DAMON CARR

More than 10 years ago while vacationing in Florida, I was given an offer that I could not refuse. “Come to this FREE two-hour seminar and you’ll get two-FREE tickets to Disney World and two-FREE tickets to Universal Studios.” Back then, tickets to both Disney World and Universal Studios were approximately $60 per ticket. I’m a sucker for FREE stuff. I was one of the first people in line at the seminar. It turned out that this was no seminar. It was a high-pressure sales environment for timeshares. At the time, I had no earthly idea what a timeshare was. All I knew was that the sales representative wanted me to pay $15,000 for the right to have access to a condo for one week out of the year, every year. Even back then with absolutely no knowledge of timeshares, I thought this was one of the silliest concepts ever conceived. Today, I know it is.

A GREAT EVENT—Event organizers, Luther and Roxanne Sewell encompass Honorable Vanessa Lowery Brown, Pennsylvania state representative and president of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

Powerful and straight and to the point are adjectives that best describe the two-day Talk Magazine 2013 Pennsylvania African-American Network Convention;  with Esther L. Bush, president of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown the first day, to Vera Cornish, president of Cornish and Associates and T. Rashad Byrdsong; CEO of the Community Empowerment Association the second day.

JAMES CLINGMAN

(NNPA)—Some people say “common sense is not common,” which may be the main reason Black people are not as far up the economic ladder as we should be. Having been in this country since it started, having provided the free labor that led to the creation of much of the wealth now enjoyed by those in charge, and having built a history of self-help and entrepreneurial initiative since our enslavement, Black people have the strongest case and the greatest need to exercise a little common sense when it comes to working collectively to improve our position in the U.S.

Opportunity Fair
MAY 23—Highmark Inc. will host the Wexford Medical Mall Opportunity Fair from 2-4 p.m. at 120 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Prime Contractors will be on site to answer specific questions related to diverse partnership opportunities. Registration is required. For more information, email LaNee Benton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .