Urban Views Weekly 6-4-14

Congratulationsto Our Non-Profit of the Month

Photos by MathScience Innovation Center

Urban Views Weekly June 4, 2014

There is no doubt that there is a great need for talented scientists and engineers.

Research has shown that early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and activities positively impact a child’s life, perceptions and dispositions. By capturing students’ interests in STEM content at an earlier age, a proactive approach can ensure that students are on track through middle and high school to complete the necessary coursework for adequate preparation to enter STEM degree programs at institutions of higher learning.

As a result, programs focusing on STEM initiatives and content are a growing priority in American schools with aims to provide early exposure for elementary students.

In 2009, the United States Department of Labor listed the ten most wanted employees. Eight of those employees were ones with degrees in the STEM fields: accounting, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information sciences and systems, computer engineering, civil engineering, and economics and finance. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while others are growing at 9.8%.

STEM careers are clearly fueling our regional economy. STEM education is so important.

And, the MathScience Innovation Center is doing just that, and has been for almost 50 years right here in Richmond, Virginia.

Coming up Interstate 64, you may notice the MathScience Innovation Center (MSiC) interstate sign, but there are still some people out there who do not know what MSiC is and what they do.

Building on a rich legacy of innovation, begun by the first Director of the MathScience Innovation Center, Dr. Robert C. Haynes, Sr., the MSiC is a leader in the Greater Richmond region in K-12 STEM education.

MSiC is in the business of producing kids who love Math and Science.

See how you can get involved and what MSiC does to bridge those disparities and gaps in the Richmond region.

Dr. Haynes’ vision for the center is “to provide experiences for young people that would influence their lives.” Since the inception of the MSiC, Dr. Haynes, Dr. Wesley Batten, Mrs. Elizabeth Waring, Dr. Julia Cothron, and Mr. Douglas Childers

have all worked to continue his legacy and develop the MathScience Innovation Center into a place of wonder, excitement, rigor, and innovation for students, families, educators, and community members.

“For almost 50 years, the MSiC continues to provide state-of-the-art programming that engages families in hands-on learning activities that push your thinking and inspire scientific and mathematical exploration.” comments Dr. Hollee Freeman, Director of the MathScience Innovation Center.

The MathScience Innovation Center was founded in 1966 as the Mathematics & Science Center and is one of the oldest examples of regional partnerships in the metro Richmond area. The MSiC is a valuable asset in the research, development, and implementation of “cutting edge” student and educator STEM programs in Central Virginia.

Listed as one of the top workplaces by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the mission of the MSiC is to provide extraordinary K-12 educational experiences for students and educators by igniting interest and learning in STEM. Their programs have an important and direct impact on 1) increasing student interest in STEM content and careers; 2) increasing the content and pedagogical knowledge of teachers; and

3) providing a pathway and pipeline for the community with a more knowledgeable and skilled group of individuals who are college and career ready.

On any given day, Monday through Saturday, students involved in MSiC activities may be found fishing for organisms on the James River, exploring the use of nanoscience in medicine, analyzing the mathematics in architecture, or using 3D printers to develop usable prosthetic hands. Students have the opportunity to get “up close and personal”, working alongside national and internationally acclaimed scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.

It is without a doubt that the MathScience Innovation Center is making a difference for K-12 children in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and surrounding counties. Its mission is to be the innovator, incubator, and advocate of 21st century math and science programs for the Capital region’s K-12 educators and students.

It is without a doubt that the MSiC is a resource in our community that can make a difference in the education and employment future of our kids. The MSiC works with over 130,000 students and 3,000 teachers in the 13 school divisions. They teach more than 100 specialized lessons in classrooms and at the center. They also offer a wide variety of Saturday classes, summer camps, and conferences.

“Our work at the MSiC provides high quality Math and Science lessons in a way that is interesting and fun for the students. They actually enjoy the learning process – that makes working here very rewarding.” commented Bill Sorey, MSiC Faculty.

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By: J. Chevonte Alexander

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake. This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working

together, it can be solved. So, let’s move.”

First Lady Michelle Obama

continued on page 6


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LETTER TO THE EDITORIf you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number. We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste. E-mail (without attachments) to [email protected]. Mail letters to Editor Urban Views Weekly.

CIVIC BEAT

Nonprofit organizations often secure the services of fund-raising related consultants and

contractors to support operations and growth. Services may be needed to sup-plement the expertise of current staff, to add specific skillset for a limited amount of time, or because it is more cost effective to contract for services than to hire full-time employees.

