Joyel Crawford, Fairygodmentor, Ask Your Fairygodmentor, Column, peer to mentor, manager, peer

July 25, 2024

FairyGodMentor®: Is It OK To Follow Your Team On Social Media?

Reader’s Question:

Dear FairyGodMentor,

I read your article on how to transition from team member to team manager. I have a follow-up question. Should I “unfriend” the team on social media now that I’m their manager?

Thanks,

Worker Bee

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Worker Bee,

Having the responsibility of being a manager to your peers can be a very challenging landscape to navigate. It’s a fine line to dance when folks who were your colleagues a while ago are looking to you in a leadership capacity.

Professional boundaries are something to keep in mind as you take on a new team.

Building trust takes time. Trust can also be broken in seconds.

A great best practice to start doing as a new manager is to have regular one-on-one conversations with your team members. By having these discussions, you will be laying the foundation to build trust and a solid business relationship.

With that thought in mind, you may want to add a talking point to your one-on-one discussions about communication and how you’d like to communicate with each other moving forward.

Being connected to a co-worker on social media as a friend is a different dynamic when you’re now their manager. Don’t dance around the subject of your social media connections. Ask your direct report if they feel comfortable staying connected to you, given the recent role change. If they wish to not be followed anymore — be respectful of their choice.

Remember, it’s not just about your team’s privacy, but it’s also about your own. I recall adjusting my privacy settings on my social media accounts because I was connected to upper levels of leadership.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself. You also want to double-check your company’s policies on social media interactions with management and direct reports. The last thing you want to do is start your new leadership position off with a policy infraction.

Communication is key. Ask your former peers how they feel about staying connected to you and take the next steps accordingly. The last thing you want to do is ignore things and not acknowledge your team’s boundaries.

You got this!

Sincerely,

Your FairyGodMentor®

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that develops empowered, results-driven leaders through engaging leadership development coaching, training, and facilitation.

Have a question about handling a micromanager, are you having difficulty navigating spaces because of your hair, is work stressing you out, do you need support coaching poor performance or are you wondering how to negotiate and get the job offer you desire effectively? Do you have any questions about career and leadership development?

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by Stacy Jackson

July 25, 2024

Stop And Consider The Risks Before Posting Your Child’s Back-To-School Photo

Originally Published Sep. 25, 2023.

You might want to think twice about posting a back-to-school picture of your child online.

Parents might unknowingly be putting their children at risk by following the social media trend. Online safety experts say these innocent pictures can be used maliciously by scammers and predators, HuffPost reported.

The back-to-school post trend sometimes includes images with details like the name of a school, a teacher’s name, a child’s birthday, and more. If you don’t want someone showing up to your child’s school unannounced, you might want to hold back on sharing these details. The Director of Privacy Innovation at Norton, Iskander Sanchez-Rola, warned that “anyone can know where your child is a majority of the day, Monday through Friday.” That’s a scary thought for any parent.

The director told HuffPost, “Scammers can also easily identify a child by searching their full name or reverse image searching a photo of their face shared online.” The director added, “If your child is old enough to have social media like Facebook or Instagram, cybercriminals can use their name and image to find their account and directly contact them.”

Google’s Help page explains that a reverse image search works like searching for a word or phrase. The page explains what you can expect to find when you drag and drop an image in Google’s search bar: “Search results for objects in the image, similar images, and websites with the image or a similar image.”

HuffPost also noted that a photo of your young child or teenager might cause problems in their social circles as they age. Just because you think it’s cute doesn’t mean your child will when they get older.

“Lots of kids worry that their friends or schoolmates could see embarrassing posts of them online, and what may be a silly photo or video to you may seem very embarrassing to them,” Kaitlin Allair Tiches, a research librarian with the Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab said.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 25, 2024

Georgia Halts State Funding For AP African American Studies Amid DEI Crackdown

Georgia students will be unable to take the newly updated course for the upcoming school year.

Georgia students may not have the opportunity to take AP African American Studies for the upcoming school year. The state’s Board of Education has blocked funding for the course amid national anti-DEI efforts.

The decision, made by Georgia’s school superintendent Richard Woods, came to light on July 22, forcing many districts to no longer offer the class. Without the state-approved funding, public schools will not receive money for teacher salaries and class materials. According to The Associated Press, some local Democrats believe the move is an “injustice” to students.

