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- Poverty Creates Pipeline to Jail, Critics Say
  
  21 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  photo by Hannah Grossman
  
  By Hannah Grossman
  
  Over a hundred nonprofit agencies met on Wall St to discuss ending what they call the “poverty to prison pipeline.”
  
  According to executives of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), who organized the discussion, poverty is the key issue in the problem of so-called mass incarceration.
  
  Those who have been involved in the criminal justice system find it hard, even after serving time, to transition back to their communities and find employment.
  
  Making a transition from prison to a self-supporting life is the stigma against formerly incarcerated men and women. Hoping to start life over, many find themselves stuck in a recurring cycle of poverty and prison. One of the speakers, John Ducksworth of the New York Theological Seminary, said that the stigma itself can be worse than being incarcerated.
  
  In its preliminary report, the FPWA says those who have been incarcerated often cannot get needed social help after their release.
  
  The Oct. 8 meeting of nonprofit agencies entailed networking and strategizing, in an effort to find solutions to the poverty to prison pipeline. In a related concern, the participants expressed concern that the looming 2020 Census could cause New York State to lose some of the $53 billion dollars in federal funding. That’s because, they and other critics say, the federal counters will not tally all of the residents of New York. The Census ultimately determines how many representatives a given state will have in the House of Representatives and the amount of federal funds that it will receive.
  
  The nonprofit actives offered a resounding “amen” as they vowed to continue advancing the causes of their communities. They said they were doing so against countervailing policies of the administration of President Donald Trump.
  
  “What is coming down the pipe right now, we know what is going on in our city. We know there are much needed services that we’re not getting, and we know we need to keep fighting that fight,” Jennifer Jones, the FPWA’s Executive Director, said. The audience responded, “amen.”
  
  Among the solutions to the prison pipeline decreasing the prison population and splitting up big jails like Riker’s Island into smaller jails. So said Marc Greenberg, the Executive Director of the Interfaith Assembly of Homelessness and Housing, who was involved in putting together the FPWA’s report.
  
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- Singers Tell Students: Be Resilient When Bullied
  
  21 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  Photo by Hannah Grossman
  
  By Hannah Grossman
  
  Hundreds of public school students found their seats on red-velvet concerto chairs and watched performers sing contemporary pop music. In between the performances, the singers recounted their stories and tried to pass along wisdom achieved from their life struggles.
  
  Keschi, a singer from America’s Got Talent, who survived a plane crash that killed 107 people in Nigeria, sang, “This is My Fight Song,” created by Rachel Platten.
  
  Cheers erupted from the crowd.
  
  “What a lot of people don’t know about us is that we came from broken communities, and our mission is to let people know that no matter how difficult it is, you have to stay strong, be strong, and be positive,” said Shon China Lacey, a member of Linkin’ Bridge, an acapella group and finalist on America’s Got Talent.
  
  “I’m talking about shoes too small or too big, I’m talking about not having enough to eat,” Lacy said about his impoverished childhood. Lacy grew up in the projects and then was moved to a foster home when his mother was incarcerated. “It was hard. I could have said I’m gonna sell drugs to get money, but I said no. And I let go and I gave it to God,” he said.
  
  As he detailed his struggles with being raised in the projects and having a parent who was incarcerated, “yupps” resounded from the children with whom the message apparently resonated. “My message to the you is: Stay strong because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Be the lighter for your community,” Lacy said.
  
  Another performer, Jessie Funk, said that after she was bullied, she became the bully. “I got caught in the cycle,” she said.
  
  Funk explained that she took her pain and her disappointment from her “mean girl” days and used that to create something positive. For the past 13 years she has studied behavioral psychology in order to understand bullying so she can be a better advocate against it.
  
  One of the dynamic approaches of Be Strong is that the program does not seek to label bullies.
  
  “If someone is bullying you, there is something going on. No one is born mean. Take a pause, there is something else going on. Having said that, we don’t have to put up with it,” she said.
  
  Funk explained that labeling can create a self-fulfilling prophecy in a child. In her own experience, when she acted like a “mean girl,” she was suspended and categorized as a bully by her principal. This ended up causing her to keep living up to the label. “We are capable of being hurt and we are capable of hurting,” she said.
  