Services that could be put out to bid in-clude direct mail, special event design and management, proposal writing, feasibility studies, campaign counsel, online giving, marketing and advertis-ing, prospect research, executive and employee search services, technology, training services and staff develop-ment, premiums and promotional ma-terials, and phonathons.

In all cases, a written request for proposals (RFP) helps facilitate a suc-cessful engagement.

While it takes time to craft an RFP, there are many benefits to be achieved. First, the process will force you and your team to think through what you want to achieve from engaging an outside firm. It serves as a basis for the scope of work that will guide the firm’s work and your evalua-tion of it. You will have a better idea of the amount of time and resources required by your organization to support the work of the contractor or consultant. You will have created a “fair playing field” for those who are competing for your business, and a basis from which your team can evaluate proposals.

Getting started. Convene a team to create the RFP and establish a meth-od of evaluation. Most RFPs include a brief organizational overview and

history; a project description, budget, and timeframe; requirements related to experience, capacity, and technology; and submission deadlines and dates by which decisions will be made. Evalua-tion includes determining, for example, the importance of methodology, ex-perience, and price. Are they equally weighted, or are methodology and ex-perience more important than price? How will “points” be assigned? On a scale of 100, would each receive 33.3 points, or would 40 points be assigned to methodology, 50 to experience and 10 to price? Scoring RFPs reduces sub-jectivity, provides management with a rationale for contracting, and provides vendors with the opportunity to learn how their proposal rated and why.

Regardless of the size of your organi-zation, the RFP process provides an

opportunity to evaluate proposals on an “apples-to-apples” basis. If you are not required to issue an RFP and have already decided which vendor you want to work with, think long and hard before issuing one. Staff, board members, volunteers and vendors all invest time and resources in the RFP process: a common complaint is that the process is a “sham,” as a decision had been made in advance.

Finally, the RFP process can diminish conflicts of interest and contrib-ute to transparency and accountability. It is another way to strengthen the health of your nonprofit.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign visit www.saa-dandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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EVENTS

Above left, Ron and Amy Stallings took a break from their restaurant, Mansion 526, and joined thousands who sampled food during the annual food festival, Broad Appetit. Downtown West Broad Street, from Henry to Adams, was lined with some of Richmond’s best chefs. The crowds came with hearty appetites and cash in hand to pick up the $3.00 mini dishes that each restaurant was featuring. Photos by Ervin B. Clarke


with Christian Theology. Instead, they identify with Christian culture due to their family of origin, personal experiences, or the cultural and social environment in which they were raised. Many of these people either doubt or completely renounce the divinity of Jesus.

It is a fact that several of the Founding Fathers of the U.S. were atheists, and yet many politicians still proclaim that we are a Christian nation. This proclamation, no matter its intention, contradicts the founding documents of the United States of America. The original Founding Fathers did not foresee that their calls for liberty, freedom, equality, and autonomy would some day include the First Nations, descendants of enslaved Africans, immigrants from all nations, women, children, LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, atheists, and so many more. However, in its simplicity and clarity of purpose, that is precisely what the Constitution and Declaration of Indepen-dence does.

The ever increasing disparity of wealth in this nation; the lack of commitment to equal pay for equal work; lack of support for fair wages; the historic disparity within the criminal justice system; lack of educational equity for ALL children; and the plain mean-spirited nature of a Legislative body that is more interested in politics than people begs the question: “How can you call yourself a Christian?” It is not Christ that you are following at all.

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly PollAn Oregon School District plans to make condoms available to students as young as the sixth grade. This new plan will allow certain teachers to distribute condoms to students who request one. But not everyone is on board with the idea.

What’s your take? Should teachers be allowed to distribute condoms?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s Urban Views Weekly Poll @ TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK page. Tune in weekly to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM 1450AM and streaming live on TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

VIEWPOINTS

Many people erroneously call themselves or others a Christian. The term is used so broadly that the interpretation of who or what a Christian is has become extremely problematic in today’s society. A person who is a follower of the teachings of Christ is the most common determination; however, so many theologians, denomi-nations, religious sects and orders within Christendom disagree as to the content and interpretation of Christ’s teachings that some of humankind’s most brutal wars have been waged in the name of religion and religious freedom. Inter and intra-denominational skirmishes continue to be fought within the church with no rem-edy or end in sight.