“The fact that AP African American studies was removed from our schools is alarming and an injustice to our students who eagerly anticipated taking this course,” expressed Rep. Jasmine Clark, who represents the Lilburn area, in a statement. “Erasure of black history from our schools is not and never will be okay!”

Woods refused to disclose his reasoning for denying the funds, as confirmed by a spokesperson, “Superintendent Woods has opted not to recommend this course for state approval at this time.”

However, a growing anti-DEI movement led to the College Board making changes to the course’s exam. The organization removed questions on reparations and Black Lives Matter in light of the criticism.

Despite this, College Board added new subjects, such as the discriminatory housing practice known as “redlining” and the Tusla Race Massacre. Some Georgia schools offered the updated curriculum for the 2023-24 school year. However, despite the success of its initial rollout, the current ban will put future courses on an indefinite hold.

“We are committed to offering a comprehensive and inclusive education for each and every student,” said Gwinnett County superintendent Calvin Watts, whose district has axed future plans to teach the course at six high schools, in a statement. “The 2023-24 AP African American Studies pilot was successful, and we are disappointed that students will neither have the opportunity to take, nor to receive credit for this innovative college-level course.”

The decision follows other states that have halted teaching Black history in public schools. For instance, Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, affirmed the state’s decision to ban AP African American Studies within its high schools.

According to Politico, DeSantis argued the course enforces a political agenda that does not truly educate students. His statements garnered much backlash from educators and lawmakers in the state.

Georgia public school districts can still offer the course, although the possibility is slim with no financial backing. Furthermore, the state’s own approved course does not qualify for AP credit.

by Black Enterprise

July 25, 2024

Biden Passes ‘The Torch’ In U.S. Address, As Trump Attempts To Gather Himself With Attacks Against VP Kamala Harris

Momentum grew for the Harris campaign as news that former President Barack Obama planned to soon endorse Harris was revealed

Originally Posted in Reuters

United States President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday for the first time since dropping his reelection bid, saying he decided to forgo personal ambition to save democracy in a sedate Oval Office speech that contrasted with the rough-and-tumble campaign.

Shortly before the speech, Republican Donald Trump laid into Democratic rival Kamala Harris in his first rally since she replaced Biden atop the ticket, signaling a bare-knuckled campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Trump branded Harris a “radical left lunatic” after she had dominated the campaign the two previous days with withering attacks on him that pointedly raised his felony convictions, his liability for sexual abuse, and fraud judgments against his business, charitable foundation and private university.

Momentum grew for the Harris campaign as NBC News said on Thursday that former President Barack Obama planned to soon endorse Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.

“Aides to Obama and Harris also have discussed arranging for the two of them to appear together on the campaign trail, though no date has been set,” it said.

Biden said he believed he deserved to be reelected based on his first-term record, but his love of country led him to step aside.

“I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation,” Biden said, after having resisting calls from within the party to quit the race after his poor showing in a June 27 debate with Trump.

Biden, at 81 the oldest president in U.S. history, was greeted with cheers, applause and music in the Rose Garden after the address, as his staff had converged on the White House for a viewing party.

Trump was less kind, saying in a post on his Truth Social platform that Biden’s speech was “barely understandable and sooo bad!”

After spending much of the campaign attacking Biden as old and feeble, Trump, 78, now faces a younger candidate in Harris, 59, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 25, 2024

Prosecutors’ Document Mentions Diddy 77 Times In Connection To Tupac Shakur’s Killing

Keffe D claims that the "No Way Out" artist paid a hitman a million dollars for the Tupac killing.

Sean “Diddy” Combs and Duane “Keffe D” Davis are both facing serious legal troubles based on separate allegations and crimes. However, the connection of Tupac Shakur’s killing brings them together, as Keffe D has once again claimed that the “Bad Boy” founder paid to have the “Death Row Records” recording artist killed.

The U.S. Sun has obtained legal papers filed by prosecutors in the Clark County District Attorney’s Office stating that Keffe D, who will be tried later this year in Tupac’s death, accused Diddy of paying $1 million to perform that action. (Diddy has always denied any involvement in Shakur’s 1996 murder.)

