April 2012 Urban Suburban Film Festiva

Thoughts from the Publisher When does admiration develop into complacency?

Does complacency occur when a person derives a greater sense of self when extolling the accomplishments of others rather than accomplishing similar tasks themselves? Can you imagine the fulfillment of sitting down and writing, unbeknown to you at the time, a novel that turns out to be next Invisible Man, as written by Ralph Ellison?

How can such a quest be fulfilled without action? It appears that the quest for personal and professional fulfillment has been replaced with the satisfaction of cultural similarities and ethnic pride. Is it equally satisfying simply being associated with the person who is on the precipice of being great? I mean, when does the excitement of being “the next best thing” subside so that the arduous task of becoming the next Barack Obama, George Washington Carver, Gwendolyn Brooks or Sojourner Truth begins? What’s more important? What you accomplished or the accomplishments of others?

I recently had a conversation that reminded me of all of the meaningless encounters I’ve been exposed to over the years. We all know someone that always touts or espouses, endlessly, the accomplishments of someone famous. For example, I understand the pride and overwhelming sense of cultural fulfillment and overwhelming pride because of the election of Barack Obama; his election seems to mean something. The inauguration speech had to feel eerily similar to those that were present during Reverend Martin Luther King’s infamous “I Have A Dream” speech. It was beyond huge —it was global! So, I understand the enormous need to stick your chest out and say, “We’ve accomplished something.”

Notwithstanding our pride and cultural jubilation, when does self-motivation become a driving force

that inspires us to become a better person? If not now, then when? If you cannot pick yourself up by the bootstraps now, then when? If you cannot work with the same urgency as those migrant farm workers or foreign day laborers now, then when? The reality is that no one said life was about equality, but rather that you be given an opportunity. Sometimes we begin the race handicapped but the possibility of success still looms.

Let’s explore the Obamas as they’ve done all the things needed to do in order to prosper and move forward as a couple. They appear to be savvy and intelligent individuals who have worked together as a couple and have submerged their egos for the sake of a common goal, which appears to be that it was simply to provide a better life for their family. As I understand, both President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama had wonderful jobs with lucrative incomes prior to Obama’s election to the senate, and ultimately, to the presidency. They were not sitting back and waiting on life. This serves as testimony to the rewards of hard work, education and faith.

It does appear that neither forgot their collective cultural history, but it doesn’t appear as if they laid back and endlessly admired the work of other either.

Knowledge is power, but what’s even more powerful is a good old-fashioned belief in your ability to succeed and to overcome obstacles.

I am a member of one of the oldest fraternities in the nation. This fraternity recently celebrated its one hundred year anniversary and it’s marvelous that ten men created something that has withstood the test of time. It would seem that the legacy of these men has been cemented. The founders of this noble fraternity accomplished their goal one hundred times over, but what have you accomplished? It doesn’t seem to honor their memory, nor the memory of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Booker T. Washington, Reverend Leon Sullivan or Malcolm X, if our only action is to celebrate their actions. As the old adage goes…Nothing beats a failure but a try.

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News 34 Our Neighborhoods; Front and Center 42 Generation Down 44 Fixing our Problems

Book of the Month 18 Strategic Planning for Love & War

Art 29 James Dupree – A hidden jewel

Home Away From Home 14 St. Kitts 56 Atlanta African American Orchestra by Alfreda Asbury 57 My Korean Trip by Madeline

Health 20 Diabetes education 24 Sickle cell awareness

Hot or NOT 16 LeNora Modeling &Talent Agency 46 Designing by African Women of Decent

Music 60 Dub Mugga – Young Fly and Fresh

Learning for life 62 Friendly but firm 63 Rural Kenya

Money Minutes 49 Kick start your business 66 Having more money in 2012 He Say She Say 21 Relationship – Bridging The Gap by CDoubleR 65 Ask Ava urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia

Path Lighting 11 Grandmothers

PHILADELPHIA’S MOST

DIVERSE

MAGAZINE Manuel McDonnell Smith is a Multimedia Content Editor with NewsCore, the content sharing service launched by News Corporation in November of 2009. This new division is tasked with aggregating the company’s global editorial intelligence and redistributing it in real time. From the New York City Bureau, Manuel is responsible for coordinating the cooperative multimedia efforts of News’ global portfolio of sites including wsj.com, foxnews. com, and sky.com Margarita McKissick has 15+ years of professional experience as a writer and public relations professional. She is currently working on her PhD in Philosophy (focusing on today’s youth), she earned her Master’s degree with high distinction in Public Communications at American University, and her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a focus on radio and television broadcast from Cheyney University.

Lois Mauro, of Ardmore, PA, has always enjoyed photography. A mostly self-taught artist, her interest turned into a passion about 10 years ago. Looking through the camera lens, she searches to record something she’s drawn to, whether it is the composition, the light, or an interesting subject. Her photography has been shown in many juried exhibitions and is owned by both businesses and private collectors.

Greg discovered his passion for photography at the age of 10. Years of licensing content for Dow Jones and Company and Getty Images, has made Greg an expert in content licensing.

He has traveled several paths in his life and they always lead Greg behind the lens. Greg runs Greg Tavares Photography and focuses on photojournalism, portraiture, commercial, and fine art photography. When not behind the camera Greg can be found flying a kite.

Denise James is a seasoned journalist whose passion is telling stories that reflect people’s truths in empowering ways. Denise began her career at WGPR TV & Radio in Detroit. WGPR was America’s first black owned television station. There she hosted a live morning talk show, reported for the evening news and produced special segments focused on people and issues shaping the times. She has worked at network affiliate TV stations in Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina as well as 6abc Action News in Philadelphia. She has covered everything from education and celebrities to crime, politics and the Ku Klux Klan.

Kyle Leishear has been a Tech & Gadget enthusiast his whole life. Even as a child when he would break something he would try to fix it. That led him to a life of always trying to stay on top of the latest and greatest technologies and seeing how they work.

Chanel is a relationship expert/columnist. Write topics concerning the male/female relationships on a weekly basis and offer advice concerning that specific topic. I write featured articles on Relationships and I am also the creator and writer for “Ordinary Woman Doing Extraordinary Things “series. Chanel Rhoads-Reed is the creator of the www.crazyazzwomen.blogspot. co blog.

Jamika L Richardson is a native of Philadelphia.

Jamika attended Delaware State University.

Jamika devotes all the her spare time to winning the fight against cancer as a Mind/Body Volunteer at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Eastern Regional Medical Center Jamika along with her Husband Gregory Richardson are the owners of PhotoTek, a Photography studio in Philadelphia PA. Jamika has been studying photography under her Husband for the last three years and has managed over 50 projects in the last year.

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept 27 Who is Janette Smith?

30 LuSierra – Still Ripping 32 We THE People 34 Our Neighborhood 44 Generation Down 51 Career Tips 54 Requiem – Luther Jennings 58 Q&A with Keena Ferguson Gadgets 50 What Women Want

Photos by Annette Groves Photography

Path Lighting

By Kind Essence IIt was Memorial Day holiday in 1991 and I was in the mood for some biscuits. Boy…did it take me back to some childhood memories…the kind I don’t mind remembering. Everyone who was blessed had two grandmothers, but honey, God really shined Her light down on me because I was blessed with three grandmothers!

If you want to define the term “grandmother” than you can check Webster’s Dictionary; but if you use the definition that comes from feelings, well… I’ll just have to say that I had three grandmothers.

You see…I adopted one while I was a small girl; in fact, you could say, I borrowed one from my very best girlfriend, Alice Hightower. Alice lived, very conveniently, across the driveway from me and if I wasn’t home, I was at Alice’s house. Why? Mostly it was due to Alice’s grandmother. I never knew her real name; I simply called her, “Grandmother Hightower. She had the strangest magnetic attraction for me. I sat in her kitchen, claiming to be waiting for Alice, but secretly I was there to watch her. Alice’s people said they came from the South; and because my family was made up of Northerners, to me, that seemed like some mystical place which claimed some “higher order of power”.

Where my grandmother appeared to be cushioned and refined, Grandmother Hightower appeared to be rough and rugged. Her stature loomed over me as a child; almost to the point of being frightening. Her feet were large, flat, dark and very sandpaper-like — definitely not manicured! I could imagine them treading many miles in the trenches of plantation fields of cotton or tobacco. More than likely, it was tobacco because she was always gumming on that stuff around the house. She said she liked the taste of it, as she spat out the juices in the back yard. “Yuck!” was my response.

Her legs and arms were stout! Thick! Couldn’t imagine her doing any kind of aerobics, except the kind field hands knew as, “Tote that barge! Lift that bail! “ If you get a little drunk, well…you know the rest. A leather mask is what she wore; frozen in position and never changing with time. Lips and nose were nondescript to me.

That hair — what little she had — always seemed to be uncombed; so contrasting to mine — long and heat processed — her hair was

tight, curly and bob-wiry prickled.

Coal black eyes, encircled with a gray mass, were embedded in their sockets; eyes which seemed to know many secrets gleamed from her face; cold eyes, which always seemed to comfort me, kept me coming back frequently.

Mostly, I remember her hands; always busy, always reprimanding, yet always soothing. I remember her always being in the kitchen, when her hands seemed to be happiest — washing dishes, washing down the floor or stirring up some enticing brew in one of her huge kettles; or kneading out that dough. That was an everyday ritual for Grandmother Hightower. She made scratch biscuits early every morning — easy enough for me to get some while I waited for Alice before we went to school.

She handled that dough like a potter works clay — tossing, shaping and mixing — all with a lot of love. I’d sit there very patiently, never saying a word. She knew what I was there for because my eyes said it all. Oh please! May I? May I? Soon, the biscuits would go into the oven. Soon, I knew joy would come. Privately, I prayed that Alice would take her good old sweet time, as usual, because it wouldn’t be long before those biscuits would start smelling up the kitchen and start my mouth watering and… Bingo! Grandmother Hightower would march right up to that stove! She didn’t even need a potholder! Her strong hands could pull that tray out without feeling the heat or getting burned. That’s when I knew she and that stove had a special relationship. They honored and respected each other. Her love and fixings, along with that stove’s right temperature, produced some of the finest, golden brown biscuits this side of heaven! Then Grandmother Hightower would yell out, “Karen, whicha’ sittin’ over dar waitin’ for? You betta’ come over here, child, and git you self some of dese biscuits for they git cold!”

She didn’t have to ask me twice. I grabbed me a plate, picked out the plumpest, brownest ones I saw, and packed them with butter; then she’d come over and pour the sweetest tasting honey all over them. My hands and mouth would be so sticky as I crammed every crumb into my eatery. Then she made me wash up so I wouldn’t be dirty going to school…’cause she knew my mother would fuss.

I don’t know if Alice ever loved, or appreciated, her grandmother the way I did. I could only hope she never let a day go by without acknowledging that love. As far as I was concerned, Grandmother Hightower stayed in my thoughts long after the first school bell rang and classes began. Sometimes, at lunchtime, I would produce more smiles. You know why? ‘Cause Grandmother Hightower would surprise me as I discovered another one of her sweet biscuits in my brown paper lunch bag.

Kind Essence lives and runs a studio, Yoga Soul in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia. You may contact her at 856-287-7070 for class, workshop or retreat information.

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Freedom’s Ringing

Visit George Washington at the Independence National Historical Park located across from the liberty bell!

Warmdaddy’s 1400 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA (215) 462-2000 · warmdaddys.com

Waterworks Restaurant and Lounge 640 Waterworks Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215) 236-9000

Independence Hall 566 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA (215) 597-8787 or visit nps.gov

Philadelphia’s 9th Street Italian Market 900 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Southern Cuisine & Everything Soul (Reading Terminal Market) 51 N. 12 Street, Philadelphia, PA Logan’s Square on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

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Rittenhouse Park Hollywood Shoes 1615 Cecil B Moore Ave Philadelphia, PA 19121 (215) 763-2688

Reading Terminal Market 51 N. 12 Street, Philadelphia, PA

PHOTOGRAPHY by GREG TAVARES and MATT SCHMIDT

Unique Treats

Come on in and try one of the famous apple dumplings at Dutch Eating Place, a hand-rolled pretzel from Miller’s Twist or even some ice cream from Bassett’s! urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia 13

Home Away from Home

By: Mike Goldstein With sixty-nine square miles of diverse ecosystems, colonial history and inviting culture, St. Kitts is the Southern Caribbean’s best kept secret. Boasting an average year-round temperature of seventy-eight degrees Fahrenheit and the vibrant, inviting atmosphere for which the Caribbean is known, St. Kitts will certainly win the heart of any traveler lucky enough to discover it. Most importantly, the island nation’s commitment to sustainable development has succeeded in offering first-class accommodations, shopping and cuisine, while continually engaging in unparalleled ecological preservation.

Perhaps unlike anywhere else in the world, St. Kitts is steadfastly dedicated to the preservation of its unique ecosystems.

From undeveloped stretches of sugary, white sand beaches to lush rainforests that conjure up images of the South Pacific, the island remains unspoiled in every sense of the word. At the center of the island rises Mt. Liamuiga, a dormant volcano with a mile-wide caldera, surrounded by exotic flora and fauna.

Amongst the vine-enveloped trees and tropical wildflowers

of these misty rainforests, hikers can’t miss the vast array of colorful birds, butterflies and elusive green vervet monkeys.

For Eco tourists, or simply anyone who appreciates dramatic natural beauty, St. Kitts will certainly surpass all expectations.

St. Kitts’ pristine ecosystems represent only a fraction of the allure surrounding the island. Historically, St. Kitts and its sister island, Nevis, were the pearls of the British Carib-

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bean; rich and tremendously strategic islands celebrated throughout Europe. The impenetrable fortress of Brimstone Hill stood as the “Gibraltar of the West Indies” for centuries.

Constructed of black volcanic rock and held, at times, by both the English and French, the fort is, today, a national park and the island’s historical centerpiece, offering some of the most pristine views in the Southern Caribbean. Furthermore, the remains of a vibrant sugar cane industry offer unique opportunities to explore colonial harbor estates and a glimpse into the vivacious Caribbean social life of forgotten eras.

Today, the vibrant, multiethnic culture of St. Kitts is centered in the island’s charming capital —Basseterre. At the heart of Basseterre is the Circus, a Victorian roundabout modeled on London’s Piccadilly Circus, complete with an ornate four-sided clock dating back to the 1860’s. Equally impressive is St. George’s Anglican Church — a beautiful example of Georgian architecture.

Despite the numerous markers of a colonial past, indigenous art and culture are regularly on display in Basseterre. Each year, during the Christmas season, the small nation holds a weeklong Carnival featuring dazzling performances and distinctive customs. It all takes place in the city’s streets, which are lined with one-of-a-kind shops and exquisite Caribbean seafood restaurants.

When it comes to recreation on St. Kitts, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Relax on calm, undeveloped beaches such as Turtle Beach, Sand Bank Bay or Friar’s Bay South on the island’s Caribbean side, or brave the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the rocky, windswept eastern shores. Try your luck on one of the island’s internationally ranked golf courses, or at

a craps table in a luxuriant casino. Go boating or fishing in the crystal clear Caribbean, or dive beneath the waters surrounding the island and discover vast coral reefs and over four hundred historical ship wrecks. Still largely undiscovered, and despite its otherworldly beauty, astonishing history and unmatched charm, St. Kitts is truly the hidden jewel of the Caribbean.

