B.O.S.S. Issue 13 by B.O.S.S. Magazine Inc.

BOSS ISSUE 013

E-Magazine of Today’s Young Black Leaders

Be your Own Success Story

e v i clus

LeVar Burton Interview

”READING opens up a

A P R I L

RAINBO ” RAINBOW of opportunities...

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Dr. Steve Perry

ARCHIVED INTERVIEWS

Tony Gaskins

Ashthon Jones

Melinda Emerson Tellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;em You saw it in B.O.S.S.! @boss_emag

The Evolution of U

Bianca Knight

Warrick Dunn

Wendy Raquel Robinson

Urban Magazines

Lamman Rucker

Mission

Mission Statement

ur Mission is to provide minority, and underserved youth with an outlet to discover their potential through literary content and accessible role models to evoke the spirit of â&#x20AC;&#x153;believing in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selfâ&#x20AC;? while teaching them how to create, pursue and believe in the path of becoming a professional.

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The past month has been a roller coaster of emotions for the B.O.S.S. family and I with the unfortunate passing of my niece and writer, Lizzy. We live everyday as if we are going to live forever, but that is not always true. With her being so young, 19, as with any death, it brought up a lot of questions and forced us all to do some serious soul searching. Enduring pain and grief, we all had to move on. Yet, for me, it was an especially difficult thing to do. Being in this unfamiliar territory caused me to reevaluate everything. I was struggling everyday just to smile and doing work was unbelievably hard, sometimes.

I was taking pictures and doing mini interviews before the actual program started. When the program begun, I went into the school’s gymnasium and saw approximately 300 students in the bleachers screaming and excited about eduction, achievement, and positive success. It was electrifying! The cheers, smiles, joy and excitement reminded me of what all of this was about. Watching those students be excited about achieving and being successful in school was exhilarating for me. The most exciting thing about the program is that I saw Lizzy’s face on all the children smiling faces. This reminded me that helping the youth succeed is the real mission of B.O.S.S. E-magazine. Reaching just one, or two, or even thousands matters the same if they are encouraged to push towards their positive future. I didn’t speak to any of the children, or interact in any way, but I didn’t need to. Simply being in the presence of their joy of life was all I really needed. Even though some days are more difficult then others, I truly believe that there is a purpose for everything. I feel that the pain of her lost will be an internal battle for my family for the rest of time, it feels good to know that we are helping another families’ “Lizzy’s” move toward her bright, positive, future. That’s what it is all about. So, I encourage you to live everyday as if you are going to live forever and be a positive influence to someone who you are blessed to have. Work hard, strive harder, and never give up on your dreams. Rest in Heaven Lizzy... From your favorite Uncle...

Howard J. Clay is available for speaking engagements, clinics/seminars, as well as appearances for organizations, corporate and school events. He may be contacted at howardjclay@hotmail.com for booking.

@MR_HowardClay

One morning, I opened my email and I had received an invitation to cover an event at a middle school. At first, in my mind, I immediately declined the invite, but then I decided to try to “move forward”. So, that day, I got dressed and traveled across Atlanta to the school. When I got to the school something very unexpected happened.

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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Howard J. Clay Jr.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Please include your name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity or space EMAIL discoverboss-emagazine@live.com

MAILING ADDRESS 849 Franklin Rd Suite 708 Marietta, GA 30067 TELEPHONE 317.681.2818 SUBSCRIPTIONS

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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief : Drea Elizabeth* MARKETING Marketing Director : Jeffrey Royce* CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DRDesha* Jazmyne Byrd* Drea Elizabeth Derrick Hayes LaTresa “Tree” Cunningham* ART JC3 Entertainment PHOTOS Khaleel Muhammad BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda Tatum Michael Harris Aisha Felder Hollis Taylor Howard Clay Sr. (* = Picuted)

tent con

“Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~ Ann Rand

In Every Issue INTERVIEWS 1ST FIRST

HEALTH & FITNESS COLLEGE DESTINATION YOUNG BOSS

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ARTICLES BOSS “SPOTLIGHT”

STUDENT OF THE MONTH ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITY

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B.O.

FAC

Ida B. Wells Barnett was a co-founder of the NAACP and the most famous African-American woman journalist of her time. The first book published by an African American was a collection of poems by Phillis Wheatley. Lewis Howard Latimer drew the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s telephone.

.S.S.

