CODE M Magazine 2022 April Issue

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN

COLLEGE VS. TRADE SCHOOL

LARESE PURNELL

IS KILLING THE GAME

CODE M CELEBRATES

10

ACHIEVERS

ON FIRE

IF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COULD TALK

APRIL 2022 ISSUE

[ NEWS ]

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN

If you make the lives of men better, you make the world better!

SERVING CLEVELAND AND SURROUNDING OHIO CITIES: COLUMBUS TOLEDO CINCINNATI DAYTON YOUNGSTOWN

www.codemmagazine.com CODE M / APRIL 2022 17

INSIDE

41

PARENTING GRANDKIDS

Grandparents all over America are raising their grandkids. Some are doing it for fun, but more and more seniors are stepping in because they have to, due to a lack of involvement from their own kids.

ON THE COVER

28

LARESE PURNELL IS KILLING THE GAME Cleveland’s Black community has not seen a leader emerge like this since the famous Stokes family.

Today, LaRese Purnell is creating a culture of thriving businesses, community giving, and civic pride all while maintaining his integrity.

10 MOVERS AND SHAKERS Get to know people who are making a

4 APRIL 2021 / CODE M

difference in their careers and changing the world!

13 MAN CODES Excellence.

14 CLEVELAND STRONG: SILENT PARTNER SHINES Roderick Lawrence returns home to Cleveland, from New York, realizing his dream of writing, producing, and acting in his own film, Silent Partner.

17 THE GODFATHER OF GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL The Las Vegas Fab 48 Basketball Tournament has made Gary Charles a

legend when it comes to exposing young basketball players to college coaches, outstanding competition and a bright future. (a two-part series) 21 CODE M CELEBRATES 10 ACHIEVERS ON FIRE CODE M Magazine celebrates men in this issue. Meet some of the men who are impacting our community and the country.

36 IF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COULD TALK The assault on Black males in America between the ages of 15 to 35 from

[ INSIDE ] police profiling, poor living conditions, societal biases, and failing education is putting the entire race in jeopardy. (A two-part series) 45 COLLEGE VS. TRADE SCHOOL

52

MAKE YOUR FOOTPRINT BOLD AS POSSIBLE All the shoes featured in this article come from Black-owned shoe companies. CODE M is excited to showcase these brands in our April issue.

The rising cost of repaying a loan from college is forcing some young adults to look at alternatives. Some trade schools offer low costs, faster completion, and a faster path to employment.

49 PRESTIGE CUSTOM CLOTHING “Treat your clients right, it’s not about making the big sale - I want to build longevity.”

Staton Brady, Owner ADVERTISE WITH CODE M Blacks influence the latest trends of popular culture, fashion, and music more than any demographic. Reach this audience when you advertise with CODE M Magazine.

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Stephen Curry

PUBLISHER Bilal S. Akram

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Williams Kevin Jones

PRESIDENT Brad J. Bowling SENIOR ADVISOR Alexandria Johnson Boone MANAGING EDITOR David Christel GRAPHIC DESIGN Stiff Arm Media MEDIA COORDINATOR Paula D Morrison

IT CONSULTANT Anthony Jones Digital Jetstream, LLC CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Christel Anthony Kirby Brad J. Bowling Bolling Smith Bilal S. Akram Laron Harlem

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Corle yLawre nce Burnley CODE MEDIA GROUP LLC

RADIO/PODCAST HOSTS

STAFF

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Darrell Scott Braylon Lee

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CODE M Magazine was created to be a guiding force in creating a dialogue for black men everywhere. Code M focuses on the conversations of advancement, mental health, career choices, the political landscape and relationships that define and shape the lives of black men everywhere.

Code M Magazine is published

by CODE MEDIA GROUP, LLC © 2021 All Rights Reserved

[ TRAVEL ]

CODE M / APRIL 2021 9

MOVERS &

SHAKERS

A N D R E 10 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

Get to know people who are making a difference in their careers and changing the world!

K E L L O G G

[ MOVERS & SHAKERS ] ANDRE KELLOGG

MICHELLE S. FELDER

Andre Kellogg is a co-founder of Icon Dental Partners and serves in the leadership position as Chief Operations Officer.

Michelle is a native Clevelander and entrepreneur who for over a decade has been the Creative Genius & CEO of Felder & Co. the parent company of Style My Event, an event planning company, Gorgeous Living, a boutique interior style firm and the Silent Bell, a luxury concierge and lifestyle management service.

As COO, Kellogg is responsible for the fiscal growth of the group, ensuring that key performance indicators, system implementation, training & development, process improvement, and growth targets are met. He is also responsible for ensuring that the organization assists each practice in providing the highest standard of care and "continuity of care" for all patients served. His rich operations experience allowed him to handpick the team he now leads.

In the Spring of 2020, she launched and became the Founder of Cotton Blocks, a fashion-meets-history brand offering unique products.

JAIDEN DAVIS Jaiden Davis is an undergraduate student majoring in African American and African Studies with minors in Organizational Communications and Judicial Politics on the pre-law track at The Ohio State University.

Jaiden is currently involved in various extracurricular activities and organizations like OSU Votes, which is a student-led cohort working to educate and increase voter participation, as well as civic engagement across the university's student body.

AZIZA JIMERSON WEAVER Aziza Jimerson Weaver is the founder of The Ambitious Wives Club. The club is for Black wives & wives in waiting. She founded the club because she saw a need for a safe space for high-achieving Black women to grow to the next level without having to dim their light to make “others” feel comfortable. She understands that these women are the CEO of their lives.

Women understand that as the CEO of their lives they are being pulled in many directions, and therefore, struggle to find the time to go after what they really want out of life. Weaver teaches Black women the real rules of the game of life, how and where to focus their energy, how to stop playing small, and learn to play boldly.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 11

Vince Lombardi

MAN CODES: EXCELLENCE

Compiled by Bilal S. Akram

“Do you know great minds enjoy excellence, average minds love mediocrity, and small minds adore comfort zones?”

- Onyi Anyado “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” - Vince Lombardi “In order to achieve excellence, One must be dedicated, determined, work hard, and most importantly, never give up.” - Charmaine J. Forde “It doesn’t cost more to strive for excellence, but if you settle for mediocrity, it’ll cost you dearly.” - Frank Sonnenberg “Kobe Bryant was not only the best Laker to ever wear the uniform (per Magic Johnson), he exemplified Black male excellence.” - Carlos Wallace

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.” - Ronnie Oldham “The master takes his good enough work to excellence by considering every detail and straightening all that is crooked.

Excellence happens when every detail is taken care of.”