  “We encourage the kids not to bully each other and not to use foul language. This [event] is a reward for them. They can see the strength that comes from not bullying,” a Bronx teacher, Alisha Black, said.
  
  In the social media age, children don’t get a break from bullying when the school bell rings. “Before it was an experience from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock but now they can wake up to it,” Black said. “It’s a big problem. All these kids are committing suicide, and it’s because of social media. Now they go home, and it’s a problem,” said Black.
  
  In the darkness of bullying and hardship, students were encouraged to become heroes of their own story, by asserting themselves as individuals in healthy and creative ways.
  
  “You can get tattoos, but that doesn’t mean you should do stupid things,” Lacy said.
  
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- Bare Protesters Bear Chill, Say ‘No!’ to Winter Wear
  
  19 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  photo credit: Dvorah Nelson
  
  By Dvorah Nelson
  
  This is the third year of protests outside the Manhattan offices of the Canada Goose winter wear company.
  
  “It’s long overdue for us to drop fur,” Ashley Byrne, associate director of PETA, the radical organization opposed to the use of animal skins and other forms of what they say are abuses of animals.
  
  “As long as they’re here, we will be letting people know.”
  
  PETA is an acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
  
  Protesters from other animal rights organizations stood with PETA activists on Thursday, holding signs with images of mutilated animals, in chilly 40-degree weather.
  
  They shouted demands that the Canada-based company close its doors for good. Five of them stood wearing black leggings, combat boots – and little else – for close to two hours.
  
  “Canada Goose kills” was written across each of their chests, in large black letters. By the end of the protest, they were visibly shaken, but they continued their chants. “Canada goose is not fashion, where the hell is your compassion!” they yelled. “Canada Goose has blood on their hands!”
  
  “It’s really emotional,” said Felicia Greenfeld, one of the women. The Upper East Side mom said she was spurred to activism by her daughter, who had decided to become a vegan at a young age. “This is one of the worst brands,” Greenfeld said. “I hate being cold and I hate intensity, but I hate what they do more.”
  
  There was a heavy police presence during the peaceful protest. Police directed the protesters to stay away from traffic. At one point, police officers stepped in to stop an attempt by the protesters to set off smoke bombs. Amanda Kahn, who showed up with her daughter and her mother, was happily surprised by the calmness of the protest and the police response. “Usually [the cops] wanna be assholes,” she said.
  
  While many companies have stopped using animals for their products or have made their production processes less cruel, Canada Goose continues to use fur and provokes strenuous reaction from animal rights activists. A Brooklyn College librarian who identified himself by the name Leo Nardo, said Canada Goose is trying to “bringing back fur into the mainstream,” making it more affording and appealing to urban youngsters.
  
  “Companies like Canada Goose consider themselves progressive,” he yelled into the crowd, “They claim they kill sustainably and ethically, (but) how do you claim the life ethically of an animal that does not want to die.”
  
  “So many people buying Canada goose are not thinking about the cruelty behind the purchase,” said activist Margarite Lee, clutching her sign and a bag littered with vegan pins and stickers. Lee cares for wildlife all over New York, she said, and has a rat farm. “If more people saw it they wouldn’t buy,” she said. “We shouldn’t trap animals and destroy them.”
  
  Canada Goose has not responded to requests for comments. Previously they have defended their use, claiming all materials are sourced ethically. Despite this, protests will continue on through Saturday, protesters said.
  
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- Karina Vetrano’s Murder Case Heads to Trial, as Race Remains a Factor to Some New Yorkers
  
  19 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  Photo by Mo Gelber, who gave rights to Brooklyn News Service
  
  By Benjamin Rubin and Oscar Montenegro
  
  After more than two years since the murder of Karina Vetrano, her family can breathe a sigh of relief as her case is heading for trial that will decide the fate of her suspected murderer, Chanel Lewis.
  
  But some, including the Rev. Kevin McCall of the National Action Network, express strong doubts that Lewis murdered Vetrano.
  
  Karina’s parents, Philip and Cathy Vetrano, and family friends attended the Oct. 18 hearing at Queens County Criminal Court. It was the final hearing before jury selection begins Oct. 29.
  
  Lewis’ attorney, Bob Moeller, who was standing next to Lewis, requested copies of reports on how tests were run on his client. “We have a right to know what tests were performed and whether they followed procedure,” Moeller said. Lewis, in a baggy white button-down shirt, stood motionless and staring down at his feet, while his mother and sister sat behind him.
  