CTS

In 2001, Forbes Magazine listed businessman and BET founder, Robert Johnson, as an African-American billionaire. At the age of 26, William Alexander Scott II founded the Atlanta Daily World (1928) which became the 20th centuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first black daily newspaper. Romare Bearden loved painting so much that this 20th century artist created over 2,000 works in his career. 9 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

ured Feat Inter vie

Each of us, famous or inf aren't, we should behave a ous. Because you can be s

Interviews are the backbone

of our magazine. The personal testimonies of the successful “Bosses” we speak with are priceless. Every issue will have featured interviews that you definitely do not want to miss! These interviews are enlightening, informative, and will, without a doubt, shape your life. What do you want to be when you grow up? Yeah, there’s an interview for that! Biography

The multi-talented LeVar Burton has been capturing the attention of audiences and peers for over two decades, and has catapulted to a new level within the industry. Whether acting, directing, producing or writing, LeVar proves he can do it all. This spring he launches the READING RAINBOW APP through APPLE and brings one of the most cherished and revered children’s programs of all time into the milimiuem. Currently, he is co-starring in the animated cartoon, TRANSFORMER, RESCUE BOTS and this summer he will debut in the much anticipated ABC drama, PERCEPTION, co-starring with Eric McCormack and Rachael Leigh Cook. He recently played himself on the hugely popular CBS Series THE BIG BANG THEORY and guest starred on NBC’s COMMUNITY. LeVar’s first career choice was not in the field of entertainment. At the age of thirteen he entered a Catholic Seminary to study for the priesthood. For him, being a priest would fulfill his need to express himself spiritually and to be of service to his community. However, four years later, he decided that an acting career would better fill those needs, so he left the seminary and accepted a full academic scholarship to the University of Southern California to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. LeVar’s first professional audition, at the age of nineteen, led to his being cast as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed miniseries ROOTS. The phenomenal success of ROOTS launched his career as an actor, and earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Mini Series. What followed were starring roles in a string of television movies, including DUMMY, GRAMBLING’S WHITE TIGER, THE GUYANA TRAGEDY and THE RON LEFLORE STORY. Among his early feature film credits are LOOKING FOR MR. GOOODBAR and THE HUNTER, with Steve McQueen. LeVar is internationally known for his portrayal of Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge in the television series STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. He starred in the box office hits STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT,

famous, is a role model for somebody, and if we as though we are?cheerful, kind, loving, courtesure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes. ~~ Maya Angelou

STAR TREK; INSURRECTION, STAR TREK: GENERATIONS, and recently co-starred in the fourth feature film in the series, STAR TREK: NEMESIS.

LeVar Burton

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LeVar has directed numerous episodes of all four STAR TREK series: THE NEXT GENERATION, DEEP SPACE NINE and VOYAGER, and ENTERPRISE. His first dramatic television movie, THE TIGER WOODS STORY, which he directed for Showtime, received great critical acclaim as well as three Emmy nominations. He also directed the Disney Channel original film SMART HOUSE. LeVar’s production company, INTEGRITY ENTERTAINMENT, is developing a variety of projects in both television and feature film arenas.

LeVar’s first honor of the new millennium was a Grammy Award for his narration of the book, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Included in the titles LeVar has recorded on tape are THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, THE MILES DAVIS STORY and THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY. He is currently celebrating his twentieth season as host and executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS children’s television series READING RAINBOW. Thus far, his role in producing and starring in the series has garnered him a total of ten Emmy Awards, five NAACP Awards and multiple nominations. He is most proud of Reading Rainbow’s ability to use the medium of television to help create “human beings who are passionate about literature”. As a staunch advocate for children’s literacy, LeVar is frequently called upon to lecture on the subject by organizations around the world. LeVar made his debut as an author in 1997 with his novel AFTERMATH. This science fiction thriller from Warner Books takes place in the year 2019 and chronicles the efforts of four individuals who are struggling to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of a race war that all but destroys America. With phenomenal reviews from critics and colleagues, AFTERMATH is still in bookstores nationwide. LeVar is national co-chair with Former First Lady Laura Bush of PBS’s literacy campaign, SHARE-A-STORY. 11 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

SPOTLIGHT

“...letting people know, especially people who look up to us [as artists], that you can’t do thi without education. You have to have an education...there is no way out of that.” Jacob Latimore @jacoblatimore

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“Surround yourself with positive people. People who are about to drop out of school is NOT you hanging around the right crowd. Someone who cares and is positive would not let you make the type of decision that will hinder your life and dreams that you aspire to achieve...” Sammie @princesammie

“At the end of the day, what “NO LOSING” wants to do is create a sytem that works and creates academic achievement for the African-American community.”