In the current socio-political climate, the rise of Tea Party extrem-ists, and the ultra conservative right-wing hitching its wagon to the religious activism of “a type” of Moral Majority prevalent in the 80s, the conversation about the U.S. being a Christian nation founded on Christian principles has been revitalized throughout contemporary discourse. However, the idea that God is Love and the demonstration of God’s love is care for the poor and the sick, those in prison, orphans and widows, has gotten lost in the din of political noise. The teaching of Jesus that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven has become just an empty platitude and among many of the unfulfilled biblical directives for those in high places who want to call themselves or be called Christians.

Many historians have studied the supposition that the U.S. was founded on biblical principles; and concluded more often than not that the founders were what we can call cultural Christians rather than religious zealots or extremists. There was good reason the founders identified a need to have a separation of church and state in creating the sacred documents that would ul-timately govern our nation. Like many people today, they were cultural Christians; these are secular or non-religious individuals or people who are religious but do not identify specifically

How can you call yourself a Christian?By Dr. T

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. [email protected]

Artistic Director and Founder of The Conciliation Project www.theconciliationproject.org and a Professor of Theatre at VCU

Up next week - Maya Angelou, activist, artist, teacher, leader

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MSiC in a nutshell…

Who we are

Oldest example of regional partnerships in the Metro Richmond Area (8 full consortium • school divisions, 5 institutional member school divisions, 48 year history)

Community organization dedicated to the development of futuristic STEM programs for • Central Virginia’s K-12 students, educators and school counselors

Capacity-building workforce development program which works with school divisions, • community, and business partners to prepare K-12 students and educators for 21st century skills

Leader in developing programs for students, educators, and parents based on cutting • edge STEM ideas from industry and education. These programs occur during the school day, out-of-school time, Saturdays, and summers

What we do

Classroom and Center-based STEM/SOL focused lessons (approx. 130,000 students • and 3,000 teachers annually)

Virtual STEM lessons for elementary, middle, and high school classes (approx. 1,000,000 • visitors annually)

Summer camps, conferences, and volunteer opportunities for elementary, middle, and • high school students

Professional Development Fellows Programs and conferences for educators (Nanosci-• ence, Fractals, Inquiry and Rigor, Engineering, to name a few)

Saturday programs (parent/child, elementary, middle, and high school students)•

Partner with numerous community and business organizations in Central Virginia•

Where we are going

Continuing to provide timely, rigorous, and futuristic content and curriculum to school • divisions

Increasing our advanced manufacturing, nanoscience, biomedical sciences, computer • science, and ‘green’ STEM related lessons and courses for students and teachers

Building on our distance learning work through new lessons and courses•

Provide a theoretical (research-based) and practical (teaching-based) lens to high-level • teaching and learning processes in the region

Collect and share data on our work•

“There were tons of awesome ‘above and beyond’ lessons that incorporate creativity, prob-lem-solving skills, cooperation, and other 21st century skills.” commented a teacher who participated in the K-2 STEM Workshop.

The SOL and inquiry-based programs offered by MSiC have proven over and over again to be academically rigorous and engaging. By taking advantage of robust partnerships with col-leges and universities, as well as businesses and community organizations, the MSiC is able to offer students experiences such as: exploring the ecosystems of the James River or the pond on the MSiC campus, touring the nanofiber tissue engineering labs at VCU, discovering the power of a roaming robot and the intricacy of a spider’s web, and studying the dynamic nature of cryogenics or mathematical patterns in nature and architecture.

“The MSiC, a strong example of regionalism in Central Virginia, provides an incredible re-source which allows our teachers, students, and community opportunities to collaborate and engage in the worlds of science and mathematics. As a parent and educator, I value the opportunities this regional partnership affords our children.” says Dr. Jamelle Wilson, Superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools and Chair of the MathScience Innovation Center Governing Board.

Camp Innovation: STEM Summers to Remember

Camp Innovation is the MSiC ‘s largest student program. This day program offers classes for students going into 4th grade through 9th grade. Each summer, over 1,000 students participate in week-long classes with topics ranging from biology to exploring mathemati-cal functions. Packed with adventure, creativity, exploration, and design; each class offers students an opportunity to dive more deeply into a myriad of 21st century topics. MSiC also has new additional after-camp classes for those who want an added afternoon adventure. Camp Innovation is a worthwhile summer experience. New for 2014 are three new full-day classes and their new Junior Master Gardener class, a two-week, full-day class. Register for

Camp Innovation at http://mymsic.org/en/saturday-summer/campinnovation.