- Nesta Jojoe Erskine “Competency is required, Proficiency is expected. Excellence is uncommon, Aim for that.” - Janna Cachola 2 Corinthians 8:7 “But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. ESV

“Excellence needs to start with you.”- ― Janna Cachola CODE M / APRIL 2022 13

SILENT

PARTNER SHINES

Roderick Lawrence

Roderick Lawrence returns home to Cleveland from New York realizing his dream of creating, producing, and acting in his own film, Silent Partner.

M

ulti-award-winning short film, Silent Partner, will be shown in the Oscar-qualifying Jury Competition at the 46th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

The original concept was created by Cleveland native Roderick Lawrence (Roderick L. Ingram, Jr.)

A product of Baldwin Wallace's Conservatory of Music, Lawrence (“Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King) also stars in Silent Partner as Silas Jones, an accomplished Black trial attorney who successfully defends a white woman who murdered a Black teen. Silent Partner, which also features Emmy-awardwinner Michael Park (Dear Evan Hansen) and Kara Young (Clyde’s, on Broadway), explores microaggressions in the

16 14 OCTOBER APRIL 20222021 / CODE / CODE M M

workplace and the toll it takes on one’s mental health and family.

Lawrence plays Silas Jones, an accomplished, Black trial attorney on the cusp of making partner at a white-shoe law firm. Upon successfully defending a white woman charged with murdering a Black teen, Silas comes to a crossroads with his wife Kosi, an equally accomplished professor, as they prepare to attend the firm’s celebration. As the night progresses, Silas questions the legitimacy of his promotion.

Appearing in film festivals from the East to West Coast, the film is taking audiences through a range of emotions along the way.

Since its premiere at the Run&Shoot Filmworks Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Silent Partner has been highly acclaimed, winning Best Short Film and Best Director Awards. The film has earned 10 official festival selections to date, including three Oscar-qualifying festival selections.

“I am so happy to do what I love, and I am blessed to be busy right now,” Lawrence said.

And busy he is. Silent Partner is being screened across the country at various film festivals and is winning awards along the way. Currently it has won:

•

Best Short Film, North Carolina Black Film Festival (March 2022)

•

Best Short Film, Columbus Black International Film Festival (August 2021)

•

Best Short Film, Detroit Black Film Festival (September 2021)

•

Honorable Mention (Runner-up) – Best Live Action Short, International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (November 2021)

•

Best Director, Aristotle Torres, Detroit Black Film Festival (September 2021)

Lawrence was born and raised in Greater Cleveland, where he attended Orange High School and the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He has performed on many Cleveland-area stages including Playhouse Square, Cain Park, Cleveland Public Theatre, Great Lakes Theater, and the Dobama Theatre.

often to visit his family in Orange Village.

Other Cleveland natives involved with the production include Associate Producer Ike Mbanefo (Director, Citi; graduate of University School), Associate Producer Ankur Garg (graduate of Case Western), Associate Producer and Gaffer/Drone Operator Derryl Strong (Creative Director at The Adcom Group in Cleveland), Assistant Director and Script Supervisor Tiffany Beacham (TV staff writer), and Production Assistant Marcus Martin (graduate of Baldwin Wallace).

Silent Partner was written/directed by Aristotle Torres (Story Ave.) and lensed by Eric Branco (Clemency, The Forty-Year-Old Version, That Damn Michael Che). The film is produced by Salma Qarnain (That Damn Michael Che), executive produced

by Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes (Founding Director of The Center for Racial Justice and Associate Dean at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy) and Rejji Hayes, and co-produced by Tony and Emmy winners Eric Nelsen (1883) and Sainty Nelsen, another product of Baldwin Wallace. ●

CLE STRONG

Upon moving to New York City in 2011, Lawrence has since starred in plays and musicals and appeared in a range of other roles from TV shows such as Comedy Central’s Broad City to voiceovers for the National Basketball Association. He returns to Cleveland

Roderick Lawrence is with writer/director Aristotle Torres on the set of Silent Partner, premiering at the International Cleveland Film Festival April 6th.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 15

14 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

BUSINESS

THE

GODFATHER

OF GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL

The Las Vegas Fab 48 Basketball Tournament has made Gary Charles a legend when it comes to exposing young basketball players to college coaches, outstanding competition, and a bright future. (a two-part series)

by Alexandria Boone

G

rowing up in the suburb of Roosevelt on Long Island, New York, Gary Charles remembers spending most of his time outside involved in sports. He played basketball, football, baseball, ran track, and even bowled. He remembers those “cherishable” moments on travel teams, where they stayed in host homes with predominantly white families.

When he graduated from college, the coaches in town mentioned that they needed help with the teams and were looking for someone to replace them. “They asked me to get involved. I couldn’t say no,” Gary said.

This began Charles’ life-long involvement in

sports coaching, and advocating for and promoting the players, coaches, and administrators.

In the mid-80s, Charles formed the Roosevelt PAL, the basketball program in partnership with the Roosevelt Police Athletic League. Eventually, he changed the name to Long Island Panthers and then NY Panthers, and started recruiting players throughout NY because he saw an opportunity for them to get a scholarship.

Knowing he couldn’t move forward without funding, he went to his friend Chuck D, founder of the legendary rap group Public Enemy, for a donation.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 17

[[ NEWS BUSINESS ] ] Charles remembers, “He wrote a check for $2,500. I was expecting $250 or $500.”

Chuck said, “Anything you’re involved in, I know it’s going to work out. I want to be able to say I was there for you.”

Gary boasts Lamar Odom, Danny Green (Philadelphia 76ers), Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), and Wally Szczerbiak (Cleveland Cavaliers) as a few of the basketball greats who once played for the travelling team.

In 2010, Charles created the Las Vegas Fab 48 basketball tournament with Grant Rice and Dinos Trigonis. He ended his Panthers program in 2016 to concentrate on his tournament in Vegas. The tournament has been described by Eastbay, suppliers of sportswear and equipment, as “a showcase for some of youth basketball’s top talent.”

College coaches and basketball fans from around the globe flock to Las Vegas every year to see the game’s best young players square off against each other.

With top talent and great games, the Fab 48 is considered one of the best youth basketball events in the nation.”

As a tribute to his mentor Sonny Vaccaro, and after the removal of Dinos from the team, Charles asked Sonny if he could go back and rename Fab 48 to The Las Vegas Big Time Tournament. That was the name of the tournament Sonny had started in 1995 in Vegas. “The name is me paying homage to Sonny for creating grassroots basketball the way he did,” said Charles.

Vaccaro was the Nike marketing executive who signed Michael Jordan to his first pair of basketball shoes. “LeBron and Kobe played in it,” said Gary, of the tournament.

“All the teams were a collection of

18 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

the top players from the city or state.