HOT or Not

Ask any aspiring star where

they want to be, and they’ll quickly reply that success can be found under the glittering lights of New York’s Broadway Theaters. A locally-raised

talent will say that they know that their career is on the right track once they make headlines along Philly’s own Avenue of the Arts; but, one Philadelphia woman says the next generation of real talent from this area can be found just a few exits away under the passing traffic of Interstate 95 in Fishtown where, if you listen hard enough beyond the roar of speeding traffic, you might just begin to hear the faint sounds of a familiar melody.

“Swiiiing looooow sweet hariot, coming forth to carry me hoooome…” croons the sweet, but just out of tune, vocal chorus coming from the teens assembled in a renovated brick warehouse, steps away from the blaring horns of the expressway, and even closer to the forbidding corners that have seen more than their fair share of nefarious activity illuminated, not by stage lanterns, but by the

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glowing orange street lights that skip along the narrow streets. It’s not the first place you’d expect to meet Rhonda Stone, a chocolate-skinned, former Miss America pageant contestant, with a smile you would be sure you’ve seen somewhere before. But, at this moment, the former high fashion runway model isn’t ready to show her own past high-fashioned covers; she’s concerned with getting a restless, but decidedly dedicated, group of students ready for their upcoming debut of “CUT!” She yells, “You guys clearly haven’t practiced in a while. Let’s start this again from the top!”

Nearly every Saturday, a formerly abandoned industrial warehouse comes alive again as a factory of dreams for about twenty young

HOT or Not people that are signed with the Le’Nora Modeling & Talent Agency. In addition to singing, students ranging in age from six to sixteen years of age work with Stone and her group of professional instructors learning etiquette, stage presence, voice projection, improvisation, photo posing, and more. While many talent agencies boast of the magazine covers, headline performances, and arduous auditions that they send their clients on every weekend, Stone’s agency takes a different approach. Instead of sending prospective talent about, they practice, prepare, and perform all under one roof. Stone begins by reminding her students that “The star isn’t somewhere else. The star is right here.” She believes in perfecting their talents right in the community. “Not only are they going to learn skills they need to succeed here, they are going to perform them here; because if they slip up or do something wrong, I can take them right back under my wing and fix them”.

Stone stays true to that mission by keeping her programs small (only about 20 students at any one time), and community friendly; not just in personality, but with affordable rates that most of the working parents that were in attendance during the practice sessions, said made it possible for them to keep their children involved in this type of extracurricular programming — especially in lean economic times. Entering the agency’s second year of business, her unique method is not only attractive to those in the neighborhood, but also to families of aspiring talents across the region.

“It’s because we believe she’s going to get them what they need to move to the next level.”, said one father, who makes the nearly two hundred mile round trip trek from Newark, New Jersey every weekend, in order to bring his teen son and daughter to the agency’s programs. He says they both plan on being actors when they grow up.

In an industry not

exactly well-known for “pay-as-you-go” plans, and placing the concerns of pragmatic parents over potential producers, I asked Stone how she manages to keep the agency and its programs going with its unusual style of growing future stars. She expounds simply stating, “This is about more than money; it’s about helping children discover their way out, like I did, through modeling and acting. I asked God to send here who he wanted to be here, and every weekend they are here.” A sentiment echoed by fifteen-year-old Justin, a timid tenth grader who is not sure if acting will be his future career, yet still attends training sessions every Saturday says, “Miss Lenora is blessed from the inside out. She’s fun to be around and works with us until we come around; and it makes everything come to a clear blessing”.

As the sun begins to set on another chilly winter evening, a professional photographer beckons Stone and her students to his studio for their next photo training sessions as a group of the other students return downstairs to resume practice for their upcoming stage play; the proceeds of which will go to expand their converted warehouse space into a theater that can hold an audience of two hundred and will help partially sponsor low income students who want to participate in the agency’s summer programs. It’s another set of big dreams for the woman behind the big smile who keeps it all in perspective. “What will happen financially will happen, but my dream is to give kids hope.”

Written by Manny McDonnell-Smith

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The Art of Love and War Refined Jo Lena Johnson Strategic Planning for Love & War Relationships and Adult Conversations Jo Lena Johnson is just one of the authors of the first ever instructional guide for love and relationships that includes a musical memory for each chapter. Strategic Planning for Love and War is not your average relationship book. It’s an experience that pairs the ups and downs of life’s relationships, with a soulful backdrop of the best R&B music from the past 30 years. We all know, for every relationship high and low, there is a song that tells the story. Music brings memories to life.

Strategic Planning For Love And War was written by three amazing authors. All three have selflessly poured their self-deprecating humor, honesty, and a healthy dash of charisma to create this book. It is written from the perspective of their own relationship journeys as well as highlights from several interviews, including Urban Suburban’s own Sex and Relationship columnist Ava G. Black (page 65).

It fearlessly delves into the tough subjects – money, sex, danger, hurt, and healing as a guide in helping to address the topics that are hard to talk about. Whether married, single, or divorced, Strategic Planning for Love & War, Relationships and Adult Conversations gets to the heart of how men and women see love and relationships differently and serves to provide necessary tools to move forward and understand each other more clearly.

Strategic Planning for Love & War, Relationships and Adult Conversations is now available at w w w . S t r a t e g i c P l a n n i n g F o r L o v e a n d Wa r . com. It is also available in e-book format.

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Health

Many things can effect your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Some of these factors, like your weight and how much you exercise, can be changed. Other factors, like your age and your family history, cannot be changed; however, being aware of them can help you take smart steps to lower your risk.

Age As you get older, your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke increases. For example, more than 8 in 10 Americans, ages 65 and older, die from heart attacks. There’s nothing you can do about getting older, but you can take steps toward eat healthily, staying active and managing your weight. Talk with your doctor about your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Make sure your numbers are where they should be and, if they’re not, work with your doctor to set target numbers that are right for you.

Race People of different racial and ethnic groups are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke than others. African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans have a higher risk for these deadly diseases. This is partly because these populations are more likely to be overweight, have high blood pressure, and, thus, develop Type 2 diabetes.

Gender Whether you’re male or female also effects how likely you are to develop heart disease. Men are more likely to develop heart disease, but once a woman reaches menopause, her risk for heart disease increases. However, women still aren’t as likely to develop heart disease, as are men.

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Family History If members of your immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother) have heart disease or diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing the same. If you don’t know your family history, ask. Ask your parents, aunts, and uncles if anyone in your family has had Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke, and then tell your doctor what you learn so you can make a plan to lower your risk.

To learn more about your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, please visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org

He Say She Say

My, my, my… how things have changed. I remember when I was a kid, we had to use handles on all adult names — no, ifs, ands, or buts about it. We had to call Aunt Yonnie, “Aunt Yonnie” even if she was only seven years older than my oldest brother. We used a handle for all adults whether it was “Mister”, “Miss”, “Uncle” or “Aunt”. We always spoke when we stepped into a room, always said “excuse me” if we needed to say something when adults were talking, and always, always said “please” and “thank you”. We were thankful for a roof being over our heads, for three meals a day and for having clean clothes on our backs. We didn’t take extravagant summer trips. If we made it to Wildwood, it was like going to Disney World. Today’s generation doesn’t have a clue about how fortunate and blessed they are; and unfortunately, because of this, many are rude, disrespectful and believe that everything is supposed to be given to them —regardless of whether they earn it or not. Are we raising a generation of spoil brats?

I will be the first to admit that I am sometimes guilty of going overboard with my son. I believe that some parents do go overboard with their children because they didn’t have certain things growing up; therefore, they want their children to have the materialistic things they couldn’t have as a child. But where do we draw the line?

We, as parents, must make our children earn the right to have lavish gifts and we must raise our children as we were raised —the “old school way”. By the time my son was two years old, he was saying, “excuse me”, “please” and “thank you”. Do you want to know why? Because that’s how I was raised! We weren’t monetarily rich children, but we were rich in mannerism and respectfulness.

We need to bridge the gap by teaching, and showing, our children how blessed they are to have every game console from the Wii, Playstation 3 to the Xbox Kinect, and the numerous pairs of Jordans, and show our children how fortunate they are by having them volunteer their time to the less fortunate. The first time my son volunteered he had such a greater appreciation of the things he did have and actually thanked me for letting him volunteer. Another thing we can do is to give them chores around he house. My son is nine years old and has been responsible for taking out the trash since he was seven years old. He goes around the house and collects all of the trash, takes it to the bin and drags it to the curb every Monday night. It starts with the small things that grow into the bigger things that make our children more appreciative of the things they have. Why? Because they have earned these things and have seen how the less fortunate live.

As parents, we also need to talk to our children more about our upbringing. We need to communicate more and have them listen to our stories about our childhood. This is also great bonding time because we can laugh and talk to our children all the while teaching

them how to be more appreciative of all the things they do have.

Also, have your children talk to other family members, such as your parents, uncles and aunts so they can understand the struggles and understand how important self-respect, education and dreams are for anyone to succeed in this world. We need to help them understand that they don’t need to shake their butt, sell drugs, hold a microphone, or carry a ball in their hand in order to be successful.

We need to teach our children, at a very young age, that they can be, and do, anything they want in this world; including being a doctor, inventor, lawyer, politician, or business person. We need to instill core values in our children that will blossom into self-respect and ambition that will carry them throughout their adult life. It starts with the home.

I’m just saying.

C Double R!

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Chloe’ Carter was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Western Illinois University. That’s where her writing style progressed from keeping a daily diary, writing lyrics to songs and poetry.

Introducing herself to the English class freshman year, she was challenged, “I took this class because I knew it would be an easy A.” Her teacher replied, “all your essays will either be anAor an F.” earning an A in his class, her professor nicknamed her, “Ms. Pen” A very pivotal moment in her life, “for the first time in life I wasn’t accepted on face value. I had to work hard to earn what I got in life.”

“I penned every experience in life in my notebook. I transferred the writings from paper to my computer and realized I had something spectacular. My head and my heart got in sync with my hands and “Love Don’t Make No Sense” manifested.

What was once shame and embarrassement has now become my testimony. God is using me as his vessel and it is my way of giving back. Although the book is fiction, it comes from real experiences and changed the characters to protect the innocent.

Believing that ownership is power, Chloe’ started her own publishing company, SINAO, LLC. and is independently selling her books on her own.

Email Chloe: chloecarter412@gmail.com

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The acclaimed authors of the beloved picture books Please, Baby, Please and Please, Puppy, Please, Academy Award-nominated director Spike Lee and his talented wife, author Tonya Lewis Lee, offer up an inspirational picture book about activism and taking the big steps to set things right. Using examples of people throughout history who have taken “giant steps” to greatness, Spike and Tonya deliver a powerful, yet entertaining message to kids to follow in these amazing footsteps and not be hindered by fear or a sense that they are not good enough, because even the smallest step can change the world. Set to beautiful illustrations by the award-winning Sean Qualls, this is a must-have addition to every child’s library—and life! Ages 4-8

How would an extra couple hundred bucks or more each and every month make you feel right now?

So many of us adults were never taught anything about money except that we should not talk about money. Now that the economy has tanked, we’re embarrassed about what’s going on in our homes, and we don’t know what to do or where to turn.

You’ve found your answer inside the pages of this 12 Ways Book!

After following the simple steps for each Money Opportunity in the 12 Ways Book, you will be able to start answering “no” to the questions you just answered YES to! Imagine all the things you can do with an extra couple hundred bucks every month!

Unlike most other finance and money books, 12 Ways to Put Money in Your Pocket Every Month Without A Part Time Job: The Skinny Book That Makes Your Wallet Fat, shows you how to immediately put hundreds of dollars in cash in your pocket using clear, easy language. You will see how you can do this now with your current income, and you won’t have to wait or buy anything extra!

Lydia is a plantation slave with cream-colored skin and green eyes.

Growing up, she’s transfixed by the stories and Christian wisdom of the elderly slaves who work in the “loom room.” Later, as an adult, she discovers that she can pass for white. Leaving behind John, the slave she loves, Lydia makes a desperate bid for freedom....

Years have passed and “Caroline” is the wife of a Maryland plantation owner. One day, a seven-year-old slave named Sadie arrives on the plantation with her father. After Sadie’s father is sold, the young girl finds solace in the loom room. But Caroline hides a secret about Sadie’s past—and her own identity—that endangers them both.

Faith, family and forgiveness intertwine in Shella Gillus’ inspiring debut.

Visithttp://www.moneysmartbook.com/

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Health Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Philadelphia/ Delaware Valley Chapter

Celebrating 30 Years of Service to the Community Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood

disorder, characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain.

The underlying problem involves hemoglobin, a component of the red cells in the blood. The hemoglobin molecules in each red blood cell carry oxygen from the lungs to the body, organs and tissues and bring carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

In Sickle Cell Disease the hemoglobin is defective. After the hemoglobin molecules give up their oxygen, some of them may cluster together and form long rod-like structures.

These structures cause the red blood cells to become stiff, which are normally soft and donut shaped, creating difficulty for the sickled red blood cells to squeeze through small blood vessels. This causes them to stack up and create blockages that deprive the organs and tissue of oxygen carrying blood. This process produces periodic episodes of pain and can ultimately damage the tissues and vital organs and lead to other serious medical problems.

Sickle Cell Disease is a global disease affecting approximately 90,000 people in the United States with those of African descent in the greatest numbers. In addition people of Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Sicilian, Greek, Italian, Indian, Turkish and Mediterranean ancestry are also affected, but in smaller percentages.

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Philadelphia/ Delaware Valley Chapter (SCDAA/PDVC) formerly known as the Sickle Cell Genetic Disease Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, began as a patient therapy support group comprised of 30 members that met monthly at Pennsylvania Hospital from 1977- 1982. The purpose of the group at that time was to share their concerns, offer support and plan various activities. However, in 1982, the funding for the Sickle Cell Program was eliminated, leaving sickle cell patients without any support. As a result, the patient group was encouraged by the hospital social worker to establish their own agency with a focus on

social services. This was an important issue since the hospital focused primarily on meeting the medical needs of the patients.

On July 2, 1982, the Sickle Cell Genetic Disease Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania became incorporated as a 501 C (3) non-profit agency. The two co-founders were Rev. Walter E. Brandon and Willie J. Hubert, both affected by sickle cell disease. Willie passed away in 1996 after giving great service, love and compassion to individuals with sickle cell disease. On April 2, 1998, Rev. Brandon also passed away due to complications of sickle cell disease. Due to his lifelong mission and commitment to advocacy in the sickle cell community the agency’s annual sickle cell walkathon was named in his memory.

SCDAA/PDVC was established to provide comprehensive psychosocial services to children, adolescents and adults affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait (SCT). Over the years, they have worked in partnership with local pediatric and adult hospitals to provide supportive services and programs to meet the needs of individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease.

In 1995, the agency became a chapter member of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and officially changed its name to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Philadelphia/ Delaware/Valley Chapter.