Metro Richmond STEM Fair

The Metro Richmond STEM Fair, held annually, is Central Virginia’s regional qualifying fair for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) and the Broadcom MAS-TERS competition. Students in grades 7 through 12 compete in over 15 categories in either the Junior or Senior Division. Fair preparation starts in the fall and culminates with the competition in the early spring. Students who have competed in the Metro Richmond STEM Fair have gone on to receive numerous awards in national and international science com-petitions.

“The MathScience Innovation Center is a jewel right here in Richmond, Virginia. We are so lucky to have a facility and team of educators who can help inspire children in the area of science and mathematics. Inspiration and education offered to the young folks right here in our state is what will help the USA continue to lead and grow in innovation. The goal daily is to get one more person and company to learn about the MathScience Innovation Center and help with annual funding to help develop future workers here in Virginia and surrounding States.” comments Barry Moore, community supporter of MSiC, and General Manager, Haley Buick GMC.

For more information on how to get your child involved in the MathScience Innovation Cen-ter, visit www.myMSIC.org or call 804-343-6525. You can also make a donation to the Cen-ter to continue to support their great initiatives and efforts in the community.

Come visit the Center at 2401 Hartman Street Richmond, VA 23223!

By: J. Chevonte’ Alexander

A STEM Leader in the CommunityImagine. Create. Lead.


MSiC in a nutshell…

Who we are

Oldest example of regional partnerships in the Metro Richmond Area (8 full consortium • school divisions, 5 institutional member school divisions, 48 year history)

Community organization dedicated to the development of futuristic STEM programs for • Central Virginia’s K-12 students, educators and school counselors

Capacity-building workforce development program which works with school divisions, • community, and business partners to prepare K-12 students and educators for 21st century skills

Leader in developing programs for students, educators, and parents based on cutting • edge STEM ideas from industry and education. These programs occur during the school day, out-of-school time, Saturdays, and summers

What we do

Classroom and Center-based STEM/SOL focused lessons (approx. 130,000 students • and 3,000 teachers annually)

Virtual STEM lessons for elementary, middle, and high school classes (approx. 1,000,000 • visitors annually)

Summer camps, conferences, and volunteer opportunities for elementary, middle, and • high school students

Professional Development Fellows Programs and conferences for educators (Nanosci-• ence, Fractals, Inquiry and Rigor, Engineering, to name a few)

Saturday programs (parent/child, elementary, middle, and high school students)•

Partner with numerous community and business organizations in Central Virginia•

Where we are going

Continuing to provide timely, rigorous, and futuristic content and curriculum to school • divisions

Increasing our advanced manufacturing, nanoscience, biomedical sciences, computer • science, and ‘green’ STEM related lessons and courses for students and teachers

Building on our distance learning work through new lessons and courses•

Provide a theoretical (research-based) and practical (teaching-based) lens to high-level • teaching and learning processes in the region

Collect and share data on our work•

“There were tons of awesome ‘above and beyond’ lessons that incorporate creativity, prob-lem-solving skills, cooperation, and other 21st century skills.” commented a teacher who participated in the K-2 STEM Workshop.

The SOL and inquiry-based programs offered by MSiC have proven over and over again to be academically rigorous and engaging. By taking advantage of robust partnerships with col-leges and universities, as well as businesses and community organizations, the MSiC is able to offer students experiences such as: exploring the ecosystems of the James River or the pond on the MSiC campus, touring the nanofiber tissue engineering labs at VCU, discovering the power of a roaming robot and the intricacy of a spider’s web, and studying the dynamic nature of cryogenics or mathematical patterns in nature and architecture.

“The MSiC, a strong example of regionalism in Central Virginia, provides an incredible re-source which allows our teachers, students, and community opportunities to collaborate and engage in the worlds of science and mathematics. As a parent and educator, I value the opportunities this regional partnership affords our children.” says Dr. Jamelle Wilson, Superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools and Chair of the MathScience Innovation Center Governing Board.