The event is popular. It’s one of the hottest events in Vegas and one of the top tournaments of the year,” he explained. “LeBron and Carmelo Anthony both played in the original tournament and now their sons have played in the tournament. James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kyle Lowry, grassroots teams, and many other ‘90s former players participate. Either their kids are playing, or they sponsor teams to play,” he adds.

The Event that Fueled Change One month after George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020, Charles uploaded a video on Twitter stating, in part, “Hey white people. I understand you aren’t comfortable watching us march out there. Understand that as a Black man, we are uncomfortable every day. I understand that we shouldn’t burn buildings down. I just wish your ancestors felt the same way when they burned down the whole

town of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, OK,” posted Charles.

He called out white coaches saying, “Your silence is loud,” and implored the Black coaches with, “What are we going to do about it. When are we going to stand up and band together?”

Forming the Advancement of Blacks in Sports The video went viral. Charles connected with former Head Coach of DePaul University, Dave Leitao, and Leonard Hamilton, head coach of Florida State. Then they reached out to Dawn Staley, women’s head coach of South Carolina and Vivian Stringer, Head Coach of Rutgers University. Vivian suggested we reach out to Felicia Hall Allen.

It was when Felicia, CEO of A Step Up got involved that ABIS (Advancement of Blacks in Sports) really took off. “She contacted thirty more coaches in men’s and women’s basketball. Then we reached out to baseball, track and field, gymnastics, football — all the sports. We wanted to be the voice for racial equity in sports. Not only do we want to make sure Black coaches get a fair opportunity at a job as a head coach somewhere,” said Charles, “but opportunities for vendors also, and we have to speak up when wrongs are committed in sports in our Black community.”

ABIS’ Impact It wasn’t long before ABIS, of which anyone can be a member, had a significant impact in the sports community.

One year after its inception in 2021, the organization advocated for a gentleman name Travis Williams who had an idea to have an HBCU (Historically Black College/ University) All-Star game during the

[ NEWS ]

Photos taken by Denice Rucker Burton

The city simply glowed on AllStar Weekend, from downtown to Playhouse Square.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 19

[ BUSINESS ] National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Final Four tournament. It was overwhelmingly received.

“HBCUs never get a chance to get to the Final Four,” said Charles. “Travis was ‘Why don’t we create an All-Star game for them?’” The NCAA was on board and through a series of meetings, and help from ABIS, Travis was able to get a three-year deal inked for the HBCU AllStar game to air on CBS. Additionally, ABIS is supporting Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins head coach who has sued the NFL and 3 teams – The Dolphins, Broncos, and Giants. “We want to be the voice For Racial Equity in Sports.”

They have the support of the Ben Crump and the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches adding, “Ninety percent of NFL football starters are Black. We produce the oil, but we

18 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

keep giving it away,” he said.

“ABIS wants to make sure people know we’re here and they have a voice. We must continue to grow ABIS,” said Charles.

“People must understand the power that we have. We can’t let people control us.

We’re not trying to take over, we just want a fair chance.”

Coaching On All Levels “It’s important for ABIS to thank JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) for the funding to start a financial coaching program. We appreciate the fact that JPMC believed in us,” said Charles. St. John and Hofstra Universities are currently the pilot program where collegiate athletes are “coached” about debit and credit accounts, interest rates, and what credit ratings and mortgages mean.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” said Charles. “We need to teach them at a young age how to protect their money and how to invest properly. Most professional

athletes are broke four-and-a-half years after they retire. JPMC is allowing us to fund ten more schools next year, six of them will be HBCUs.” When asked what part of his job brings the most joy, Charles answered, “The joy comes from knowing that when I make certain calls, it’s to give our people an opportunity. When those same people come back years later to say I made a difference in how they live and thank me for it, then I know I’m doing something right. That’s when the joy comes out of me.”

“That opportunity is life-altering for them,” Charles added. “Now they can take care of their family. I think as Black people, we’re not able to think that if you help one or two people, you’re helping the community. The joy that comes from me knowing that I helped someone else is unmatched.” ●

CODE M CELEBRATES

10

ACHIEVERS

ON FIRE

CLE

CODE M Magazine celebrates men in this issue. Meet some of the men who are impacting our community and the country.

- Delano S. Johnson CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER POWER NETWORKING CONFERENCE Delano A. Johnson is a Creative Director, Brand Architect, and a leading authority on personal and corporate creativity. He's a Grammy and Dove Award nominee, singer/songwriter and best-selling author who has appeared on global networks like CNN, BET, TBN, and NBC. In 2008, he was hired as the online creative manager for Toys R Us corporate headquarters in Wayne, NJ where he was in charge of all acquisition brands and ALL creative offers company-wide, driving revenue for the E and M commerce channels.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 21

[ CLE ] Thomas McMillan serves as the Accreditation Manager and the Western Patrol Division for Cuyahoga Community College Campus Police and Security Services. As Lieutenant, he is responsible for maintaining departmental policies, facilitating the CALEA Accreditation Process and supervising the Western Patrol Division.

- Lieutenant Thomas McMillan CAMPUS POLICE AND SECURITY SERVICES, CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Lieutenant McMillan also worked as a patrolman for the Village of North Randall from 2004-2009. In 2009, Lieutenant McMillan was hired as a patrol officer for Cuyahoga Community College Campus & Security Services and has been promoted through the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. He served as the Training Officer from 20162018 for the entire department, organizing and preparing several inservice trainings and joint active shooter trainings with various surrounding agencies. Lt. Thomas is also a graduate of the College’s prestigious Mandel Leadership Development Program in 2015.

Affectionately known as Dr. Flapp, he assumed the role of Cleveland State University’s (CSU) inaugural vice president for campus engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion in September 2021. Just prior to joining CSU, Cockrell served as vice president for student affairs and vice provost at the University of Toledo (UToledo) from 2016-2021.

Additionally, he serves as an adjunct graduate faculty member at UToledo and has taught at Mississippi University for Women and Jackson State University, as well as been a guest lecturer at many other colleges and universities.

- Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT DIVERSITY, EQUITY , AND INCLUSION CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Carl R. Kirkland, Jr., MBA, CCA, MCA, ECMCA is Director of Business Development & Contract Compliance at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, where he provides Contract Compliance, Federal Transit Administration Monitoring & Reporting, Minority Goal Setting, and Outreach Awareness for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

- Carl R. Kirkland, Jr. DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

22 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

His duties include Contract Compliance, FTA Monitoring & Reporting to ensure the DBE contract requirements are communicated to all necessary parties properly included in contract documents, and contract terms and conditions are met to establish DBE participation goals on contracts exceeding $25,000.