For the past 29 years SCDAA/PDVC has been providing resources and supportive services to those affected in Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. Services include case management; single gene genetic counseling; transportation for pediatric families; hospital/ clinic visits; advocacy; newborn screening follow-up; community outreach/ education; referrals and programs to include: Leroi Simmons Scholarship Fund; Cooperative Sickle Cell Blood Donor Program; Multicultural Initiative; Sickle Cell

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Sabbath and the following support groups: Young Adult Transition Team (Y.A.T.T- 1825 year olds.) Project Self –Care (26 and older) and SOUL+ Mates (Sickle Cell Overcomers United for Life & their Mates- couples).

SCDAA/PDVC will sponsor the 4th Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars event on April 22, 2012. For more information visit our website at www.dancingwiththephiladephiastars.com. The agency will also celebrate its 30th year anniversary on July 2, 2012.

With September being recognized as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, SCDAA/ PDVC will sponsor their Annual Sickle Cell Seminar on September 15, 2012 and the 15th year anniversary of the Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell Walkathon on September 22, 2012. This year a run has been added to increase participation. For more information about how you can support the agency and/or participate in upcoming events visit our website at www.sicklecelldisorder. com, www.firstgiving.com/sicklecellphiladelphia or contact us at 215-471-8686.

FAIRMOUNT PARK Bellmont Avenue & North Concourse Drive Philadelphia, PA (Across from the Please Touch Museum)

The Shirlene Boone Family, Designs by A Green Thing, Power 99 and WDAS FM, Ready, Willing and Able Workers, Chandler and Thakur Medical Group, Philadelphia Business and Technology Center, Brown’s Shoprite, Replica Printing and i.d.e.a.l. Magazine

Photos by Annette Groves Photography

Beauty, brains, business sense and more; this

is considered the ultimate triple threat package for women today.

No matter cultural background nor religious beliefs, most men and many women see this as the bar to reach in today’s society. To break that down even further, a truly successful woman is expected to “... bring home the bacon, (after working 8 - 12 hours daily), fry it up in a pan (denoting a domestic dominatrix) and never, ever, ever let him forget he’s a man (which could also involve dominatrix play, but certainly implies she’s handling things in the bedroom), ‘cause she’s a WOMAN...” and so we let a perfume ad set the standard for what a truly phenomenal woman is. Maya Angelou penned a magnificent poem titled Phenomenal Woman, “...It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”

At the end of February 2012 I turned 46. Birthdays have a way of taking you back down memory lane, then thrusting you into this space in your imagination where you compare your present life with the one you thought you might have by now. Ladies know this dialogue all to well. “I thought I’d be married, I thought I’d have children, I thought I’d have more, or have fewer responsibilities.” We fight to stay youthful looking or thinner. We even battle with the compromises we’ll make in order to keep up the appearances of a phenomenal woman in the public’s eye.

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Here’s the truth about Janette R. Smith. I’ve never been married, though I am interested in finding the right man to share my life with in a committed and loving marriage. I won’t be having children, at least not biologically. Though I have had tremendous success in my 25+ career as a television journalist, entertainment TV and radio host, actor and writer, I am currently in a season of repositioning. For some, this alone sounds less than phenomenal. Now consider the rest of the story. I have survived cancer. I am grateful for physical strength, agility and stamina, and enjoy the peace of emotional, and spiritual health. I live for myself instead of others, and am grateful for the tiniest things that bring me joy. I have peace in my heart that allows me to rest in the midst of change and transition, and can still rock the heck outta some skinny jeans. I am every bit of 46 but feel more like I’m 36 — with more wisdom. The fire still burns in my eyes and I enjoy the power that comes with the flash of my teeth and swing in my waist. Faith, peace, contentment, fulfillment through service to myself and others, hope fueled by dreams with real action items attached - these things keep the childlike wonder in me alive. I love this life. This is truth about being Phenomenal: Do all you can with what you have, do it well and love yourself through every step of the process. Look in the mirror - can you see her? Celebrate the Phenomenal Woman that is YOU!

Philadelphia’s Best Kept

By Manuel McDonnell Smith Some might call Emmy, Telly, and Aurora Award winning journalist Janette Smith a triple threat, but these days she just prefers multimedia producer and host. You’ll remember her most as one of the main hosts with the eponymous basic cable network D.I.Y, where her affable attitude and genial personality made even the complex of home improvement tasks appear easy for even novice homeowners. The Alabama A&M Graduate refined her easygoing persona that captures viewers at even just a glance by working her way through the ranks of various hosting and reporting stints in several markets across the nation including Cincinnati, Dallas, and Atlanta. Before the days of reality TV, Janette was first to pioneer bringing ‘new life” to everyday news stories by ‘truly becoming a part’ of each event she covered including living for days aboard a floating aircraft carrier, and surviving for 2.7 seconds atop a bucking bull during a riding session.

Experiencing accomplishment at the national network level is a “high” that few ever become bored with, but Janette has always been grounded not only personally, but spiritually. Having found success on the tube, she decided to turn her talents toward trinity. For six years, she was Executive Producer for renowned Minister Creflo Dollar and his ministry, World Changers Church International which reaches people in over 100 countries around the globe. In between, Janette also worked with Grammy Award winning Gospel Artist Fred Hammond as Media & Web Director serving not only as a producer, but as an occasional talent in some of his projects, including a role in the film “Christmas….who needs it?” that was among one of the breakout hits of the 2007 Hollywood Black Film Festival.

Having conquered television, radio, and film, Janette is now focused on developing the dreams of others, and her own as the owner and principal of Mirror Media Solutions which offers a full range of video production, web design, marketing, and branding alternatives to clients around the globe. Through the company’s mission statement “Reflecting your vision, through our passion”, she is now able to work with clients on developing their dreams and growing their business ideas with the help of her industry experience that gives them the extra ‘flash’ that’s needed to discover success.

“Within you lies the ability to do anything. Find it” is the simple advice that one of the online sites that features Jeanette’s bio offers, it’s advice that she not only endorses, but lives herself as she continues to expand her own media domain through an daily internet radio talk show, that has recently expanded to even offer live video in the past year.“On our show, you always laugh, you’ll always have a good time, but mostly you’ll always leave encouraged to do your next big thing”, says Smith before she ends the segment, already ready to start on the next thing on her list of things to accomplish and conquer.

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4630 Baltimore Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143 www.aksumcafe.com Sunday 7:30 am to 9 pm Monday to Thursday 7:30 am to 10 pm Fri and Sat 7:30 am to 11 pm

Art

James Dupree

By Anita Brook If you find yourself in the area of 6th and Bainbridge Streets on a Saturday afternoon or evening, peek into the Dupree Gallery and see if you spot artist, James Dupree, surrounded by three keyboards, various amps, guitars, harmonicas and microphones. Come in and introduce yourself. You will see that he is not only surrounded by musical instruments, but also by his colorful art. James Dupree is an artist and owner of the Dupree Gallery, where you will find his artwork on exhibit.

James has owned the Dupree Gallery for over three decades, having purchased the building in 1979. In the beginning, only the storefront window area contained art for viewing and he used the space behind an enclosure as his studio while living upstairs with his wife and three daughters. Gradually, as finances allowed, he opened up the gallery space, renovating it, bit by bit, getting it to where it is today. Later, he moved his studio down the street, and then across the city to West Philadelphia; however, the gallery remains.

James opened the Dupree Gallery because, as he will tell you, he never really liked commercial galleries, and calls his space “The People’s Gallery.” He has always believed that artists should run galleries; otherwise, fees of up to 60 % or more are often charged to patrons and the cost of a painting becomes quite high. This forces original art to be only affordable to the very wealthy; hence, “The People’s Gallery” concept was born. Original art at James Dupree’s gallery is not cheap. His years of experience, education, and the fact that he is in prominent collections makes his artwork highly sought after; but, there is no reason to inflate the price to forty-, fifty- or even sixty-percent more than the artist’s price, because he is the artist and the gallery owner. You can find art in any price range at the Dupree Gallery. Prices start at around

$60.00 for prints and can go up to $110,000 for original paintings.

James Dupree was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1950, but spent the years leading up to middle school in Philadelphia, only

to return to Pittsburgh when he was around the age of thirteen, to attend school in the suburban town of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania where his grandmother and grandfather lived. James says he always wanted to an artist, and nothing else. He began his artistic career as a student at Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia where, as the story goes, he received his first set of pastels. James went on to attend Columbus College of Art and Design (where he received his BFA), Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and the University of Penn-

sylvania, where he received his MFA in Painting and Printmaking.

James Dupree has had a long and illustrious career. His paintings are hanging in public and private collections around the world. Locally, you can see his work on display at the Philadelphia Museum ofArt, the FYE store at Broad and Chestnut, Mother Bethel AME Church at 6th and Lombard, at the Manayunk Brewery and at the Dupree Gallery!

The Dupree Gallery is located at 703 South 6th Street in Philadelphia.

For more information about James Dupree and his artwork, visit www.dupreestudiosinc.com

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept

“I’m still in awe of male models who wear deodorant that clumps up under the arms and the females who wear neon bras and g-strings to a fitting. Don’t you know you can’t wear that under white?”

Spend just two minutes with Lu Sierra, and you’ll quickly find that she doesn’t play around. She has no time to. For

more than a decade, this Elite Models top talent has graced the runways of the catwalks of the top fashion houses, and fashion magazines (including French Vogue). With her own career on the international runway circuit showing no signs of slowing, she’s transitioning to a role behind the scenes, one that is finding her as a teacher & coach of models who grace the runways of both the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants. She took a moment from filming on the latest season of BET’s Rip the Runway to talk with Urban Suburban about the serious business of modeling, and how to make it.

ever going to work potentially for one designer. What works for Baby Phat, does not work for Donna Karan.

UbSub: But even to start you have to be discovered, right?

Lu: Too many young sisters are waiting for someone to knock on their door, or be discovered on 7th Avenue. That doesn’t happen. It’s a job, not a hobby. Take care of your skin, your hair, your nails. Get a night job so you can go to casting calls during the day. Get ready to build your portfolio.

UbSub: A portfolio? A good photographer can help with that, right?

UbSub: How did you get your start in modeling?

Lu: I moved to NYC from Florida at the age of 17. No agency would take me. I was told to lose weight, change my hair. I did it every time, and came right back, literally. In fact, a few called security on me.

UbSub: So modeling is really about “modeling yourself” to the needs of the industry?

Lu: So many girls like to say “But Lu, that’s me!”. But if you just want to stick to one walk, then you’re only

Lu: If someone offers to shoot your portfolio, run! A portfolio is a catalog of actual work that’s been featured in editorial and catalogs, not an photo album of shots someone has taken of you.

You cannot do fashion shoots without that incredible portfolio.

UbSub: What’s the secret to taking a good photograph?

Lu: “I think about what I want the camera to see”, it comes across in a certain way. “I’m beautiful, I look good, I’m sexy. That comes from your eyes right to the lens. Poses can be learned.

UbSub: What’s a common mistake that female models make when starting out?

Lu: They’re not prepared. It’s not beauty you’re judged on, its being ready. Come with your own makeup scarf so you don’t get anything on the designer’s dress, an extra pair of your own pumps in case the designer wants to change the scene, an elastic to pull back your hair for a different look, and definitely choose your nude bra or g-string, not your Donald Duck underwear.

UbSub: You work with quite a few male models also, are they always ready?

Lu: A male model needs to always show up with a good manicure and pedicure, and groomed hair, especially under their arms. But

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most male models make the mistake with their breath, they go out to have pizza for lunch, then the designer is close up in their face later when trying to pin on a fashion. Carry your backup mints.

stage as compared to the Runway?

Lu: I’m blessed to have the opportunity to become the person that I needed when I first started in the industry. The person who can say walk like this, tuck that in, move like that.

I’m not into casting, or selection, just developing the girls (and guys) that I have to make look good, and I go from there.

Lu says a model who begins at the age of 16 can look to have a peak career of 10 years (more if you can advance to the ‘classic woman” category) and male models can work for up to 15 years (there’s a lot of money in the salt and pepper look, she says). In addition to her work her television and pageant projects, she also provides personal coaching sessions. You can find out more at www.lusierra.com.

UbSub: What should a model have in mind when trying to achieve in the industry?

Lu: Designers do not say “send me pretty girls”. They say send me this size, and height. You can make yourself most available by having a fresh, clean look, that’s attractive to commercial print.

UbSub: And for those who aspire to runway more than print?

Lu: Runway is important. Your smile should move when you walk.

You can learn and master one of six things (that designers will allow) you to do at the end of the runway. You don’t get points for turns, but you can win Miss USA with a killer walk, and a wicked look.

UbSub: What advice do you have for beginning models?

Lu: Be realistic. If you’re under 5’9 and bigger than a size 4, then high fashion is never going to happen for you. But activewear, swimwear, and sportswear could be options for you. Plus Size Fashions and Over-40 are also growing areas of the market. Look at how many women are featured in wrinkle cream ads today.

UbSub:

How

are

you

enjoying

the

back-

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept

D

etermination and grit are the main staples of a flourishing and new Philadelphia. We all know Philadelphia’s reputation as a tough, hardworking blue collar town and those attributes have served it well because over the past two decades this magnificent city has lost more jobs, businesses, residents than we care to imagine or at least speak about.

I

n what seems like the most unusual time considering the economy, an alarming rise in murders and the lack of leadership to improve our public school system, it appears that we have a glimmer of hope. It appears that the city has arrested the flight of residents and actually seen an increase in its population. Now, that’s not to suggest that this trend will continue, especially if we keep selling off valuable assets such as building that houses the Boys Scouts of America for a pittance.

Photography by Matt Schmidt 32 urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia

V

irtually all signs seem to point to the fact that a city sandwiched between New York and Washington DC is finally turning the corner and being recognized as a contender for the title “Mecca of the East Coast”. I mean have you driven or strolled down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway lately? It is simply something to behold! I mean the Philadelphia Art Museum holds center stage but the improvements and additions such as the Barnes Museum and Rodin are incredible and they are not done yet.

E

ach neighborhood deserves the same quality of improvement and some form of guidance as we construct and build our way through this massive gentrification and urban revitalization. What began under Ed Rendell and continued under John Street is finally beginning to pay dividends through the careful management and stewardship of Mayor Michael Nutter.

Despite some unfortunate obstacles, he has managed to avoid running the ship onto the rocks. We all know the economy has wrecked havoc on most of society.

Philadelphia’s Best Kept

R

ace relations, crime, jobs and education continue to be our greatest obstacles--as it appears to be true in every major city throughout the country. The fact of the matter is more work needs to be done. The underlying message should be one ethnic group can’t do it alone. Without improving each neighborhood and offering economic advice and guidance to fledgling neighborhood businesses, opportunities will not reach everyone. Without stressing the importance of parental involvement in the educational process, it will simple not improve. The fact of the matter is that the powers that be don’t have all the answers and it simply isn’t a matter of more school funding. It’s more complicated than money; it’s about opportunity! These opportunities may involve school choice. We have to avoid creating small fiefdoms throughout the city. We can’t have cities within cities.

We can’t have Temple, UPenn and Drexel all creating barriers and walls around their communities-it must be inclusive in terms of education, jobs and houses. Why not expand home improvements grants to residents and not just faculty and staff?

