urban views weekly july 8, 2015

July 8, 2015 Scholar of the Week – Jasmine Cousins

Summer is here, go have some fun!

2 Urban Views Weekly | July 8, 2015 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

VOL. 8, ISSUE 27

Urban Views Weekly, LLC6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410Richmond, VA 23230Office: (804) 441-6255Fax: (888) 439-2534

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How does your nonprofit report on its work? How do you share your vision, work and impact? Do you send an email? Create an annual report? What about an annual meeting that brings together your stakeholders? Are you up to it? Can you make the time? Our perspective: how can you not afford the time?

The work of your nonprofit is at the core of all you do. Ideally, your work is driven by your vision. And, ideally your board takes the time – periodically – to reflect on your vision. Does it need to be adjusted? Do programs need to be eliminated, modified, or introduced so you can best live your vision in a changing environment? Do you need to modify your strategies, partnerships, or the very way you are organized?

These are a few of the important questions for a board to grapple with. The process is important, and so is the process of reporting out to your constituents. Who exactly are these “constituents?” They’re the people you serve: your donors, funders, vendors, staff, fellow board members, faith leaders, elected officials, government workers, community leaders, teachers, neighbors, and leaders of local businesses and major corporations. They are as diverse as the community you live in.

With a continuous focus on the people we serve and advocate for, it is understandable that taking the time to create community “report outs” and listening forums may not always be a number one priority. But it’s critical.

You have to share your vision, direction, impact and thinking with those who support you and those who work alongside you in an

effort to create a better world, or at least a healthier community. Some organizations will create an annual report – print, electronic or both. Others share updates regularly via email, Facebook, or their website.

Here’s our suggestion: consider hosting an annual meeting. We recently attended the annual meeting of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) and were impressed. The board of directors took the time to craft a concise agenda that shared their vision and current work with their stakeholders. What was so refreshing was that board members made the majority of presentations. They opened the meeting; they clearly and concisely communicated their vision for the next five years. They named it Vision 2020 and they shared their history, vision and process of collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders.

These were live people talking to live people, sharing their collaborations in a clear, concise and compelling way: WFGM seeks to reduce poverty in a specific zipcode by 1% a year for the next five years. Board members spoke to an audience of neighbors and community stakeholders about a major undertaking and invited their support. Take the time to share your vision – you’re worth it.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw

Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising, visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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3 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com Urban Views Weekly | July 8, 2015

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Clementa Carlos Pinckney was an American State Senator and Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate. On the evening of June 17th Senator Pinckney, who was also an AME minister, was gunned down along with 8 other parishioners during a Wednesday evening bible study at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. On August 9th 2014, 18 year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot in broad daylight on a neighborhood street where he lived in Ferguson, Missouri.

In the case of Michael Brown, the shooter was a white police officer; and in the case of Rev. Pinckney, the shooter was a white male armed with the dogma of white supremacy. Both shootings captured national attention and drew the white hot light of media scrutiny, while being contextualized through a dichotomous lens of one community’s response to the violence being touted as “good” and amazingly gracious, contrasted by the other community’s response being described in much less compassionate terms. The latter response to the Ferguson community’s outrage facilitated the deployment of the National Guard and the imposition of a curfew which made the streets of Ferguson feel like its citizens were under a state of martial law.

A year has passed since the shooting death of Michael Brown, for which no charges were brought. A St. Louis County Grand Jury ruled that unarmed Michael Brown was shot to death by the white police officer in self-defense. It seems, they determined that, as a large Black male, Mike Brown’s body was, itself, a dangerous and threatening weapon. This assertion cast the well-armed police officer as the victim of the crime and, therefore, shooting Michael Brown dead in the street was a completely justified act of self-defense. The disputed circumstances of the shooting and the determination via the judicial process resulted in mass protests and civil unrest for several weeks bringing the lack of fairness, equity, and equal justice under the law once again to the forefront

of American critical discourse, igniting calls for both mass criminal justice reform and investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Fast forward to the current discourse around the #Charleston9 shooting and we, once again, unpack the politics of race, equality and justice in America. This time, the shooting(s) was in the sanctuary and not in the street. The victims were in a bible study meeting engaged in prayer. They were in a posture of humility and not confrontation, surrender and not rebelliousness and yet, they too were gunned down and left for dead. Rev. Pinckney, Depayne Middleton Doctor, Cynthia Hurd, Ethel Lance, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. Dr. Daniel Simmons, Sr., Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Suzie Jackson and Myra Thompson, not unlike Michael Brown, were gunned down because their Blackness was perceived as threatening.