BOOK

REVIEW

CODE M / APRIL 2022 23

[ CLE ] Bill is currently the Founder/CEO of Reach Success Inc., A 501(c)3 NonProfit Organization, established in 2013, which focuses on: Individual Career Development, Innovative Educational Enhancement for Underprivileged Communities, At-Risk Youth, and Reentry.

Bill has over 30 years of experience in the management, marketing, and sales fields. He has worked in many industries from Corporate Fortune 50 companies to Small Businesses. He has had tremendous success in: Nonprofit Business Development, Strategic Planning and Development, and developing and implementing comprehensive organizational programs, as well as marketing and management plans.

He has consistently helped businesses achieve double to triple digit growth year-over-year. He has founded many companies of his own in industries including: energy, construction, athletics, education, and business development; and consistently consults business executives.

- William Horning PRESIDENT/FOUNDER, REACH SUCCESS INC.

Two weeks after getting his pilot’s license, Shawn was offered a position with Flexjet as a dispatcher. This opportunity allowed him to soak up as much knowledge about the industry as he could and fine tune his skills. During his time working for Flexjet, he has written, filmed, and edited over 50 videos. He was promoted from Dispatcher to Operations Communication Specialist.

- Shawn George OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST,

FLEXJET

Today, Shawn still works for Flexjet as their OCS while freelancing and as a licensed drone pilot and cinematographer for his own brand, Casual Friday. He has learned that you don’t have to follow a path that is pre-determined, you can create your own by doing what you love to do and remaining consistent and hungry.

Dr. Troy Woodard practices Rhinology, Sinus and Skull Base Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Woodard’s specialty interests include acute and chronic sinonasal disease, CSF leak repairs, and benign and malignant anterior skull base neoplasms. He has maintained his commitment to scholarly work and teaching. Dr. Woodard has published numerous peer reviewed articles, several book chapters, and has given countless lectures. He is currently Co–Director of the Advanced Rhinology, Sinus and Skull Base Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.

He is a champion for diversity and is involved with several diversity initiatives within the Cleveland Clinic, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the Society of University Otolaryngologists. Head and Neck Surgery, making him the first African American to hold this position.

24 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

- Dr. Troy Woodard CO-DIRECTOR ADVANCED RHINOLOGY, CLEVELAND CLINIC

[ BUSINESS ]

[ CLE ]

Wendell is currently serving as the league’s Executive Director/ Commissioner for the last eight years and organizes all the league’s activities, which include: scheduling of games, uniform distribution, team equipment, maintenance/ field permits, structuring team practices, player/coaches training, sponsorships, and community activities each of those years.

- Wendell Fields EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COMMISSIONER, BBUZZBASEBALL.ORG

Wendell is the former Director of Marketing/Drug Treatment Counselor for Key Decisions/Positive Choices Drug Treatment Program in downtown Cleveland and currently serves as Community Resource Manager at Families First Health Services in Independence, Ohio.

Tony F. Sias is the President and CEO of Karamu House, Inc., America’s oldest Black producing theatre. Under Sias, since 2015, Karamu stabilized finances, raised over $10 million for restoration, and increased attendance. Prior to his tenure at Karamu, Sias served in several progressive roles for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) including Director of Arts Education and Artistic Director of Cleveland School of the Arts. As a creative, Sias has produced, directed, and performed in over 100 productions.

He most recently received critical acclaim for directing Karamu’s production of Freedom on Juneteenth and in October 2021 Sias performed narration with The Cleveland Orchestra in Sinfonia No. 5 “Visions” by George Walker.

- Cyril White GLOBAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST, TGBTG SPORTS

26 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

- TONY SIAS PRESIDENT AND CEO, KARAMU HOUSE

Cyril White Embarked on his 25 year Career of international business in 1997 when he started To God be the Glory Sports (tgbtgsports.com) Designed as a training camp for kids, TGBTG has evolved Into a global sports management group and recognizable brand with offices in the USA and China.

The University of St Thomas graduate played pro basketball in China, and then secured 20 years worth of contracts with sports Federations in China to bring over 300 foreign players for exhibition games during this period. His company designed and built the $3 million TGBTG Sports complex in 2008, and is currently developing the $15 million UNITY THROUGH SPORTS community on 5 acres in Houston, Texas The 12 condo airBnb community will feature a new State of the art athletic training facility, and a hydroponic farm For more information visit www.tgfutsc.org

[ COVER ]

Cover and inside photo taken by Mychel Lilly.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 27

COVER

LARESE PURNELL

IS KILLING THE GAME

Cleveland’s Black community has not seen a leader emerge like this since the famous Stokes family. Today, LaRese Purnell is creating a culture of thriving businesses, community giving, and civic pride all while maintaining his integrity.

Written by BRAD BOWLING Brad Bowling is the President of CODE Media Group, LLC. Bowling has his BA in mass media communication and an MBA in marketing. He contributes articles to the magazine continuing his love for writing.

Cover photo and inside photo by: Sylven Lamar Media & Design.

28 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

[ COVER ]

I

f you have not heard of LaRese Purnell, you will. One of the founding partners, along with Meltrice Sharp, and chairperson of CLE Consulting Firm is killing the game of business leader by doing exactly what he envisioned five years ago when he asked God for the strength to accomplish his goals.

Purnell knew that he wanted to have an impact on his community, but he didn’t have the money or a way to give on the level he wanted to. When Purnell started his journey of becoming a community business leader, there weren’t that many people listening.

“I always knew I wanted to do something special for the City of Cleveland. I got tired of hearing how bad it was here, so I decided to do something about it,” Purnell said. “I

can remember going to give a speech and finding only three people in the room. I figured I would at least practice my speech and get better.”

And get better he got. Today, Purnell speaks all over Cleveland lifting spirits and offering hope to scores of people who are feeling the positive wave that Cleveland is experiencing right now. Purnell is a part of a renaissance in Cleveland that includes Mayor Justin Bibb and Congresswoman Shontel Brown. Those figures, coupled with the winning Cleveland Cavaliers and promising Cleveland Browns, means has everyone’s abuzz in positive thinking and feelings.

Those feelings boiled over recently when Purnell hosted his annual Black Business Expo held at Tower City in downtown Cleveland. The three-day event offered Black businesses around Northeast Ohio a chance to gather in one place to highlight their amazing products and services to a new audience of buyers.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 29

[ COVER ] Purnell is responsible for that feeling and promises to deliver even more.

“I’m a numbers guy. And there is such a need for Black people that I had to step up. Statistics tell us that there are not enough Black fathers in the house. Young Black men need to see positive images of Black men doing things and I hope to be that person to show them,” Purnell said.