S

E

eize the movement and forward progress xpress yourself by acting involved by explaining and encouraging residents to invest in the process. The process is simple, if in their neighborhoods by doing the following: it broken then it’s your duty to fix it. Call your City or State representative and speak 1. Reinvest – Invest in your neighbor- to them candidly about your expectahood by cleaning and sweeping in front tions. I suggest you become a royal pain and in back of your property. Call the in the behind! Call and call frequently. city to complain about dirty lots and al- I’ve said it often, it’s your tax money regardley ways. It’s your money call 311. It works. less of the amount, and you pay it. So if your block or neighborhood business dis2. Enhance – Upgrade and improve your trict needs improved lighting or sidewalk rehome’s appearance by removing dead plants pairs, please call. The most important thing and broken pots. Paint your home and re- is to enjoy your city and work towards its place broken shutters and screen doors. improvement and celebrate it diversity. You are Philadelphia from the Hilltop to Gtown, 3. Patronize – Use your neighborhood South Philly to Mt Airy. You are Philadelphia! businesses and don’t be afraid to voice your displeasure with customer service.

4. Create – You always wanted to be an entrepreneur, so consider visiting the Wharton School and or another business owner/operator to discuss your goal. Open up in your new business in your neighborhood. It could be the best financial decision you’ll make instead of moving downtown for appearances.

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept

3rd Element Spa & Salon

Sparked by OARC’s mission is to create and stimulate economic development and improve the quality of life in West Oak Lane and other neighborhoods located on Ogontz Avenue, a thoroughfare which runs diagonally through the uniform grid of streets in the city. Many of the commercial and residential properties on Ogontz Avenue have begun to see revitalization and have largely been restored as a significant and important destination.

Places such as Victoria’s Kitchen located at 7304 Ogontz Avenue * Philadelphia * PA 19138 * 215-9271066 * 215-927-1044 provide a wonderful atmosphere and great food. Other establishment such as Green Soul located at 7169 Ogontz Avenue exist along with Relish located at 7152 Ogontz Avenue.

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You should also visit 3rd Element Beauty Salon and Spa along with your friendly neighborhood State Farm Agent Brian Madalion located at 7208 Ogontz Ave Bus: 215549-4900 Fax: 215-549-4920 Free Library of Philadelphia operates the David Cohen Ogontz Branch at 6017 Ogontz Avenue at Church Lane.

News Rebuilding it one house, one block at a time. Everyone interested in rebuilding , reinvesting and saving their neighborhood should better understand urban planning and development. It is about stability , growth and vision. “The inner city is rebounding not just here and there..major cites such as Philadelphia have gone mostly downhill, burdened by industrial , physical rot, crime and poverty. Cities such as Philadelphia have increasingly become more attractive to business, investors and ore inviting to people of various incomes” ...Comeback Cities A Blue print for Urban neighborhood revival

Chestnut Hill is located in the northwestern corner of Philadelphia and is one of the city’s most beautiful, affluent and historic neighborhoods. Chestnut Hill is surrounded by beautiful Fairmont Park and adjacent to another wonderful Philadelphia neighborhood of Mt. Airy.

Now to the important part, shopping and eating delights. From fast food to fine cuisine, from neighborhood bars to BYOBs, Chestnut Hill and the surrounding area has something for everyone including Heirloom located at 8705 Germantown Avenue. Food and fun is plentiful. If you love water ice than you want to travel over to the Trolley Car Diner 7619 Germantown Avenue or for ice cream Brendenbecks 8126 Germantown Avenue. You must try Grobens seafood located on 6833 Germantown Avenue for a nice treat.

Germantown Avenue’s cobblestone blocks where trolleys once ran, feature shopping, antiques and dining of all sorts and are known for walk-ability and charm. Houses range from modest row houses to extensive mansions as well as architectural landmarks.

urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia 35

News

Diversity in food, students and University of Pennsylvania dominate the landscape. You’ll see and taste it’s diversity when you visit places like Aksum 4630 Baltimore Avenue and Whispering Leaves 4619 Woodland Avenue.

Gone are the glorious days when West Philadelphia was the home of American Bandstand. The popular dance show and career starter for host Dick Clark .The show featured local high school students, turning some into teen idols. This magnificent are features a ton of new and older established businesses such as Cliff’s Shoe shine on 40th Street, near Samson. You will not be disappointment.

Now that your shoes have shined go try Distrito 3945 Chestnut Street is a high-energy restaurant inspired by the spirited culture and cuisine of Mexico City. The Distrito menu features Chef Garces’ fresh interpretations of classic Mexican fare and beverages including over 65 tequilas and margaritas made with fresh seasonal fruits

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News

The Point Breeze neighborhood is slowly rising from years of abandonment and population decline throughout the last few decades. But as most smart and savvy real estate investors will tell this neighborhood still has the greatest upside. It is an area ripe for growth as it is within walking distance of center city. Young business owner’s are gearing up for the revitalization with open arms. I mean where else can you find million dollars home within its reach, stadium within its reach and center city within a ten minute walk. Today it is a neighborhood under revitalization from efforts Don’t wait on this sleeping gem, just drive through it’s neighborhood and you’ll see all its growth. I mean have you seen the Sardine on south 18th Street (18th & Federal) It’s incredible. In addition, you can visit new places such as Jace’s Soul food (1715 South 20th) restaurant and long standing neighborhood icon Cultural Exchange (Point Breeze and Dickinson) for a real treat should you want to purchase a gift or two. Improvement is happening one step at a time so stop by and see if the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center (1721 Point Breeze Avenue) can use any support.

urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia 37

News

I guess not many people recall the old song exclaiming why people go to South Street. Time have definitely changed, The name “South Street� is popularly attached to long stretch extending as far 22nd Street, where the ever popular Odunde festival takes place every summer. It remains a popular hangout area for teens, college students, and 20 something crowd with its assortment of and retailers catering to hip-hop fashion, punk fashion, and/or urban culture. A few restaurants and independent boutiques targeting a slightly more mature clientele are located within these businesses. Retail chains found on the street as well.

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I simply cannot think of an area that needs a DIY makeover more than Wynnefield, it’s down right embarrassing. No upstart or chain restaurants, no real entertainment. We have a few gems but not many. I thoroughly enjoy DeBreaux on 63rd just off City Avenue in the train station and one of the best keep secrets is breakfast at the Hilton Hotel. It is simply the best around. Because of this limited selection I am forced to reemphasize the need to improve. The area is improving based on a slow but steady stream of new residents who love the charm of the houses and quietness. I mean with all the allure and more potential than any section of the city has but it lacks the ability to change because of it’s desire to be isolated as a hidden treasure.

Surrounding neighborhoods include Bala Cynwyd to the north, Wynnefield Heights and Belmont Village to the east, Parkside to the south, and Overbrook to the west. It is the home of St. Joseph’s University, a Catholic Jesuit University of some 7,000 students. It also has a connections to the motion picture business. Wynnefield is the childhood home of actor Will Smith, film producer Lee Daniels (“Monster’s Ball” and “The Woodsman”), film director Charles Stone III, politico and former “Big Brother” reality-TV contestant 1 and does not exist)”documentary filmmaker Tigre Hill.

Local politicians with Wynnefield ties include Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, former mayor Wilson Goode, city councilman 1, and councilwoman does not exist)”1. Perhaps you should call and ask why Wynnefield doesn’t have a descent restaurant or sports bar and you wonder why all the revenue is being spend over in Bala Cynwyd.

News

If history properly told, during the peak of the industrial age in America, North Philadelphia became a working man’s town. Upper North Philadelphia, Olney, Brewery town were huge and symbolized the growth of all things industrial. Now things are slightly different. While the bulk of the neighborhoods are largely made up of African American and Puerto Rican, it is slightly changing with the influx of new immigrants, restaurants upstart investors In recent years, North Philadelphia and the surrounding sections have become a major enclave of young professionals, students, artists, and design professionals. Large improvement and revitalization projects have also been undertaken recently, causing a large jump in property values. The neighborhood’s proximity to Center City has made it one of the city’s most desirable development districts, both for commercial and residential real estate. Like most Philadelphia neighborhoods, it has seen a rise in new development in recent times has brought apartment and condominium complexes. So whether it’s Tierra Colombiana 4535 North 5th, Philadelphia or Mixto 1134 Pine Street, you should make a point to try the food and night life. If you on north Broad Street, you should stop in and visit the black doll museum or try a piece of allegedly the best pizza in the city at Osteria 640 North Broad St. . Personally, I’m a South Philly guy, it can’t touch Marra’s but too each it’s own. I’m just saying.

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In 2011, two socially aware community activists, Dana Barfielde and Tiffany Robinson, founded Gathered Dreamz, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barfielde and Robin-

son were brought together by the common belief that many youth in the community, particularly foster children, lacked meaningful academic, social and career guidance. Determined to make a difference, they conducted several research studies pertaining to the overall care of girls and young women in foster care between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years of age. It has been proven, time and time again, that this population has difficulties that other children in the same age group do not face. In particular, young women between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years, need assistance as they prepare to leave the foster care system. Research has proven that there is a gap in services provided for these young women. With this information in hand, it was time to make a change; a change that would impact the rest of these girls and young women’s lives.

Providing one-on-one and group mentoring services, Gathered Dreamz, Inc. begins when the girls and young women need the most assistance. All of the services offered are individualized and are meant to initiate the development of higher levels of self-esteem, creating positive relationships with trusted adults, and encouraging self-sufficiency for the older girls who are about to “age out” of foster care. By supporting the social and mental development of these girls and young women, we can provide them with the needed change that will, potentially, impact the rest of their lives.

On average, each year 250,000 children are taken from their biological parents and placed into foster care where about half of them will remain for at least one year. During that year, many of them do not engage in activities that will generate positive adult relationships. In addition, many foster children who are “aging out” of the foster care system, are not equipped with the skills

that are needed to become thriving, productive members of society. Studies show that foster youth with mentors have shown more improvement, without peer support, over time. Mentors appear to provide youth with alternative models of relationships involving trust, support, care, and an opportunity for the development of basic social skills. By comparison, foster youth in a control group (those without mentors) showed a lessening in peer support over time.

It has come to our attention that at of the end of 2010, 16% of the U.S. foster care population lived in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. It is imperative that appropriate services be available to them. There are a very limited number of mentoring programs in the tri-state area that offers mentoring specifi-

cally for children in foster care. This is a population that needs to be focused on and it is evident by the recent push for mentoring programs for them. The Foster Care Act of 2011 is in the process of being approved by Congress and once it is, it will provide government funding specifically for mentoring programs that service foster children. CHANGE in the making.

With the backing of other prominent youth–serving organizations in the city of Philadelphia, Gathered Dreamz, Inc. has become a valuable resource to the community. In addition, Gathered Dreamz, Inc. has forged strong partnerships with the local business community, media, and the School District of Philadelphia.

For more information please contact: Tiffany Robinson CEO/Founder info@gathered-dreamz.org 267-702-0793 www.gathered-dreamz.org www.twitter.com@GatheredDreamz www.facebook.com/GatheredDreamz www.linkedin.com/in/gathereddreamz

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News

Who will fix our deficiencies?

Can they be fixed? What are some of the solutions? Careers, education, violence, family issues and much more

The Call for Career and College Readiness

By Margarita McKissick Phd Higher Education has been using a variety of strategies to encourage our young adults to reflect on college and career, however many are not college and/or career ready. College and Career readiness is determined by the quality of learning a student receives during the first 12 years of school. For example, the kind of young adult you will become is usually based on what has been taught. Do you contribute to your community around you in an effort to gain a sense of purpose for your own life? Are you seeking effective role models and listening to them? Economic resources are available, what are you doing to take advantage of them? Google Google Google, it’s really not that difficult anymore.

Today the term “Ready” doesn’t always mean having the intelligence. Many with the intelligence can’t go to college because they can’t afford it.

Many will skip college going straight to work to help support the family.

And those who would rather go to work instead of college find out later that they aren’t making 42 urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia

the money necessary to sustain a minimum standard of living. You have to incorporate employable skills now.

There was a time when job security was just finding a job. Today many organizations will tell you that job security lies in employability.

Are you willing to adapt to the changing pace of the workforce by regularly learning new skills, ultimately this is what many companies want to know. Fouryear colleges are effective but Two-year Technical schools have been proven to have work waiting after graduation at much higher starting rates including benefits. Ask yourself, do you want a Job or a Career.

In most cases young adults aren’t taught how to make decisions. College and career readiness is a product of decision making. Effective decisions are based on how well informed you are, the more information you find out the better equipped you are with linking that decision to your interests, capabilities and aspirations. Making a career or college decision that defines who you are enhances your enthusiasm, providing you with the potential to produce much more of yourself.

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In an effort for you to determine if you are career or college ready, you will need to first understand your weaknesses and strengths. Research all career and college opportunities available to you and be able to transform those opportunities into what fits your desires. Therefore you must understand what your needs and desires are. More importantly you must be able to present yourself effectively in an effort to gain access to courses or job interviews.

The rate of change in organizations driven by technology guaranty’s that company modifications will be constant. As a result, young adults must choose to pursue college or a career, no longer an option but a must. Many young adults want challenging careers or they want to attend top notch colleges but have not taken the necessary actions to plan and prepare for these careers or colleges. This is why they are more likely to move from job-to-job and major-to-major looking for the right fit.

Today businesses require a different kind of graduate and employee. Our young adults are sadly underprepared for life after high school. Reports have shown that four of every ten college students need to take remedial courses. And those who take remedial course in college are more likely to drop out. This preparation gap is taking a real toll on high school graduates as well as our economy and society.

However, surveys are repeatedly showing that the vast majority of students do aspire to go to college – for either a two or four year degree. Although, many do not get there because they do not understand the steps they need to take prior, and often are not receiving sufficient guidance from their schools or communities. The lack of appropriate guidance and information is due in part to understanding the importance of readiness and what it all means. It is essential that information regarding the many ways young adults need to be preparing for college and careers be made available.

If you want to be taken serious when applying to colleges and for jobs you should exercise the following: • First impressions are important; not just the ones in person but even the initial telephone conversation leaves an impact on others. Always say hello,

introduce yourself and explain the reason for your call. When answering calls make sure you are in a quiet location. Thank the person before you hang.

• When meeting in person, proper grooming and business like attire is a must. No pajamas, no jeans, no baseball caps, no sweats. This ALSO applies when attending Career Fairs.

• Your attitude and sense of commitment will assist you with the interview process. Be friendly, open to suggestions and always maintain a sense of humor.

• It is important to report for interviews 15 before scheduled to establish your dependability. Calculate how long it takes you to get ready in the morning, leaving extra time for unexpected situations.

Jeff Arnett (2004, Emerging Adulthood) revealed in his study of young adults from 18 to 28 that they would become deeply self-absorbed during this period as they search for personal identity. Our nation has changed,

our economy has changed, our culture has changed, and technology has changed; now it is time for you to change. Stop being dependent and become independent so, you too can be on the road to successful self-sufficiency. Taking control of your life involves making the most effective decision for your future. urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia 43

News

INTERVIEW SKILLS 101 UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

candidate’s part so as not to be forgotten in the pile of resumes that they have received. This is why you as a candidate need to look into using several reputable recruiters and look on your own.

