday to the church where he worshipped in his beloved Baltimore for a final farewell.

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are among the scheduled speakers for the funeral Friday at New Psalmist Baptist Church, where Cummings worshipped for nearly four decades. His bishop, Walter S. Thomas Jr., will deliver the eulogy.

Cummings’ flag-draped casket arrived at the church shortly after 6 a.m. An honor guard of service members walked in the casket as people lining up to enter the sanctuary watched quietly and respectfully in the low light of early morning.

The open casket was placed in the front of the sanctuary with wreaths on either side and an American flag folded in a triangle to the left. Around 8 a.m., mourners began filling the 4,000-seat sanctuary.

“I felt like it was my civic duty, my responsibility to come and pay respects to a man who has done so much for Baltimore city, so much for the people, trying to keep us together,” said the Rev. Jacqueline Williams, 67, of Baltimore, as she waited in line outside in hopes of securing a seat inside for the service.

At dawn, several hundred people were lined up outside the church, waiting for the doors to open. One of them was LaGreta Williams, 68, of New York City, a friend who met Cummings when they were college students in Baltimore in 1969.

She said the teenage Cummings was a natural leader who aspired to become Maryland’s first black governor. She also remembers his infectious laugh, a deep, heavy roar, and his exceptional dancing abilities.

Williams said they remained friends for 50 years and often had lunch when she visited Baltimore.

“I think his legacy is that he was an honest person,” she said. “He wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity so that people could make better decisions for themselves, better choices.”

Bobby Trotter, a 67-year-old Baltimore resident who lives just outside Cummings’ district, recalled how the congressman helped quell tensions in the city after the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died after sustaining a spinal injury in a police van.

“(Cummings) was a man that believed in helping people, particularly people that were downtrodden. He stood up. He spoke for them,” Trotter said.

Cummings died Oct. 17 at age 68 of complications from longstanding health problems. A son of sharecroppers, he became a lawyer and elected official known for his powerful oratory and advocacy for the poor in his congressional district and beyond.

He represented a congressional district that includes his hometown of Baltimore since 1996 and most recently led one of the U.S. House committees conducting an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, he became the first African American lawmaker to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol. His casket rested in National Statuary Hall for the service and was later moved to a passage directly in front of the House chamber, where he served for 23 years.

Friday’s Baltimore service is also set to include remarks by Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as scripture readings by Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge. Cummings’ daughters, brother and wife are scheduled to speak.

Gospel singer BeBe Winans is scheduled to perform a musical selection. The choir will also perform the hymn “The Church is One Foundation.”
___
Associated Press writer Julio Cortez in Baltimore contributed to this report.

The post Hundreds line up to attend Elijah Cummings Baltimore funeral appeared first on theGrio.

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Atatiana Jefferson was laid to rest and remembered as “smart” and “caring”

On Thursday, Atatiana Jefferson was laid to rest in an emotional service that hit hard for the Dallas/Fort Worth community, The Star-Telegram reports.

READ MORE: Atatiana Jefferson’s grieving father says, ‘Unlike this Botham Jean, I don’t want no hug,’ after daughter was gunned down by Fort Worth cop in her own home

The tender auntie’s life was cut short by a cop who fired into her home, killing her in the wee hours of the morning after she played a video game with her 8-year-old nephew. Jefferson reportedly pulled her gun from her purse, and peered out a window, thinking a prowler was in her yard.

Jefferson was celebrated by hundreds of mourners, and remembered for the light she brought to others lives.

“How she lived is how we all aspire to be remembered, as someone who was dedicated to family and to her betterment,” said Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Jefferson’s mother.

“Power concedes nothing without a demand,” Merritt said. “The protests must continue.”

READ MORE: Atatiana Jefferson’s funeral cancelled at the last minute

The community has been protesting since Jefferson’s death by the hands of a former Fort Worth cop, who Merritt believes has been given favorable treatment because he’s white. Aaron Dean who was charged with murder after fatally shooting Jefferson was released on $200,000 bond but has yet to speak with authorities about the ordeal.

Jefferson’s mother, Yolanda Carr, reportedly was unable to attend the funeral but a statement was read.

“You also said you would change the world and I believe you still will through your sacrifice,” Carr said about her daughter.

Atatiana’s father, Marquis Jefferson spoke lovingly about his daughter.

“A father holds his daughter’s hand for only a short while,” his statement said. “But he holds her heart forever.” He was in attendance at the funeral.

Jefferson’s funeral was held 11 a.m. Thursday at Concord Church, 6808 Pastor Bailey Drive in Dallas, according to The Dallas Morning News.

A judge in Texas heard arguments on Monday from the father of Atatiana Jefferson who petitioned and received approval from courts to halt his daughter’s funeral to be a part of the arrangements.

Jefferson was scheduled to be laid to rest on Saturday at The Potter’s House of Dallas. However, the home-going was postponed by Dallas County Judge Brenda Hull Thompson, after signing an order stating her dad, Marquis Jefferson, has the authority to arrange her funeral and burial.

READ MORE: Texas officer charged with Atatiana Jefferson’s murder, resigns after shooting

Former Dallas Mavericks standout Harrison Barnes and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson reportedly paid for the funeral arrangements, Merritt said.