Some Clevelanders wonder if they can trust what Purnell is doing. Cleveland has always been a tough place to effect change. The city has always struggled for relevance. It has always pushed to be taken seriously by the country as a good place to live. The changing times and cold climate have not been good for the city.

The event brought in over $600k to those shops owners and filled Tower City from wall to wall with all kinds of patrons, including non-Black people of all ages.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked into Tower City,” Brenda from Cleveland said. “It was so nice to see all of the people and great vendors there. We bought stuff, had lunch, and just enjoyed being out of the house.”

Over the last twenty years, Cleveland has seen consistent drops in population and pride making it difficult for those who live here to be inspired. The low wages of Northeast Ohio make it one of the poorest cities in America causing it citizens to not trust each other and not try at the same time. Purnell hopes to change that perspective one person at a time.

“It’s hard for people to trust each other here in Cleveland because people promise things and never deliver. I hope to change all that,” Purnell said.

Trying to understand where Purnell got the audacity to attempt to change a culture, when he speaks about his moth-

Purnell’s generous donations have helped community organizations all over Northeast Ohio.

30 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

[ COVER ]

LaRese Purnell looks forward to a future where Cleveland businesses thrive around its own Black Wallstreet district.

CODE M / APRIL 2021 31

BUSINESS

32 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

[ COVER ]

When not working, Purnell enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.

er, you begin to learn Purnell’s “why” pretty fast. Raised in Warrensville Heights, the Purnell’s didn’t have much. What Purnell did have was a mother who gave and gave no matter what.

“I get my inspiration from my mother; she will give even when it’s her last dollar. We were at Heinen’s the other day and she was trying to tip the cashier and the guy moving the carts. She is just special like that and it makes me want to be a better man,” Purnell explained.

If you sit down with Purnell, it will not be long before he mentions his faith. Purnell feels that his relationship with God has allowed him to do the things he is doing. With a vision, but no money, Purnell prayed and asked God to bless him with the financial ability to help as many people as possible.

He didn’t know if it would work, but he knew that if he stayed in his faith, that he would have a chance to work on God’s behalf to help people.

“Black people have been waiting for a long time for someone to come and save us, but no one is coming to do that. So Black people need to start to trust Black people so we can do this.”

Purnell did not always have it good. Growing up, there were times when his family had to stay in a homeless shelter. There were times when they went to the food bank to get food. But his mother never let it get to her. She kept a smile on her face and always appreciated what they had. Those moments were powerful for Purnell and drive him today to be the man he is.

“I had no money to do the things I wanted to do. And to be honest, there were many times I wanted to quit. I would sit in my car and wonder why it was so hard to improve on my goals,” Purnell said.

Purnell feels like it’s a calling. He might be right. Doors are opening and he is gaining access to people and opportunities CODE M / APRIL 2022 33

BUSINESS

32 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

[ COVER ] that most people don’t have. Purnell is doing the work that most people won’t do — to take on the weight of an impoverished city and drag it kicking and screaming across the finish line. It’s hard and sometimes, lonely work.

“Black people have been waiting a long time for someone to come and save us, but no one is coming to do that. So Black people need to start to trust that Black people can do this,” Purnell said.

Consider that a dollar spent in a white community will stay in that community for thirty days. A dollar spent in a Jewish community will stay there for twenty-eight days. A dollar spent in an Asian community will stay there seventeen days. It’s mindblowing to learn that a dollar spent in the Black community will only stay there six hours.

So, it’s an understatement to say that Cleveland needs a man like LaRese Purnell to drive change, pump money back into the community, and change the spirits of people everywhere.

The Black Business Expo was just the beginning of what Purnell has planned for the city and himself. Purnell would like to create a Black Wallstreet for the city where scores of large, medium, and small Black businesses can take residence and continue to grow together.

The idea for something like that for the City of Cleveland was once something to ignore. But now that Purnell has called it into existence, civic leaders, business owners, and regular folks are beginning to ask how they can help make that a reality.

There is no doubt that we are witnessing something special in LaRese Purnell. We Clevelanders can only hope that we continue to support Purnell so he can deliver on his promise to bless the city with his enthusiasm and amazing spirit. ●

Purnell understands that becoming a public figure also includes keeping his promises.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 35

LIFE

IF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COULD TALK The assault on Black males in America between the ages of 15 to 35 from police profiling, poor living conditions, societal biases, and failing education is putting the entire race in jeopardy. (A two-part series)

by Brad Bowling

36 APRIL 2022 / CODE M

F

rom the beginning of time, man has understood the nature of extinction on Earth.

From the dinosaurs of 65 million years ago to the African white rhino today, an untold number of species have faced and then become extinct. Using the qualifications to determine when a species is under the threat of becoming extinct, Black males from the ages of 15 to 35 are in deep trouble and qualify at a threatened species.

With the beginning of desegregation, the Black male has seen a steady decline in the number of what societies would consider to be a certified heterosexual male able to sustain a family and procreate with a female. If any species is going to survive, there needs to be a thriving population of males and females attempting to mate and maintain the species.

The heterosexual Black male has been under attack

[ LIFE ] from American society for over seventy years and is now at the point where extinction is a real threat. While every other species of male in America has sustainable numbers to procreate and continue to populate their species with offspring, the Black male deals with multiple threats killing off their numbers making it difficult for Black females to find a suitable mate to conceive a child with, maintain a family, and re-populate the species.

The threats to the Black male come from a considerable number of factors that, combined, are killing the species, and driving down the number of qualified men able to perpetuate the species. Those threats consist of: •

Racial Profiling

•

Poor living conditions

•

Lack of structured family (no male in the home)

•

Lack of quality education

•

Mental health issues

•

Biased judicial system

•

Lack of opportunities

•

Organized discrimination

These factors are typically responsible for the struggle that Black males face — and quite often, work in conjunction with each other. This mixture makes it almost impossible to excel and thrive to a viable age to find, mate, procreate, and maintain a meaningful quality of life.

RACIAL PROFILING Black males are racially profiled by the police at nearly twice the rate as other races in America. The profiling of Black men creates a complex of anger, fear, and hatred towards figures of authority. This clear mental stress often leads to bad decisions, false arrests, and anxiety that are the beginning blocks of reducing the number of Black males that make it to age 35.

Adding to the problem of racial profiling is the increased number of Black men who enter America’s biased court system. Once profiled, Black males experience a higher number of engagements with the court that do not produce a favorable outcome. Once in the court system, Black males experience higher rates of imprisonment, felonies, increased fines, and often receive sentences three times higher than their White counterparts.

Biased sentences mean that Blacks are incarcerated longCODE M / APRIL 2022 37

[ LIFE ]

[ LIFE ] er, making it harder to re-enter the population and find gainful employment.