  Judge Michael Aloise denied Moeller’s request.
  
  Karina Vetrano was a resident of Howard Beach who was attacked and murdered while on a jog at Spring Creek Park, allegedly by Lewis, on August 2, 2016. Karina Vetrano was found by her father, with her face pushed into the ground. The NYPD used familial DNA testing, which is a tactic used to find relatives of the person whose DNA evidence was found. The Vetrano family has been outspoken advocating the passing of laws to authorize the use of familial DNA testing.
  
  Eleven states allowing familial searching, but New York is not one of them. Anti-searching advocates say that revealing such personal information would violate rights to privacy, and they are worried that millions of people be adversely affected.
  
  Authorities say that in a confession Lewis admitted he was angry about a personal matter and took it out on Vetrano, who passed him by during his angry moments. He also allegedly admitted to beating and strangling Vetrano. Police say he denied sexually assaulting the young lady.
  
  One prominent supporter for Lewis has been McCall, an associate of the Rev. Al Sharpton and an official with Sharpton’s National Action Network. McCall has attended every court hearing, supporting Lewis’ family. In the past, McCall he believes Lewis was “coerced into confessing.” McCall told Brooklyn News Service that the case against Lewis is “rife with inconsistencies” and he has said he believes a jury will agree with him.
  
  McCall also has maintained that Lewis has a history of mental difficulties. He has suggested that Lewis’ psychological illnesses absolve him of criminal intentions of the kind alleged in this case.
  
  Lewis was deemed by the court to be “mentally fit” to stand trial.
  
  Howard Beach, where Vetrano was from, has a long history of racial tensions, including the 1986 murder of a black man and beating of two others by a white mob. The incident exacerbated racial tensions across New York City. One man, Jonatan Amaya, 24, who identifies as black and Latino, said, “I don’t like those people over there.” Residents of Howard Beach over the years have been largely Italian American.
  
  “They [Howard Beach residents] see me, they stare,” Amaya said. “They see me, they call the cops . . . If I’m walking in their neighborhood, it’s not for a ‘good reason’ in their minds.”
  
  Amaya lives in the Pink Houses public housing development in the East New York section of Brooklyn, not far from Howard Beach. Lewis is also from eastern Brooklyn.
  
  Karina Vetrano’s mother, Cathy, in the past has said she does not want this case to become a racial issue. “My daughter’s murder, violent murder, it should never be anything more than that what this is about,” Cathy Vetrano said.
  
  “This isn’t a racial issue, we don’t want it to be like that,” she said.
  
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- Christmas Came Early, with Precision and Elegance Transcending Time
  
  13 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  photo credit: Dakota O’Brien
  
  By Dakota O’Brien
  
  More than a month before the Radio City Christmas Spectacular begins, and blocks away from the venue itself, the Radio City Rockettes ran through their routines over and over again. Sweat coated their arms and their breath was heavy, their smiles, framed by a bright red lipstick, were tireless.
  
  On Thursday morning, the 80 Rockettes, 40 in each cast, filled the basement floors of The Church of St. Paul the Apostle to host a sneak peak of their new finale scene “Christmas Lights,” for the show’s 86^th year.
  
  Every year, the precision dance company begins it practice schedule in September, dancing six days a week, seven hours a day – months before the dancers take the stage and do up to four performances a day for almost two months. While this may seem rigorous, it isn’t anything overwhelming for a Rockette. To even audition, the women must be proficient in jazz, tap, and ballet, and they must have the capacity to sing and dance simultaneously. All of this is done in heels, by the way.
  
  For the practice, the Rockettes were led by former Rockette, now Creative Director, Karen Keeler. While most directors lead their dance teams with a stern attitude, Keeler commands respect with her kindness and gentle style of correction. “Open your chest, and let all that sunshine come out from your heart,” she instructed one of the dancers as they all held a pose.
  
  A decent part of the rehearsal was spent holding poses, while the director scanned the room for anything that might have been sticking out. The dancers resembled dolls during these moments, unfazed by the difficulty of holding their legs in a passé or both of their arms above their heads for minutes. “The moments when you’re not moving are almost as important as when you are,” Keeler reminded the dancers.
  