Camp Innovation: STEM Summers to Remember

Camp Innovation is the MSiC ‘s largest student program. This day program offers classes for students going into 4th grade through 9th grade. Each summer, over 1,000 students participate in week-long classes with topics ranging from biology to exploring mathemati-cal functions. Packed with adventure, creativity, exploration, and design; each class offers students an opportunity to dive more deeply into a myriad of 21st century topics. MSiC also has new additional after-camp classes for those who want an added afternoon adventure. Camp Innovation is a worthwhile summer experience. New for 2014 are three new full-day classes and their new Junior Master Gardener class, a two-week, full-day class. Register for

Camp Innovation at http://mymsic.org/en/saturday-summer/campinnovation.

Metro Richmond STEM Fair

The Metro Richmond STEM Fair, held annually, is Central Virginia’s regional qualifying fair for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) and the Broadcom MAS-TERS competition. Students in grades 7 through 12 compete in over 15 categories in either the Junior or Senior Division. Fair preparation starts in the fall and culminates with the competition in the early spring. Students who have competed in the Metro Richmond STEM Fair have gone on to receive numerous awards in national and international science com-petitions.

“The MathScience Innovation Center is a jewel right here in Richmond, Virginia. We are so lucky to have a facility and team of educators who can help inspire children in the area of science and mathematics. Inspiration and education offered to the young folks right here in our state is what will help the USA continue to lead and grow in innovation. The goal daily is to get one more person and company to learn about the MathScience Innovation Center and help with annual funding to help develop future workers here in Virginia and surrounding States.” comments Barry Moore, community supporter of MSiC, and General Manager, Haley Buick GMC.

For more information on how to get your child involved in the MathScience Innovation Cen-ter, visit www.myMSIC.org or call 804-343-6525. You can also make a donation to the Cen-ter to continue to support their great initiatives and efforts in the community.

Come visit the Center at 2401 Hartman Street Richmond, VA 23223!

By: J. Chevonte’ Alexander

A STEM Leader in the CommunityImagine. Create. Lead.



Watch Video at UrbanViewsWeekly.com

SCHOLAR OF THE WEEK

Scholar0of the Week™

By Amir Vera

Jaylin Masonof Richmond Community High School

1. Have a 3.0 grade point average or better

Participates in extracurricular community service activities

2.

Attends public school in Central Virginia3.

$100.00 Awarded Every Week

Go to UrbanViewsWeekly.com for application and details.

Do you know a High School Senior who can meet the following criteria?

Encourage your scholar to apply!

Watch for our Scholar of the Week segment, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM on

Jaylin Mason enjoys helping people, especially children. The senior at Richmond Community High School was once a member of the YMCA, becoming a volunteer once he was old enough. “I like helping people, especially kids when it comes to sports,” Jaylin said. “As a kid, I was al-ways involved with sports, even though baseball was my primary sport. I just like being involved with sports and getting them active so that they won’t be couch potatoes … I want to get them up and get them active.”

As he mentioned, Jaylin plays baseball at his zone school, Huguenot High School, as a first baseman. He’s been on the varsity squad all four years of high school. He’s been playing since he was five, after his father got him interest-ed in the sport. “My dad originally got me into it, because he played baseball when he was a kid, and he wanted me to get into it.” Having that male role model to keep him ac-tive was something that rubbed off on him. Jaylin said he hopes to play baseball at the collegiate level. He’ll be going to Longwood University in the fall and plans to try out as a walk-on on the Division I team. However, if he doesn’t make it, he says he’d still like to be involved with the sport by playing club or intramurals.

Aside from the baseball aspect of college, Jaylin said he wanted to use his interest in helping people by majoring in criminal justice so that he can become a police officer, and hopefully someday move up to become an FBI agent. The inspiration of going into law enforcement came from his uncle, Jeffrey Goodson, who served as a Richmond po-lice officer for 20 years. “He was like my role model to me, he’s been one all my life” Jaylin said. “To me, he’s just the perfect person. He’s been a police officer all his life, he has a clean record. He may not have had the best childhood, but he overcame all that and became the person he is to-day.”

To be like his uncle and his father is something Jaylin strives toward as he completes his senior year of high school. As he moves on to the next level of his education, he said he is excited about meeting new people and just being in college. “I’m looking forward to just the experi-ence of going to college, not necessarily the partying, but the relationships you’ll make throughout.”