The goal of white supremacist ideology is to eliminate and/or dominate all other non-white races because it sees the white race as superior. There is little value placed, in the “eyes” of white supremacy, on the lives of Black people in particular, whether those people are walking in the streets or kneeling in the sanctuary.

Although the circumstances of time and place for the killing of Michael Brown and the massacre of the #Charleston9 are extremely distinctive, one cannot help but make certain comparisons. The structure of white supremacy supports systemic racism and institutional bias. It continues to allow for

structural inequities in the practice, policy and systems of public institutions and throughout the criminal justice complex. If the truth be told, until #BlackLivesMatter, #AllLives do Not Matter. The lives of Black people, whether in the street or the sanctuary, must have value to all people, Black and non-Black alike.

Up Next Week: County Clerks & the LAW

ViewPoints By Dr. T

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.Founder and Artistic DirectorThe Conciliation Project andAssociate ProfessorVirginia Commonwealth UniversityDrT@Margins2theCenter.comwww.theconciliationproject.org

The Streets to the Sanctuary: Michael Brown to Rev. Pinckney

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly PollPresident Obama announced that the White House is raising the threshold income level at which workers are exempt from overtime pay of time-and-a-half wages. Salaried employees earning less than $50,440 a year would be assured overtime if they work more than 40 hours per week, up from the current $23,660 a year. Critics say the plan “will negatively impact small businesses and drastically limit employment opportunities.

What’s Your Take? Do you support the President’s plan?Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2 p.m. on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.


NAACP Opinions

NAACP Concerned by the Outbreak in Church Burnings

Red Cross seeks blood donations to offset seasonal decline

In the weeks following a church massacre in which nine people were shot dead by a white nationalist at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, several predominantly black churches in Southern states have been burned. Federal authorities told The Associated Press that the blaze that destroyed the most recent church, Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greeleyville, South Carolina, does not appear to be intentionally set by an arsonist. Three of the incidents are being investigated as arsons. Subsequently, the NAACP has released the following statement. “The spike in church burnings in Southern states over the past few days requires our collective attention. When nine students of scripture lose their lives in a house [of] worship, we cannot turn a blind eye to any incident. As we wait for authorities to conduct their investigations, the NAACP and our state conferences across the country will remain vigilant and work with local churches and local law enforcement to ensure that all are taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of every parishioner. For centuries, African American churches have served as the epicenter of survival for many in the African American community; as a consequence, these houses of faith have historically been the targets of violence. We will use every tool in our advocacy arsenal to preserve these beloved institutions.”

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO

The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help offset a seasonal decline in donations and prevent a shortage this summer by giving blood. During June, July and August, there are about two fewer donors than needed at each Red Cross blood drive. This can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations during the summer. Many schools that host blood drives are out of session, and vacation schedules can make regular donors less available – both contributing to the seasonal decline.

Donors of all blood types – especially those with types AB, O negative, A negative, and B negative – are needed to help ensure blood products are available to hospital patients this summer. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and supplies critical proteins for clotting immunity. It is often needed for burn, trauma, and cancer patients. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App,

visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming Richmond Area blood donation opportunities:

7/21 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Comcast- Chesterfield, 6510 Iron Bridge Road, Richmond

7/21 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Richmond RSMO Cary Street, 420 East Cary St, Richmond

7/23 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Swift Creek Baptist Church, 7511 N. Spring Run Road, Midlothian

7/23 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Library, 2501 Academy Road, Powhatan

7/25 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad Station 2, 7810 Winterpock Road, Chesterfield

7/25 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., MMA Institute, 6415 Jahnke Road, Richmond

Have a StaycationGreat summer memories can be made in your own local community — or right down the highway. Save money and support local businesses by attending local fairs, festivals, campgrounds and concert series. Best of all, they offer you the opportunity to stay close to friends and family members this summer while you soak in the summer fun together.

Find Good Times Having trouble figuring out where or how to spend your summer fun time? Virginia.org is the Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is an excellent source for upcoming events, times and details.

Rent a CabinAccording to I Love Virginia State Parks’ website, there are more than 300 cozy, climate-controlled cabins of various sizes throughout the state.

With a little investigation, you may stumble across a unique bed and breakfast or treehouse cabin that you didn’t know existed. You’ll save the time usually spent taking a long car or plane ride to your destination, allowing you more quality experiences with your spouse, friends or family members.