BY DIANE BLACKMON

Typically the answer is no. The prospective employer is looking for someone to vouch for your work experience. Family members usually do not work with you and often will not be able to render an un-biased opinion. Sometimes companies will ask for work and personal references and will specifically mention that it can be a relative, a former work mate or someone who has known you for more than a said amount of time. This is your opportunity to use your family and friends.

What does a career counselor do?

A career counselor is usually an internal person who should establish and build a relationship with you so that they can come to understand your goals. When you are first hired to a company often you will be assigned an individual who will help you meet all the requirements of a newly hired person. In addition a counselor should help you to establish goals, develop a plan to achieve them, and connect with the team to build your network. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of hitting the ground running in a new organization and immediately building a network. The idea of working hard and being rewarded should be wiped out of your mind. It will be the relationships that you build that will get you to your goals.

A career counselor should also help you to navigate difficult situations at work. Once a relationship is established between the two of you your counselor should offer open and honest feedback. Not just stating the feedback but showing you what to do with the feedback to get results. If he or she sees you struggling or keeps hearing you speak of wanting to do something different than the position you are currently in, letting you know that a career change may be in order.

What are the benefits to using an executive search firm?

The main benefit of using an executive search firm is that each firm usually has an exclusive relationship with the employer.

This means that over time they have come to know the very people that you may be working for. They can effectively decipher from your resume if you would be a good fit for the position posted but if not they will remember your name and skill set when one becomes available. These firms have an incentive in getting the position filled but getting it filled correctly so when you are recommended for a position or sent on an interview you really have already been through a screening process.

Should I use a relative as a job reference?

Should I list people whom I haven’t spoken with in a long time as a professional reference?

When looking for a job you should ask all those who you will be submitting their names as a reference if it is ok to do so. If someone has given you permission in the past you should still reach out and remind them of their willingness and let them know unless they mention otherwise you will continue to use them. Hopefully, you realize that your references are also part of your network and you should keep in contact with them on a regular basis for future opportunities you may be seeking. If you have not kept in touch, reconnect with them and let them know you will be listing them as a reference and confirm that their contact information is still the same. It would also be helpful to update them on your recent experience and education so when having a conversation with a prospective employer so a complete and standard picture can be given.

What are the downsides of using a recruiter?

The down side of using a recruiter can also be an exclusive relationship that a recruiter or their firm may have had in the past. If a high level HR person decides to leave their company an open their own recruiting agency they are usually barred from placing any employee of their old employer with new ones. If a recruiting firm used to represent a big company but no longer does they may also not place employees of the company with any new companies they now service. This can limit their pool of opportunities for you. Larger firms may also require more work on the

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What is the most effective means of finding a job?

A few years ago the answer may have been to post your resume to

a website or attend a job fair. In today’s economy the most effective way to finding a job it to network. I mean serious network as in going into your contacts and letting all your friends know that you are looking for a job and if they are aware of any opportunities to let you know. Connecting with your old employers is an effective means as well. The manager of the department you used to work for knows budgeting, how many new positions he will have the next fiscal year, and your work ethic. Do not discount always being prepared with your resume or business card to be distributed at social functions where you meet new people who are in decision making positions or know and work for the ones who are. Opportunity used to knock once now it waits for you to knock on its door. Doing these things along with posting to websites and using a recruiter increases your chances of finding a job.

How can I structure my resume to avoid age discrimination?

Quite simply stop talking so much on your resume. Most people feel the need to add dates to everything on their resume. You do need dates for your employment history but unless you have jumped from job to job then most of your jobs should be for 3-5 year stints. This means in trying to keep to the one page suggested length of a resume; you should list 3-4 jobs at the most going back about 10- 15 years. Outside of the dates of your job resist the urge to list when you graduated high school and college. It is very easy to look at your graduation year assume you were 18 then and count to the current year to get how old you are. Employment verification which is usually done after you have been offered the job can let them know completion dates thus your age. Most age discrimination happens during the interview session where they can physically see you and it is often very hard to prove. One way to avoid this is to step outside of your comfort zone and have a trusted younger person style you for your interview. If an employer can focus on your experience as opposed to the gray hair on your head or how outdated your suit & shoes are then you have a better shot at getting the job. Another is to resist the urge to talk about your family during the interview. Whatever information you tell them about your husband, kids, and grandkids is voluntary. If they ask it is illegal but if you offer it is fair game. Be aware of pre-interview conversations that the interviewer may mention their kids and you reply with a comment about yours. Again you volunteered this information so it could be considered in whether you are offered employment or not.

HOT or Not

There are women of color

which I wanted to give homage that have made an influence with my career. This article is to enlighten you with the major impact we as Africans and women had and still have with Architecture and Design. There are three such women which I will briefly discuss:

Queen Hatshepsut- First Female Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Queen Hatshepsut was the first female Pharaoh recorded in Ancient Egypt. Due to political factions from her royal family members, she became Pharaoh around 1473 BC. As with social and gender issues in the 21st century, Hatshepsut had to prove herself to be a more than capable and powerful Pharaoh in the powerful world capital at this time. She dressed in royal male styled clothing and beard to prove to male doubters that she was a reckon if crossed! Hatshepsut was a master politician, and an elegant stateswoman with enough charisma to keep control of an entire country for twenty years.

As a designer, one of the most distinguished ancient buildings of antiquity is Deir el-Bahari. Built 1450 BC, the structure rises from the valley floor in three terraces connected by ramps. It is amazing how the man made symmetry of the ramps and columns blends with the natural terrain of the mountain which is attached to the temple. There was great attention to how natural sunlight reflected on the massive pillars. Along with the pyramids and other temples, this was to be used as her burial monument for her afterlife. Greeks and Romans cultures copied many aspects of this building for their building and temples centuries later.

Rock relief sculptures recorded Queen Hatshepsut’s birth, coronation and successes as Pharaoh. Her expeditions in the country of Punt (Somolia) allowed her to use native plants and shrubbery from Punt in this Temple to balance the hardness of the mountains and the desert setting.

She inscribe a message to the Egyptian people emphasizing

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their power and influence in the ancient world in the Temple of Deir el-Bahari which states “I will make you to be the first of all living creatures, you will rise as king of Upper and of Lower Egypt, as your father Amon, who loves you, did ordain”.

In all Queen Hatshepsut accomplished what no woman had before her. She successfully ruled the most powerful, advanced civilization in the ancient world for 20 years. Her historical impact as a Pharaoh and the Temple of Deir el-Bahari stands for all eternity.

Norma Merrick Sklarek

Back in 1992 while I was working as an Interior Designer in New York, NY, I had the great opportunity to work with Jack Travis, one of the current forward thinking and Afro conscience Architects in America. I was a research assistant with his book “African American Architects in Current Practice”. I was exposed to many African American Architects who persevered discrimination and hardship for decades to make an impact on architectural design in this country. One individual which stood out from to me as a role model was Norma Merrick Sklarek (April 15, 1928 - February 6, 2012).

Norma Sklarek was an African American architect who accomplished many firsts for black women in architecture. Born in Harlem, New York, she received her architecture degree from Columbia University School of Architecture in 1950. She was the first black woman to be licensed as an architect in the United States, with certification in the state of New York in 1954 and during the year of 1962, she received her certification in California. After receiving her degree from Columbia University, Norma Sklarek was unable to find work at an architecture firm, so she took a job at the New York Department of Public Works. Later she spent four years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. She became the first African-American director of architecture at Gruen and Associates in Los Angeles, CA. In 1980, Ms. Sklarek became the first black woman to be elected Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. She became the first African-American female architect to form her own architectural firm: Siegel, Sklarek, Diamond, which was the largest woman-owned and mostly womanstaffed architectural firm in the United States during the year 1985.

Among Sklarek’s designs are the San Bernardino City Hall in San Bernardino, California, the Fox Plaza in San Francisco, Terminal One at the Los Angeles International Airport and the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo, Japan.[3]

HOT or Not

Upon retirement, she served on the California Architects Board. In her honor, Howard University offers the Norma Merrick Sklarek Architectural Scholarship Award.

I want to borrow the story which she shared with Jack Travis that is recorded in the book “African American Architects in Current Practice” of her determination to succeed in a field where females and African Americans were not recognized.

“Architecture school was tough, different from the subjects I had been used to in high school. I had been accepted to Columbia University School of Architecture with the minimum entrance requirements, one year of liberal arts, whereas most of the other students were war veterans with several years of college, some with bachelors of arts degrees and even master’s degrees. These classmates were not only older but much more mature than I. the competition in class was keen. But I had a stick –to-it attitude and never gave up. From experience in elementary school, I was convinced that if a subject appeared overwhelming all I had to was spend enough time on it and eventually I would not only understand the seemingly impossible subject but would go ahead of most of the other students.

I was a subway student travelling back and forth almost one hour each way between school and Brooklyn, whereas many of my classmates lived on or near campus. These students were able to help each other with assignments by working in teams, splitting their homework problems two or three ways so that each would work only a portion and copied the remainder. In the meantime, I struggled to solve all of the homework alone on the subway or at home. My grades on homework were not nearly as good as those who worked on teams. The up side, and the most gratifying outcome of all of this, was that I learned a lot. The rewards were even more evident as I was able to pass all seven parts of the architect’s licensing exam the first time I took it. Many of my fellow colleagues were not so fortunate.”

Courtney Sloane

I had the honor to meet with Courtney Sloane, President and owner of Alternative Design over 15 years ago. She was gracious to meet with me at her studio office in Jersey City, NJ (she has another location in New York City) on a Saturday afternoon. At the time, she was one of the first female African American Interior Designers featured in Interior Design Magazine and other international design magazines. Her clientele included Queen Latifah, Vibe Magazine, Disney, the Rock and Roll Museum Hall of Fame and numerous

celebrities and high end corporations as Sony, Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise and Levi’s. She has designed furniture, watches and other accessories. She was and still is a pioneer of creativity and design among African American Interior Designers. My meeting with her was warm, informative and one which I shall never forget.

Here is some brief information about Ms. Sloane: Courtney Sloane began in the design industry from 1991 while working as a design consultant for Formica Corp., a laminate product company. Sloane, who attended Rutgers University, the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute, says she never saw furniture design as a career option. The reason was she didn’t know of any African Americans in the field.

In the beginning the company, Alternative Design relied heavily on word-of-mouth marketing and black clients. Now, roughly half of its clients are white and Asian, and Sloane is getting some major play in the press. She is the first African American and one of a handful of female designers to participate in Metropolitan Home magazine’s “Signature of Style” campaign for the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS. Sloane will stand head and shoulders with such industry virtuosos as Vincente Wolf, Glenn Gissler, Albert Hadley and Victoria Hagan.

Alternative Design was commissioned by a licensing company to design a commemorative watch for South African President Nelson Mandela. Although Sloane is a visionary who can blend the old and the new, she views herself as one who “improves upon tradition,” rather than as someone who breaks with it.

Currently she has a website http://www.courtneysloane.net/ which she engages with her customers on design issues, has one on one consultation sessions and designs one of a kind custom furniture and accessories for clients who appreciate her vision, expertise and style.

Written by Glynis Tart Verden Interior Design Studio, LLC 4000 Gypsy Lane-Unit 533 Philadelphia, PA 19129 phone: 215-360-6722 e-mail:vids2glynis@aol.com www.verdeninteriordesign.com

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Money Minutes

Contributors – Leslie Shields, President , Chevannes Global Group, LLC and The Wiz of Biz™ Duane Lawrence, Certified Public Accountant www.chevannesglobalgroup.com

You have the 3P’s — Passion, Persistence and a Positive mindset. Grow your business by following these steps: Step 1 – Write a trim and lean business plan.

Include an executive summary, a general company description, a list of products and services, a marketing plan, an operational plan, a list of management and organization, a personal financial statement, a summary of startup expenses and capitalization and a financial plan.

Step 2 – Learn the law. Don’t become “the biggest loser” because you are clueless about areas such as employee laws, protection ideas, contractual laws, industry specific laws and environmental laws.

Step 3 - Cast a wide net for funding your start up.

Start with personal assets, family and friends.

Expand to bank loans and SBA loans. Research the pros and cons of engaging angel investors or venture capitalists. Take a look at the television show “Shark Tank” for perspectives on venture capitalists.

Step 4 – Focus on the money trail. Balance sheets and financial statements should be a part of your regular reading and review. Keep your business and personal accounts separate. Open a business account and initiate a “best friend” relationship with your banker.

Step 5 – Develop a Partnership Agreement. Going solo may not be the answer to your business growth and profitability. Avoid the handshakes and gentlemen’s agreements. You need a written document that outlines the amount of capital each partner is expected to contribute, responsibilities, workloads and time commitments . Also include an exit plan of action in case of death or exit from the business.

your partners in making your business prosper.

Step 7 - Follow your customers and have them follow you by leveraging social media platforms.

Are you a Twitter fan? If so, consider using Tweet Reach. This tool identifies how effective your tweets are based upon the number of people you touch.

Step 8 – Sizzle proof your e-mails to your target market.

In other words, release emails that are relevant and valuable.

Avoid using terms such as “dedicated email”, “I hate to …”, “urgent”, “what’s missing?” or “opportunity”.

Step 9 - Pitch, Pitch, Pitch. Develop a “pitch” (or elevator speech) on your niche, product or service. The pitch should be: Clear – uses language that everyone understands; Concise – can be delivered in 30-90 seconds; Goal-oriented – be clear about your desired outcomes; Have a hook – uses words and phrases that engage the listener; Powerful – words used should be powerful and strong; Targeted – aimed toward a target market; Tell a Story – illustrates “what I can do”; Visual – creates an image that is memorable.

Step 10 – Boost your hiring skills. You may need a team to help meet your business goals. Look for the “Will & Jada “or “Beyoncé & Jay-Z” types — top performers. Avoid the dysfunctional types such as “Valerie the Vulture” and “Vince the Vampire” types.

These individuals can suck the energy and motivation from your team. Remember when good employees leave, you suffer hits to productivity, morale, and institutional knowledge — not to mention the hard dollar costs of finding and training new talent.

Step 6- Hire an attorney, CPA, and business coach that is “in the know” — not after legal, or financial problems surface.

These are

urbansuburbanmagazine.com Philadelphia 49

Gadgets

by Kyle Leishear Recently I went laptop shopping and brought along my girlfriend who perfectly demonstrated the huge difference in men and women when it comes to Gadget shopping. Where Men see specs and don’t worry about pricing, women look at everything and make sure that every piece of the gadget works for them. From pricing, to specs, to accessories, to ease of use she dissected everything to make sure the purchase was the right choice.

With that I started to wonder what gadgets would be the perfect companion to a beautiful woman. So I asked around and gathered up all the information along with my crack team of scientists at TheTechoFiles.com and we have come up with the perfect list of sexy gadgets to compliment any woman.

So I let the girls loose with a few gadgets to get their opinions on which they prefer.

Phone: You can’t go wrong with the White iPhone that is a great phone with tons of accessories and of course tons of apps to go along with it. If you are someone who doesn’t want to buy into the Apple fandom and you choose and Android Phone go with the Samsung Galaxy S II that was dubbed the iPhone killer and it comes really close.