  Keeler was a Rockette for 14 years, allowing her to lend her experience to the company, as well as her eye for precision, which quite literally is what the Rockettes strive for. The Rockettes, originally known as the “Missouri Rockets” before the company was moved to New York, were inspired by a 1922 production by a British dance troupe, “Tiller Girls.”
  
  Instructions may be as simple as “Lift your chin, Jess,” or “Center your face forward,” but these are the details that make up the spectacular synchronism the Rockettes have been associated with for decades.
  
  Classic numbers like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and “Living Nativity” have been performed since the show’s inception, but no other moment wows the audience like The Rockettes’ kick line numbers. Even as they perform in their simple black tank tops and shorts in the basement of a church, the magic of the show is felt when their long legs are kicking to the melody of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
  
  While their impeccable struts can be mostly contributed to their intense routines and professional dance experience, their height helps – all Rockettes are between 5’6” and 5’10,” not an inch above or below. Taller girls are placed in the center and shorter girls at the end, creating the illusion that they are all exactly the same height.
  
  After a seemingly perfect number, the girls applauded each other, and Keeler offered jokes throughout the practice, lightening the mood with a bit of laughter when necessary. It’s moments like these that show the culture of the company, a family working hard towards a common goal – a spectacular Christmas show. Their light-hearted moments were accompanied by focus on detail and correction.
  
  “All those details, every single time, is what separates you as the dance company that you are – precision,” Keeler told the ladies before they ran through their routine for the last time.
  
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- Pathways Continues to Help Students Transfer from Two- to Four-Year Colleges
  
  11 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  Marcus Ayala
  
  The New York City Councilmember met with representatives of the CUNY system on Thursday to find solutions to the problems of the CUNY Pathways program.
  
  Pathways was first used in the 2012 as a way to help CUNY Community College students who were transitioning to four-year CUNY Colleges. It helps ease some of the financial burdens of transferring.
  
  The problem was that often students were not allowed to transfer certain courses they had taken, meaning they had to pay more in tuition at their new four-year colleges.
  
  Councilmember Robert Holden, who has worked at CUNY’s City Tech (a two- and four-year college) said he firsthand witnessed the strains that students faced. Students would sometimes have to retake some courses because, while the courses were similar, the four-year institutions would not give credit for the courses taken at the community college.
  
  One of the speakers on Thursday was Dara Byrne, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at CUNY’s John Jay College, which has a four-year program. Byrne acknowledged that the problems with transferring credits can affect students’ ability to graduate on time. The difficulty is made much worse for large numbers of students who must work full-time to pay tuition.
  
  John Jay partners with the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Queensborough Community College, Kingsborough Community College and others to try to ease the transfer process.
  
  From 2012 to 2014 John Jay saw the percentage of credits transferred rise from 59.4 percent to 64.3 percent.
  
  Pathways still has a long way to go and a lot of improvements to be made. Still it’s drawing in many new students and it’s only going to bring in more as all the improvements are made.
  
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- With the Comic Industry Becoming More Diverse, More People Are Able to Relate to Characters
  
  11 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  photo credit: Michelle Ayr
  
  By: Michelle Ayr
  
  According to Statista’s 2013 survey, 60 percent of Americans began reading comics before the age of ten, giving them access to a world in which anything is possible and inspiration can be quickly found. Children, through comics, are more likely to realize they are not alone in their struggles. And they can see connections between themselves and the courageous individuals who in comics make almost everything seem possible: The Superheroes.
  
  On Thursday, there was a celebration of the diversity that exists in the comic world. The event took place at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which featured “Diversity Comic Con” as a theme. It embraced the idea that diversity in the realm of comics means that more and more of the children of today, who otherwise might feel alienated, can gain the advantages that so many American children as accessed in the past.
  
  The exhibitions showcased superheroes and their creators. Marvel once displayed a diversity imbalance, showcasing mostly white straight male characters. Since then, comics have presented characters that are divergent enough to appeal to the hearts of groups previously ignored. There are now Puerto Rican, Arab, LGBTQ+, African American, and female superheroes, showing grace and courage in events and stories of our new era.
  