The papers filed on July 18 state that Diddy was mentioned 77 times by various names he has used during his career. They all include Puffy, Puff Daddy, Puff, and his given name, Sean Combs. The prosecutors claims that after Tupac was shot, Keffe D went to New York posing undercover with a Los Angeles task force to get evidence against Diddy and Eric “Zip” Martin, who Keffe D claims were involved in the killing.

The documents state, “Task Force Detectives believed they had jurisdiction to investigate a Nevada homicide because Defendant asserted that the conspiracy to commit the murder began in California between Defendant, Eric ‘Zip’ Martin, and Sean Combs.” Also, Keffe D suggested the Combs paid Eric Von Martin “a million dollars for the killings.”

In addition to repeating those claims over the years to various bloggers and media outlets, Keffe D has told police officers the same story.

Keffe D blames Diddy for his downfall, according to the documenets: “I wish I never met Puff Daddy, period. I swear to God…He messed up my life, man. I was, I was rich, up under the radar, all that, man…it’s all gone.”

The former gang member has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the killing of Tupac. Prosecutors say they have strong evidence that Keffe incriminated himself in a book he wrote and released in 2019, as well as interviews he has given to police and the media since 2008.

by Daniel Johnson

July 25, 2024

Octogenarians Are Still In The Job Market With Little Hope To Retire

82-year-old Edward Eubanks holds out hope that one day, he can retire, but for now he will keep working at McDonald's, waiting on retirement.

Edward Eubanks, an 82-year-old Nevada McDonald’s worker, is an example of an elderly individual who is still working because he can’t afford to retire.

According to WSET, despite Eubanks’ tenure at the Nevada National Security Site as a radiation monitor for 26 years, he cannot afford to retire, opting instead to become an assistant to a handyman before taking a job at his local McDonald’s in Henderson, Nevada in 2009. Eubanks holds out hope that one day, he can retire, but for now he will keep working and keep his positive attitude.

Eubanks described his daily routine briefly to WSET, “I tell them I am Mr. Ed, aka, the hamburger man,” Eubanks said. “I restock the soda station, which is lids, napkins, and straws, and then I sweep and mop the floor, empty the garbage. If you laugh a lot and keep moving, you got it made,” Eubanks said.

Eubanks’ story is emblematic of a growing crisis described by labor economist and professor of economics and policy analysis at The New School for Social Research in New York, Teresa Ghilarducci, in her book Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy.

As Ghilarducci writes in her book, “Yes, Granny deserves a good job if she wants one, but working until you drop is not a civilized plan for a civilized society.”

According to The New York Times, Ghilarducci’s work pinpoints that there are a few groups who spend the least amount of time in retirement, those groups being Black people, men, and those who are less educated. A bi-partisan bill, based in part on scholarship from Ghilarducci and Kevin Hassett, a former chair of ex-President Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisors, argues that, essentially, people need to be forced to save money so they can have something when they reach retirement age.

According to a press release for the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, issued by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), “The bill would establish a new program that gives eligible workers access to portable, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts. If passed, the RSAA would allow the federal government to match contributions for low- and middle-income workers, with the match beginning to phase out at median income.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, pointed out that nearly 40 million Americans currently lack access to an employer provided or sponsored retirement plan, something the bill is intended to address.

“Roughly 40 million Americans lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, which represents a significant roadblock to achieving financial security for their retirement,” Tillis said. “The Retirement Savings for Americans Act tackles this real problem by establishing a pathway for savings for Americans lacking retirement options.”

The bill comes with recommendations from Uber, Doordash, and EIG, as well as Goldman Sachs, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, AARP, and the Society for Human Resource Management.

EIG President and CEO John Letteri issued a strong statement in support of the legislation, saying he was proud to work with the politicians on the legislation. “The Retirement Savings for Americans Act would address significant and longstanding gaps in the U.S. retirement system that have severely limited participation from low-and moderate-income workers. If enacted, this legislation would result in a healthier retirement system, a more financially secure workforce, and a stronger economy to the benefit of all Americans. EIG is proud to have worked closely with Senators Hickenlooper and Tillis and Representatives Smucker and Sewell on this important legislation, and we applaud them for their bipartisan leadership on behalf of workers nationwide.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 24, 2024

New Orleans Man Detained After An Alleged Attempt To Dismember His Own Mom With A Chainsaw

John Pittman was charged after he allegedly tried to cut off his mother's arm

A New Orleans man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to cut off a woman’s arm using a chainsaw.

