Arizona Informant News Special - Black History Month

C E L E B R AT E B L A C K H I S T O RYB2 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 ARIZONA INFORMANT

WED 3 Dr. Matthew Whitaker will present “RaceRelations and Interracial Unity in America: An OpenHouse Keynote for the THEM Exhibit,” from 7 to 8:30p.m. on the first floor of the CGCC Library. Throughout themonth of February the Chandler-Gilbert CommunityCollege Library Gallery will host, THEM: Images ofSeparation, a traveling exhibition that showcases itemsfrom popular culture used to stereotype different groups.

Arizona African American Republican Committee BlackHistory Month meeting 6:00 to 8 p.m. 3501 N. 24th St.(Rep. Hdqtrs.) in Phoenix. Contact: Chairman ClydeBowen 602-274-5439.

FRI 5 African American Vibes of the City: “MixedMedia Art Exhibition” featuring both two and three dimen-sional works of art from prominent Valley artists. The exhib-it will open with a free first Friday’s gallery reception from 6to 8 p.m. The Phoenix Center for the Arts is located at 1202North 3rd St. Participants will be able to tour the gallery,meet the artists, listen to live music, enjoy free refresh-ments, and visit art booths. Additional information is avail-able on-line at: http://phoenix.gov/ PARKS/phxctr.html orby calling 602-262-4627.

First Friday Black History Month arts and music cele-bration 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Downtown Civic Space Park,424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

SAT 6 Regional Unity Walk at 10:30 a.m. to celebratecommunity solidarity and diversity. The event is hosted byhuman relations commissions from six Valley communitiesincluding walkers from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix,Scottsdale, Tempe and Arizona State University. Start atTempe Lake Marina and the ASU Lot 59 in Tempe, and fin-ish at Tempe Art Park, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Formore information or to register as a group or individual, call602-495-3737. Visit www.tempe.gov/diversityregionalunity-walk for a map to the assembly points.

SUN 7 Jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows will lead aSunday afternoon Black History Month celebration concertat the ASU Kerr Cultural Center on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.The concert will feature music written and interpreted byAfrican-American composers and musicians. Tickets areavailable at the Kerr box office, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road,Scottsdale, 480-596-2660, Ticketmaster locations andonline at jazzinaz.org.

TUE 9 George Washington Carver Museum andCultural Center will host an evening with the foundingdirector of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture, Lonnie G. Bunch, Ph.D. Theevent will include a talk by Dr. Bunch, a question andanswer session, hors d’oeuvres, and an optional tour of theCarver Museum. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at George WashingtonCarver Museum and Cultural Center. 415 East Grant Streetin Phoenix. Information at http://carvermuseum.com

FRI 12 South Chandler Self Help Foundation BlackHistory program at the Chandler Center for the Arts begin-ning at 7 p.m. Featured performers will be VOW, Missla'Donna, Allen Morris, New Jerusalem Choir, Mz. D andCelia among others. Also scheduled to attend the event isMiss Juneteenth, Amber Thomas. Part of the proceeds willgo to the Haiti relief effort. Open to the public – donationasked. For more information regarding the SCSHF or theBlack History program call 480-593-9488.

THU 18 Annual “A Taste of Soul” celebration com-memorating Black History Month at South Mountain HighSchool Student Cafeteria. From 3:00 until 5 p.m. Thisyear’s theme is “A Changing Wind In 20TN.” For informa-tion contact: Corine Hill-Hicks 602-764-5130 or LaVerneOdoms 602-764-5019.

“Those who have norecord of what their fore-bears have accomplishedlose the inspiration whichcomes from the teaching ofbiography and history.”

- Dr. Carter GodwinWoodson,

Although many peopleare familiar with BlackHistory Month and CarterG. Woodson, most peopleare not aware of how BlackHistory Month wasfounded. It is a very inter-esting story.

The distinguished

author, editor, publisherand historian, Dr. CarterGoodwin Woodson isknown as the father ofBlack History. Heauthored and publishednumerous scholarly books,periodicals and articles onthe positive contributionsof Blacks.

Dr. Woodson estab-lished the Association forthe Study of Negro Lifeand History in 1915 andin 1916 he founded theJournal of Negro History.

In addition, Dr.Woodson founded the

Associated Publishers andthe Negro HistoryBulletin. One of his mostfamous books, The Mis-Education of the Negro is amust read for anyoneinterested in black history.

