Black Legislative & Community Knowledge

The article discusses reverse phone lookup services as a solution for identifying unknown callers and avoiding phone scams. With over 4.7 million numbers added to the Do Not Call registry in fiscal year 2025, individuals and businesses face increasing difficulty distinguishing legitimate calls from spam. These lookup tools search public databases to provide caller information without alerting the person being searched, helping users avoid sharing sensitive information with scammers who often pose as banks or other trusted entities. The services are particularly useful for San Diego residents and business owners who want to verify caller identities before responding to calls or potential business opportunities. # Key Takeaways

Telehealth usage among physicians has surged from 25% before the pandemic to 71% in 2024, offering convenient healthcare access to millions of Americans. However, significant barriers prevent equitable access, including inadequate internet connectivity, outdated devices, unaffordable data plans, and language or technical literacy challenges. While telehealth can dramatically benefit underserved communities—particularly rural residents, those with mobility issues, and people living far from specialists—having the technology available doesn't guarantee patients can successfully use it. True healthcare equity requires healthcare systems to address these digital divides by offering multilingual support, technical assistance, phone appointment alternatives, and user-friendly platforms designed around patients' real-world limitations.

Black blacksmiths made essential contributions to Southern architecture through skilled ironwork that remains visible throughout historic cities today, though their contributions have often gone unrecognized. These artisans worked during the 18th and 19th centuries under challenging conditions, creating decorative and functional pieces including gates, railings, balconies, and fences that define the visual character of Southern communities. Philip Simmons of Charleston stands as a notable example of these craftsmen whose work adorns buildings across the region. Despite limited opportunities and recognition during their time, these skilled workers developed sophisticated expertise that shaped urban development, construction projects, and architectural traditions. Modern preservation efforts and historical research are increasingly documenting and celebrating the lasting legacy of Black blacksmiths whose durable creations continue to inspire contemporary artisans. # Key Takeaways

Detroit Public Schools Community District is monitoring 19 schools that may face consolidation or closure because their operating costs exceed the revenue they generate through state funding and enrollment. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti's annual report added five schools to the watch list, including Palmer Park Prep Academy and several elementary schools, while removing Mark Twain School for Scholars and four schools that recently closed. The district faces significant enrollment challenges, having dropped from over 160,000 students in 2000 to approximately 49,134 currently, leaving 72,000 empty seats across its facilities. Proposed solutions include merging schools, reconfiguring grade levels, expanding marketing efforts to suburban areas, and better promoting specialty programs to attract more students and improve building utilization rates.

Detroit Public Schools Community District has established 10 Health Hubs staffed by nine "navigators" who help families access resources including housing assistance, food, healthcare, and legal services to address barriers preventing student attendance. Since launching in 2023, these one-stop centers have served families over 19,000 times and made more than 1,100 referrals to various support services. District officials credit the hubs as a key factor in reducing chronic absenteeism, which dropped 5.2 percentage points compared to pre-hub levels, though the district's 61% chronic absence rate still exceeds the state average of 28%. Each hub costs approximately $172,000 annually for the district after community partner donations, with navigators like Jerrica Mickens spending extensive time helping families overcome challenges like homelessness, lack of transportation, and other socioeconomic barriers. The initiative represents a streamlined approach to wraparound services, providing deeper family engagement and better tracking than previous support efforts.

The Wayne County Treasurer's Office has announced that former property owners have until July 1st to file claims for any surplus money that may result from the sale of their foreclosed properties at tax auctions scheduled for September and October. This opportunity stems from Michigan Supreme Court rulings in 2020 and subsequent years that determined previous owners are entitled to excess funds when foreclosed properties sell above the minimum bid amount after taxes and fees are deducted. Approximately 3,700 properties, with nearly half being vacant lots, have been foreclosed this year and will be auctioned in the fall. Former owners who miss the Wednesday deadline risk permanently losing their rights to claim any surplus proceeds from these sales.