According to WDSU, the New Orleans Police Department arrested 34-year-old John Pittman and charged him with aggravated battery by cutting and resisting arrest. He was apprehended after he allegedly used the chainsaw on his 70-year-old mother, causing severe lacerations to her right shoulder and bicep.

Police officials don’t yet know what happened before the attack.

“Upon their arrival, the officers located the victim suffering from what appeared to be a severed arm,” said New Orleans Police Department spokesperson Reese Harper.

Two police officers were injured in a scuffle with the suspect after they came to the rescue of the woman. A video of the incident purportedly shows Pittman fighting off the police officers as they all fell down some stairs. Officials state that one of the officers suffered a broken leg, and head and neck injuries after taking a tumble down the stairs. The other officer was bitten on the left arm. They were both taken to the hospital and have since been released.

“We do understand that they did receive mild to moderate injuries in the process of engaging the suspect,” said Harper.

NOLA reported that the incident took place in Gentilly Terrace. Pittman reportedly had an open case in Orleans Criminal District Court. He was out on a $10,000 bond after he was arrested last year on Aug. 12 on suspicion of second-degree battery and simple battery of the infirm.

According to WCAX, Pittman attacked a 73-year-old military veteran at a bus station last year. He was discovered lying in a pool of blood in the bus station’s bathroom. He had a fractured eye socket and fractured jaw bone.

Pittman is being held on an increased $300,000 bond for last year’s attack and over $1 million in the alleged attack on his 70-year-old mother.

The suspect’s defense attorney says Pittman has a history of mental illness and has not been taking his medication. He’s expected to have a mental competency hearing on July 25.

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by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2024

Officer Who Fatally Shot Sonya Massey Seen Saying, ‘This B-tch Is Crazy,’ In New Video

The officer, Sean Grayson, has also worked for six different law enforcement agencies over the last four years.

The Illinois police officer who fatally shot Sonya Massey, which was captured on body-cam, has come under fire for further demeaning her. Sean Grayson was recorded on video referring to her as a “b-tch” shortly after the shooting.

The video, shared by Onsite!, showed body camera footage of Grayson recounting the incident to other officers. After fatally shooting Massey in her home, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy described his own condition to the responding law enforcement.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Grayson calmly said. “This f-cking b-tch is crazy.”

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Prior to the July 6 killing, Massey and another officer arrived to the women’s home in Springfield after she called them for help. Grayson asked Massey for her identification and to turn off the stove, which held a pot of boiling water.

When Grayson told her to put down the pot, the situation escalated. Massey responded by saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which led the officer to draw his gun.

“You better f-cking not I swear to God I’ll shoot you in you fucking face,” yelled Grayson. Although Massey apologized and threw her hands up in the air, the white police officer shot Massey three times while she ducked for cover.

Grayson remains in custody at Sangamon County Jail. A closer look at his career history reveals ongoing issues since he joined the force. WGN-TV reports that Grayson has worked at six different law enforcement agencies since August 2020, including two Sheriff’s Offices in Illinois.

Despite his lack of experience in one department, Grayson held the position of deputy when he shot Massey. Moreover, Grayson accrued two DUIs in 2015 and 2016. “There was all these red flags, and yet they still made him a deputy in (Sangamon) County,” said James Wilburn, Massey’s father.

Despite his short stints in other departments, the sheriff’s office said Grayson had no complaints of excessive force brought to its attention.

In light of Massey’s death, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office fired Grayson. On July 18, a state grand jury indicted him on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. If found guilty, he faces 45 years to life in prison.

Lawsuit, Prisoner, Parole, inmate, denies, inmate Rights, inmates rights

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2024

Jail Inmate Dies From Scarlet Fever After Initially Denied Medical Help

Charizma Jones, 23, was serving a one-year sentence at New York's Riker's Island for assault.

Charizma Jones died this July from an lingering case of suspected scarlet fever. However, supporters of the Riker’s Island inmate in New York City believe jail staff failed her by blocking medical help.

The Legal Aid Society sent a letter on July 22 to the New York City Board of Corrections regarding Jones’ death. The document detailed how Jones laid in her infirmary jail cell for two days with no assistance, despite showing signs of the disease.

Scarlet fever is a treatable bacterial infection that typically includes a red rash over the body, as well as a sore throat and high fever. According to the Mayo Clinic, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body, such as the blood or kidneys, if left untreated like Jones’ case.