Sam Collier @samcollier

Tell’em You saw it in B.O.S.S.! @boss_emag

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COMMUNITY

STOP YOUR BULLYING

After learning so much about the

“Stop Your Bullying” campaign, B.O.S.S. E-magazine decided to sit down with the founders and learn more about this growing epidemic firsthand. Photos by: Khaleel Muhammed of “Randumb Photography” http://kleomydud1.wix.com/randumb

B.O.S.S.: With all of you being from the entertainment industry, what made you want to start “Stop Your Bullying” and how did it all come together? Peniece: Well, it’s Joy’s brain child and anything I can do to support her, I will do. It’s a great initiative and we need to get the message out there that bullying is not cool. Joy’s the perfect conduit to make that happen. Eddie “F”: Well, both of my parents are teachers so I’ve been in and around education my whole life. It is something that I want to do. I actually didn’t know that Joy had a bulling program... I think I saw a post on Facebook.

STOP YOUR BULLYING

(Laughs.) A couple of years prior to me seeing that post, I had actually gone and reserved a domain name and wanted to get an anti-bullying program started. But Joy actually had the nuts and bolts- the program, the school, the artists on board... everything. I called her up immediately and said, “hey, I’ve been trying to be a part of an anti-bullying initiative for years..." and Joy was just like, “let’s do it!” Joy is the type of person that gets things done… she’s a “get it done, “make it happen” person. B.O.S.S.: So, Joy, what made you get SYB started? Joy: The reason I started the program is because I was bullied as a kid. When I started this initiative, I was talking to my mom and she told

me a story that reminded me of the one time I was extremely bullied. She quickly put a stop to it by getting on the bus and threating to call the bully's parents. It’s funny because I never remembered this story until I told her what I was doing with SYB. But she refreshed my memory! (Laughs.) When I got the call from Newton High School, there was a student named William who contacted me after he saw a video on YouTube about this young lady named Amanda Todd who was being bullied online and physically. So, I watched the 9 minute video of Amanda telling her story on flashcards. No music, no audio... just raw. At the end of the video, she simply sends a message: "please help me." Unfortunate-

ly, shortly after making the video, Amanda committed suicide. But the most alarming thing to me was even after she died, the kids were still bullying her and saying hateful things like, “it’s about time” and “she should have done it a long time ago." Here I am looking at this as a young woman thinking, ok, where are her parents? How can suicide be someone's only option? That’s what really compelled me to move forward with this initiative. I also believe that it was God who gave me the vision to do it, because everything has gone so effortlessly and that’s real. That’s the story of why I started Stop Your Bullying... I connected with Amanda Todd, as a young woman and somebody who was bullied. Even after my own bullying incident that my mom handled, I remember growing up in school,and well, you know I wasn’t always this cute. (Everyone laughs.) I was the “fat kid” in junior high school and I really didn’t get fine until- (Laughs.) I really didn’t get fine until my freshman year in High School when I started doing sports. I was bullied, called names, picked on for being fat. I just want to inspire kids and let them know that suicide is not your only option; you can talk to somebody. It’s crazy because when we did the first rally at

Newton High School, so many young girls came up to me after the program and told me that they were so glad I was there because they were being bullied and wanted it to stop. That made me feel really good with what we are doing. I’m just really glad I’ve been able to pull in so many people to help make this successful. Special thanks to Dr. Lockhart, the principle, and William who was brave enough to step up to the plate and do something because if it wasn’t for him talking to his teacher, I wouldn’t have even known about it. B.O.S.S.: How many schools have you been to on behalf of SYB? Joy: We just started in November 2012... after researching strategies [on how to connect with students], one of the main things I came across said to not go from school to school, but to focus on one school and follow the progress of the children and cultivate what you are doing there. The plan was for us to adopt a school- and so, here we are, adopting Newton for 6 months. For the first rally we had included D. Woods, Sam Collier, Jacob Latimore, and many others. Everything has gotten so big so quickly! We are happy for the success and are planning something in May!

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B.O.S.S.: How have the students responded to the celebrities involved? Joy: When I thought of the program, I thought about what could be the best platform for the students. I thought about community leaders, artists, performers, actors, and other people they may look up to or people they could relate to. This was so the students would hear the message from someone they look up to... To have someone they respect who is telling them the right way to do things so they can change their ways. When the celebrities speak to the kids, they speak to them about what THEY have been through. Just inspiration to do the right thing.

...Interview continued in next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue!

ISSUE 13

“Stop Your Bullying” is an anti-bullying initiative created to raise the awareness of students in schools of the causes and effects of bullying their peers. It shines a light on the severity of teens and young adults committing suicide because of physical and cyber bullying. “Stop Your Bullying” partners with high profile community leaders, entertainment business professionals, activists, actors, musicians, artists, athletes and entertainers who have a platform that would aide in encouraging students to make a free pledge to stop bullying. We have created a task force campaign, adopting each school we attend. It implements a plan of action to stop bullying in that school.