“There is a real problem in the American Justice System for Black men,” Ed, from Warrensville, said. “When we talk about the mental state of Black men, they suffer from unknown diagnoses due to the kind of struggles they experience while just trying to survive in America, and we are not talking about this situation.”

MENTAL HEALTH All Black parents understand the anxiety of raising a Black male in America. The stress of protecting Black boys is a struggle at any age, but when they reach the delicate age of fifteen, the pressure dials up and the dangers become very real.

America’s fear of the Black male is understated. No other group of people are hunted, denied, dismissed, overlooked, accosted, and limited like Black males are in America. Black males suffer from educational bias, work bias, opportunity bias, and are violently policed like no other citizens in this country.

The stress of living under these conditions leads to all kinds of health conditions. It is estimated that most Black men suffer from anxiety and stress for twelve years before the are diagnosed and prescribed a remedy. Diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and stroke are all possible outcomes from living with prolonged levels of stress. Then there is the emotional toll that can lead to mental/emotional issues.

Trayvon Martin was murdered by someone who was biased against young Black males.

LACK OF QUALITY EDUCATION Black males consistently face reduced or poor educational options when growing up. The problem is impacting colleges around the country with a lack of qualified students entering programs and graduating.

For many students, those disparities begin in K-12 classrooms. For example, one county in the Washington DC area found that 64 percent of White third-grade boys were proficient in English Language Arts, compared with about 34 percent of Black boys and 25 percent of Hispanic boys in the same grade, according to state data from 2019. Data from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education shows that in the district, nearly 90 percent of White students graduated high school in four years. That number fell to about 71 percent for Black students and roughly 70 percent for Hispanic children.

“They are more likely to drop out of high school and be involved in the criminal justice system. They are more likely to suffer the effects of poverty and less likely to find quality career opportunities with professional advancement,” said Carol Thompson Cole, president, and chief executive of Venture Philanthropy Partners+Raise DC, which hosted a panel discussion on Howard University’s campus. “We also know that they suffer from racially charged stereotypes and embedded inequities.”

So much more needs to be done if we are going to help our

CODE M / APRIL 2022 39

[ LIFE ] Black males get better grades.

POOR LIVING CONDITIONS WITH A LACK OF MALE ROLE MODELS American culture is seeing a decline in the typical family where there are a mother, father, and children living under one roof. In the Black community, there is an increased occurrence where the ideal family structure of having a male in the home is decreasing annually. This is especially a problem for Black males because of all the external societal threats they experience.

With no guidance from a same-sex parent or parental figure, Black boys typically have no viable example of how to become a successful Black man. Black mothers do an incredible job at filling in the gaps but will often find themselves limited in options once young boys get to age fifteen. Studies find that it’s at this age when boys grow in confidence and experience adult-like racism.

Those conditions often lead to bad decisions, unguided and misguided behavior, and often poor outcomes that cannot be reversed when authorities are included.

ORGANIZED DISCRIMINATION

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After the age of twenty-two when Black males have entered the population to seek and find gainful employment is when life can become especially difficult. Blacks continue to be denied loans, jobs, rental options, assistance, and opportunity at all levels of society. There are unlimited examples of how Blacks, and Black males, experience bias.

These situational occurrences of discrimination make it extremely hard to create an environment where they can support a family, maintain a home, and become a viable partner for the Black female. The relationship between the Black male and female suffers due to his inability to contribute in the traditional way that society has come to expect a man to be in America.

This inability leads to a reduced number of marriages, which decreases the number of offspring being born, thus creating a vicious cycle that continues to attack the Black male’s viability and success in procreating. If change is going to happen, it needs to happen now.

In our next issue, we will examine what can be done to change the patterns that have impacted the development of the Black males for decades.●

[ LIFE ]

PARENTING GRANDKIDS Grandparents all over America are raising their grandkids. Some are doing it for fun, but more and more seniors are stepping in because they have to, due to a lack of involvement from their own kids.

F

or well over a century, one aspect of the “American Dream” has been the idea of working until one’s mid60s and then retiring to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of labor. Retirement meant travel, plenty of leisure time, and enjoying one’s grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

Yet, for Blacks in America, that has never really been their story. Instead, the imperative to survive in this country

Written by DAVID CHRISTEL David has been ghostwriting books for well-known people since 1995. He is also the author of Married Men Coming Out: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming the Man You Were Born to Be.

has pushed families to structure themselves into close-knit, intergenerational support collectives. That meant friends, neighbors, and church and community members jointly working together to ensure the safety and livelihoods of Blacks.

That has evolved today into the phenomena of grandparents parenting for a second go ‘round: their grandchildren. We’re calling it “grandparenting 2.0.”

In 2018, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) proCODE M / APRIL 2022 41

[ LIFE ] duced a research study on African American grandparents (2018 Grandparents Today National Survey). They found that:

•

The parent(s) has mental health challenges or emotional problems

•

The average age of the first-time African American/Black (AA/B) grandparent is 46 years old, which is significantly younger than the general population (50 years old), while the average number of grandchildren is 5.5, higher than the general population (4.5).

•

Child neglect, abandonment, or abuse

•

Parent is in jail

•

Youth or inexperience of parents (teen pregnancy, etc.)

•

Physical health issues or death of parent

They are more likely to be in hands-on roles in the upbringing of grandchildren (e.g., discipline, mentoring, and financial support) and significantly more likely to be a primary caregiver than the general population (31% vs. 5%).

•

Unstable home life, homelessness

•

Lack of financial resources, lack of general ability

•

•

•

AA/B grandparents are less likely to be in a high-income household ($75,000+) than the general population (29% vs.

44%).

They are more likely to feel the financial burden of being a grandparent: One in five state that their financial status is a barrier to seeing more of their grandchildren.

The report also stated that African American/Black grandparents are a source of heritage and wisdom, while virtually all have strong connections to cultural roots (97%). So, the impact of a multigenerational approach to parenting serves to add historical/cultural depth and cohesion to Black families and, by extension, Black communities.

In a North Dakota State University (NDSU) 2021 publication titled “When Grandparents become Parents to their Grandchildren,” they report that “2.5 million grandparents carried the primary responsibility of caring for their grandchildren and meeting their basic needs.” So, why has this trend of grandparents taking on the role of primary caretaker/guardian to a person 18 years old and younger become so prevalent?

The same NDSU publication lists several reasons: •

The parent(s) has an addiction or difficulties with alcohol or drugs

Domestic violence in the home, divorce, other family challenges Military deployment These points are something we’re all aware of and we can look at the historical antecedents that have significantly affected Black communities that bear out these reasons. Yet, despite them, as well as Black experiences over 400 + years, there is an upside to grandparents stepping in to parent again. Some say that grandparents are the soul and survival of Black families.