Dr. Woodson attendedand earned his undergrad-uate degree from BereaCollege in Kentucky andlater went on to earn aPhD from HarvardUniversity becoming thesecond African Americanto earn a PhD fromHarvard (W.E.B. DuBoiswas the first).

The Founder Of Black History Month

Dr. Carter Woodson,(December 1875

April 1950)

By Brittney M. Black

GREENSBORO, N.C. -The Rev. Jesse Jackson,Bennett College PresidentJulianne Malveaux andjournalists Ed Gordon andStephen A. Smith debatedleadership and activismJan. 28 with other partici-pants of a two-part townhall discussion at NorthCarolina A&T StateUniversity, the first of aseries of events in honor ofthe 50th anniversary of theGreensboro sit-ins.

Jackson spearheadedthe first panel with a heat-ed discussion of whatdrove activism in the pastand what is missing in thecurrent generation.

“Youth today don’tappreciate how humiliat-ing segregation was,”Jackson, a 1964 A&Tgraduate, told the audi-ence of more than 500people gathered in theAlumni FoundationsEvents Center. “The stu-dents at A&T and Bennettcouldn’t use a downtowntoilet when I was younger.We couldn’t rent a room atthe Holiday Inn. Sincethat time, things havechanged and this genera-tion doesn’t rememberthat.”

Dr. Harold L. MartinSr., chancellor of A&T,was a high school studentduring the sit-ins. “I’mthankful that I came up ina time where the studentspushed the envelope,”Martin chimed in. “Youngpeople, don’t take forgranted what you havetoday.”

Malveaux, his counter-part at Bennett, disagreedwith her fellow panelists.

“I don’t think the stu-dents take it for granted,”she said. “I see youngwomen on Bennett’s cam-pus breaking boundarieseveryday. The old heads

have to make the historycome to life for youthtoday. Dr. King said whenhe accepted the NobelPeace Prize, ‘I had theaudacity to dream.’ Whatwe have to do in ourhouseholds, in our cur-riculums, in our day-to-day interactions is re-enforce the notion ofaudacity.”

Other participants onthe first panel includedKim Saunders, CEO andpresident of Mechanics &Farmers Bank, and Dr.Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.,president and CEO of theHip Hop Summit ActionNetwork. Gordon was themoderator of both panels,sponsored by theInternational Civil RightsCenter & Museum, whichwill open Monday, Feb. 1,the anniversary of the orig-inal 1960 sit-in. Themuseum is located in theF.W. Woolworth buildingand includes the originalstools where the A&TFour sat.

The notion of audacitywas continued in the sec-ond panel, which focusedon leadership.

A younger group ofpanelists consisted ofDenyqua Rodriguez, aBennett student; GaryBrown, an A&T student;Inga Willis, a HowardUniversity graduate andmusic industry entrepre-neur; Zim Ugochukwu, astudent representative ofIgnite Greensboro; WarrenBallentine, political act-ivist and creator of theWarren Ballentine Show, asyndicated radio program;and Stephen A. Smith,FOX sports anchor.

“Everyone is alwayslooking for someone to bea leader,” Ballentine said.“We as a people need tostart having ‘geese sense.’When geese fly, one goosetakes the lead out in thefront and withstands allthe beating from the airthat he can stand. Whenhe can’t take anymore, thatgoose will fall back andanother goose will rotateand take his place. Whatdifference does it reallymake who’s in the lead?”

Leadership continuedto be a hot topic amongthe panelists as they dis-cussed the role that rap-

pers and actors play in theyounger generation.

A&T alumna JazmyneCosby came out to thetown hall to participate inthe discussion and othercommemoration activities.

“The first panel seemedto be speaking to an oldercrowd,” Cosby said. “I feltlike they were not reallygrabbing my attention onsome of the views thatthey were talking about. Ienjoyed the second panel alot more, because I couldrelate to their issues.”

Greensboro nativeCelesta Dunston, 52, hada more personal reason forattending the town hall.

“The creation of theInternational Civil Rightsmuseum is an importantaddition for us inGreensboro,” Dunstonsaid. “I was born in 1957,and I grew up knowingabout a lot of things thatoccurred in the black com-munity that were not fair.We have not overcome,and we have not arrivedbecause everyday peopleget discriminated against.I still remember this; a lotof young people don’t.”