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Newton High School

In a time and place where parents and officials overuse the phrase "get over it," teens and young adults are suffering to find a way to end their negative experiences with bullying. Many people accept it as a part of life and growing through their awkward stages of life, but others share the same story as Amanda Todd. After years of experiencing intense and extreme cyber bullying and physical altercations with her peers, Amanda reached out to the Youtube community for help. She shared her emotional story through the use of flashcards. During her 9 minute video, we try to imagine life through her eyes, feelings, and experiences by visualizing this girl moving several times, drinking bleach, and trying to overdose on medications just to find a way to make the bullying end. With viewers being her possible source for answers to her questions of 'why?' and 'how?,' Amanda was met with even more instances of cyber bullying. Having reached the end of her emotional rope, Amanda attempted suicide once again. This time... she succeeded. How many people do you know who are experiencing any form of bullying? What are you doing to help them? Are you doing anything to put a stop to bullying? Well, one high school in Covington, Georgia has embraced- and executed- the ideal blueprint for anti-bullying among their students. Welcome to Newton High School and meet teacher and advisor, Quinita Morrow- Harris, and senior student, William Mills. This pair of individuals, along with a pretty strong support system at Newton, are the muscles behind putting an end to bullying.

At Newton, Ms. Morrow is a lady of many hats as the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) advisor, the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) department chair, and marketing instructor. After admitting that she was never bullied- nor was she a bully, Ms. Morrow's first experiences with bullying came with her job at Newton. To an adult who has had no encounters with bullying, it is easy for her students' experiences to fly under her radar. In her "perfect" anti-bullying world, Ms. Morrow would find a way to have bullying situations handled directly by the authority person who witnessed the encounter. Due to laws and regulations in the state of Georgia, if a student told her about being bullied or witnessing it, she would have to pass the message along to her superior who would then pass it along to the board instead of being able to handle the issue herself. It is hard to have a classroom full of students who all need your help, but

the most you can do is relay a message and hope it receives a response before a minor situation becomes a serious one. William, a senior at Newton, has had his own experiences when it comes to being bullied. He recalls an earlier time in his middle school career when he was determined to be a part of the football team. As the smallest of the potential teammates, he was picked on for being considered "too small" for the world of football. He overcame this by setting the foundation for the Anti- Bullying Society. From there, the Stop Your Bullying campaign made its way through the doors of Newton High School with the message to the teens that bullying isn't the cool thing to do. With the introduction of the Anti- Bullying Society and Stop Your Bullying, Newton's incidents of bullying has drastically decreased.

In the words of William, always remember that if you are a victim of bullying, there are alternative ways to address your situation. Stay confident, find someone to be your advocate and confidant, and don't be scared. Share your story and maybe you could help someone else going through the same situation. Kudos to Newton High School, Ms. Morrow-Harris, and William Mills for framing the blueprint of anti-bullying for other institutions and students ready to stand up for whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right!

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LeVaron Burt â&#x20AC;?READING opens up a

RAINBO RAINBOW

of opportunitie

ISSUE 13

COVER STORY

Interviewed by: DrDesha Strayer University Grad Student B.O.S.S. E-Magazine Marketing/Writing Te

Wâ&#x20AC;?

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eam

F rom Roots to Star Trek to Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton has educated the world for generations. Read about how he is continuing this legacy even today. B.O.S.S.: When you were young what did you want to grow up and be?

LeVar: When I was really young I wanted to be a Catholic Priest. That was all I could see. When I was thirteen I entered the Seminary and did that for four years. B.O.S.S.: How did you feel about attending school? LeVar: I always went to private schools; I went to school over in Germany. My mom always made sure that we had the best education that she could possibly afford. Even when she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford it. 25 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

B.O.S.S.: What were your favorite subjects?

LeVar: I tended towards literature, art, culture, and science. But words were my thing over numbers.

LeVar Burton

B.O.S.S.: How important was education to your career?