  Jerome Walford, an FIT instructor and founder of Forward Comix, said that for much of his life, he felt that he did not have a place to call his own. The small-press publisher, Forward Comix, has been in business for about six years, and currently has two projects it is working on. Nowhere Man is a superhero who drives Walford to continue writing. “It’s essentially a graphic novel that follows a young detective in New York City, and is the first superhero of his time, making him question what he is ‘supposed’ to do or if he belongs,” said Walford. So far, a lot of the “buzz” the publisher has received has been because of the short stories called Gwan, which in many ways mirror Walford’s other stories. The collection received an Independent Publisher Book Award in 2017. It pulled together dozens of writers and artists from 15 different countries who crafted stories of immigrants and their experiences.
  
  “For me,” said Walford, “the medium of comics is a great way to tell stories by both word and visuals, to speak on the experience an immigrant may have in a way that is very unique to many of the occurrences that ‘Americans’ have today.” Walford added, “It’s a great way to connect with other people.”
  
  Regine L. Sawyer is the owner, writer, and creator of Lockett Down Productions. After publishing science fiction books, Sawyer became the coordinator and founder of the Women in Comics Collective International, hosting events, ranging from panel discussions to art shows and workshops. Since establishing her own Comic Con Convention in New York City, Sawyer realized much of her inspiration for her comics came from her own life. “I love science fiction, and I love horror stories, and I feel that shows through my work,” said the 37-year-old. The video-game fan said much of her inspiration came from those she worked with. “Seeing how hard they work in the industry, where they’re interested in going, their helpfulness to others, and the way they mentor others becomes my drive for every new story,” said Sawyer.
  
  Kristen Gudsnuk developed a character for those of us who have felt that they’ve never belonged to any social circle. The 31-year-old writer and artist for Hench Girl, Making Friends, and Modern Fantasy gets her inspiration from the incidents she’s had in her real life, specifically those of her middle and high school years. “I like to focus on women in some sort of moral predicament that many young girls and women are able to relate to,” said Gudsnuk, mentioning that Making Friends is about a girl who does not have any companions. The girl uses magic to create the “perfect best friend” and along the way make herself more popular. Gudsnuk said it is all a rewriting of her own seventh grade experiences. “I want young girls and boys to understand they don’t have to try to fit in or mold themselves to anyone’s liking,” said Gudsnuk, adding, “Everyone gets lonely and in the moment it may seem impossible to handle, but I want them to know they are not alone. It gets better.”
  
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- Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling Magically Appear in New York
  
  10 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  photo by Dvorah Nelson
  
  By Dvorah Nelson
  
  Perhaps the words painted on the wall of the New-York Historical Society’s exhibit say it all:
  
  “There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.”
  
  Harry Potter: A History of Magic showcases much more than what initially meets the eye. The maze of hallways and corridors detail the intricate history and magic behind Harry Potter, with interactive art and original works dating back to 1400 BC. The purposeful design is easy for adults and children to spend hours absorbing, as they envelop themselves in the creativity of the world created by J.K Rowling.
  
  Following the British Library’s successful year-long run of the exhibit, the New-York Historical Society is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter release in the U.S with “Harry Potter: A history of Magic.” The exhibit captures “the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the harry potter stories,” said Jamie Andrews, head of culture and learning at the British Library.
  
  Andrews praised the collaboration and opening, saying “We both believe in using collections from the past to tell new stories to new audiences.”
  
  The Harry Potter books have been translated into 80 languages and have sold over 500 million copies worldwide. The beloved series has expanded into plays, movies, and musicals. “Whether you’re an adult or child, you get [Harry Potter],” said Roberta Olson, curator of drawings at the New-York Historical Society. “It has something for everyone.”
  
  The exhibit aims to appeal to this wide range of fans with workshops, classes, meetups, open mics and more.
  
  As one walks down corridors, portraits line the high walls and books float above, lending to a feeling of walking through the Hogwarts’ magical library. The herbology room brings together the history of medicine with its roots in witchcraft. It does that via what’s said to be the first book of medicine written in English, which was acquired and then sold in the United States by a man accused of witchcraft.
  
  On a wall, J.K Rowling’s original sketches of Pomona Sprouts, head of Herbology at Hogwarts, can be seen on small pieces of paper or napkins. They bring to mind J.K Rowling in her writing hours, scribbling notes on whatever sat beneath her eyes.
  
  The oldest items can be found in the room of divination, with dark maroon walls and painted bookshelves. The oracle bones from 1600-1046 BCE were used in ancient China to answer questions about “a king’s toothache [and] royal pregnancies.”
  