Town Hall Marks 50th Anniversary Of Sit-ins

Historic photo of Greensboro sit-in, Feb. 1, 1960

C E L E B R AT E B L A C K H I S T O RYARIZONA INFORMANT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 B3


In celebration of Black History Month,South Mountain Community College,the SMCC Black Student Union andSeek First Entertainment will presentBlack Women Walking, a one-act playspotlighting the achievements of elevennotable African-American women,February 11-13.

From the living room of three friends,playgoers will venture back in time tomeet such historic figures as SojournerTruth, Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeodBethune, and other Black heroines of his-tory, and witness the courage, character,and brilliance of these women whoimpacted the American landscape withtheir powerful journeys toward freedom,justice and equality.

The play is written by Karen F.Williams and directed by Kevvin Taylor.Included in the cast are: Betty Hanes,Esther Bailey, Lorraine Taylor, BobbieWashington, Jeri White, Dr. Dolores B.Reid, Thomasina Daniels, Leticia Carey,Ruth Alexander, Janice Jackson, Rev.Angela Miler, Deborah Margolis, JusticeRenaissance, Quanta’ Brown, BrashaePerry, and Aftyn and Alexys Brandon.

The play also features lesser-knownhistorical figures such as Fannie LouHamer, Zora Neal Hurston and WillieMae Ford Smith – women who didn’tnecessarily make it into the history books,but much like their better-known coun-terparts, were God-fearing women whotriumphed over great obstacles throughtheir perseverance and spirituality. BlackWomen Walking is seen through the eyesof three elderly women. By comingtogether and sharing the stories of thesegreat women of history, they too becomeliberated and empowered.

They stand tall, moving with faith, andstepping out with courage, despite thelimitations and frailties of their age.

According to the director, KevvinTaylor, Black Women Walking educates,entertains and emancipates. It is a spiri-tual-based play with universal themesabout the importance of education, civilrights, liberation, justice and equality. Itis a classic tale of finding strength in thestruggle, appropriate for all ages, and hasa message for everyone. Young girls areempowered with a sense of womanhood,self-confidence and pride. Males seebeyond the images of women portrayedin the hip-hop culture and media, leadingto healthier, respect-based attitudes andbehavior. The play is an opportunity forparents to share a positive learning expe-rience with their children, and educatorscan use it as a tool for teaching importantlessons of history, diversity and socialinteraction. Each performance is followedby a short discussion of the play’s themesand messages involving the cast, audienceand director.

Three performances of Black WomenWalking will be presented. The first, aschoolday performance intended for ele-mentary age students, takes placeThursday, February 11, at 10 a.m. Thatwill be followed by two evening perform-ances, Friday, February 12 and Saturday,February 13, beginning at 7 p.m. eachevening.

Black Women Walking will be presentedin the South Mountain CommunityCollege Performance Hall, 7050 S. 24thStreet in Phoenix, just north of BaselineRoad. General admission tickets are avail-able at the door one hour before perform-ances.

Black Women Walking At SMCC Feb. 11 - 13

ALL- INFORMANT FOOTBALLPullout Pages

ARIZONA INFORMANT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 B5

Davon Jones of Mountain Pointe High School runs over one defender and drags another for several yards in their contest versus Marcos de Niza.

By: Vincent R. CrawfordSports Editor

It’s that time of the scholasticyear that this newspaper namesits annual All-Arizona InformantFootball Team and this year’steam is stacked with a lot ofskilled gridiron players at everyposition.

Not including our staff meet-ing, which was pretty animatedas the writers politicked for play-ers they deemed deserving a spoton this year’s team, it took fiverevisions before the organizationcame to an agreement on thisseason’s squad.

For 2009-2010, the All-Informant Offensive Team iscomprised of Chandler’s quar-terback Brett Hundley, OroValley Canyon del Oro’s runningback Ka’Deem Carey, PeoriaCentennial’s RB AnthonyHughes, Scottsdale Chaparral’sRB Dwayne Garrett, PhoenixMountain Pointe’s RB DavonJones, Glendale’s RB DonaldMcGruder, Peoria Cactus’ RBAllen Woods, Tucson Sunnysidewide receiver Chris Howard,Tempe Marco de Niza’s WRJustin Rodriguez, Phoenix CarlHayden’s lineman Tre Fields,Marcos de Niza’s OL BrandonGammage and Tucson Santa

