Positively Detroit

You may be stopped by law enforcement for any number of reasons. Once they pull you over, their first typical request is usually, “Show me your driver’s license and proof of insurance.” Now, all that has changed. Starting today, your first demand will be “Show me your Urban Teen magazine.” If you can pull it out from under your seat that may save you from getting that dreaded ticket. Just kidding!! But, it’s well worth the try.

Wayne County Sheriff, Benny Napoleon and Detroit Police Chief, James Craig takes time out of their enormously busy schedules to read the student-driven publication Urban Teen.

This keepsake, full color, heavy weight, 172 page magazine was created at Finney High School, by English Curriculum Leader - Gloria Cunningham (that’s me),under the leadership of Principal - Alvin Ward, to teach students the career pathways of print media and allow their stories of greatness to be told. All too often, the good news about students in Detroit gets ignored by mass media.

Students are taught journalism, graphic design, and photography through group workshops and private sessions. Schools are invited to select students who love to read, write, design, and draw - to learn the professional side of their crafts. The teachings are open to students in all grades, with high schoolers being the most involved.

The cover story of this third edition is devoted to the fine arts, specifically the city-wide dancers of Detroit Public Schools Community District. Eleven students from various middle and high schools grace the cover. Mr. W. McAllister is Director of the Fine Arts Department. Visual arts at the DIA and other art programs are also displayed.

Some of the pages inside show students in PSL sports such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, track and field, and cross country. Supporter, Horatio Williams is given credit for his efforts to award student athletes.

Community programs that favor youth are showcased: Police Cadets, Fire Cadets, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Delta Sigma Theta, Rosedale Park, NAACP Youth Council, and Metro Youth Day, to name a few.

Faith-based youth initiatives are Macedonia Church - Pioneer Girls and Boys Club and Teen Council, MEDCCE - Carver Camp, First Glory’s Youth Rally, Calvary - Back to School Event, Bernice Tole’s Life Skills Workshop, and Wolverine State Youth.

Prime historic pages include, former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama when they visited Detroit on separate occasions at WSU and the Music Hall, respectively.

Six business owners were interviewed to give insight to aspiring student entrepreneurs about how to start a business. Words of wisdom came from these professionals: hair stylist, movie producer, radio talk show host, ladies’ boutique owner, restauranteur, and caterer.

DPS alumni organizations have been featured in all three editions. In this one, you will read about the “give back” contributions of Pershing, Mackenzie, Southeastern, Cody, and Mumford.

More great things are covered - prom fashions, military ball fashions, ROTC, and my favorite - Look Who’s Reading Urban Teen. We have caught all kinds of notables reading this fabulous magazine: Dr. and Mrs. Vitti, Al Sharpton, Rev. Jessie Jackson, Steve Harvey, Mayor Duggan, Coleman Young II, Mason, CoCo, Brenda Jones, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Helen Moore, Judge Craig Strong, Frankie Darcell, and more. Now it’s your turn to get caught reading Urban Teen. But first you must get a copy. Funds raised through your donation $10 will support this writing project and the next edition.

To get your copy send an email to me at urbanteen@yahoo.com or contact your favorite DPSCD school principal and tell them to make a copy happen for you, immediately! Then you too can get caught reading Urban Teen!

FCA US “Women of Color” gain

recognition at annual STEM event

FCA US LLC technical business leaders received honors for their career achievements at the annual Women of Color STEM Conference held October 5-7 in Detroit.

The Women of Color Conference honored the significant achievements of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions. The conference ensures that the accomplishments of outstanding women in technical fields are highly visible to industry professionals, government officials and students.

"The Women of Color Awards celebrated some of the country's most promising and influential female business and community leaders," said Kelly Tolbert, Head of Diversity, FCA US LLC. "FCA US is proud that our women leaders are consistently recognized among such accomplished honorees."

FCA 2017 Women of Color Award Recipients Chairman's Award: Recognizes an elected or appointed leader who makes innovative financial or diversity decisions and recommendations to corporate or community leadership

• Keera Riddick – Electrical Engineering Components

Technology All-Stars Award: Recognizes accomplished professionals who have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities.

• Sohaila Feizy-Marandy – Interior Electromechanical Design

• Mary Camilla Raju – PentaSAP Procurement Technology Rising Stars Award: Recognizes young professionals who are helping to shape technology for the future.

• Paulina Almada – Powertrain Automatic Transmissions

• PallaviAnnabattula – Computational Fluid Dynamics

• Gabriela Perea Aguirre – HVAC Systems

• Tianna Barnes – Quality Control, Warren Stamping Plant

• Shin Boulware – EMC Components

• Caron Drake – World Class Manufacturing, Jefferson North Assembly

• Lora Faraon – Electrical Engineering

• Hong Geng – Powertrain Virtual Engineering Programs

• Aisha Johnson – Human Machine Interface & Ergonomics

• Erika Keeling – Pressroom, Sterling Stamping Plant

• DivyaMyneni – Active Noise Cancellation

• Dr. NeeharikaAnantharaju – Vehicle Safety/Crash Engineering

• NikkitaSoni – Digital Marketing

• SangeetaTheru – Powertrain HIL & Validation Tools

Over the years, FCA US employees consistently have earned important technical professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce.

Additionally, the Company actively supports initiatives that aim to increase the number of college-bound minority students in the STEM pipeline. For instance, FCA US partnered with Florida International University (FIU) to sponsor a STEM education initiative called "Engineers on Wheels." The program features mobile classrooms, bringing hands-on engineering and science experiments and experiences to South Florida K-12 schools, and to the community at large. FIU annually graduates the largest number of Hispanic engineers in the U.S., and is one of the country's top institutions for graduating African-American engineers.

Keera Riddick, Senior Manager -Electrical Engineering Components, FCA US LLC