Referring back to the AARP research report, they state that Black grandparents provide a sense of roots within the family (57%) and are considered a: Source of wisdom: 63%

Valued elder: 49%

Mentor: 49%

Friend: 46%

Teacher: 45%

Babysitter: 37%

Discipliner: 35%

Conveyer of family legacy: 34%

Storyteller: 33%

Financial support: 28%

Very importantly, it appears that Black grandparents are more willing to discuss life issues, the ones that are uncomfortable, with grandchildren and that 72% of grandparents want more information in order to more appropriately communicate with and support their grandchildren. And, conversely, grandparents experience far less loneliness and isolation by being involved with their grandchildren’s lives. Here are some uplifting figures:

Grandparents all over America are stepping up and taking care of their grandchildren.

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[ LIFE ]

Black women come in many wonderful shapes and colors that men find incredibly attractive.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 39

[ LIFE ] •

89% say their relationship with their grandchildren is good for their mental well-being

•

75% say their grandchildren make them more sociable

•

74% say their grandchildren make them have a more active lifestyle

•

50% say their relationship with their grandchildren is good for alleviating health conditions.

Those figures highlight an important point: parenting

Award: LIHTC Development that Best Exemplifies Major Community Impact.

•

In 2014, the Northeast Ohio Apartment Association (NOAA) recognized Griot Village with the highest award distinction: Platinum.

•

In April 2015, a production team and Secretary Julián Castro from the US Department of Health and Human Services visited Griot Village to tape a video to be shown at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.

“Some say that grandparents are the soul and survival of Black families.” grandchildren has a positive two-way affect for Black families. This lends itself to another trend concerning grandparenting 2.0, which is a housing initiative created for seniors raising children. One such project is called Griot Village, located in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland. It’s one of only seven in the country and the only one of its kind in Ohio.

•

Griot Village is the winner of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) 2014 Agency Awards of Merit.

•

The project won the 2014 Developments of Distinction

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The term “griot” means “storyteller,” a perfect analogy of the process of integrating Black roots and culture with today’s chaos, disparities, and racial tensions. Sharing stories, both recent and from over the centuries, handed down from generation to generation not only adds color, they add vibrancy to one’s individual and collective experiences in an interwoven tapestry of creativity, connectivity, inspiration, and meaning.

So, let’s celebrate grandparents for their role in our lives, their strength, their determination, and willingness to continue as parents — again. We know they’re positively influencing younger generations and continuing the tradition of passing their wisdom, culture and history, as well as strengthening our communities! ●

[ LIFE ]

TRADE SCHOOL

VS COLLEGE

The rising cost of repaying a loan from college is forcing some young adults to look at alternatives. Some trade schools offer low costs, faster completion, and a faster path to employment.

O

By David Christel

ne of the most challenging decisions a graduating high school senior is faced with is whether to attend college or to learn a trade and start earning money.

There are a lot of factors to take into account from scholastic ability to talents, finances, teen pregnancy and early marriage, home circumstances, career choices, and whether a student knows what they want to do in life.

For many college students, the purpose of education is to attain a high-paying job.

•

According to the University of Washington, the percentage of unemployed college graduates stands at 53%.

They state that “Even with a perfect resume, references and an established job-seeking strategy, they are unlikely to find work in their field or even one that requires a college degree.”

•

According to Nitro, a company that provides student financial guidance, the average student loan debt after four years of college is approximately $37,172. The Wall Street Journal reported that 43% of college graduates are underemployed in their first job.

Just those facts alone could easily deter a student from the idea of attending school for at least another four years. Juxtapose this against the following facts from Finances Online, which provides reviews for business: •

81% of high school dropouts state that the teaching of realworld skills would have kept them in school.

•

The five fastest-growing jobs in health science are home health aides, personal care aides, nurses, physician assistants, and physical therapist assistants (American Education SerCODE M / APRIL 2022 45

[ LIFE ] vices, 2019).

•

The median annual wage for health care careers is $28,710 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020).

•

The five fastest-growing jobs in business and finance are customer service representatives, operations managers, office clerks, stock clerks, secretaries, and administrative assistants (AES, 2019)

•

In business and finance, the median annual wage is $67,710 (BLS, 2020).

•

The five Information Technology jobs with the best outlook are information security analysts, IT research scientists, web developers, computer support specialists, and software developers.

•

For IT jobs, the median annual wage in 2018 is $84,580 (BLS, 2020).

It would seem that moving right into the job market straight from high school is a good idea, especially if a student feels that their general education didn’t prepare them for the real world.

The pros for attending a trade school include: Learn relevant skills, it’s less costly, it takes less time, smaller class sizes and flexibility, job-specific educational format, specialized career offerings, high demand, hands-on experience, no waiting for admission dates, and they offer career services.

The downside of trade schools includes: Limited scope of job opportunities, they are not always cheaper, there is no job

guarantee, no shared knowledge, it discourages skill set diversity, there are no divergent opinions in school, job specialization means no other career path, jobs may not always be available, limited choice of schools to choose from, and limited job flexibility.

The upshot of either option is that there’s risk involved. For some students, going straight from school-to-job is their only option or it may be that further schooling holds no interest for them and they’ve already got a trade they’re interested in. For other students, higher education is their choice perhaps because they don’t have an aptitude in the trades field, their aspirations require at least one degree, or their family is insisting on attending college. There are a million more reasons for choosing either path.

Amanda Olson, in an article dated July 5, 2019 for Deseret News, wrote: “Career and technical education isn’t the wood -shaving shop class of many parents’ experiences. It is instead a robust network of programs for students as early as junior high, with dual enrollment available for high school students, as well as certificate, credential, and training programs for post-graduate and returning students.”

Olson also states, “Career education’s focus is on ‘pathways’ — direct means to the ends students want: a job, a certificate, or a smooth transfer to a four-year college.”

Importantly, students need to understand that if they choose to forego further schooling and invest in a trade in-

College students enjoy the time between being a child and becoming a bill-paying adult.

46 APRIL 2021 / CODE M

[ LIFE ] stead that attending college in the future is still a possibility.

With a wealth of online courses available from most colleges and universities, opportunity is always available to expand one’s horizons and job/career prospects. And many companies and businesses are interested in candidates who already have job experience.

Whatever a student’s situation, it’s key to understand that the more diverse one’s education and life/work experience, the more options available to be more flexible with one’s career choices.

In today’s world, it isn’t unknown for people to enjoy multiple careers in their lifetime, often in very different spheres. The point is, there is no rubric or algorithm to follow. Whatever your current circumstances are, whether just graduating from high school or already in the workforce, choose what works best for you while remaining true to your responsibilities. As the saying goes, “The sky’s the limit!” ●

Completing a trade means a faster paycheck without the burden of college debt.