GPA: 4.55

College of Interest: Longwood University

Major Community Service: Volunteering at the Rich-mond Police Athletic League

Strong Interests: Baseball, spending time with friends, volunteering

Favorite Activity: Sports and working at the Ironbridge Sports Park


ENTREPRENEUR

Two incidents have illustrated the draw-backs – even dangers – presented by tech-nology. The first is the Target security

breach, which epitomizes the breadth, depth and scale businesses face in protecting the personal and identifiable information (PII) of customers. No one can deny the reality this incident, and subsequent breaches revealed since, has brought home to us all. The second is the United States’ extraordinary move to level charges against Chi-na. It’s no generalization to say that such an oc-currence almost never happens between nations.

What does this mean for small business? And I do mean small. Solopreneurs, microbusiness, mom and pop retailers, contractors with a dozen em-ployees . . . you name it. Innovation has flipped the script. Now your business plan must include a strategy for securing your technology assets. Cy-ber security sounds like some Internet issue that’s the domain of defense contractors, but it truly refers to all companies’ tech. But, you still don’t think it applies to you? Let me guess:

Excuse No. 1 – No one is looking at me.

I understand. You’re small and feeling pretty insignificant right now. So was the third party vendor that served as the hacker’s vehicle into the Target system. Target wasn’t breached directly. One of their partners was breached and the hackers accessed Target through one small connection.

Now imagine that your most valued client calls you up and tells you that some yahoo in a former Eastern Block nation accessed their data. It’s going to cost tens of thousands in liability, and that doesn’t include fleeing customers. You’re sympathizing because that’s truly a nightmare situation. That’s until you find out your system is the source of the data breach. Now, it’s suddenly your nightmare.

Excuse No. 2 – My files don’t contain proprietary information.

Sure. You’ve got nothing to lose. The system you use came from a leading business de-velopment guru’s daily blog posts. It’s readily available to anyone. Your products aren’t patented because there’s nothing special about them – you just deliver better than any-one with superb customer service. And, you’re flying high because one of your clients developed a revolutionary product that uses the widget you produce. Yay, team!

Well, some of your employees telework, which can be lonely. It’s helpful to go out to the weekly telework Meetup just to be around humans. One computer was accessed on a cof-fee shop’s wifi, which handed a hacker your entire system. Then, the hacker gained entry to your biggest client’s system . . . and proprietary information, which will now allow a competing knock-off to be produced in East Asia.

Excuse No. 3 – That’s just too expensive.

3 Small Business Cyber Security Strategies to Protect Your CustomersBy Gaea L. Honeycutt

Let’s just review. Is it more expensive to retain your customers and your good name, or to find yourself in the middle of a liability nightmare that could bankrupt your business?

In working with Key Concepts Knowledgebase LLC, a small IT business based in Fairfax, I learned three basic things I could incorporate into my operations to better protect myself and my clients:

Software updates. 1. Now, I promptly install security updates. Better to inconvenience myself with a brief computer shutdown than jeopardize my clients with an open invitation to hackers.

Avoid wifi hotspots.2. Tapping into the coffee shop or hotel wifi is now off limits. I don’t access strange sys-tems. These are fertile fields of gold for hackers.

Don’t e-mail sensitive information.3. This was al-ready a golden rule for my firm. You can’t be sure of the path your messages take, who has access and who can unencrypt them.

There’s more all of us can do to protect our businesses and customers. The future of your busi-ness may just depend on taking the necessary steps to ensure the security of your systems.

Gaea L. Honeycutt is President & CEO of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC a consulting firm providing business development and advisory services. She’s also Co-founder & Past Chair-man of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. Connect with Gaea Facebook and Twitter.


By Amir Vera

From F. A. S. T. page 8

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3. Be eligible for over $600 in prizes

contest valid: 5/19/14–7/5/14

enter now at

MartinsFoods

#GrillSnapWin_MFM

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at Customer Service. Legal residents of MD, VA, PA, or WV 18 or older are eligible. Submit a photo of yourself with your Grilling Masterpiece. On FACEBOOK or TWITTER, encourage your community to vote for your photo entry. The top 10 vote getters each week will advance to the final round of judging which will be conducted by the Sponsor based on best presentation of your Grilling Masterpiece. PRIZES: 1 Grand Prize – Our Brands Pack ($100 in Own Brands Products and a $500 MARTIN’S Gift Card), ARV $600. 1 Weekly Prize (awarded each week), a $25 MARTIN’S Gift Card. Total ARV of all prizes $775. Valid from 5/19/14 to 7/5/14. Sponsored by: GIANT Food Stores, LLC. Restrictions apply. See stores for details or go to www.MartinsFoods.com

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Urban Views Weekly 6-4-14