Zip LiningWhen you think summer vacation, your mind may automatically wander to water, sand and suntan lotion. Many enthusiasts are instead opting for trees, speed and flying.

That’s right, zip lining is picking up momentum as a fast-growing summertime favorite across the world. It’s an affordable, easy-to-do activity — if you’re not afraid of heights, that is.

Some of the most scenic zip-line adventures take place high in the jungles and rainforests in tropical countries such as Costa Rica. The natural beauty of the environment, coupled with the sounds and sights of native wildlife, can offer a stunning backdrop for your next zip-line experience.

Many businesses offer zip-lining tours or destination experiences

for the entire family to enjoy. You don’t have to leave the country to have an amazing adventure. Just to the west of Richmond, Virginia Canopy Tours promises through their website that “participants will enjoy stunning views of the Massanutten Mountains and the gorgeous hardwood forest of the Shenandoah Valley. Guests will learn the rich history of the Shenandoah Valley, native plant species, and the wild inhabitants who make the woods their home.” They state that “participants will soar through the Shenandoah hardwood forest at speeds which can exceed 40 miles per hour and at heights reaching 90 feet above the forest floor - all while attached to two steel cables. The canopy tour finale is an adrenaline-pumping 1,035’ zip down the face of the ridge to our rappel.”

Pay Attention Your zip-lining venture will likely start with a how-to explanation for a safe ride. You will learn how to put on your harness, latch onto the zip cable and properly brake if you want to slow down on the cable.

Some companies will let you practice a few times on a short line that is only a few feet off the ground. This will give you the basic understanding of how the zip-line moves across the cable.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have any concerns for your safety or if you simply need to clarify any part of the activity.

Mountain Biking

Looking to work up a sweat this summer? Striving to reconnect with nature and all of its natural beauty? Mountain biking is your answer.

It provides a combination of adrenaline-packed challenges and scenic magnificence that is unique to the sport.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, there is an assortment of trail options, likely in your own backyard. Take a multi-day blast across a time-tested mountain track or simply spend a Saturday cruising through a wooded trail. Whatever your preference, mix in some mountain biking this summer to make it one to remember.

Four featured rides from MTB ProjectJames River Park SystemChallenging singletrack trails in the heart of Richmond

Lakeview Loops I, II, and III3 Stacked Loops along the lake with a little bit of climb, flow, speed, and water near Chesterfield

Pocahontas Morgan and Lakeview TrailsAlmost 23 miles of continuous singletrack, ranging from beginner to expert, near Chesterfield

Slave Trail to the Pirate TrailsEasier singletrack than the other bits in the James River Park System

EssentialsWhatever trip you decide to take this summer, don’t forget the essentials:

• Safety gear: Helmet, reflective lighting and gloves can make all the difference in protecting you from injury. Remember that mountain

6 Urban Views Weekly | July 8, 2015

There’s no shortage of summer recreation ideas

7 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

biking can be a relatively dangerous sport, so take proper precautions and always bring the essential gear.

• First-aid kit: Load your kit with small alcohol pads, bandages, tweezers and anti-infection spray. This will help keep any minor cuts or scrapes under control.

• Repair equipment: A broken-down bike equals the end to your day, unless you bring tire levers, spare tubes and a patch kit. Keep your bike functioning with these invaluable tools.

FishingFishing on a warm, sunny day with cloudless skies is a quintessential summertime activity in America. It is the perfect pastime for all ages, requiring only a simple assortment of equipment.

Fishing has forever offered a memorable bonding experience between parents and children, as well.

Check Your GearWhile you technically only need a pole and a container of bait to have

an enjoyable fishing experience, there are some technical details to check before you hit the lake.

What you need depends on the type of fishing you’re looking to do. Will you be fishing from the banks of a small creek or pond? An inexpensive spin-cast rod and reel combination should suit you just fine. Fly fishing requires a special kind of rod that may take some getting used to, as will deep ocean fishing. Research which type of fishing you’d like to tackle this summer and build your equipment stockpile accordingly.

Don’t forget to find out what kind of fish are likely swimming in the water at your destination. Knowing this will determine what kind of bait or lures you will need to reel in the big one.

Be Safe Wherever you go, understand your local and state fishing regulations. You can bring a copy of the rules pamphlet to consult during your trip so you are fishing within various laws and limits.

