The Homewood Brushton business community has suffered another casualty. Board members of A-K Valley Federal Credit Union voted late Jan. 5 to close the 7249 Frankstown Ave. branch, often referred to as the Homewood Credit Union. The branch was burglarized Jan. 1, the fifth time since the organization has operated in Homewood—four of the times at gunpoint.

DARK AND LONELY—A-K Valley Federal Credit Union, located at 7249 Frankstown Ave. in Homewood, has closed its doors.

According to president and CEO Janet Horn, the New Year’s Day robber went through filing cabinets but did not access any personal files because those were in a locked cabinet, but a set of keys were stolen. Two employees are affected by the closing.

Community leaders and concerned citizens at a Jan. 2 job forum said President Barack Obama must focus his efforts on creating programs specifically aimed at reducing unemployment in the African-American community.

Coinciding with others around the country, Your Sister’s Project hosted a community jobs forum to gather public feedback on what Obama’s administration can do to stimulate job growth and help Blacks get jobs.

MORE JOBS—Community leaders from throughout the city came together at a Job Forum to lead a discussion on how to increase employment in the Black community.

“Our community, the African-American community, is suffering the most,” said special guest Akbar Muhammad. “Collectively we must say to the Barack Obama administration, we need to look at the special needs of the Black community and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

At the monthly Pittsburgh Board of Education public hearing Jan. 11, 13 members of the Black Political Empowerment Project and the Coalition Against Violence asked the board to implement CAV’s strategies in the Pittsburgh Public School District.

A MOTHER’S LOVE— Valerie Dixon shares the story of her son who died, a victim of street violence.

“It is the strongly held opinion of members of B-PEP and the Coalition Against violence ‘Working Group’ that the end of violence in our schools and in our neighborhoods must become a top priority for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, its teachers, administrators, students, parents and guardians,” B-PEP Chairman Tim Stevens said. “Please remember that more peaceful schools and more peaceful communities logically lead to a more positive learning environment for all.”