April 22nd, 2010
Legendary civil rights leader Dorothy Height, who spent most of her life battling for the empowerment of women and blacks and who had the ear of U.S. presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, died Tuesday. She was 98.
In 1963, Height was the only woman on the speaker’s platform when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Harvard professor Charles Ogletree called Height “an absolute genius.”
“Everything that we do today is influenced by her sacrifices decades ago, her marches as a teenager against lynching, her buying a building right on Pennsylvania Avenue to in a sense to talk about the slave trade, and her commitment to open up doors for others is unparalleled,” Ogletree said.
Height continued to fight for equal justice up until the end of her life. In 2008, she told NPR — while wearing a feathered purple chapeau with a fetching bow — that there is unfinished business in civil rights.
Read The Entire Article
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April 15th, 2010
Teaneck High School in northern New Jersey looks exactly like the nickname locals have given it-”a castle on the hill.” A Tudor-style building it calls to mind a medieval fortress, the school is nestled in a cozy middle-class neighborhood just a 15-minute drive from New York City. With approximately 1,350 students, the school combines America’s rich diversity with academic advantages normally reserved for the elite private schools of Manhattan: The library is equipped with wireless laptop carts that can be rolled into classrooms to service every student. Free SAT preparation is offered, and video-on-demand allows teachers immediate access to digital media.
About 28 different languages are spoken in the halls of this school, where Black, White, Latino and Asian students from all walks of life mingle easily in the cafeteria. On warm days they gather on the front lawn or the concrete steps of the school’s stadium. The African-American students, who make up 54 percent of the student body, can claim as many advantages as any other group: Some are the children of cardiologists, college professors,lawyers and corporate executives. One might think that the national education gap between Black and White students does not apply in this largely middle-class setting. Not so,- says the school’s principal, Angela R. Davis, who is African-American.
Read Entire Article, courtesy of Essence Magazine. (PDF File)
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April 8th, 2010
National Public Health Week 2010 has a focus on the special role communities play in building a healthier America, and the American Public Health Association is encouraging each one of us to make changes – both big and small – in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and schools. As you know, strong, healthy communities are dependent upon strong public health systems. If every one of us took just a few small steps towards a healthier lifestyle, the next generation could quite possibly be the healthiest in the world! Read the rest of this entry »
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April 6th, 2010
M. H. West & Co., Inc.’s CEO who is also a member of the Richmond Chapter of Continental Societies, Inc, joined two other members of the organization’s health committee, Allison Lawrence and Aldora Turner, to deliver baskets to the pediatric unit of Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital on April 1. With the assistance of WEST staff members, Continentals stuffed some 50 baskets with educational toys and games and a very few nutritious snacks for the Easter holiday season. Also the beneficiary of the Easter Baskets were the children in a local domestic violence shelter of the YWCA. The Health Committee of the Richmond Chapter is working with area youth and parents to help promote healthy lifestyles and practices. Continental Societies, Inc., a public service organization, dedicated to the socio-economic and cultural welfare of underprivileged children and youth, was organized in 1956 and incorporated nationally in 1972. The Richmond Chapter was organized in 1976. It embraces 42 Chapters in 20 states, the District of Columbia and Bermuda with a total membership of approximately 900.
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March 26th, 2010
M. H. West & Co., Inc. associate Justin House thought he was going to Morton’s Steakhouse for a nice meal, instead he ended up behind bars. While at Morton’s Steakhouse Justin was “locked up” for one hour while to help raise “bail money” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Jerry’s Kids). Lock Up events are the largest source of income for the Central Virginia MDA. Last year they raised over $450,000 for 2,100+ area families. There are a total of 7 lock up events in Central Virginia:
Charlottesville – February 10
Downtown Richmond – March 25
Chester – May 13
Southside – May 27
Innsbrook – July 21
Fredericksburg – October 7
West End – November 8
Justin was happy to help this worthy cause and feels his time in the “slammer” proved to be enlightening.
