(NNPA)—According to a new analysis of cell phone usage by The Nielsen Company, African-Americans spend more time on average talking and texting than any other ethnic group. The voice and text results are compiled from one year (April 2009-March 2010) of mobile usage data gathered by Nielsen, which analyzes the cellphone bills of more than 60,000 mobile subscribers each month in the United States.

Nielsen found that African-Americans use on average more than 1,300 voice minutes a month, compared to the next most talkative segment, Hispanics, which talk on average 826 minutes a month. Asian/Pacific Islanders logged on average 692 talk minutes a month, followed by Whites, who use approximately 647 voice minutes a month.

The Stanton Heights Community Organization took another hit recently in their battle to stop construction of a new school in their neighborhood. Although SHCO has filed an appeal to stop construction, Neighborhood Acad­emy, a private institution, has begun clearing the land they purchased for their proposed facilities.

GREEN SPACE—From left: Residents Jean Bryant, Byron Monroe and Howard Harrington look on at the former woodland.

“They have cleared the land of all the trees. It looks pretty barren,” said Jean Bryant, president of SHCO. “The neighborhood is very upset about what they’re seeing right now which is a barren wasteland.”

The battle over the land began in January 2009 when Neighborhood Academy first presented its plans to the community. Though members of SHCO and some others did not approve of the proposal, it was approved by the city zoning board and Neighborhood Academy moved forward with plans to begin construction.

The August Wilson Center for African American Culture is asking for $102,500 more in Allegheny County RAD funding than the $247,500 it received last year. And it is not alone among African-American arts organizations trying to stay afloat in difficult economic times.

Of the eight Black arts entities applying for annual grant funding, all requested increases, some as much as six times the amount they received for 2010.

ANDRE KIMO STONE GUESS is president and CEO, of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.

The AWC, which is working to pay down $8.5 million in construction overruns, requested the funding to help pay operating costs.

President and CEO Andre Kimo Stone Guess said the center hasn’t generated sufficient funds from its 480-seat theater. He said the focus will now be renting out its facilities, putting on jazz and dance festivals, and presentations of August Wilson’s plays, which may be filmed for distribution.

It took a while for the group of Wilkinsburg teens at the Weed and Seed Youth Speak Out forum to calm down and focus on the task in front of them, but once they did, representatives from the city and county heard their voices.

“We need more people to identify with the youth and how they can help us,” said Kymi Ewing. “The equipment in the recreation centers is not up to par so they want more equipment both indoor and outdoor. We want the Wilkinsburg school district to help so you won’t be bored after school.”

EXPECTATIONS—From left: Timiya Jackson and Kymi Ewing hold a chart of expectations from community youths.

The young people at the forum in St. Stephens Church called for more activities and recreation while at the same time asking to see improvements in their education. Many were also concerned with public safety and especially the all too frequent teen pregnancies in their community.