Rita’s OL Jaquari Kountz.On the other side of the ball is

this year’s All-InformantDefensive Team and it’s mem-bers are Carl Hayden’s linemanMarquise Douglass, ChandlerHamilton’s DL Tevin Hood,Scottsdale Saguaro’s DL JordanMcDonald, Marcos de Niza’slinebacker Ramon Abreu, SierraVista Buena’s LB DeAndreLittle, Paradise Valley’s LB TyreeParker, Douglas’ defensive backJoel Bello, Hamilton’s DBDevon Carrington, GoodyearMillennium’s DB MarquisFlowers, Phoenix St. Mary’s DBR.J. McGill and Canyon delOro’s DB Josh Robbins.

Hamilton’s Zach Bauman,Phoenix Mountain Pointe’sDe’Andre Currie, Santa Rita’sGreg Jones and Tucson Sabino’sKeanu Nelson are all listed as“athletes” who made the All-Informant Special Team.

Once Hundley took over thesignal calling duties forChandler, he ignited the offenseand the Wolves became a legiti-mate team to challenge for theClass 5A Division I state title. Asa QB, Hundley completed 107of his 170 passes for 1,517 yards,16 touchdown and 2 intercep-tions to lead Chandler to theFinal Four of the playoffs. He

also ran for 1,208 yards whichequated to 100.7 yards per gameand combined, he personallyamassed 227.1 yards per game.

Carey was instrumental inleading the Dorados to the 4ADivision I football state titleby carrying the pigskin 224times for 2,738 yards, 43touchdowns and nearlyrushed for 200 yards perg a m e(195.6).

He also caught five passes for73 yards, completed both of hispass attempts, intercepted threepasses, returned kickoffs, andhad 22 total tackles of which one

was a sack,. In addition, heaccounted for 45 TDs this sea-son for 270 points meaning hescored 19.3 points each time hetook the field.

For Hughes and hisfellow Coyotes,

Centennial’s seasonended one game toosoon as the oncenat ional ly-ranked

Coyotes lost in theFinal Four of the 5A

Division II playoffs. Personally, Hughes wassimply outstanding despite

not playing most fourthquarters until the postseason and did notfumble once the

entire season.

Hughes rushed for 2,002yards, on 186 carries, meaning,on average, he gained a firstdown every time he toted theleather (10.8 yards per carry).

The senior Coyote scored 32rushing TDs and averaged 143.0yards per game. Defensively,Hughes also had 39 tackles and apick

Garrett was another playerwhose team won a state title –5A Division II. The seniorFirebird ran for 1,847 yards, on227 attempts, for 34 TDs. Onaverage, he gained 8.1 yards percarry and 132 yards per game.For the season, Garrett scored 37times, for 222 points, andscored, on average, 15.9 pointsper game for the state champs.Garrett also caught 11 passes for201 yards and three touch-downs.

Jones was a leader on a squadthat advanced to the 5ADivision I Final Four before los-ing. Statistically, Jones carriedthe rock 259 times for 1,791yards, 30 TDs for an average of137.9 per contest. He alsocaught 15 passes for 215 yardsand another three scores. Jonesplayed defense as well and fin-ished with one interception forthe Pride. Overall, Jones crossedthe goal line 34 times includinghis successful PAT attempt for200 points (15.4 ppg) on theseason.

continued on page B6

2009-10 All-Informant Gridiron Team Is Loaded With Talent

ALL INFORMANT TEAM 2009-10

KA’

DEE

M

CAREY


B6 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 ARIZONA INFORMANT


Davon JonesDwayne GarrettAnthony HughesBrett Hundley

Allen Woods

Donald McGruder

Chris Howard

continued from page B5

McGruder’s team failedto make the post season in2009, but its not becausethe senior Cardinal wasnot trying. As the mainfocus of opposing defens-es, McGruder still man-aged to gain 1,528 yards,on 169 attempts, for 17TDs and moved theyardage marker 9.0 yardsper carry. Points wise, heaveraged 11.0 points pergame for Glendale andexcelled on defense as wellas the special team. Inaddition, McGruder threwsix passes and averaged18.3 yards per pass recep-tion.