Especially if you’re bringing young children with you, be sure to adhere to all and any safety standards. Children should always wear a life jacket, no matter if they are on a shore, dock or boat. Make sure it fits properly and the child is comfortable wearing it. Also be careful allowing young children to handle hooks. Consider using barbless hooks for kids and take care of baiting the hook yourself until your child becomes more practiced in the skill.

Once you ensure that you’re safe and following the rules, it’s time to head out on your adventure.

Responsible Summer FunWhile having fun this summer, don’t forget to respect the environment around you. A fun summer trip can create memories to last a lifetime.

Being a good environmental steward can ensure that families in the future get to have the same type of experience. What is an environmental steward, you ask?

The U.S. Forest Service helped deliver an outdoor code of ethics — a list that includes promises to not damage natural features, to respect other people’s property and rights, to obey all regulations and to lend a helping hand when you see someone in distress. Learn more and check out the full code of ethics at www.fs.fed.us.

Don’t LitterNothing can ruin the natural beauty of a park or public beach like an empty soda can or sandwich wrapper. Litter is a completely unavoidable stain on our public lands and one that we can work together to remove. It also can be damaging to wildlife and compromise their habitats.

Bring along a trash bag or other receptacle for collecting your trash so you aren’t tempted to ditch your trash inappropriately.

Take pride in your environment by reporting any littering activities you see during your outdoor activities.

Follow rulesSome areas do not allow certain activities, such as fishing, swimming or surfing. It is always a good idea to check with your local land authority ahead of time before risking a wasted trip or costly non-compliance ticket.

Remember that agencies implement these regulations for your health, safety and well-being. Certain beach areas may have numerous

reports of shark sightings. Maybe there is a storm forecasted for a certain region that could cause injury to people swimming or boating.

Depending on where you plan to relax, there may be protected land around you on which activities or sports are not permitted. These areas are designated off limits in many cases to protect wildlife and vegetation.

Along these lines, be sure to be mindful of any local hazards that may pose a danger to your summertime fun. Any deep water or snake-infested areas can be extremely dangerous, so it is best to avoid them altogether.

There’s no shortage of summer recreation ideasBy Bernard Freeman


The DealBy Jason Alderman

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing fraud issues at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Online thieves have been capturing Social Security numbers and other tax filing data to file fraudulent returns, principally for the purpose of stealing refunds.

Just this past tax season, TurboTax, the leading tax preparation software company, had to stop transmitting state tax returns and introduce new safeguards after a run of suspicious returns. In March, the U.S. Treasury Department reported slightly over 2.9 million incidents of tax-related identity theft in 2013, up from 1.8 million in 2012. As to dollar loss, in January, the General Accounting Office (GAO) said the IRS had prevented an estimated $24.2 billion in fraudulent identity theft tax refunds in 2013, but actually paid $5.8 billion in refunds later determined to be fraudulent.

In terms of damage, tax identity theft is really no different than any other form of identity theft. Thieves illegally obtain your Social Security number through online or other resources and then go to work on your finances and reputation. The first you’ll see of it will be on your credit report in the form of unfamiliar (and likely unpaid) accounts or unusual credit inquiries from employers or agencies you’ve never contacted. The problem may take months or years to straighten out.

Hearing about a false tax return might take time. Many taxpayers find out they’ve been hacked via a physical letter from the U.S. Postal Service – the IRS never sends (http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing) taxpayer-specific correspondence via email –indicating that a duplicate return has been filed in the taxpayer’s name. That means a significant amount of time might have passed between the hack and the taxpayer learning about the problem. Electronic filers might find out sooner because their return might bounce if a fraudulent one was successfully filed earlier.

Recent reports quote the IRS as saying it tries to settle such cases within 4-6 months, but news reports have indicated wait times might be longer. This is why anyone dealing with identity theft needs to move fast and be actively involved in containing the damage. Regulators can’t do it for you and advertised services that say they can handle everything probably won’t. You’ll need to investigate and clean up your own records.

If you’ve been hit, first go to the identity theft action pages on both the Federal Trade Commission (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0008-tax-related-identity-theft) and the IRS (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection) websites for immediate ways to deal with the problem.

Start with the following immediate steps:

Order your current credit reports and set a fraud alert on each at the three major consumer credit rating agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Follow up to make sure those alerts are active.

Set up a physical or computer-based file where you can organize, date and file all contacts, communications and paperwork associated with your case and keep track of any fraudulent transactions that occur.

Create an identity theft report (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0277-create-identity-theft-report) with the FTC and your local police department. This will help you document your contacts with regulators and law enforcement if there is an arrest.