CODE M / APRIL 2022 47

[ LIFE ]

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FASHION PRESTIGE CUSTOM CLOTHING “Treat your clients right, it’s not about making the big sale—I want to build longevity.”

Staton Brady, Owner

Written by ANTHONY KIRBY Anthony T. Kirby is the Lifestyle Editor for CODE M Magazine and has spent over 30 years in the menswear industry. He lives in Philadelphia, PA where he is the Creative Director for FINICKEY, an online men's haberdashery brand. (https://finickey.us)

T

he founder of Wendy’s, Dave Thomas, said, “What do you need to start a business? It’s three simple things: Know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”

These three points were key drivers for Staton Brady on his journey of starting a men’s custom clothing business in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Staton is the owner of Prestige Custom Clothier, established in 2019, which specializes in men’s dress and formal attire.

His first foray into starting his own business was back in 2011 when both he and his cousin had a T-shirt business. It was through a mutual client of this business who happened to be in men’s custom clothing. From the conversations that client shared about this business, Staton became immersed in the

area of men’s custom clothing.

Dressing up wasn’t something new to Staton, coming from a family that always looked their best. Their clothing was purchased from the local department store or men’s shop. You were always limited by what suits were on the racks of these shops. The idea of custom-making your own clothes through selecting your own fabrics, to make and fit, “blew his mind.” There were a vast amount of offerings to choose from.

With a long tenure of interest in clothing as a hobby, it was figuring out how to turn it into a business. To gain both knowledge and experience in the industry, Staton interned at Bespoken Mogul while attending the University of Cincinnati. During his years there, from 2012 to 2016, he was able to garner the knowledge needed to be successful at his craft.

Staton wanted his intern experience to evolve from a “passion to CODE M / APRIL 2022 49

[ FASHION ] a paycheck.” At that point, Staton, a 19-year-old men’s custom clothing rep, the challenge was wanting to sell high-end garments to attorneys, judges, and financial planners in his city.

Would these professional men trust their custom clothing needs and money with this youngster?

Not leaving anything to doubt, Staton not only would have to study the business of men’s clothing, fabrication, style and coloration, but creating teachable moments with his customers about the origins of wool, i.e., what’s a super 100 (thickness measured in microns), micron (thread diameter), and suit construction. With this information in hand, he was able to gain both trust and confidence amongst his clients.

Upon resigning from Bespoken Mogul in 2016, he was given a non-compete clause for 3 years then set out on his own. With only $1,000 of start-up money, Staton pursued his passion of creating his own custom clothing business in September 2019, which was originally named Prestige Custom Tailors. With that name, customers thought his business was offering an alterations service, so the name was changed to Prestige Custom Clothing.

Now within his element of providing custom clothing for clients under his own brand, no one would have predicted Station’s dream would be deferred six months in March 2020 by a world pandemic, COVID-19. As the world shut down, small businesses panicked on how to sustain themselves. Prestige Custom Clothing was faced with this issue, the impact was felt more since this was a business still in its infancy. Staton, had clients lined up in the pipeline for custom spring wardrobes, but with the shutdown, he lost ninety percent of this business.

Staton didn’t waste time consumed by agony or defeat. Instead, he pivoted from high-end business attire to the wedding market. People were still having weddings during the pandemic, but with smaller groups and venues. There was enough business to carry Prestige Custom Clothing throughout the remaining 2020 season.

Towards the end of 2020 and into 2021, the country was in preparation of opening back up. Men were emerging wanting to venture out again in style — no more showing up in athleisure wear on Zoom meetings. COVID-19 became an opportunity for Staton, as men tried to get back into fitted clothing from prior to the pandemic. They needed new dress clothes.

Staton was able to introduce his clients to his House Signature Style: Modern British Inspired, a look of classic and timeless pieces — with an opening price range of $1,000 for a domestic custom suit and up to $10,000 for an entirely hand-tailored suit made from vicuna. Working with some of the best fabric mills, such as Holland-Sherry, Zegna and Scabal, creativity is endless in designing ideal suits, sport-jackets, outerwear pieces, and tuxedos.

With a full year of running his business, Staton is looking to be a mainstay in the custom clothing arena. What’s next for Prestige Custom Clothing: creating a casual apparel, denim collection, knitwear, and sweatsuits/loungewear.

Prestige Custom Clothier offers some of the best suits on the market today.

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Staton Brady is the next generation of custom clothiers leading the charge of turning out well-made clothing one-stitch-attime. No matter what the season, why not show up in your very best in Prestige Custom Clothing designed just for your special occasion? ●

[ FASHION ]

It's OK to mix color and patterns...The black and white bowtie is a jump off from the blue suit...

CODE M / APRIL 2022 47

[ FASHION ]

Mandeaux– Handcrafted in Spain, this family-owned and operated business is based out of the United States.

Mandeaux affirms the motto that “class and good taste should never be optional in life.” Established by Aaron Sharp, Mandeaux is a luxury lifestyle boutique brand specializing in high-quality footwear.

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MAKE YOUR FOOTPRINT BOLD AS POSSIBLE

[ FASHION ]

All the shoes featured in this article come from Black-owned shoe companies. CODE M is excited to showcase these brands in our April issue.

Enzi - 100% handcrafted of the finest leather, Enzi is a footwear label that stands out amongst the rest. As a brand, they take pride in the overall craftsmanship of their shoes. Every nuance is important, from how they are finished, to the details of how they are made, and their comfortability. Their focus on quality is what sets them apart.

Written by LARON HARLEM A wardrobe shopper, stylist and accessories designer who specializes in dapper looks that truly appeal to the most discerning eye. mailto:styledbydecar-lo@gmail.com, https://

Keexs - Based out of Lagos, Nigeria, Keexs originated in 2015. The mission is to design a product that changes lives, feels good, and inspires. Its unique designs envelop the Lagos culture while bringing a unique style and conversation piece to fashion

Sneaker Asylum is Conyers, GA first and only sneaker and shoe boutique specializing in shoes from around the world. This Black family-owned store is providing a new spin on everything footwear and rewriting the rules one shoe collaboration at a time. From classic styles to new innovative brands, Sneaker Asylum provides exclusive opportunities to suit your needs.

What is your addiction? We have the antidote.

CODE M / APRIL 2021 53

[ FASHION ]

Tronus - The first sneaker brand owned and curated by a woman, Santia Deck is a history-making athlete, trainer, and CEO. Tronus is uniquely fresh, sleek, and highly comfortable. It is the first of its kind and seen as the future of footwear. Tronus is known to be comfortable and fashion forward.

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