The Motorola Droid RAZR was brought into the discussion but some of the women dismissed it due to its large size.

Kyle’s Scientific Scale-o-Rama judgment – The iPhone has been around for so long and has tons of cases and accessories to make it the go to gadget to match any outfit in any occasion you are in. You really can’t go wrong with a device that is as popular as the iPhone.

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Camera: Now this one is a tough one.

So many options to choose from. You can be trendy and go with the Nikon Coolpix that has lots of great features offers great photo production or you can go with the Samsung SH100 that has built-in WiFi, for all those easy Facebook uploads. No need to wait for getting to a Laptop and uploading it can do it itself. You can choose a Sony camera or a Canon. With so many options this one was tough to come by but the judges have rendered their decision.

Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama judgment - Sony - Cybershot 16.2-Megapixel Zoom Digital Camera. The reasons behind this decision was simple.

The women all seemed to enjoy its sleek profile, fantastically clear image quality and its ease of use was amazing for them.

It is a bit on the pricey side but that price comes with great performance.

Media Streaming Devices: This was a much heated debate among the ladies as they all said each device was “cute” and “easy” to use. The battle came down to Sony’s Media Network Player (SMP-N200) or the Roku Player. Both have many of the same attributes while the Sony Media Player could connect to a home network many of the girls didn’t want all that fuss. While the Roku could not and was offering many “channels” that need subscriptions. After all the dust had settled a winner emerged.

Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama judgment – The Roku player was deemed the better device to stream internet media to your TV. With a bigger menu and very simplistic options and channels to choose from both paid and free options, the women felt it was very easy to setup and have running out of the box in minutes. Not only that but certain Roku players can actually play onscreen apps like Angry Birds with its wireless motion controller.

E-Reader: This is the one that got the ladies attentions right off the bat. So many to choose from and with the Nook and Kindle leading the way this one really came down to personal preference. However there was a winner chosen after much wailing and nashing of teeth.

Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama – The Amazon Kindle came out victorious but only by a SLIM slim margin. The women preferred the Amazon Kindle Fire with its vibrant col-

Philadelphia’s Best Kept

ors and depth of selections as an E-Reader. The huge amount of options this device can recognize was tremendous and the 7” screen made reading a breeze.

Honorable Mention – Fitness category This last category was a toss up as I asked the women about their New Years Resolution and most of them said weight loss so I wrangled up a gadget and offered it up to them to see how it would appeal to them. The gadget was the Withings – WiFi Digital Body Scale. This device gives you a visual representation of your weight loss.

Plus you can track your progress online and upload your progress to your online secure account.

They didn’t have much time to play with this one but for the time they did have they recommended it.

Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama – Without being able to spend a ton of time with the device it is almost to tough pass judgment on it. From what I saw it really seem to keep the ladies interested and informed on how well they are doing with their weight loss goals.

The fact you can view the results online means you can keep up with your stats while you are away from home. Making the excuses very minimal on why they can’t keep up with their New Year’s Resolution.

So that is it folks. I learned, ok I tried to learn, how the other half thinks. Where as a guy I just narrow my option down to one thing and go right after it. The women all gave me a few reasons for each of their decisions. It was quite an interesting dynamic to try and see how the women would judge some of the gadgets when given all the price points and various other options.

Thanks for reading and as always feel free to check out my website TheTechnoFiles.com where I do my best to review some of the latest and unique Gadgets on the market and keep you up to date on the latest happenings in the Technology world.

Career Tips

By Lisa Morton

Why do some employers conduct telephone interviews?

Some employers conduct phone interviews to hear a candidate’s voice and demeanor over the phone. You can pick up a lot about a person’s personality by how they conduct themselves over the phone. Do they seem engaged in the conversation? Are they listening? You can tell by the answers they give and by the follow up questions they may have for the interviewer if they are present in the interview or if they are distracted.

How should I prepare for a phone interview?

You should prepare for a phone interview as you would for an in-person interview. Do your research on the company. Do your research on the person interviewing you. Prepare good, legitimate questions to ask the person interviewing you about the position and the expectations by the company for the candidate they hire. Enlist a family member or friend to mock interview you over the phone for practice and give you an honest critique of how you did and constructive criticism of what to improve or correct. Tape the conversation if you can and then listen to it so you can hear for yourself how you sound on the phone and see if you were engaged during the entire interview or if you faded out at times.

How should I dress for an interview?

I strongly suggest that every one invest in a good dark suit that fits properly. No sagging pants, no oversized jackets, no outrageous colors, no cleavage showing, no having to adjust yourself when you sit down or stand up, no oversized jewelry, no over accessorizing ( for women, if you have on more then 5 accessories you have on too much--leave the clanging bangles home...just my opinion) and not too much perfume/cologne. If you don’t own a suit and cannot get one in time for the interview then have a good pair of slacks/ pants/skirt, blazer, dress shirt/blouse/tie, classic dress shoe/pump.

Try your clothes on a few days before the interview (if possible) to make sure everything fits properly, is clean and ironed. This way if something needs to be replaced, laundered or dry cleaned then you have time to get it done.

When should I arrive for an interview?

You should arrive to your interview at least 15 minutes early. This gives you time to compose yourself if you are feeling nervous.

What are some questions that I should ask myself after an interview?

First and foremost, you should not be hard on yourself after an interview, it does not help to beat yourself up. After the interview you should ask yourself if you feel like you conveyed your desire for the job clearly. If there was one question in particular that you feel like you could have been more prepared for or if there was a question you were asked for the first time and you think you may not have given your best answer, then you may want to write down the question(s) and answer(s) practice in your next mock interview.

This way you will be ready in the event you are called back for another interview or for your next interview with another company.

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept

ou would think writing a story about someone that you know and love would be easy. I have hun-

dreds of memories of the man who was my father, yet his story began forty-five years before I was born.

Most of what I know about him was told to me through his own narrative. He loved telling me stories about when he was young, and his life before I was born. Luther Edward Jennings was not only my father; he was a man of many dimensions.

Luther Jennings was born in 1930 to Louise Jennings and Luther Jennings Sr. He grew up in the Germantown section of Philadelphia also known as “dog town�. It was a time when gang activity was prominent in the city. He was the youngest child of four, and remained a dutiful son to his ailing mother. He earned the nickname Lupie, which he was affectionately called by those who loved him. He lost both his parents within a week of each other at the age of twelve. My dad told me the story of how his mother had emphysema, and how he was with her up until the final moments before her death. Losing both his parents at an early age forced him to grow up fast. Feeling abandoned, and after being shifted around to multiple family members, he soon found his home in the military. He enlisted in the army, and he found the family he was longing for. He served not only in the Army, but

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also in the Air Force. My father traveled the world and lived in several countries. He was very proud of the engineering, and flight training he received while serving his country. My dad loved to tell

Philadelphia’s Best Kept

stories about all the places he lived and the people he met along the way. One place especially dear to his heart was Germany. He spoke the language and cooked authentic food. My dad was naturally athletic and he played several team sports. He was on a1955 Championship Softball team. My dad lived in a different time than I. This was evident because he played football with a leather helmet, and he also experienced racism and was subjugated by laws that no longer exist today. In spite of these experiences, my dad was forever the optimist. He served alongside men of many different races and religions, and he called these men his friends.

my father everywhere, even into the bathroom. I always felt safe whenever he was around and I would call for him whenever I felt sick or scared. He called me his shadow, because I stayed so close to him. My dad and I were very close and he and I spent a lot of quality time together. He was known for his rugged masculinity that coexisted with his sensitivity and charm. It didn’t take long to be captivated by this rare creature. My father had bragging rights from his boxing days and yet he could cry at a television commercial that touched his heart. He taught me how to read music, how to play sports and how to cut hair. My dad was a practicing Muslim man and he taught me to love God. He and I would read the Qur’an together and we would have debates about the world and current events. Our relationship surpassed one of father and daughter; he was my hero, and friend. In my thirty-five years as his child, I have enough memories to fill a book.

The last memory of my father, and one I will never forget, took place on December 17th 2010. I held his hand as long as I could, and I was there with him up until his last moments in this world. My father’s legacy is that of service, and spirituality. He loved God, his family, and his country. He gave back until the day he left this earth, and he continues through the works of his children and grandchildren.

Once my father was honorably discharged, he came home to his family that began to grow. He sought employment with at risk youth who had gotten into trouble. He worked at the Youth Study Center, with all kinds of young men, from murderers and gang members to petty thieves and drug dealers. He earned the respect and trust of these young men, because he had a background that was similar to theirs, and he represented the hope that they could be reformed. In a fifty year span, my father wore many career hats. He eventually worked for the city of Philadelphia, in the division of DHS. He retired from the city, but continued to work at a senior facility as the Director of Recreation. When he was sixty-two, he relocated from Philadelphia to Huntsville Alabama.

My earliest memories of my father begin when I was around three years old. I used to follow

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Home Away from Home

On August 19, 2011, I departed the United States for a trip that would include visits to South Korea and North Korea. Despite a bad start — a delayed flight and lost luggage, the trip was great. I spent eight days in South Korea and eight days in North Korea. Booking the tour to South Korea was difficult, as there are very few travel agencies offering tours to South Korea. As a single, African-American senior citizen, I found the tours to be pricey; not because I was African-American, but because I was traveling as “a single”.

The trip to North Korea was easier to book. Global Exchange, a reality tour group based in San Francisco, sponsored the trip. I have travelled with them many times. Their tours are excellent and allow one to meet and talk with various indigenous groups, individuals, businessmen, political activists and, sometimes, politicians. I have travelled with eGlobal Exchange to Iran, Northern Ireland, Syria, Lebanon, Uganda, Cuba, Venezuela and many other places. If you are really looking to learn more about a country and to get an in depth experience, as well as another perspective about what is going on, other than that which is propagandized by the US corporate media, Global Exchange is the best choice of tour groups.

I stayed in a hotel in the Itaewon district of South Korea. It is a tourist haven— a variety of shops, hotels and restaurants. In North Korea, I was housed at the Yanggakdo International Hotel that is situated on a small island; there is nowhere to go and nothing to do. This is a forty story building built exclusively for foreigners. I met many people from all over the world — including other Americans. The hotel was practically full. There is a great deal of interest about North Korea as seen by the number of people at this hotel.

There were marked differences between the two countries. I had complete freedom of movement in South Korea. I travelled alone by train from Seoul to Gyeonggju where a driver picked me up at the station and took me to my first tour sight, the Bulguksa Temple, where I met my tour guide. My historical and cultural tour of Korea had begun. Over the next seven days I had several guide who were all proficient in English. The North Korean guides, Mr. Kim and Mr. Cha, stayed with us throughout our tour. We were instructed to take pictures only when permitted. We could not take pictures of military installations, personnel, trucks, or convoys; nor could we take close up pictures of people without their permission. This was understandable and is a common practice in many countries. Most North Koreans were shy and didn’t want their pictures taken.

In Gyeognggju, as in other cities, I joined other Americans and English-speaking individuals that were on tour. In Gyeognggju, Bussan and Seoul I visited many historical sites, including Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, Royal Tumuli Park, Gyeognggju National Museum, Busan Tower, Jagalchi Fishery Market, Nampodong Shopping Street, UN Memorial Cemetery, The Korean Folk Village, Gyeongbok Palace, and the Folklore Museum. The Korean Folk Village and the Folklore Museum were the most interesting and I really enjoyed them.

The guide, and my fellow travelers, in both countries, were surprised at my knowledge of Korean history and culture. Thank goodness for the Korean dramas on Philadelphia’s television station Channel 35. I watch them religiously, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go to Korea. The dramas are very good and much better than most of the junk currently seen on television. I have been watching them for over five years and have learned a few Korean words.

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Among the historical and cultural sites visited in North Korea was Mangyongdae (birth place of Kim Il Sung), Bongsu Church (Christian Church), Tower of Juche Idea, the American spy ship, “Pueblo”, a cooperative farm, Victorious Fatherland and Liberation War Museum and the tomb of Dong Myong King. We went to Guryong Waterfall, but, unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the waterfall because my legs couldn’t take the climb. I went halfway and turned around; however, I enjoyed the gift museum. It was amazing to see all of the gifts sent by various heads of states, wealthy businessmen, dignitaries and groups to President Kim Il Sung and his son. Among the gifts were luxury cars, furniture, and musical instruments — just to name a few. It was quite impressive.

In both Koreas, the cultural sites are restored or are in the process of being restored. The Japanese either destroyed most of the original buildings during their occupation or they were destroyed during the wars. There are several UNESCO world cultural sites in both areas; most are within North Korea, but both sides are trying to preserve their cultural heritage.

I visited the DMZ on both sides. The South Korean side of the DMZ was heavily guarded and we were restricted in what we could do and see. I was taken down one of four tunnels built under the DMZ by North Korea. Picture taking was extremely limited. We were forbidden from taking pictures in the tunnel or in the room where the two sides had met. We were not allowed to converse with any of the soldiers.

The visit to the DMZ on the North Korean side was just the opposite.

We were allowed to take pictures freely. Cameras from the South Korean side could be easily seen. Our pictures are probably on their security camera tape. We conversed freely with the North Korean military personnel at the DMZ as they were very friendly and joined us for a cup of coffee. They talked about reunification and peace. It was the highlight of my trip. The chance of reunification is a dream and is not likely to happen in this lifetime. Kim IL Sung (KIS) and his son’s ideas differ greatly from that of the South. The Kims propose two separate autonomous states held together by an ineffective national government, while South Korea wants a strong federal type of government.

I was free to take unlimited pictures in South Korea and I had many opportunities to speak with some Koreans that I met who spoke limited English. As I stated before, South Koreans were very open. The young people dressed similarly to the young people in the states. Their skirts and dresses were extremely short and they wore shorts and pants. I didn’t notice the men wearing shorts, but they were wearing the latest fashions; however, I didn’t see anyone in South Korea wearing a traditional hanbok.

In stark contrast to South Korea, North Korean men and women dressed very conservatively. Women wore mostly skirts, dresses, or trousers of modest length. Men, for the most part, wore shirts and ties and I noticed that a few were in suits. All were modestly dressed—no shorts or mini skirts. Their clothing was generally dark — blues, browns, light color beiges — nothing bright or colorful. The traditional hanbok can be more readily seen in North Korea than in South Korea. I learned that hanboks are only worn on special occasions and are not for everyday wear. The only women I saw wearing them everyday were museum tour guides. We were told that hanboks are theirs work uniform. They are extremely beautiful and very colorful.

In South Korea, there are numerous restaurants and an abundance of fast food places. Kimchi, the national food, is served everywhere.

I ate it sparingly, not because it wasn’t good, but, because it was too spicy for me and spicey foods tend to upset my stomach. Kimchi has a nice taste so I ate it, occasionally, by mixing it with rice. Many Korean dishes are spicy, so I had to be careful. Malls, shopping centers, department stores, huge office buildings and complexes abound in South Korea and it houses the world’s largest department store, Shinsegae.

There were some fast food places in North Korea and all were government-controlled. The owners are basically employees of the state. In Pyongyang, there were a few malls; no large department stores, office buildings or complexes. Nearly all of the huge building structures were hotels or residential/apartment complexes. Most businesses seemed to occupy the first floor and none of them occupied an entire structure.