Make a call list for all creditors, banks, investment companies, utilities and your employer to let them know about the breach. If you work with qualified financial and tax experts, inform them too. If you’ve spotted fraudulent accounts, contact those entities to put a freeze on them and thereby limit potential losses.

If you’ve never experienced this type of identity theft, don’t take your luck for granted. Even if you file your taxes by regular mail, make sure you set up your own personal IRS e-services (http://www.irs.gov/uac/Step-1-Create-an-IRS-e-services-Account) account, because reports have surfaced that identity thieves are opening false accounts with stolen taxpayer data. Finally, schedule receipt throughout the year of your three credit reports, which you can receive free once a year.

Bottom line: Anywhere your Social Security number goes, identity thieves follow – this tax filing season proved that. Safeguard your data and check your credit reports several times a year for irregularities.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

What To Do If Someone Files A False Tax Return in Your Name

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Whether grilling for neighbors, hosting a dinner party or relaxing on your deck with a drink, you can make the experience more refreshing by pairing your favorite spirit with ginger beer.

While most people know that for cocktails like the famed Moscow Mule or Dark & Stormy to be truly great, inferior liquors just won’t do. However, many do not apply that principle to selecting mixers.

“People today spend good money on artisanal and premium spirits only to dilute them with a poor quality mixer,” says Tim Warrillow, Co-Founder of Fever-Tree, the world’s first line of premium natural mixers. “Three-quarters of your cocktail is the mixer, so use a high quality one that enhances the flavors of the spirit, such as an all-natural ginger beer with a fresh, clean taste.”

Superb on its own, ginger beer is a soft drink being used increasingly in cocktails around the world to add intense flavor to mixed drinks featuring whiskey, gin, rum, tequila, liqueurs and vodka.

Produced since the 1700s in the UK, ginger beer is made by brewing

root ginger, resulting in a noticeably stronger ginger flavor than ginger ale. Interestingly, many mass producers of ginger beer no longer include real ginger, as it is an expensive ingredient. While nonalcoholic, ginger beer’s deep flavor makes it anything but innocent.

Ginger beers vary greatly in flavor and sugar levels, but mixologists across the country are fans of Fever-Tree’s Ginger Beer, which is naturally brewed and uniquely fresh because it blends a trio of three gingers from around the globe harvested exclusively for them.

Of note is a fresh, green ginger sourced from the Ivory Coast. With a zesty aroma, the oils are extracted immediately after the ginger is harvested rather than drying the ginger root first. Nigerian ginger, prized for its fragrant intensity, adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile with ginger from Cochin, India rounding out the group.

With ginger beer as your base, mix up these classic cocktails.

Spice Up Your Summer CocktailsStatePoint

Savor

Dark & Stormy

• 2oz, rum of choice• Fever-Tree Ginger Beer• Fresh ice – at least 4 big cubes• Fresh lime juice• Lime

MethodFill a highball glass with fresh ice. Pour the dark rum (can be spiced) over the ice and add a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice. Pour ginger beer, garnish with a couple of lime wedges.

Moscow Mule

• 2 oz, vodka of choice• Fever-Tree Ginger Beer• Fresh ice – at least 4 big cubes• Fresh lime juice• Fresh mint

MethodPour vodka over stacks of ice in a tall glass. Add fresh lime juice and chilled ginger beer. Garnish with fresh mint sprig.

For a lighter, low-calorie alternative with the same ginger taste, pair Fever-Tree Naturally Light Ginger Beer with other dark spirits.

The brand also offers ginger ale and tonic waters, all with carbonation that carry the flavor of the botanicals in each mixer. Recipes and entertaining ideas are available at www.Fever-Tree.com.

This summer, spice up cocktails with ginger beer to enhance, not mask, the flavor of premium spirits.


Scholar of the Week

It was when she was in the fifth grade and the school was having a reading fair when Jasmine Cousins first found Rick Riordan’s second book “Sea of Monsters.” She said because of Riordan’s books and his style of writing, he has become one of her favorite authors and has inspired her to continue reading. “The way that he wrote his books and how he ties in history with it, because I’m in love with history,” Jasmine said of why Riordan is such a big influence. “I just wanted to discover other books like his.” She said now she is always toting books around.

Riordan and other authors have inspired Jasmine so much she aspires to also be an accomplished author one day. In order to achieve her dream of becoming a writer, Jasmine hopes to go to college and double major in English and History. “I want my books to be an escape and a safe haven for other readers as books I have read have been for me,” Jasmine said. She said going to college will help her creativity and teach her how to better track her thoughts and write them down on paper. Her plan is to complete her first book soon after she graduates from college. Her top choices for college are University of South Carolina or University of Richmond.