Woods also was on astate-winning team as hewas instrumental inCactus taking home first-place honors in the 4ADivision II playoffs. Thesenior Cobra was a toughrunner as he had his num-ber called 336 times tocarry the ball 2,661 yardsfor nearly 200 yards pergame (190.1) as well. Onthe ground, he scored 37TDs and with his specialteam TD, he totaled 228points on the season scor-ing 16.3 points per game.On offense, Woods alsocaught six passes, but hismain task was to carry thepigskin and he did it well.

Howard was easily thebest wide receiver insouthern Arizona andreceived all the rightfulaccolades he garnered inthe off-season because ofhis tremendous senior sea-son for the Blue Devils.On the campaign,Howard caught passes formore than 1,200 yards tolead Sunnyside into thesecond round of the play-offs before being defeatedby Marcos de Niza, 34-24.

Rodriguez is the otherwide out on the team andhe caught 50 balls for 839yards and 16 TDs to helplead the Padres into the 5ADivision II title game. Healso averaged 9.5 yardseach time he carried theball, completed his lonepass attempt for 55 yards,picked off four passes ondefense and returned asingle kick return oppor-tunity 60 yards.

Fields was a two-waystarter for the Falcons andthe main guy his runningback ran behind whenHayden needed a firstdown via the rushing

attack. Defensively, Fieldsfinished with 19 tacklesincluding one quarterbacksack. Once, CoachCleveland Dansby calledhis number to carry theball on offense and Fieldscame through with a five-yard run for a first down.

Gammage was anotherlineman who played onboth sides of the ball andhe was a key member onthe Padres title-gameappearing team and thesquad that knocked offtop-ranked Centennial inthe Final Four round ofthe post season. Gammagedominated his man onoffense and was tough ondefense. He caused onefumble, recovered anotherand even deflected a ballin pass defense.

Kountz was a highlythought of offensive line-man who was a three-yearstarter for the Eagles wholost in the championshipgame of the 4A Division IIplayoffs. Kountz openedup holes for his runningback and ran the ball aswell for Santa Rita. Hecarried the leather 11times for 75 yards while being used mainly as a short-yardage back. Kountz didnot score this season, buthis longest run was 14yards.

Douglass was also aninstrumental leader on theFalcons’ football team thatenjoyed success on thegridiron after breaking a66-game losing streakagainst San Luis. The sen-ior defensive linemanoften was double teamedby opposing offensive line-men, but he still managedto finish with 33 tacklesand two sacks. Douglasswas as an important key toHayden’s defense as thecoach was to the team.

Hood always seemed tobe around the ball when atackle occurred close tothe line of scrimmage asevident by his 67 assistedtackles to go along withhis 39 solo tackles and 19sacks. He also caused twofumbles and recovered twoother loose balls. As withthe other Huskies on thisyear’s All-InformantFootball Team, Hood wasa main player inHamilton’s acquisition ofthe 5A Division I champi-onship trophy that wasraised after the Huskiesbeat Mesa for the title.

continued on page B7 Allen Woods breaks a tackle of a Peoria defender


ARIZONA INFORMANT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 B7


The Sabercats playedtheir way to the 4ADivision I Final Fourthanks in part to the playof defensive linemanMcDonald, who finishedwith 79 total tackles andnumerous quarterback takedowns. McDonald oftenhad to fight through dou-ble team blocks to get tothe signal caller, but hemanaged to do it 14 timesat the chagrin of the oppos-ing offensive coordinator.

Abreu is a tremendousfootball player who rarelyleft the field. On defense,he finished with 141 totaltackles including 106 solotackles and three sacks.Abreu also picked off fouropposing passes, recoveredtwo fumbles and causedanother one. With thescoring team, Abreu car-ried the ball 122 times for898 yards and 11 TDs andcaught 33 passes for 500yards and three morescores. On special teams,Abreu returned a kickoffreturn 92 yards for a TD.

His name is Little buthe does not play like it andhe definitely is not little instatue. The senior Colt is6-feet-3 inches tall andweighs a muscular 230pounds and will be takinghis skills to the Universityof Texas-El Paso in the fall.On the season, DeAndreLittle recorded 135 totaltackles and arguably isconsidered the leading col-legiate linebacker prospectin southern Arizona.

The Trojans advancedto the second round of the4A Division II playoffsthanks a lot to Parker'splay on the field, on whichhe was a great two-wayplayer. Parker was in on 29tackles, took down a QBonce for minus-11 yardsand intercepted one passand returned it 59 yardsfor a score. On offense,Parker rushed for 1,549yards, on 187 carries, and20 TDs and finished with25 receptions for 406yards and three scores.