  Moving along, a large painting by famous artist John James Audubon greets a visitor. Old original sketches of owls are there also, and a J.K Rowling manuscript with its blank spaces for dialogue to be filled in, and crossed-out lines and arrows pointing to where writing should be moved.
  
  Exiting the exhibit, the impact of harry potter on readers can be seen and felt, with copies of book editions in some of the eighty languages there to be taken in by the eyes and emotions.
  
  Items at the exhibit came from various locations, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Yale University, the Museum of Witchcraft, as well as the British Library and the New-York Historical Society’s own collections.
  
  The exhibit will run through January 27, 2019. Tickets run from $13-21 and are purchasable at harrypotter.nyhistory.org.
  
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- Nigerian Prince Tricked Job Seekers into Giving Him Paydays, Prosecutors Say
  
  05 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  Photo credit: Mark Mathosian, via Creative Commons
  
  By Benjamin Rubin
  
  Scam emails claiming to be from Nigerian royalty were all the rage in the Internet’s early age. But in New York City today a real-life Nigerian prince is being accused of bilking job seekers out of tens of thousands of dollars.
  
  Osmond Eweka is a member of the Nigerian royal family, law enforcement officials have alleged. Eweka is being accused of defrauding more than 250 people out of tens of thousands of dollars, using employment fraud schemes. Prosecutors say that he set up fake employment agencies and bilked the job-seekers out of over $50,000.
  
  Eweka was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday but the Civil Court judge handling the case announced that he made an agreement with attorneys to delay the proceedings, with Nov. 8 as the next court date.
  
  Eweka and his associates were said to have set up offices in prestigious locations, like the Empire State Building. People who came to them looking for jobs were then sent to seek jobs that would have been open to the public to apply for, like attempting to get fire guard license at the city’s Fire Department headquarters in Brooklyn.
  
  The applicants were told to begin the process with Eweka’s agency, and then wait to hear back about whether there was a job offer. Those who did hear back were sent on what officials described as wild goose chases. The agency would send them to real businesses that had no affiliation with the agency. There were no jobs at those places, prosecutors have asserted.
  
  Prosecutors say that the job-seekers were charged fees by the agency for uniforms and training. But there just weren’t any jobs behind the promises. Eweka’s attorney, Thomas A. Kenniff, disputed the prosecutors’ allegations, telling the New York Times that “The reality is that Mr. Eweka provided honest services to many satisfied clients.”
  
  Eweka used fake names during his interactions, according to prosecutors, so it is hard to tell if he used his royalty as part of his scheme. Immigrant communities throughout the city often deal with scams targeting those seeking employment.
  
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- Native American Art, Still Living, at the MET
  
  04 Oct 2018 by journalism / No Comments
  
  Photo by Marcus Ayala
  
  By Marcus Ayala
  
  The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) opened an exhibit in the American Wing called “Art of Native America.” The artworks there are from the Charles and Valerie Diker collection.
  
  Featured are 116 masterworks that represent the achievements of artists from more than 50 distinct indigenous traditions across North America.
  
  Among the pieces are sculptures from British Columbia and Alaska, dating from second century through the early twentieth century.
  
  The first work in the exhibit came from Carrie Bethel and is called Mono Lake Paiute. It’s made of willow shoots, sedge root, redbud shoots and dyed bracken root. Bethel began working on it in 1926 at age 29 and ended up winning first place at the Yosemite National park’s Indian field day competition.
  
  Another work was from Mary Winkle, a Panamint Shoshone, and it was a jar. It’s made of willow and sumac shoots, Joshua tree root and dyed juncus stems.
  
  Elizabeth Hickox was considered one of the greatest basket weavers of the Klamath River Valley region in Northern California. Then there was Juana Basilia Sitmelelene, who created an exhibited tray that she made just fter the Spanish arrived in late eighteenth century. The new market of Europeans led to more innovative designs. Hickox combined the designs of European colonists with the imagery of a complex indigenous world.
  
  A husband and wife duo named Maria and Julian Martinez from New Mexico created a Black-on-Black Jar made of Clay and Slip. They, both deceased, were widely acclaimed ceramic artists. Maria shaped the vessels and Julian painted and designed them.
  
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