Kimchi was plentiful and it tasted different from that of South Korea.

(Continued on page 59...)

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Home Away from Home

hen you say “philharmonic orchestra”, the first thoughts that usually come to most people’s minds are the names Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky and, of course, elevator music. However, after listening to Atlanta’s African American Philharmonic and Jazz Orchestra, you may want to add the names of James Brown, Duke Ellington, Luther Vandross and Count Basie to that distinguished list. These multitalented musicians can play it all.

They’ve performed for Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Bishop Tutu, The Trumpet Awards, Former Ambassador Andrew Young, Muhammad Ali and the African Delegation for the 1996 Olympics — just to name a few.

Their first performance, in 1990, at the Atlanta Civic Center was attended by 4,000 people and included sixty-five orchestra members, 120 voices comprised of ten church choirs and the Morris Brown College Choir. Coretta Scott King, Maynard Jackson, Jesse Hill and the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery were just some of the Atlanta luminaries that attended their debut.

Founded on February 12, 1988 by John T. Peek, his wife Carrie Whaley Peek and musician Tommy Stewart, the African American Philharmonic Orchestra (AAPO) was formed to provide a showcase for professional musicians and composers of African American descent within the Atlanta area. According to a 1986 article by the Rockefeller Foundation, there were only 186 black musicians in the entire country who were qualified to participate in major orchestras.

At the time the AAPO was founded, there were only four all-black orchestras in the country and at least one, or no more than two, black musicians were playing in most major orchestras.

The AAPO provides a performance venue for the presentation of musicians that would, otherwise, be denied the opportunity to perform in fully staged orchestra concerts. The musicians are experts on their respective instruments. Each member has auditioned and has been

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carefully selected to build an orchestra that exhibits a complete range of artistry on the featured contemporary, classical, jazz, and gospel works. It was founded under the umbrella of Music South Corporation to respond to the musical needs and interests of the metropolitan Atlanta community.

John T. Peek, founder and conductor of the AAPO, has been a musician for over sixty years. He became interested in playing the trumpet at a very young age because his father was a trumpet player and he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. John has always thought of himself as a leader and formed his first band at the age of fifteen while he was still in high school. During the summers of his junior and senior years in high school, he toured with The Carolina Cotton Pickers and played with greats like Sara Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine.

Home Away from Home

I rode the subway in both countries. The South Korean subway system is very good having modern trains and several subway lines.

In contrast, North Korea’s subway system is archaic; having much older trains, only two lines and appears to be non-existent in the rural areas. Most people rely on walking, bicycling, or hitchhiking.

Many South Koreans are Christians and Koreans divide them into two groups — Catholics and Protestants. This took me aback because I thought they all were Christians. I didn’t visit a church while in South Korea. In North Korea, the practice of religion is permitted, however, it is state-controlled. We visited Bongsu Christian Church in North Korea but no denomination was mentioned.

It was a beautiful church in a nice government building. The choir wore beautiful hanboks, as well as the female congregants. The men were dressed in shirt and tie or suits. I felt as if I was watching a stage production rather than a genuine service. We also went to Buddhist a temple where we saw a few monks. Buddhist monks are allowed to marry and have children. There were no mosques.

Kim Il Sung’s image is everywhere. Every household and every building that we visited had his and his son’s pictures on the walls.

Huge statues of Kim Il Sung are all over the country. When visiting his memorial where he lies in state, everyone (visitors and Koreans) must bow three times —once on the right side of his body, once on the left side of his body and at his feet. Also, you must bow before his statue in the gift museum. His images are everywhere! In photos that he took with groups of people (workers, children, citizens), they are always smiling and singing the praises of Kim Il Song, The “Il” in his name means “son”. “Kim Il Sung” is considered the “Son of the Nation” and “Kim Jong Il”, the “Right Son.” North Koreans are attempting to spread Sung’s philosophy of “Juche” around the world. We visited the Tower of Juche where plaques praising “Juche” were displayed on the wall. They were presented to Kim Il Sung by organizations from around the world. In essence, this philosophy states that ”Man is his own destiny” and stresses self-reliance.

One of the most beautiful events to see was Arirang, aka the Mass Games, that is held annually. This year it was from August 1st to October 10th. The performance recounted Korea’s history from the Japanese occupation to the present day, glorifying the economic achievements of Kim Il Sung and his son. Men, women and children of all ages perform and at least 100,000 people participate in this event. Nearly 30,000 children create huge mosaic pictures by holding up colored cards. It’s amazing to see how they constantly change the scenes using these cards.

Traditional dances and gymnastic events are performed and are well choreographed. It’s an extremely colorful and well-coordinated event.

I enjoyed my trip very much and learned a great deal. Some of my views regarding both countries have been changed. I think I now have a more positive perspective and a greater knowledge about South and North Korea.

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Philadelphia’s Best Kept

Q&A with actress, writer and filmmaker Keena Ferguson Former The Ohio State University student, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc and native of Jefferson City, Mo. Native is doing it way big. Urban Suburban Magazine had an opportunity to ask Keena a few questions.

Q. Tell me about Brown Betties? Who are the team members?

What made you create this group?

The Brown Betties are a burlesque group made up of sophisticated, sassy and sultry ladies performing a cabaret show called Harlem’s Night….A Bedtime Story. The members of the Brown Betties are Peppur Chambers, Danielle Lewis, Christy Gamble, Marliss Ameia and myself. Peppur created and wrote the show and over the years it has grown and shaped itself with all of our input. All of us have become producers of the show in some way and we continually mold it to become better and better. It is set in the 1940s and it is a show like you have never seen.

Q. How often do you perform and where?

We perform at various venues in LA and we tour as well.

Q. What film project are you currently working on? When will it be finalized?

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I am currently shooting a film called Red Line that will be released later this year. I have a film titled Consinsual that was just released that is doing very well and I have a film called Poolboy: Drowning out the Fury that was just in Cannes Film Festival and will be released later this year as well.

Q. What do you miss about Ohio State University?

Oh man, I absolutely love The Ohio State University. I miss the

Philadelphia’s Best Kept people and all the new friends I would constantly meet. I miss the energy of a bustling University with so much diversity and culture and the interesting things that could happen everyday.

I miss walking the campus and always knowing I was a part of something special being a Buckeye. I actually became an ambassador for the University and I loved every minute of it.

Q. What is your fitness regime?

I like to change it up so I don’t get bored. I go hiking in the canyons out here in LA, I love yoga, I go to the gym, I take spinning classes, I ride bikes on the beach. I

Q. What excites you the most writing or filmmaking?

Oh acting definitely. I still don’t consider myself a writer although I wrote a short film that did very well. I wrote that film so I could use it as a platform for my acting but being a performer is what I love.

Q. What was the most frustrating part of acting?

That’s a loaded question. Its different things at any given moment but I think it’s the fact that there is no rhyme or reason of why you may or may not get a part. Not knowing what you can do to improve or what you did wrong is very frustrating. The business is so fickle from day to day and there is usually no explanation for it. You have to just keep pushing forward. Not having control over your career is frustrating. No matter how well you do in the room it is still up to someone else to decide if you will get hired and sometimes its nothing you did wrong. Acting has no guidelines or rule books it just is and if you love it and I mean really love it, then no matter what you will keep pressing forward until you get it.

Q. What are some of your most recent projects?

I wrapped two features at the end of last year that will be released this year; the thriller Red Line and the romantic dramedy Back Then. Also, Poolboy: Drowning out the Fury which screened at the Cannes Film Festival was released in February and is doing extremely well in the US and internationally.

I also produced The Marriage Chronicles and had a cameo in that film that was released on Valentine’s Day. Currently, I begin shooting a new film called Daughter of Fortune that I am super excited about as it is a period piece set in the 1950s.

just make sure I get a good workout in 3-5 times a week.

Its important for my body but also my mind and spirit.

Q. What did you learn from working with a veteran like Clifton Powell?

It was actually pretty simple what I learned: I learned that when

Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Hmmmm best advice? I know there are so many things but I love quotes so I can tell you some great quotes that I love and use to remind myself of whenever I get frustrated. *You don’t have to be great to get started but you do have to get started to be great! *You are enough just as you are *No one can be a better you than you; so be the best version of yourself and never try to be someone else because then the world misses out on you. *Many of life’s failures are people who didn’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up!

Q. Who would you love to work with in the future?

Wow !!! There are so many people. Denzel, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr, Annette Benning, Meryl Streep, Rachel McAdams, Phylicia Rashad, Idris Elba, Daniel Day Lewis, Clint Eastwood…the list could get long.

I love being an actress and I respect and love people who believe in their craft and artistry. I want to work with people who share the same passion and bring magic to the screen.

you are confident in your craft as an actor and you always show up doing a good job you will keep working in this business.

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Music

By March 1, Philadelphia Police logged 160 violent incidents in the area around 58th & Greenway in Southwest Philadelphia. Cold facts like these make it an area of the city least likely to be one of the regions burgeoning incubators for entertainment & innovation. But the best surprises always come where you least expect to find them.

At least, that’s what Dub Mugga and his growing entertainment firm Sowell Records believes. “We don’t call ourselves the best, other people do”, reads the company’s tagline, one that so far is more reality than braggadocio.

He barely looks old enough to get behind the wheel of a car legally, but at age 19, Dub Mugga (slang for Money), already has the confidence that a veteran producer, performer, and principal of his own entertainment conglomerate needs to make serious change in Hollywood and beyond, starting from this small corner of Southwest Philly. The Masterman High Graduate is a 3-time certified audio engineer, rapper, singer, producer, and model. He makes company not with the neighborhood girls (“I put them on pause”, he says) but chooses rather to spend his time with Diggy Simmons, Juelz Santana, State Property and other music greats.

But how does a kid from the wrong side of town find himself on the right side of the entertainment business?

“You can find me in my bedroom mostly”, says Mugga with confidence as we walk into a room that looks and feels more like recording studio. It’s complete with a full-sized audio mixer, multiple large screens, and enough digital equipment that would make even the most accomplished music producer a bit jealous. By the way, there was room for a twin bed on which he sat down and invited me to begin my interview from his high-backed leather producer’s swivel chair.

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Instead of telling me stories about making videos for BET, being featured on a host of his own series of mix tapes, and wowing crowds from Temple University to Showtime at the Apollo, Dub Mugga began with stories about his family, achievement, and the early expectation they would all grow and flourish together. At the age of five, he began playing drums in the Final Touch Band, a popular solo group comprised of his father and younger sister that continued to perform until last year when his sister left home to begin pre-medical studies at West Chester University. Growing up, mom Pearl never allowed the Sowell Children to run the streets. Instead she brought progress to the porch. Beginning with the home brood, Pearl began teaching full lessons in math, English, and every subject she could from their front porch.

“When their friends would duck me, I would go knock on their doors to make sure they came over” she recalled. While they lost track of some friends as they continued to grow beyond the porch, Pearl ensured that achievement remained front and center of her children’s lives.

She’s most proud of Dub Mugga’s perfect attendance record at Masterman High. “True perfect attendance” she exclaimed, “He was never late, never absent, not even once”. Astonished at this record, I asked how she was able to keep a growing teenager in line “He had no choice, I made sure that I volunteered at the school.

There was no excuse to cut, since I was working there also”.

To this day, Dub Mugga and his Mom remain especially close. In fact, she was the one who encouraged him to use his creative talent to form the company Sowell Records in January 2012.

Just 11 days after incorporating the business, they were casting nearly 30 extras for the upcoming film “Must be the Music” starring Charles Dutton, Tasha Smith, and Clifton Powell.

Current projects in the works for the bourgeoning company include producing an upcoming reality television series, and, of course, promoting the records. Not only does Dub Mugga produce his own recordings, but he oversees a cadre of 8 international artists, including a rapper from Moscow.

“My goal in life is to be successful, and live life to the fullest every step of the way”, says the young mogul. But even as he aspires to change the world, he won’t forget to give back where he came from. He and his mother are planning to use the early profits from Sowell Records to build an even bigger incubator, one that can accommodate the developing talents of all of the children. It will be built by transforming an abandoned building, fittingly located on the corner of 58th and Greenway, in Southwest Philadelphia.

RVSP by registering for the workshop at gblackmon@urbansuburbanfilmfestival.com; Cost $75.00 paid via paypal www.urbansuburbanfilmfestival.com

Learning for Life hungry now, but you chose not to eat when we were having supper….”. Be consistent. Yes, you can make that happen while being loving and firm. The child will easily survive missing one meal, and it will probably take only one missed meal for a lesson to be learned. For sleeping purposes, a small glass of milk and, maybe a cracker, could be offered, with compassion, before bedtime.

On The Home Front - Going To Bed. During childhood, adequate sleep has many advantages later on in life as well. Make bedtime a ritual. First, set the stage by having quiet time. Lower the lights and, maybe, play soft music for a while. Second, get the child involved in making the bedtime ritual. Allow the child to help with making a list of “Things People Do To Get Ready For Bed” and then help with prioritizing the list. Without overdoing it, you can help your child understand that he, or she, has done something important. Having the child sign the list and hanging it in the room helps to solidify the importance of his those actions and creates feelings of ownership — a feeling that will be recognized when he, or she, is actually old enough to take ownership.

Going Go School - Organization. Ways to make getting out the door in the mornings less stressful:

Parenting is certainly in the running for being the most inconvenient job! Here are some suggestions to help make it as workable and pleasant for you, and everyone, as possible.

Be Consistent. Give Consequences. Follow Through. The trick is to be an authoritative parent. Take authority and stay in control of the situation. Be the parent who helps your child to control himself. We don’t need to believe that children are to be seen and not heard; nor do our children need for us to be their good friend.

Our children need a good leader. They need structure, they need guidelines, they need consistency, and they need all of this from a loving, friendly, yet firm, adult. As inappropriate behavior is being dismantled, personal dignity must be built up. An example of this would be, “We had to leave the museum because your behavior was unsafe. I know you will control it better next time, because you are a strong person.”

Choices. As the adult in your child’s life, you make the choices having to do with health, education and your child’s welfare.

Your child should be able to make choices, with limits, that are set by an adult. For example, tell the child that they are wearing socks, but allow the child to choose the color. Tell the child that it’s cold outside and allow the child to choose to wear mittens or gloves.

On The Home Front - Table Expectations. It’s your home, not a restaurant in which “the customer’s always right”; nor does the customer get to come in at anytime and expect to be seated. Simply state, “This is our meal time. When we finish, the table will be cleared, the food will be put away, and the kitchen will close. We won’t be eating again until breakfast. If you eat now, you’ll not be hungry later; but if you choose to play instead of eat, you’ll sure get hungry before breakfast.” If the child chooses to not eat at that time and returns later, follow through with, “Yes, I’m sure you are

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• Allow the child to choose between two outfits and lay it out the night before.

• Lunches should be made the night before.

• Make the rules that getting dressed and eating breakfast must be done before anything else.

• Walk out the door by a certain time. This helps the child develop an “inner rhythm”.

If necessary, the child can go school in PJ’s. Believe me, they’ve seen it before at school.As far as your child is concerned, it won’t happen again.