The Bulldogs also madeit to the Elite 8 round ofthe 4A Division II playoffsbefore their season cameto an end. On thatDouglas squad, Bello real-ly stood out as he helpedthe Bulldogs reach thepost season for the firsttime in 20 years. In 2009,Bello returned four of his

interceptions for touch-downs. Against ScottsdaleArcadia, he took a pick 27yards to the house,returned a kickoff 90 yardsfor a TD and ran 65-yardsfor another TD. Hislongest kickoff return for ascore was 99 yards.

Carrington was justawesome in the Huskiesdefensive backfield as apass stopper. He also wasnot afraid to hit people asevident by his 93 tacklesand three sacks. For the5A Division I state cham-pions, Carrington return-ed two kickoffs to pay dirtand was used as a ball car-rier once and, on the play,ran 19 yards before beingtackled. Carrington playeda huge part in Hamiltonwinning the state crown.

Flowers was anotheryoung man that rarely leftthe field for the Tigers, ateam that came up shortin the second round of the5A Division II playoffs.Flowers was in on 62 totaltackles, picked off twopasses and blocked a fieldgoal for Millennium. Thesenior also carried the ball135 times for 1,247 yardsand 16 TDs for the Tigers.

McGill was St. Mary'stop pass defender and eachgame he was assigned theopposing team's topreceiver and he excelled inshutting them down. Likeour squad's other DB,McGill did not hesitatehitting anyone wearing adifferent color jersey. Asan offensive star, caught193 passes for 1,167 yardsand nine TDs and herushed 37 times for 577yards and four TDs.

Robbins was a two-waystarter for the 4A DivisionI state champion Doradosand is UA-bound nextyear. Robbins amassed 34tackles to go along withhis six interceptions, onefumble recovery and onecaused fumble. As areceiver, Robbins caught28 passes for 332 yardsand six touchdowns.Robbins also returnedkickoff and punts forCanyon del Oro.

Bauman shared thebackfield at Hamilton andstill finished with someoutstanding statisticsnonetheless for the cham-pion Huskies. As a ball car-rier, he ran 143 times for1,178 yards and 25 TDs.

continued on page B8


Tevin Hood holds up the sign for being number one whilehis Huskies celebrate their 5A-I state championship win.

Justin Rodriguez Tre Fields

Brandon Gammage Jaquari Kountz

Ramon Abreu

Tyree Parker

Deandre Little recorded 135 total tackles this seasonand will be playing Division I football next year for theUniversity of Texas-El Paso (UTEP).

Marquis FlowersDavon Carrington holds up the state championship tro-phy earned by Hamilton this season.

Marquise Douglass


B8 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 ARIZONA INFORMANT


As a receiver, Baumancaught 28 passes for 508yards and five more scores.With his 30 TDs, he aver-aged 13.0 points per gameand was a top defensiveplayer as well. Baumanmay be best known forgetting the tough yardswhen his team neededthem.

Currie was one of thetop overall players in thestate and has some gaudystatistics to back it up. On

offense, Currie took thepigskin 186 times via ahand off and gained 1,717yards and scored six points21 times for the Pride. Healso caught four passes for59 yards as a key memberof Mountain Pointe's teamthat made it to the 5ADivision I Final Four.

For the Santa Rita, theteam that finished secondin the 4A Division II play-offs, Jones did some ofeverything for the Eagles.Jones carried the ball (15;185 yds.; 3 TDs), was used

as a receiver (32; 703 yds.;9 TDs), played quarter-back, punted the ball,returned punts and kick-offs, scored touchdownsand he played defense. Inother words, he was theconsummate all-aroundfootball player who wasgreat no matter whichposition he was playing.

Nelson is another verytalented versatile playerand was one of the mainreasons why theSabercats advanced tothe 4A Division I cham-

pionship game. Nelson rushed for

1,276 yards and 22 TDs,caught 30 passes for 450yards and three TDs, andcompleted 20 of 26 passesfor 394 yards. On defense,he finished with 42 tack-les, four interceptions andcaused one fumble.

These young men wereinspirational in the successtheir teams had this seasonand they gave their fans alot to cheer about andmany memories to holdonto after graduation.