On Wednesday Jackson said about his donation, “Simply put, because it’s the right thing to do.”

Pastor Bryan Carter called Jefferson “smart” and said she had a reputation for being caring.

“The truth is that many of us are tired,” Carter said. “We are tired of talking to our children about police, tired of crying mothers, tired of funerals, tired of checking the box, tired of hoping the jury will come back with a just verdict.”

“Not only does God have strength, He is a God who will give you strength,” Carter said.

Interim Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus was reportedly in attendance, as well as former Fort Worth Chief Joel Fitzgerald and the city’s Mayor Betsy Price. Also, on hand were a number of City Council members and city administrators.

The post Atatiana Jefferson was laid to rest and remembered as “smart” and “caring” appeared first on theGrio.

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How This Man Went From Homeless to Youngest Subway Franchise Owner in Atlanta

In mid-October, Chris Williams Jr. was all smiles at the ribbon cutting and grand relaunch of his Subway franchise store in East Cobb, an affluent northern suburb of Atlanta. That’s a long way from where he found himself just 18 months earlier. Believe it or not, Chris was living out of his rental car and showering at local gyms.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris and learning how he transitioned out of that dark place to becoming the youngest Subway franchise owner in Atlanta, and what lessons he’s learned along the way.

How did you find yourself in a situation where you became homeless?

It was the result of a series of choices that I made. I left the military early, which caused me to have to give up a lot of my benefits. I was accepted to Tennessee State, but I didn’t have the money to go. I took a job in Arizona as a car salesman. From that, I saved up enough money to enroll in a finance program at the Automotive Dealership Institute. In February of 2018, after completing the program, I moved to Miami. I expected to find a job quickly, but that just didn’t happen. With the money I had left, I had to make a decision to rent an apartment or rent a car—and I chose the car so I could get around for interviews and work.

Eventually, I landed a job offer in the Atlanta area as a finance manager and moved there in June of 2018. I probably had 40 different jobs starting from 18 years old. I would get a job and then quit shortly after because it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

What was that transition like, going from homeless to Subway franchise owner?

The entire time I was homeless, I knew it was going to be temporary. As bad as it got—including the rental car company once threatening to report the car stolen when I missed the payment—I was thinking about and preparing for entrepreneurship. I would study in my car at night, reading books about business and finance from Harvard.

I had been thinking about purchasing a franchise, particularly a Subway, because of the international brand recognition. I was also being mentored by Ralph Diesel (aka Raphael Saye), a young, multi-unit Subway franchise owner, out in Southern California. Ralph was working with Nipsey Hussle prior to his death to bring more young, black males into business ownership.

In March of this year, I decided to apply to become a Subway owner, took the test, and attended orientation. Then I was presented with a list of stores in the area that were available for purchase and chose from there.

Subway franchisee Chris Williams Jr.

So, the obvious question is how did you go from no money to enough money to purchase a business?

Well, I started making really good money at my finance manager job, so that helped me save. But this question actually leads me to what I’ve learned and what I’m hoping to teach others, and that’s about raising capital. There are two primary ways to raise capital. The first is debt financing. Most people recognize this as the traditional act of applying for a bank loan—getting money from a bank, in exchange for interest. The second is equity financing. This is offering a piece of your business in exchange for money to fund it. For debt financing, it’s important to realize that you don’t need a bank for this. You can seek out friends, family, colleagues, etc. to ask for money in exchange for paying interest on the money you’re borrowing from them. Family has more money than you think. And while you may have to go to several people to get the full amount you need, you’re not held to any standards a banking institution requires.

For equity financing, since you’re giving away a piece of your business, you’re going to want to make sure you understand the financials, what the investor can expect, and make sure you know your audience. Be prepared to answer any and all questions, as you might only get one shot at it.

You officially took over the East Cobb store on Sept. 3rd. Looking back, any regrets or things you would do differently?

The first week I took over the store, the entire staff quit. I suspect being a new, young, black owner had a lot to do with it. I was literally running the place all by myself. So, I’m sure I had a moment of regret at that time and was wondering how quickly I could sell the store! However, like every other situation I’ve been in, I adjusted. I’m finally getting things where I want them, which is not having to be in the store every day.

As for doing anything differently, I probably would have taken more time to save up more money. I have always been told that when an opportunity presents itself, take it. It’s good advice, but there are times when it may make more sense to take a little bit of time to plan better. I definitely skipped some steps that would have been helpful.

What advice do you have for people, particularly millennials, that are finding their way in today’s economy, on becoming a business owner?

I think that the traditional American dream conditions us to become lifelong employees through promoting education. I’m in no way discounting education, however, education comes in a lot of different forms. Millennials have an opportunity to redefine what success looks like and how to achieve it. There are alternatives, and investing in yourself and a business is certainly one of them that has proven successful for people that dropped out or never went to college. My other advice would be:

• Surround yourself with people that are doing what you want to do and more
• Read, study, take courses; whatever you have to do to learn and prepare yourself for the next steps.
• Ignore the haters. As a young, black, entrepreneur, I’ve had to deal with rude comments and stares from people who don’t think I belong in the room. You belong at the table, don’t let anyone make you feel that you don’t.
• No reward without risk!

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