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March 24th, 2010
Several M. H. West & Co., Inc. associates bowled for a good cause on March 20th at the 3rd Annual Red Cross Relief Bowl. The event was held at Bowl America Short Pump and was the second consecutive year that M. H. West & Co. Inc. was a corporate team sponsor. The Red Cross Relief Bowl is an initiative of the young professionals of the 2010 Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign. WEST associate Julian House was actively involved in organizing the event. All proceeds from the Bowl-A-Thon benefited the American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Chapter annual fund.
WEST associates participating in the event included: Marilyn West, Julian House, Erica Cage Meaghan West, Justin House and Radcliffe Chambers. Everyone involved remarked on how much fun they had and how bowling is a creative way to raise money for a great cause.
Posted in M. H. West Company News, Richmond News | No Comments »
March 18th, 2010
Alzheimer’s Association held its Second Annual Fundraising Breakfast at the Sheraton Richmond West on March 18th. The well-attended event was hosted by Mark Hubbard and included presentations by Scott Paciocco, Sherry Peterson and Mike Larkin. A moving video which highlighted the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s; not only on those with the disease, but on those who care for them as well was also shown.
The personal stories by some of the speakers were touching and the event as a whole was educational. M. H. West & Co., Inc. is proud to be a table sponsor for this worthy cause, not only this year but for the years to come.
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March 16th, 2010
Impact 100 Richmond is a grassroots effort that champions the power of women giving together. Its mission is to advance transformative giving in the Richmond region by uniting women’s ideas and actions through philanthropy. The goal is to change the lives of women and their families by transforming a local nonprofit through a significant, collective financial investment.
The above strategy is well-researched, yet simple: 100 women will give $1,000 each to create a $100,000 grant to be given to a mutually-selected nonprofit. More than 100 women may join, however, which will only increase the impact of the program.
Marilyn West, the CEO of M. H. West & Co., Inc., is proud to count herself among the Impact 100 of Richmond and is eager to see the mission fulfilled. The first grant will be awarded to a local nonprofit in Spring 2010. For more information on this program visit the Impact 100 Richmond website here.
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March 16th, 2010
Virginia Executives Enjoy These In-State Getaways
Marilyn West, chairman and CEO of M.H. West & Co. Inc., a Richmond-based management consulting firm, admires people who can leave their BlackBerrys behind when they vacation but admits that it’s not her style. “I have more anxiety from not being in touch than I do being in touch,” she says. “It will be 20 years that I’ve had my business, and I’ve never been able to totally separate from the business. In my own mind, it relaxes me to know what’s going on even if I’m not totally responsive.”
Staying connected often means staying close. About three times a month from June to September, West makes her way to the Hampton Roads area’s Sunset Yachting Center to get out on her boat, go fishing and catch up on reading for a day or long weekend. On other occasions, she takes interstates 64 and 81 toward Harrisonburg for day trips, stopping at restaurants along the way. “If I leave the office at noon on Friday and don’t come back until Monday, I feel like I’ve been away for three weeks,” she says. “We have owned a boat for about 30 years, so that represents a large number of trips, many fish catches and much fun and relaxation.”
Read the entire article here.
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March 11th, 2010
M. H. West & Co., Inc. participated in Richmond Public Schools‘ Job Shadowing Program on March 9. We felt that the students, Shane and Amani, enjoyed learning as much about the company’s work and its staff as we did learning about them. Shane and Amani pulled together in a short period of time a presentation which described where they see themselves now and in the future. They then shared these with WEST team members during lunch. Shane, would like to be an NFL receiver and if that does not work out, he hopes to become a physician. Amani sees herself becoming a pediatrician. However, she also has an interest in forensics and the criminal justice field. Participating in this successful program of Richmond Public Schools for WEST were Marilyn West, Erica Cage, Radcliffe Chambers, Meaghan West, Ned Conway, Julian House, Justin House and Joe Armstrong. Following lunch, WEST gave a great send off to the special guests and provided them with a bag of WEST mementos.
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