LeVar: Education is everything to me. My mother was my first teacher; she taught me how to read. My mother, knowing the world, knew that the best thing she could do for me was level the playing field. She knew that I would grow up and inherit a world that would sometimes be hostile to my presence simply because of the color of my skin. My mother taught me that lesson when I was really young. She also taught

me that in order to compete with others I had to have the best education possible. That was the key- the golden ticket. It proved enough to be true and I’ve seen it play out in countless lives. It is the reason why I’m so passionate about the issue of children and education… especially literacy. It definitely is the golden ticket. After I decided not to be a priest, I got a full scholarship to USC (University of Southern California) studying drama and theater. I wanted to go to New York and work on the stage, but you know, sometimes it’s the best made plans of mice and men, as Steinbeck said. As a sophomore at USC, I was cast in Roots. God had a different plan. So, as a sophomore, I am cast in what becomes the quintessential mini-series

“Education is everything to me...” and film that had the power to change the nation’s reel of race, racism, and slavery in America. The American Story, the saga of an American family. Roots is a story of black and white America. Alex Haley was a big story teller. As a kid, I read a lot of science fiction books. So, to get a chance to work with and meet Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek), one of my story telling heroes- I can’t even express to you what that feels like! I found that Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rog-

er’s Neighborhood, was a Presbyterian minister. He was also a mentor to me in the area of using entertainment to preach a message. Alex Haley, Gene Roddenberry, Fred Rogers and my mother, were my story telling heroes and mentors. These are the people who taught me how to do the things I do. B.O.S.S.: How did you become involved with Reading Rainbow?

LeVar: I had already done a public television series called REBOP in the late ‘70s. When the creators of Reading Rainbow were looking for a host, I was on their list and they just happened to see me. It was one of those timing things. I was on my way to Africa, they saw me on a live interview, tracked me down before I left the country, and told me about the television show they were doing.

B.O.S.S.: What is happening with Reading Rainbow today?

LeVar: I’ve invested thirty years of my life into the Reading Rainbow brand, into the building of this brand. I am just so happy to have stewardship of this brand. My business partner, Mark Wolf and I wanted to secure this brand. We wanted to acquire it and we went after it very vigorously. We connected with people of like minds who were willing to help us and we started a business. Our business is not just the Reading Rainbow Appthat’s our first product. The good news is, as of today, in the few months we’ve been available as an app, we’ve had half a million books read. We really recognize the power of the brand and that it’s working. We are absolutely on mission. We are getting kids to read… that’s what Reading Rainbow does. It makes reading exciting to kids. The numbers are in, we are crushing it.

“I’ve invested thirty years of my life into the Reading Rainbow brand, into the building of this brand. “

B.O.S.S.: What’s your advice to today’s youth?

LeVar: The hurdles I have overcome to get to where I am, are legion and daily. I believe that everyone on this planet has a gift to give. Discover what your gift is. Mine is to change the world, one children’s book at a time. That’s my intention. I want to have an impact on this world. Everybody has a gift, whatever it is, we have to figure out what it is we are here to do. Once you make that discovery, it’s all good. If you pursue that with everything you’ve got, Heaven and Earth will move. Heaven and Earth will move to see that purpose to happen.

LeVar Burton

Tellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;em You saw it in B.O.S.S.! @boss_emag

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“I believe that everyone on this planet has a gift to give. Discover what your gift is.”

Flying above the expectations...

COMMUNITY

The People’s Skateboarder: Dstreets When you hear the word “Obama” in the African-American community, you think of the “people’s man”, a smile forms on your lips, and a sense of pride is shown on your shoulders. Suddenly the way you carry yourself matters and you sincerely want to make a difference in someone else’s life. This is why Darren Harper aka “Dstreets” is called the “Obama of Skateboarding”. Coming from very humble beginnings and being exposed to street life at an early age, this young man changed his mind set when he picked up the skateboard. I had the pleasure of meeting “Dstreets” at a skate park in Northwest Washington, DC on a cool fall day. I first took notice of him when I watched TvOne’s hit show, “Save our Son”. On this episode, he was helping mentor a young man who grew up in the same type of environment that Darren was exposed to at a young age. Darren connected with this young man telling him, “I traveled this road so you don’t have to…” Claiming that the road he is traveling is one of danger, he pled for the young man to make a change for the better. It’s not very often that you see a young man Darren’s age take the time out to get “raw” with another young man. I was so moved by that episode that I had to do some research on him. What I found led me to reach out and contact this man they call “Obama of Skateboarding.”

Written by:

Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd B.A. Associate Editor Ice Media Networks Entertainment/Fashion Magazine Writer Ntuned Show Radio Host

Upon meeting him, I learned of his background, being raised in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Washington, DC: Southeast. He has witnessed death firsthand and even sold his first drug at the age of 10. During this Q&A you will get to know “Dstreets,” where he has been, and how he overcame the street life. Jazz: How did you get into the drug game at the age of 10? Dstreets: During that situation, I wasn’t officially in the game, but at the age of ten was when I served my first piece of crack. I was well known around the neighborhood and I had family members who were heavy in the game at that time. My father had a nickname and they would always call me “Lil- Book”. I made 10 dollars off that sell and it was like living the life! I was excited because when you don’t have anything, 10 dollars is a lot of money. When you get in that environment, you get trapped. It’s so much that my parents did not know I was doing it was easy to hide. Jazz-: Growing up in Southeast DC had to be rough… you saw death firsthand and you were exposed to street life through drug dealing and violence. Did you think what you were living was the “glamorous” life? Dstreets: Yes. To be honest, it was glamorous. When I was younger, me and my brother used to play with the G.I Joe action figures and name them the names of the local dealers. We would go play and mimic what was going on outside