All Informant selectee Brett Hundley tries to get away from Huskie defenders including fellow AI selectee Tevin Hood(hanging from his arm). Hundley was unsuccessful and Hood was credited with a sack on the play.

Greg Jones Josh RobbinsKeanu Nelson Zach Bauman

RJ McGill

D’Andre Currie


Dr. Karen Hardin, col-lege professor and mentorto many was the recipientof the Dr. Martin L. King,Jr’s achievement award forher service to students andher volunteer work in thecommunity.

Dr. Hardin has workedat Mesa College for 24years and during that timehas helped students receiveover $70,000 in scholar-ships to continue theireducation. While perform-ing her duties as a full timefaculty member, she vol-unteers to serve as theAdvisor to the MesaCollege Chapter of theNAACP. The college chap-ter focus is on servant lead-ership and communityengagement.

Often on the week-endsyou can find Dr. Hardinvolunteering at KEYSCommunity Center andcoordinating a specialtutoring program to assistyouth improve their per-formance on the AIMStest. Dr. Hardin states thatshe was pleased to acceptthe award and hopes thatshe will be remembered for

being the best college pro-fessor that she could bewhich reflects the famouswords of Dr. King whenhe said, ‘If a man is calledto be a street sweeper, heshould sweep streets evenas Michelangelo paintedpictures, or as well asBeethoven composedmusic, or as well asShakespeare wrote poetry.The person should sweepstreets so well that all thehost in heaven and earthwill pause to say, here liveda great street sweeper whodid his job well.”

The award was present-ed by the City of MesaParks and Recreation

Department who annuallyawards a citizen for theirvolunteer contributions.The coordinator of theprogram is Marc Beasleyand the presentation ismade during the MLKBasketball Tournament atMesa College.

One of her students,Nykia Williams, summedup the significance of theaward stating, “I’ve beenblessed with a professorwho is molding me into awomen for greater than Ihad even seen in myself. Iknow by the time she isdone with me, I will be agreat woman doing greatthings like her.”

Dr. Karen Hardin Receives MLK Award

Dr. Karen Harden (2nd left) with some of her students ina recent AZI file photo.

Throughout the month of Februarythe Chandler-Gilbert Community Coll-ege Library Gallery will host, THEM:Images of Separation, a traveling exhibi-tion that showcases items from popularculture used to stereotype differentgroups. The negative imagery -- found onpostcards, license plates, games, souvenirsand costumes -- promoted stereotypingagainst such groups as Asian-Americans,Hispanics, Jews, and poor whites, as wellas those who are "other" in terms of bodytype or sexual orientation.

CGCC English faculty PatrickWilliams was instrumental in bringingthe exhibit to CGCC.

“Our hope is that students will viewthe exhibit and understand that thesemessages are out there,” Williams said.“We want to raise awareness and generatediscussion about learning how we cantreat one another better. At the end of theday, we are all a part of a group, and eachone of us could be ‘them’ in the right sit-uation.”

Dr. Matthew Whitaker will present“Race Relations and Interracial Unity inAmerica: An Open House Keynote forthe THEM Exhibit,” on Wednesday,February 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on thefirst floor of the CGCC library. Whitakerexplores American race relations, anddemonstrates that the largely undetectedinterracial struggle for racial justice andequality can offer a framework for con-fronting racism and inequality locally,

nationally, and beyond. Following a ques-tion and answer session, audience mem-bers will be invited to view and discussthe THEM exhibit.

This exhibit is free and open to thepublic. CGCC Library hours areMonday through Thurs-day, 7:30 a.m. to9 p.m.; Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.;and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CGCC is located at 2626 E. Pecos Rd.,between Gilbert and Cooper Roads inChandler. For more information, call(480) 732-7030.

Chandler Gilbert CC To Host THEM: Images ofSeparation Exhibit Throughout Black History MonthDr. Matthew Whitaker speaker at exhibit opening Feb. 3

Dr. Matthew Whitaker

Hundreds of peoplefrom across the Valley areexpected to participate in aRegional Unity Walk at10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb.6, to celebrate communitysolidarity and diversity.

The event is hosted byhuman relations commis-sions from six Valley com-munities including walkersfrom Chandler, Gilbert,Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale,

Tempe and Arizona StateUniversity.

The walkers will assem-ble and receive their T-shirts at 10 a.m. at TempeLake Marina and the ASULot 59 in Tempe, and fin-ish at Tempe Art Park, 700W. Rio Salado Parkway.