In May, Correctional Medical Services tried multiple times to treat the young woman. However, Riker’s staff blocked the attempts to do so, deeming Jones a “security risk” for allegedly assaulting a corrections officer. However, she swiftly transferred from Rikers to Elmhurst hospital in Queens. The 23-year-old spent two months receiving treatment there until her death on July 14.

Her family’s lawyer, MK Kaishian, told The New York Post how the “troubling” situation deserves a proper investigation.

“Many troubling questions surround Ms. Jones’ death, and we join the Legal Aid Society in calling for a thorough investigation by the Board of Correction as we continue to gather critical information on behalf of her family,” explained the attorney. “But whatever else may be revealed going forward, it is patently obvious that the [Department of Correction] denied medical care to a seriously ill person, and there is no excuse whatsoever for this contemptuous and inhumane conduct.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams referred to her death as a “terrible” circumstance. He also agreed that a review is necessary.

“Anytime you lose someone, no matter if they’re incarcerated or not, it’s just, it’s terrible,” expressed Adams during a general news conference on July 23. “There should be a review. If there was someone that blocked her medical care, I don’t know of a time that you should block someone’s medical care.”

Jones was serving a one-year sentence for assault, unrelated to the alleged incident with the Riker’s officer. Her worsening condition led to presumed organ failure, which Jones had a history of, specifically in her liver. The Legal Aid Society continues to seek justice for her death.

by Daniel Johnson

July 24, 2024

Here We Go! Tennessee State Rep. Ogles Claims VP Harris Broke Public Trust In Impeachment Filing

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the 25th Amendment has only been invoked a handful of times, and the application that Ogles is calling for, Section 4, has actually never been used in American history.

Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles filed articles of impeachment against Vice-President Kamala Harris, an extension of previous articles filed by the Republican that takes aim at Harris’s record on immigration, a primary concern of conservatives this election cycle.

According to The Hill, Ogles’ filing contains an additional article claiming that Vice-President Harris breached public trust by not disclosing President Joe Biden’s mental well-being and health, something that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also been accused of after testy exchanges with the White House press corps earlier in July.

According to the filing, “Kamala Devi Harris has knowingly misled the people of the United States and the Congress of the United States, principally to obfuscate the physical and cognitive well-being of the President of the United States, Joe Biden.”

The original articles of impeachment, first filed by Rep. Ogles on June 12, 2023, claimed that Harris is incompetent and indifferent to what is described as a crisis at the Southern border of the United States. Harris, according to the filing, “demonstrated extraordinary incompetence in the execution of her duties and responsibilities, a stark refusal to uphold the existing immigration laws, and a palpable indifference to people of the United States suffering as a result of the ongoing southern border crisis in the United States.”

In a scene that fits with the latest season of Amazon Studios television series The Boys, on July 23, Ogles called on Vice-President Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment, which would make her the President. Ogles justified this call by saying that he was concerned about the health of President Biden, a concern that has been amplified since the June 27 presidential debate on CNN.

Ogles told Fox News, “I’ve said for over a year that Biden’s ever-declining health has rendered him incapable of leading the nation. With his recent reclusion following a supposed COVID diagnosis, it is now more apparent than ever that he must resign or be forced out. Since Biden has made it clear he will not resign, it is imperative that Vice President Harris move forward with invoking the provisions of the 25th Amendment to remove him forcibly. The safety and well-being of the American people and our nation depend upon it.”

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the 25th Amendment has only been invoked a handful of times, and the application that Ogles is calling for, Section 4, has actually never been used in American history.

Section 2 was used by the Nixon-Ford Administration, once to nominate Gerald R. Ford to the vice-presidency after his Vice-President Spiro Agnew resigned, and Ford used it to nominate Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice-President upon assuming the mantle of President following Nixon’s resignation after Watergate.

According to The Daily Beast, Ogles’ accusations should probably be taken with a grain of salt the size of a boulder, as he has been caught embellishing or flat-out lying about his résumé. Following an investigation by News Channel 5 Nashville, it was revealed that Ogles claimed to be an economist but, in reality, had only taken one economics class at a community college; he also claimed to be a member of law enforcement, but it was later revealed that he had been relieved of his duties as a volunteer sheriff’s deputy because he had made no progress in field training or the required courses in two years.