Jasmine said she has read so much to the point where she has characters living in her head that have been with her through her own struggles and triumphs. Slowly these characters are what helped her realize that she wanted to be an author. Jasmine said she previously kept her dream of becoming a writer to herself before

telling her mother who encouraged her to write down her thoughts and work toward her goal of becoming an award winning author. She said her mother inspires her to succeed the most in life. “I feel like after everything she’s been through, she still went on without letting anybody stop her or drag her down and I’m going to do that too.”

Jasmine does not only keep her head in the books, but she also is involved in the community. With her mother, she goes to visit the

elderly. With her church, she has fed the homeless and is a part of their hospitality committee. She also has volunteered in a hospital. Jasmine also is a member of numerous organizations including Partnership for Future, the Book Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club, Sisters with an Intuition, Environmental Club, and is the Vice President of the National Honor Society.

Jasmine hopes to be an inspiration to people who also want to write books and wants to one day be the author of a book

series that is so good it becomes a movie. She wants to write multiple series and said she wants to be accomplished like Meg Cabot, John Green, or John Grisham. She said she wants her readers to get excited when they hear there will be another Cousins’ book release like she does when she hears about Sarah Maas, C.C. Hunter, or Gail Carriger having a new book. Jasmine said she is interested in writing Young Adult books with fantasy or drama. “I’m not scared of being who I want to be and I’m not scared to take on a challenge,” Jasmine said. “If I tell somebody I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it.”

By Janeal Downs

Jasmine Cousinsof Richmond Community High School

GPA: 4.26

College of Interest: University of South Carolina or University of Richmond

Favorite Activity: Reading

Major Community Service: Visiting the elderly, fed homeless, on her church’s hospitality committee

Strong Interests: History, listening to music

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If you’re looking to redecorate, using awnings can be a great way to really improve the look and feel of your home. They are also a great way to provide some shelter from the elements.

Awnings can be a great way to spruce up the windows or doorways to your home or business. The coverings provide shelter from the rain and add value to your property.

Not all awnings are created equal, and not all stores carry all the great brands and styles.

Here are a few ideas to help you in your search for awnings.

STRONG PRODUCTS

Materials are one of the first things to consider when purchasing an awning. The shade will be exposed to harsh sunlight, hot summers, frigid winters and rain storms. Making correct decisions at the beginning can save you time and money down the road.

Awnings made of quality materials and durable frames have a better chance of lasting for years. A cheaper awning may last for only a year or two.

The best awnings will have water-repellant fabric. Popular choices include woven acrylic or laminated fabric. Colors and designs vary according to each company; however, the awning should come with a firm warranty. Consider asking companies for a fabric and color sample.

The product should also have a sturdy, rust-proof frame. It will need to be solid enough to withstand gusts of wind and light enough not to look bulky.

Of course, the entire product should complement your home or building’s architecture. Awnings come in a variety of styles. If a company doesn’t have the style you need, look elsewhere.

Also, if you can see examples of awning materials that have been in place for

several years, that’s the best way to judge their ability to withstand Mother Nature. See for yourself how much it has faded or frayed.

RETRACTABLE AWNINGS

One of the most popular trends in recent years is the retractable awning. You can extend them at your convenience. They can block the sun on a sweltering day. You can also retract the awning in the winter so snow doesn’t collect on the material.

Depending on the models, these awnings can also last longer than fixed versions. Rolling them away when not in use means they stay out of the sun and aren’t whipped around as much by the wind.

Retractable awnings require special care and attention. You must wash them regularly and allow them to

dry before retracting.

SERVICE, EXPERIENCE

Finally, you need to make sure you are working with a reputable, experienced installer.

Your neighborhood handy person or family member might be able to install your awning, but there is a

possibility you will not like the results. It is much better to find someone who has installed awnings for a living - preferably with a good track record. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from previous customers. Poor installation can ruin the exterior look of your building.

Awnings are a specialized product that requires specific knowledge for the best result. The best awning companies will offer in-depth knowledge about their products. They can also inform you how to best care for your awning.

Reputable awning companies provide excellent service before, during and long after the installation, helping you make the most of your investment.

How to Guide ClassifiedsPLACE YOUR AD TODAY

804.649.6868Office: (

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How to Choose an Awning Company

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urban views weekly july 8, 2015

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