The Walk Festival atTempe Art Park will fea-ture a keynote speech byAlonzo Jones, entertain-

ment, free hot dogs anddrinks and inflatables forthe kids. The walk and cel-ebration are free.

For more informationor to register as a group orindividual, call 602-495-3737. Visit www.tempe.gov/diversityregionaluni-tywalk for a map to theassembly points.

Valley Unity Walk Set For Saturday

Smooth jazz saxophon-ist Marion Meadows willlead a Sunday afternooncelebration concert at theASU Kerr Cultural Centeron February 7 at 1:30 p.m.The event is being present-ed by Jazz in AZ and theASU Kerr Cultural Center,with underwriting by theJazzbird Foundation.

The concert will featuremusic written and inter-preted by African-American composers andmusicians. Meadows, whois well-versed in jazz fromLouis Armstrong throughbe-bop, avant-garde andcontemporary jazz, willperform with versatileinstrumentalists RachelEckroth on piano, MarioMendivil on bass andJabari on drums, plus spe-cial guests. In addition,Meadows will share histor-ical facts and insights relat-ed to the contributions ofBlack artists to America'soriginal art form.

“Although not strictlyan African-Americanmusic form, jazz has beenheavily influenced by theBlack community, starting

with its earliest roots andcontinuing into the pres-ent time,” says Meadows.“All Americans shouldbecome familiar with jazz -- not only for its crucialplace in music history, butalso because of its signifi-cance in 20th-century cul-tural history, and particu-

larly the history of Blackculture in the UnitedStates.”

Tickets are available atthe Kerr box office, 6110N. Scottsdale Road,Scottsdale, 480-596-2660,Ticketmaster locations andonline at jazzinaz.org.

Marion Meadows To Highlight Sunday Concert

Marion Meadows will be featured in a concert of music byAfrican-American composers and musicians.

First Friday Civic SpacePark will celebrate blackhistory and culture inhonor of National BlackHistory Month from 6:30to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.5, at Downtown CivicSpace Park, 424 N.Central Ave. in Phoenix

The event by the CivicSpace Partnership is partof the continued efforts bycommunity members,

businesses and institutionsto bring quality arts andculture to DowntownPhoenix.

Partners involved in thisevent include the City ofPhoenix Parks andRecreation Department,The Fair Trade Store, LasOtras Hermanas, BoysHope Girls Hope, Artlink.

Participants can enjoythe work of local black

artists and natural hairstyling demonstrations byArlette’s Natural HairDesigns.

For musical entertain-ment, we’ll be gifted withthe cool sounds of SpookyCool, a Valley experimen-tal jazz band.

Additionally, for youththere will be workshopswith Shining Souls.

First Friday Black History Month CelebrationSet For Phoenix Downtown Civic Space Park

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By Floyd Alvin Galloway

The South ChandlerSelf Help Foundation(SCSHF) will hold its19th Annual BlackHistory Celebration onFebruary 12. The celebra-tion’s theme this year is“United in Love”. Theevents will be educational,entertaining, informative,something for everyoneand feature a gospel con-cert with several individualand group performances

The event will be heldat the Chandler Center forthe Arts beginning at 7p.m. Featured performerswill be VOW, Missla'Donna, Allen Morris,

New Jerusalem Choir, Mz.D and Celia among others.Also scheduled to attendthe event is Miss June-teenth, Amber Thomas.

The event, which isopen to the public, willassist in raising funds forthe earthquake victims inHaiti and the SCSHForganization. The earth-quake victims in Haiti stillrequire a tremendousamount of assistance andwill for sometime.

SCSHF is non-profitcommunity organizationthat encourages self-reliance and spiritualitywhile the family or indi-vidual is setting goals forsuccess. The foundation

provides social and cultur-al activities that educateand unite the community.

Last year SCSHF cele-brated it’s 20th anniver-sary. Because of the sloweconomy it has been hithard like other non-profitgroups relying on commu-nity support.

But the viable and need-ed organization vows toovercome the financialrestraints and continue toserve its community. Justas President Obama notedin his State of the Unionspeech, SCSHF officialssay, “we don’t quit.”

For information aboutSCSHF or the Feb. 12program: 480-593-9488.

Chandler Black History Program United In Love

Arizona Informant News Special - Black History Month

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