“I traveled this road so you don’t have to…”

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on the block. Like, if somebody got shot, we would mimic that. We were so obsessed with what was going on in the streets. It was like living in a tunnel and this is all you saw. We had limited role models to show us the right way. We saw people wearing big chains and driving nice cars and we wanted that. Jazz: How did you get out of that lifestyle? What was your turning point? Dstreets: Well, I started in the actual “game” kind of late. I started selling when I got out of high school at 18. I went to college and decided I’m not going to work and go to school, so I left school to sell drugs. I had a name for myself and all of my homies were here so this is what I’m going to do. My turning point came when I started noticing all these negative situations coming my way. The pressure of being in the game was beating on my mind and I started thinking, “Man you’re not dumb, you need to figure out what it is you want to do with your life before you end up like the rest of your friends.” People were dying everywhere… I had gotten into a shootout and police were chasing me. They saw me serve drugs to a gentleman and they were watching me from the woods. They caught the guy I served and I knew they would come for me and try to get me. I realized then that I couldn’t take it anymore. One day me and my son’s mother were talking about our old hobbies and I told her I use to skateboard, so I decided to push that old hobby. That was my turning point. Jazz: So, why skateboarding as opposed to any other sport? Dstreets: I’m one of those adventurous types of people. I feel like I’m up for any challenge. Skateboarding was that challenge. I wanted to become a household name in the African-American household. Most kids only think of Tony Hawk when it comes to skateboarding- that’s any neighborhood I go to. But, it bothered me, because we have African-Americans that are getting involved with this sport and I want to be someone they can look up to and learn the sport from. Jazz: Where did the nickname “Dstreets” come from? Dstreets: I had so many nicknames (laughs). During the “Hotboy Cash Money” era, they called me “The Weezy Deezy”. The called me “Deezy,” “D-Harp”... Dstreets just came about from me being from the streets. Jazz: You appeared on the TvOne hit show, “Save Our Son” with Dr. Steve Perry and that episode was very emotional. How did it feel to mentor that young man and help steer him in the right direction? Do you still keep in touch with him? Dstreets: I love it. We keep in contact through the phone and Facebook. I ask him how he is doing, if he is staying out of trouble, and if he still skates and all appears to be well. Of course, I will remain in contact with him to help keep him on the right track. I have always been a mentor and kid loving man. Even when I was on the streets, I still took time out for the kids, because when I was growing up I didn’t have that. My mother tried to put us in different programs to keep us busy. When it comes to the young people you have to relate to them and show them loyalty. My heart has always been into mentoring kids. Jazz: What keeps you humble? Dstreets: I come from a place where loyalty is everything. I want the people around me to have what I have. I love to see people happy. I hate fakeness. I want people to understand where I come from because there are so many people who can relate to me and what I have been through. 35 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

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"They Matter"

Treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motivational Corner

I get the pleasure of speaking to many youth through the different things that I do. The thing that I love about it is that there is never a dull moment. Young people say so much. Some things they say are funny, some of it is crazy, and some things make you think. One thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed about what they say when they talk is that they listen to the things we, adults, say to them. Even though we sometimes think they don't listen because of their body language and facial expressions. I take this into account and try to give as much knowledge as possible. I was speaking to a teen-

aged boy who is in high school and he was telling me about a fight that broke out in the lunch room one day. The details were not good. After hearing the story, I said to him, "I know they both wish they would have just walked away." He agreed. I then proceeded to talk about how the decisions we make matter in our lives. There are so many people who wish they could turn back the hands of time and take a second to stop and think before saying something hurtful to someone they love, or hitting someone out of anger, or reacting in a negative way. Our words and our actions matter so much. The things we say and do weigh heavily on our future and the family and friends we have around us. Keep this in mind and take a second to think before speaking and reacting. For the things that we say and do, they matter!

They matter a lot and can be the determining factor in us accomplishing our dreams or not. To our youth, do not worry about what others say to you or about you. People will find a reason to tease you no matter what. You cannot please most people. That's just how it is. Please God and try to do what is right. By doing that you will also please yourself. Keep your mind focused on accomplishing your dreams and goals and do not let anything or anyone stop you. Not even yourself. The things you say and do, they matter. They matter to the world, and more importantly, they matter to you. By: LaTresa "Tree" Cunningham

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Derrick Hayes

NEW FEATURE

D.E.R.R.I.C.K.

