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An active night out for seniors PAGE A6
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
thenewpittsburghcourier Published Weekly $1.00
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 115 No. 38 Two Sections
SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2024
'Don't be caught sleeping'
Leaders say Black community must vote in upcoming election by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
More than 30 organizations metaphorically held hands and announced collectively that they're "stronger together," and with that in mind, they're coming together to make sure everyone who is of age to vote in the Pittsburgh region will indeed vote on November 5. The organizations, such as the Black Political Empowerment Project, League of Women Voters, Voter Empowerment, Education & Enrichment Movement, John Lewis Transformative Justice Coalition, Just Harvest and others, said they would be having voter education "blitzes," and we're not talking about the Steelers defense here. These organizations are headed to Homewood, to the Hill, the North Side, West End, even the Pittsburgh International Airport, as the big day, Election Day, is now less than 50 days away. Pastor Dale B. Snyder of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, said the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in general, has been doing voter en-
gagement "since 1787. We started with the Free African Society." The Free African Society was founded in Philadelphia by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Allen later started the African Methodist Church, in Philadelphia. "Our 38 churches surrounding Allegheny County all the way up to Erie have been doing phone banking (in their Get Out The Vote campaign)," Rev. Snyder said during the collective organizations' news conference, Sept. 16, in the Hill District. "If you get a call from our phone bankers, be gentile, be nice, they're just trying to make sure that you're registered, if you need voter ID or if you need a ride to the polls." Reverend Snyder added: "There's a storm going on, don't be in your house sleeping while voting is taking place...it's a big storm raging on the ocean, and I'm encouraging you to exercise your right to vote. Don't be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat." The U.S. is less than 50 days away from making history by electing the first Black woman presi-
REV. DALE B. SNYDER SR. of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, says “don't be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat;” urges everyone to vote on November 5. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
dent, Kamala Harris, or having the second person to serve as president for two non-consecutive terms, in Donald Trump. The first and only person to pull off the feat was Grover Cleveland, who was U.S. president from 1885-1889, and 18931897. Since Pennsylvania is an important swing state in this year's election, it's being courted by the two presidential candidates harder than Barack courted Michelle. But who will get Pennsylvania's "ring?" Pennsylvania will say "I do" to whom? Kamala or The Donald? The collective organizations stressed that they are non-partisan, and they are not to endorse or sway people to vote for a particular candidate— only that it is important to just vote. "Issues of climate change, the attack on women that we thought we resolved 50 years ago, in terms of what women must do, what they feel they need to do, and how they choose to raise their SEE VOTE A8
Senior B.A.L.L. salutes 12 seniors from area churches
Secret to living is 'to love and trust God,' one honoree says
MUFFY MENDOZA, FOUNDER OF “BROWN MAMAS”
‘Brown Mamas Weekend’ continues its success under ‘Muffy’ 7,000 Black mothers in region part of the network FAMILY MEMBERS OF HONOREE THORVARD HARDIMON, AT THE AUG. 24 EVENT IN PLEASANT HILLS. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore noticed how isolated the elderly are in the Mon Valley and she wanted to do something special to combat it. “I have a love for Clairton and I was concerned about the isolation of the elderly. Some of the people have deteriorat-
ed. We wanted them to know that they are cared for and we wanted to acknowledge their work in their churches and in the community. We wanted to do it in the Mon Valley because Clairton and communities in the Mon Valley are forgotten about,” she said. Rev. Moore, CEO and founder of Sisters Saving Ourselves Now (SSON)/
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Black Women’s Roundtable, and her committee of dedicated, community-oriented ladies came up with the idea of the Senior B.A.L.L. (Brave Amazing Living Legends) award. The event took place on Aug. 24 at the Georgetown Center in Pleasant Hills. The event was sponsored by Highmark Wholecare, Black Women’s Roundtable and Allen Place Community Center Pastors at six area churches were asked to select two people from their congregations to be awarded. The churches were: Morning
Star Baptist Church, Clairton; Mount Olive First Baptist Church, Clairton; Kingdom COME Ministries, Clairton; Gethsemane C.O.G.I.C., Clairton; New Evangelistic Ministries, Duquesne; Payne Chapel AME, Duquesne, Bethlehem Baptist Church, McKeesport. The award recipients were: Mamie and Kevin Underwood, New Evangelistic Ministries; Thorvard R. Hardimon and Mable SEE SENIOR B.A.L.L. A4
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
It’s hard being a mother. Really hard. Cynthia “Muffy” Mendoza is the founder of “Brown Mamas,” which began as a group of mothers meeting, talking, discussing, uplifting each other, and since has grown to more than 7,000 Black mothers in Pittsburgh. The number is more than 10,000 Black mothers nationally. As Mendoza said on KDKA-TV’s “Talk Pittsburgh” in mid-July 2024 promoting her annual “Brown Mamas Weekend,” “the task of mothering is very difficult, and you need your people. ‘Brown Mamas Weekend’ is an oppor-
tunity for you to come and find your Brown Mama People.” “Brown Mamas Weekend” was July 27-28 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. On July 27, the event was moreso focused on stories of resilience and triumph from Pittsburgh-area Black mothers, otherwise known as the “Brown Mama Monologues.” It was hosted by Pittsburgh native and actor Lamman Rucker. On July 28, it was the first “Womb, Wealth and Wellness Summit,” where people like Cassandra Cummings hosted a wealth-buildSEE MUFFY A3