(NAPSI)—Do you contribute to racial unity or disunity? That’s the focus of a new book, which offers a surprising perspective on race relations in America today, and offers suggestions to improve racial conditions.

One Man’s Story

Young white man experiences beatings received from black men in his community. The trauma associated with the beatings had the potential to destroy any favorable constructs of Black people in his life. But the author, Gene Heil, now an ordained minister, refused to allow racial hatred to control him.

Instead, inspired by God, he gained a different perspective of racial disunity, which, according to Heil, is rooted in understanding the impact the dominant white culture has had on the Black culture through generations of cultural abuse and systemic racism. God taught him to forgive his oppressors, and led him to blend into the black community to gain insight, and to prepare him to become an advocate for racial healing. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—The IRS offers an incentive to lower your tax bill when you save for retirement. Many taxpayers may be eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit, but they may not know that it exists. Also referred to as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, the Saver’s Credit can reduce federal income taxes for eligible taxpayers who save for retirement through a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

The 23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey finds that fewer than half (49 percent) of workers are aware of the Saver’s Credit.

“People who are saving for retirement may be able to claim the Saver’s Credit and reduce their federal taxes,” says Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of nonprofit Transamerica Institute® and its Center for Retirement Studies. “Some people may be confusing the tax credit with the tax-advantaged treatment of retirement accounts. The idea of a double tax benefit may sound too good to be true, but both are available to eligible savers.” Continue reading →

Chicago, Illinois, USA sightseeing cruise and skyline on the river.

Why it Matters to You

(NAPSI)—It’s raining hard. You need to get to an important appointment. You’re halfway to your destination when you hit a roadblock. The intersection is flooded, wind gusts have downed electrical wires and there’s no end in sight. You have no choice but to return home, where there’s no electricity.

Scenarios like this—and much worse—are playing out in communities around the country. Climate change is causing more destructive conditions nationwide, turning every street into a potential flood zone. From earthquakes to severe storms and flooding, Americans are increasingly seeing startling images of cars disappearing into sinkholes, widespread power outages and destroyed homes and neighborhoods. Everyday stressors and extreme weather are pushing local infrastructure to the brink.  Continue reading →