INTERVIEW

The #1 Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives a DERRICK Interview by asking 7 questions through each letter of his first name to give you an insightful perspective from other experts, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and up and coming super stars.

oday’s DERRICK Interview is with Dr. Shakeer Abdullah who the Director of the Multicultural Center at Auburn University along with being an Author, Diversity Consultant, Host, and Motivational Speaker. Dr. Abdullah has worked in the field of higher education for more than 15 years and has worked in a number of capacities related to diversity, leadership development, program management, strategic planning, and many other areas. Dr. Abdullah’s passion for student success and higher education comes from his range of experiences in higher education as both a student and an

administrator. As an undergraduate student at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, Shakeer took full advantage of all the opportunities that Witt had to offer. He was a four-year letterman on a football team that won 3 conference championships and only lost four games in four years. In addition to football, Shakeer joined a fraternity, served as the president of the Black student union, co-founded the school’s unity march, served on the campus programming committee, acted in the experimental theater troupe, and much more.

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D is for Dream. What is your Dream? My dream is to continue to work in higher education and support student success. I would ultimately like to be a university president before I retire. E is for Encourage. What encourages you? I am encouraged in my work by all of those people who have come before me and sacrificed their lives for me to have access to all of the opportunities that I have been able to take advantage of. I am also encouraged by my children and young people all over the world who represent untapped potential. It is my goal to impact those young people in a positive way. R is for Resource. What resources do you bring to the table that makes you unique or stand out? I bring a wide range of experience, knowledge, and skills to the table. I have been working in higher education and the field of diversity services for nearly 15 years and I have experience in programming, diversity training, consulting, researching and writing. I have traveled to more than 15 countries and studied at international universities in addition to my domestic academic training and professional development. R is for Ready. When did you realize you were ready for what you are doing now? I don’t ever consider myself to be ready, I’m always working to be prepared. I feel like if I ever consider myself ready, then I’ll become complacent. I’m always pursuing certifications, classes,and professional development opportunities so that I can stay ready. I is for Individual. Name at least one person that you know that you feel others should learn about and why? My mother has been my inspiration and folks should know about her. Khadijah Abduraqqib raised 9 children in her home and sent them all to college. She earned her Associates degree as I was finishing my Masters degree and oversaw her children earn 11 academic degrees. C is for Continue. When you fail, things look bleak or are not optimistic what makes you want to continue? I’m always inspired by the notion that with every struggle there is relief, verily with every struggle there is relief. This understanding keeps me from becoming despondent during challenging times and keeps me encouraged. K is for Key. What keys to success can you leave for upcoming entrepreneurs and leaders? Continue to be a student of life. Always be open to learning from those around you regardless of their station in life. Shakeer A. Abdullah – Director, Multicultural Center Auburn University For more information about Dr. Shakeer Abdullah please visit www.docshak.com and www.pracdiv.com/ Derrick Hayes is the author of 1 WORD Is All It Takes, Creator of Derricknyms, Developer of the app Motivation To Your Mobile, Nominator of Today’s Honoree, and blogs at the Encouragement Speaker and can be reached at info@derrickhayes.com or (706) 615-1662.

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Kahlila Alexander

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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Eating healthy has been one of the key factors in how I maintain my lifestyle. Over the years, I have received many interesting comments and questions about how I keep my body in shape or about what constitutes the "perfect" workout. But no matter what questions may come, my answer is always the same, "It's not about what workouts you're doing, it's about what you're putting in your body and how you manage your eating throughout the day. Eating comprises 65% of a total regimen when it comes to losing weight and gaining lean muscle. Usually, when I explain this concept to people, they immediately think they have to go on a diet. People fail to realize that if you don't change what you're eating, you will never see the results you are looking for even if you're in the gym everyday. I break down what I eat by putting the goods into a few different categories. I consider myself a Pescetarian, so I eat a lot of fish(Salmon, Tilapia), vegetables, fruits, fiber, nuts, dairy, and eggs. Along with eating right, you must eat at the correct times of the day. Eating at least 4 to 5 times a day is greatly beneficial in maintaining a healthy balance in your overall lifestyle. It also increases your energy and performance for when you're working out or just being active throughout your day. My eating regimen consists of 3 medium to large meals and 2 small snack meals in between those. I try not to eat after 8:30pm, but if I decide to, I only eat something light, having either fruit or some type of fiber. One of the most important things to me when eating healthy, is my ability to stay consistent with how I eat. You have to be mindful that eating healthy is a process and can be very frustrating if you haven't been eating these types of foods consistently. You have to stay focused and continually motivated everyday, therefore you will be rewarded by how much better your body feels compared to when you first made the change. So, when you are starting your transition process, always remember, " It's not a Diet, It's a Lifestyle Change." 1st Klass Fitness Spencer D. Small