Outings: Be Democratic and Set Boundaries. When taking children along, make sure there’s something for everyone. Before arriving, set boundaries and make it clear that rules must be followed— for safety, and for the consideration of others — and if they are not followed, there will be consequences. If you are at a place that the child enjoys, leave without negotiating. You might say something like, “I’m really sorry, but you chose to not follow the rules.

We’ll have to come back another day when you’re ready to follow the rules.” You may have to pick him, or her, up while kicking and screaming, but it’s OK—it’s what they do. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking—they’re probably admiring you.

Good luck with your friendly, but firm, tone. Remember that when children learn that “yes means yes and no means no”, they will be much happier.

Learning for Life

Imbako Public Health Promotes Use Of The Rocket-Stove As An Energy-Efficient & EnvironmentFriendly Mode of Fuel Consumption in Rural Kenya Environmental degradation is one of the main concerns of Kenya’s ecosystem. Cutting down trees for firewood and for charcoal for fuel, combined with the lack of tree replanting, leads to the depletion of the much needed forests. Communities in rural Kenya are highly dependent on the use of wood and charcoal as fuel for daily living conditions — cooking, heating and construction — and are more vulnerable to the effects of environmental degradation.

To date, several programs are being employed by various communities to help reduce the direct effects of environmental degradation. These programs include, but are not limited to, (1) public education on the importance of the preservation of forests, (2)initiatives aimed at rewarding continued tree planting in communities, (3)distribution of tree saplings to communities, and (4)the promotion, and subsequent adoption of, environmentally friendly modes of fuel consumption; for example, the rocket stove.

The rocket stove is a mode of combustion that is used as an alternative to the traditional wood and charcoal fires that are typically used in the communities in rural Kenya. This rocket stove uses less wood than a traditional open fire, can burn smaller diametered materials, produces less pollution and can be easily constructed from low-cost materials, enabling it to be well suited for use in the rural communities. It is currently being used for cooking, as well as space and water heating. One of its main advantages is the reduced exposure to the combustion fumes of the source of fuel.

In an effort to promote an energy-efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of fuel consumption in rural Kenya, Imbako Public Health, held a workshop on the construction and

use of the rocket stove in Sitatunga, Kitale, a rural town in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Residents were afforded demonstrations on the construction of the stove from the use of locally available materials, and were educated on the benefits of use of the stove over the traditional wood and charcoal fires. The project coordinators also pointed out the enhanced safety and hygiene that the rocket stove provides to the immediate users.

We learned that exposure to combustion fumes is a health hazard that has devastating effects on the human body. In rural areas, women who are the homemakers are constantly exposed to these fumes as they perform their household chores. By using the rocket stove, which affords less exposure to combustion fumes, Imbako Public Health hopes to enable the reduction of risk of exposure to these fumes and, therefore, contributes toward better health for the woman, her household and also towards a cleaner environment. In order to further enlighten communities and policy makers on the benefits of the use of the rocket stove, Imbako will conduct research on the association of exposure to combustion fumes and the development of cataracts in women in rural areas.

Imbako Public Health is a non-profit organization based in Kenya and the USA that strives to allay disparities in healthcare, education and the environment in communities in rural Kenya. Sustainability in environment is one of the three core areas of the organization’s operations, with healthcare and education as the other two core areas.

For more pictures of the workshop on the promotion of the use of the rocket stove, please visit the Imbako Face Book page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/ ?set=a.369081599969.54670.75315759969&l=89c72381e3&typ

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He Say She Say receiving). My girl is terrified and feels it’s for whores. Is this something that most women are against or secretly want to do? How can I convince her to let me in the backdoor?

Signed, Let Me In!

Dear Ava, My boyfriend has become obsessed with the idea of a threesome. We have been in a monogamous relationship for 3 years and he wants to “try new things”. Should I be outraged at the suggestion or simply insist on another man rather than woman? Are there any restrictions when involving a third party?

Signed, The More The Merrier?

I LOVE the idea of a threesome of me and two men. But let’s be honest, when a man suggests a threesome he is thinking only of himself and being with two women. When considering threesomes it needs to be something you BOTH want. Are you ok with him having sex with another woman? Will you see yourself differently if you enjoy being touched by a woman?

Girl-on-girl action is a BIG part of your man’s fantasy. Is he willing to invite another man into the room for your enjoyment as well? Would you WANT that? And don’t just defensively say no.

THINK about it and BE HONEST with yourself and with him. On the flip side, can you handle it? Once the night is over and you have both come down off your sexual high, will you look at him the same? Will you believe him when he says he loves you?

All these questions will NEED to be answered and thoroughly before moving forward.

Sadly Merrier, I feel threesomes are best left OUT of loving relationships. Although not PC I think it’s best to experience threesomes with someone in a strictly sexual relationship or an affair. YES, an affair! This way no one gets mad about what the other person is doing. No one goes home crying because he / she seemed to enjoy the other person more than they enjoyed each other. This adventure is best reserved for two people who are not in love or looking to be anything more than physical. Intercourse, blow jobs, etc are all fair game. Once real emotions get involved it gets tricky. People say they can deal with it but they can’t. Who wants to see their man enter another woman? And I have yet to meet a man who is cool with just the thought of a man having sex with his woman. They can barely handle thinking about you being with an ex!

I think it’s a bad idea. ‘Try new things’ that will bring you closer together sexually rather than possibly make the initial rip in tearing you apart. If it becomes a bigger issue, then you should consider the depth of his ‘love’ and yours. A man who truly loves you would NEVER suggest a threesome. The mere suggestion is a red flag in the distance denoting the end of your relationship.

Choose wisely, Ava Dear Ava, I am not gay and do not think about having sex with men but lately I have been dying to try anal sex (giving, not

Anal sex is a tough one (no pun intended). You are not alone.

Most guys want it. Men are quick to ‘accidentally’ poke us in the ass but let us get CLOSE to your nether regions and all of a sudden you’re standing upright butt clenched TIGHT. Asses are anatomically the same. Blindfolded, no grabbing of hips, would you be able to tell what that ass is attached to? NO! It all boils down to trust. Do some research. Don’t embarrass or pressure her. Find an article that describes it as ‘mind blowing’. Know what to do and HOW to do it cause make no mistake, it IS gonna hurt! Take your TIME and USE LUBRICANT! It’s COMPLETELY her choice. She makes the rules for her body. Just know this decision will be made on a case by case, (or penis by penis) basis... cause size will most certainly matter.

Good Luck!

Ava Dear Ava, As a women in my sexual prime (42), how can I be sexually satisfied without resorting to young guns? My boyfriend CANNOT keep up! How can I have a great relationship with still be satisfied sexually? I’m struggling to stay faithful and happy with the current state of affairs. Can you help?

Signed, Falling Short Oh Falling Short, I have wondered the same thing. First – talk to him. He will not listen or believe you because TRUST, he thinks he is ‘putting it down’ (and maybe he is), but still let him know how you feel. Suggest cardio for stamina and weight lifting for...lifting your weight (cause we all love to be properly tossed). And after all of that just know...NONE OF IT WILL HELP OR MATTER! A man being in shape helps with stamina, but it has NOTHING to do with the stamina of his penis. DID YOU HEAR THAT?!

Let me say that ONE MORE TIME: A man can be in the BEST PHYSICAL SHAPE OF HIS LIFE (6 pack, and all) and his 40+ yr old penis will NOT reflect it! He STILL will not be able to keep up with you!

This is why I firmly believe women in their 40′s are SEXUAL PERFECTION for a man in HIS prime at 21-30. All the running, hiking, climbing, and lifting IN THE WORLD will change NOTHING below the waist for your man. His penis will always scream ‘I’m 42 and this chick is trying to kill me’! Nurture your age appropriate relationship fully, and get your cougar on in your spare time. Yes, I just encouraged you to seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere! Face it - he will NEVER be able to keep up.

Your prime will not last forever so go with it! What do you think our boyfriends did during THEIR prime? What’s good for the goose...

Get yours and STOP falling short!

Ava Feel free to email question or comments to Ava at AvaG.Black@gmail.com

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Money Minutes

he year 2012 is upon us, and it’s a year filled with hope, optimism, and opportunities! Many people started off this year by telling themselves they are going to do things differently financially — get out of debt, increase savings, or achieve some other financial goal.

To make your thoughts and goals happen, you have to take measurable and sustained action! The good news is that if you haven’t started yet, or you are not pleased with your progress so far, it’s not too late to step up to the plate!

There are two small, but important, steps that can be taken now, to start having more money in 2012, and beyond, and can start achieving some of your financial goals. First, remove every credit card from your wallet. When you are out and about — anywhere within one or two hours of your home — leave all of your credit cards at home! Keeping credit cards with you is simply temptation to buy something you don’t need or cannot afford to pay for with cash. However, if an emergency comes up while you are out, you are within only two hours of home and friends and family members are close enough to come and assist you. If you are concerned about flat tires and other possible car issues, contact your auto insurance company to see how much it costs to add roadside assistance to your policy. You may also want to stop any online credit card purchases.

If you know you lack self-control, freeze your credit cards in a large container of water. By the time the block of ice around your cards unthaws, hopefully you will have refocused on the importance of your financial goals and overcome the impulsive urge to spend!

The second action to take right now is to discover exactly where all of your money goes – beginning today! Buy a small notebook and keep it in your pocket or purse. Every time you spend money, whether it’s as inexpensive as a gumball from a machine or a big expense such as your rent or mortgage payment, write it down in your notebook.

At the end of every week, review all of your spending and expenses listed in your notebook. First, you want to identify, and then learn from, any spending patterns you see. Next, you are looking for opportunities to make adjustments that will allow you to spend less in the next week. Examples of what you might find include spending $5 each day for breakfast on the way to work — which adds up to $25 per week and $100 per month.

This adjustment could be as simple as getting up fifteen minutes earlier to have breakfast at home or make breakfast to take with you. You might see, in your notebook, money that is being spent on books and magazines that are available at your local library for free; or giving your children an allowance and then spend-

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ing your money on things they should buy with their allowance.

When you make adjustments to your spending, use half of the money you are saving to pay down your bills or put it toward one of your goals. Put the other half into a separate savings account so that you build up your emergency fund or your retirement fund.

It’s best to transfer the money you are saving from your adjustments into your savings account on a daily or weekly basis. This will help ensure sure that you don’t spend it on something else!

Use the notebook for at least 60 days in order to track what you spend – and you want to get started today. You can staple a few sheets of paper together until you get your notebook. Procrastination and excuses are two negative actions that help keep your wallet empty!

Everyone in your home, ages fifteen and up, should have their own notebook and should be writing down their spending!Yes – kids need to learn about money long before they leave home at eighteen years of age!

Go to my website for free resources to help everyone in your family learn more about money. If you follow these two simple steps, you will have more money in 2012!

About the Author: Jennifer S. Matthews is a noted author, motivational speaker, and is trained as a financial coach. She is the author of the award-winning book 12 Ways to Put Money in Your Pocket Every Month Without A Part Time Job. The book shows readers how to create hundreds of dollars in cash every month from within their existing income. Visit Jennifer online at www.MoneySmartBook.com and sign up for her newsletter. While on the website, you can also purchase her book, take advantage of free downloads, and much more.

I recently had a chance to ask Evan a few questions. Interview by Anthony “AJ” Johnson Styling With (Rafael Flores) greeneyedmediainc@gmail.com Q. Tell us about 23rd & Union. What’s it about? Why should we go see it?

“23rd & Union” is a docu-drama about the 2008 Philly’s Best Murder in Seattle, Washington. A young African-American man murders an Ethiopian restaurant owner (Degene Berecha) because he struggles to cope with the pressures of gentrification and racial profiling in Seattle’s Central District. The restaurant owner was my good friend and I also knew the convicted murderer (Rey Davis-Bell) when I was in high school.

You should go see the film because it shows you a side of Seattle that most people never knew existed and raises awareness about the fact that gentrification is a health issues that negatively impacts the mental health of displaced people. More and more regularly, this displacement can foster a territorial complex that leads to violence like the murder of my friend, Degene. The CDC and the Morehouse School of Medicine are publishing all of the research I conducted for the film in a textbook about gentrification. They are using “23rd & Union” as a case study for Seattle. Aesthetically, “23rd & Union” is unlike and other film you have seen because it uses experimental techniques to weave real interviews with fictional characters to investigate how racial profiling, competition for space and resources can lead young men of color to commit hates crime against immigrants and gay couples. I think the film is appealing because it speaks to every person who struggles to achieve the American dream and ends up taking out there frustration on “others “who often share the same struggle. In essence the film operates as a laboratory to examine how community filmmaking can operate as a therapeutic exercise that helps us move on from collective traumas. During the premiere in Seattle, we sold out two shows because it was received so well and generated so much discussion.

Q. This film was in the Urban Suburban Film Festival. How was that experience? Did you get a chance to see any other films?

Unfortunately I could not make the festival, I was shooting a feature film back in Seattle.

Q. You write, produce, and direct, which one was your first love?

I started writing rap lyrics in fifth grade and I come from a family of Chicano writers. So I am better at writing, but I love to direct and make music more. Kind of like how I love to play basketball, but I am better at soccer.

Q. What are you currently working on? Can we expect something to come out soon?

I am currently working on two documentaries. The first is

titled, “The Blank Canvas” and it is a feature length documentary about Hip-Hop culture’s legacy and struggle for representation in Seattle. I conducted 6 years of research and interviewed over 100 rappers, producers, DJ’s, gaffitti artists, disk-jockeys, break-dancers, fashion designers and promoters to document the unique identity of Hip-Hop culture in Seattle. The film investigates the origins of the culture in the late 1970’s, the legacy of Sir-Mix-a-Lot, the notorious 1985 Teen Dance Ordinance, ClearChannel’s dominance over commercial Hip-Hop radio, the increasing popularity of white rappers in Seattle and the independent artists struggle for representation in a seemingly liberal city.

The second film I am working on is a historical documentary titled “The Repatriation”. It is an experimental political essay about the unconstitutional deportation of my American-born grandmother and my family back to Mexico during “Operation Wetback” in the 1930’s. The story follows me as I escort my grandmother from Tijuana, Mexico to her birthplace in Orange County eighty seven years after she was born. Through this process I learn that the town she was born in has been erased, similar to the history of this embarrassing incident in American history.

Q. Walk us through a day in Rafael Flores shoes.

I get up in the morning and I skip breakfast. I log into the various email accounts I have so I can maintain my Internet businesses. Next I start searching for freelance jobs, or if I have a teaching gig, I start preparing my lesson plan for my students.

For lunch I make a quesadilla or grab some fruit to munch on.

I start editing right away until it’s time for dinner (Ahh, the life of a starving artist…hahaha). After that, I sit down and write, or work a song. I don’t sleep until two or three in the morning.

Q. Is there any better feeling than seeing the finished version of your film?

Yes…getting a distribution deal so more people can see it.

Q. If you could sit down and have lunch with any director, who would it be?

I would sit down with Harry Gamboa, a an experimental Chicano filmmaker/activist from the 70’s, He is my hero.

Q. What do you think is going to be the next advancement in movies?

Increased batter life and memory storage.

This always helps documentary filmmakers who are out in the field.

Q. What did you want to be when you were a kid?

A Hip-Hop musician.

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