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RODNEY PERRY ARTICLE Interviewed by: DrDesha Strayer University Grad Student B.O.S.S. E-Magazine Marketing/Writing Team

RODNEY PERRY

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little bit about what it was like for you while you were growing up. Rodney: During my junior year of high school, my family packed up and moved to Monroe, Louisiana… I’m originally from Chicago so it was a huge culture shock. I had to start over and get new friends. It forced me to reconnect and reinvent myself. It ended up being a great move for me, personally because I was able to find myself in those two summers i spent in Louisiana.

I had one teacher who would let me tell jokes at the end of class, as long as I shut up throughout the course of the day. I’ve always been the funny guy, but I was always smart. I wasn’t necessarily the class clown, but I was definitely not a problem kid. I remember asking my mother if I could join a gang… I ASKED… I actually wanted permission. She was like, “don’t be a follower, fool!” (Laughs.)

but as I have gotten older, it is definitely something I want to do. As a parent, I want to lead by example. Plus, I just want to say that I did it… I got my degree. I pride myself on being able to run my own business, so I would major in something business related because it would help me with running my own. When you become a “talent” people assume you do not know anything about how the business works. Nothing is further into the truth.

As far back as I can remember, my mom would throw parties at our house and the adults would listen to records like Richard Pryor and other comedians... I used to lie on the floor in my bedroom just listening to those records. At that point, I identified with comedians, but I didn’t know that it was something you could do until later on in life.

Getting out of the Navy was a leap of faith. I had been performing and doing comedy the entire time. I came to a point where I realized I’d have to give comedy 100%. What people don’t tell you about the leap of faith is that it comes with real life. I had to take care of my wife, my children, and I had to use some of my skillset from the military. I looked up and there I was, two years later and I still wasn’t doing comedy like I really wanted to. I met a guy while doing a temporary assignment at the VA (Veterans Affairs) and he asked me, “what are you doing here?” I told him, “data entry, player.” He came back and said, “NO. What are you doing?” That was my big wake up call. I totally refocused and I started giving 100% to move in the industry.

B.O.S.S.: What did you decide to do once you got out of high school? Rodney: I went to college for a year. I wish I would have stayed and finished my degree. There were moments in my life where I would convince myself that I didn’t need a degree and that I was smarter than anyone in the room,

B.O.S.S.: What does it mean to give 100%? 45 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

Rodney: Before, I was just going through the motions. But, in 2000, I really opened myself up to networking more... I connected with people. I did contests and everything else that had to do with comedy. Before that moment, that wasn’t the case. I was just hoping the game would come to me. If I’m just funny, I’m okay, but it really takes more than that. It takes having your resume and having your pictures together. I even began taking acting classes. I understood that every comedian that was major was also an actor. Then again, I got lucky- I got blessed. I met Cedric the Entertainer’s road manager who took a liking to me and took me on the road. That encounter led to Johnson Family Vacation, which led me to one of my first writing jobs. B.O.S.S.: What are some things you are currently working on? Any future projects? Rodney: Currently, I have a show on Bounce TV. Bounce TV is a brand new African-American Network only about a year old. It is really great to be on the ground floor of something. The name of the show is called Off The Chain. Just shot the second season in February. I’ve been touring my own show called The Black Tour. In it I’m super-duper pro-Black. I wear Black clothes, date a Black woman… It’s a lot of fun. B.O.S.S.: What advice would you give to those looking to do comedy or break into the entertainment industry? Rodney: A lot of people get into acting or comedy to circumvent their life. If you want to be a comedian or actor, but are trying not to work hard, you’re in the wrong business. It’s going to require sacrifice and require you to work hard. It’s going to require you to be very diligent and focused. It’s not only the glamorous side, it is also the things you don’t see that is a test of who you are. Be prepared to work hard because you are running your own business and there’s always a gatekeeper. There is someone in the way of your goal. You just need to recognize who that person is. There will be people who will help you along the journey who have the keys you need to get through the gatekeeper. B.O.S.S.: What words of wisdom do you give to the youth when it comes to achieving success? Rodney: I ask the youth to set their foundation with education. There is no home or career without it. Our children want to fast forward through life because of our microwave society. Life is like a video game- there are levels you have to conquer. Conquer this level first. Be a kid first, it’s only a short period in your life. Tell’em You saw it in B.O.S.S.! @boss_emag

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49 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

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