CODE M Magazine 2022 December Issue

44

For over a century, Black women straightened their hair to gain social acceptance. Cancer causing agents found in relaxers are killing Black women and forcing them to rethink their hairstyles.

ON THE

COVER

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

14 JACK OF ALL TRADES

Richard “Zoom” Scott’s 37 year career at FOX 8 TV comes with an incredible ability to change with the times and help wherever you can.

17 HISPANIC CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

that keeps on giving. Luckily, for you, CODE M has done the work of finding gifts that make you look like a genius and thoughtful at the same time.

28 THE LAND OF MERRY AND BRIGHT

10 MOVERS AND SHAKERS

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

12 MAN CODES

Family.

Hispanic holiday traditions give Latino children the chance to celebrate the holidays well into the new year.

22 10 GIFT IDEAS SHE WILL LOVE

Tis the season for gift shopping. If you are anything like the rest of America, you struggle to find the gift

Sparkling lights and festive events mark the start of the holiday season in Cleveland, offering plenty of options to get residents and visitors alike into the merriest of spirits.

41 HOME WORKOUT WITHOUT WEIGHTS

Join CODE M’s four part series on getting into mental and physical shape. As 2023 approaches, Black men

THE SHOE GAME

A man who understands that his shoes do most of the talking does not have to say much. First impressions start with a great pair

need to be on their A game if they are going to dominate life next year.

48 PAYING IT FORWARD AS A PASSION

When Antwanye Ford started his business, Enlightened, he merged his passion for Software Engineering and Security and mentorship into one concept. It turns out that this combo is perfect for his bottom line and his heart.

50 THE BEST HAS YET TO COME

Dr. Willie Jolley inspires millions around the world to live their best life by getting up every day and becoming the person you always knew you could be.

54 COUPLES EARN MORE

Since the beginning of humanity, it was determined first by God that men do better when they have a helpmate. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

58 DJ COCO IS BLOWING UP

SHAKERS

TANZALEA “TANZIE” DANIELS

Tanzalea “Tanzie” Daniels is a Detroit native who has called Cleveland home for the past three years. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. GIGCECO operates retail stores and provides over 25 programs and services to individuals throughout their 10 county territory within Ohio and West Virginia.

Tanzie has 20 years of extensive finance, accounting, and operations experience in both the for profit and non profit sectors. Most recently she has held positions with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, The Detroit Zoological Society, and LafargeHolcim. She is seen as a collaborative thought leader and is dedicated to improving the lives of others.

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

STANLEY JACKSON J.D.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Attorney Stanley Jackson earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Bowling Green State University. He also holds a Masters in Public Administrations and International Affairs Degree from Bowling Green State University. After graduate school, Mr. Jackson graduated with his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. He practices in the areas of trucking and auto litigation, medical malpractice, negligent security, maritime injuries, civil rights, police brutality, and medical devices/pharmaceutical litigation.

With over 15 years of experience, Attorney Jackson has practiced successfully in a variety of other areas such as sports, entertainment, real estate, and intellectual property. Specifically, Stanley has represented numerous athletes internationally. He has functioned as legal advisor to Don King Productions.

DELANTE SPENCER THOMAS J.D.

Delanté Spencer Thomas serves as the Chief Ethics Officer for the City of Cleveland where he provides advice and counsel to the Mayor and senior leaders with regard to Ohio Ethics Law. As the city's first ever ethics officer, Delanté is responsible for building an ethics education and compliance program for a city workforce of over 8,000 employees.

Prior to joining city leadership, Delanté spent five years as Deputy Inspector General and Ethics Counsel for the Cuyahoga County Agency of Inspector General; two years as the Director of JD Advantage Advising & Outreach at Case Western Reserve University School of Law; and since 2017, managed his own company LMP Solutions, LLC.

SHANTELLE K. JENKINS Ed.D.

Shantelle K. Jenkins is the founder and principal of Green Tree Executive Coaching and Consulting, LLC. As a Georgetown University trained executive leadership coach and member of the International Federal Coaching Federation, Shantelle coaches executives from startups to Fortune 500 companies specializing in transformational leadership.

She is also Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program at Ohio University. She is a faculty lead collaborator for an Academic Think Tank, has presented at both national and international conferences, and currently serves an executive board member for ACE Women’s Network Ohio.

MAN CODES: FAMILY

“A family is like a forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has its place.” African Proverb

“Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.” Andre Maurois

“In every conceivable manner, the family is linked to our past, bridge to our future.” Alex Haley

“Friends are the family you choose.” Jess C. Scott

“I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a Black family it says they're looting; if you see a white family it says, they're looking for food.” Kanye West

“Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” Pierce Brown

“A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person

in it.” Mary Karr

Compiled by Bilal S. Akram

“You need to make time for your family no matter what happens in your life” Matthew Quick

“

I been with strangers all day and they treated me like family. I come in here to family and you treat me like a stranger.” August Wilson

“

For his children, he would move mountains.” Renee Ahdieh

“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.” Mario Puzo

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

Alex Haley

JACK OF ALL TRADES

Richard “Zoom” Scott’s

37-year career at FOX-8

TV

Written by ANTHONY KIRBY

CLE STRONG

n the 1940s and ‘50s, people would get a job and stay at that job until they retired. They would get a gold watch, maybe a good pension if they were lucky, and they would disappear into retirement. Those times are gone. So, when someone mentions that they have been working at the same job for 37 years, you must stop and pay attention.

Richard “Zoom” Scott is the man to pay attention to. He has worked at Cleveland Channel 8, FOX 8, for 37 years. This type of longevity in a career only comes with working hard, being a likable person, and learning several usable skills at the same

time.

The Alliance High School graduate knew coming into his profession that he would have to work hard to advance.

“Back when I first got started, I knew that if I worked hard, I could get everything I wanted out of my job,” Scott said.

He started off, and still works as a technician. But he also helps with several other jobs as well. Scott works as a: cameraman, writer, producer, and flies on TV 8’s Sky Fox helicopter every morning to assist with the morning

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)

comes with an incredible ability to change with the times and help wherever you can.

traffic.

“Not much has changed in the way of news. We still must get out there to find the story and video comes before audio all the time,” Scott explained.

He has seen his share of reporters come and go during his time at Fox 8. Cleveland is a mid market town. New York, Chicago, and Las Angeles are all major market towns. Because of that, Cleveland will often get news talent either on the way up or down as their career dictates.

Cleveland is a special place to report the news because it still offers three major sports teams, it is a large draw for concerts and events, and the community is always viable in some way.

When Scott isn’t working, he finds time to support the community with his 10th annual Soup for the Soul event, which is held every year to help feed needy families.

“I feel like when you’re fortunate like I am, you must find ways to help others. We started this program to help those who are less fortunate,” Scott said.

Soup for the Soul helps aid those who might need food and warmth. The event brings out the best in the City of Cleveland and from those who also care about giving back.

“

I love the fact that so many wonderful people come out to support us year after year. It makes the holidays special for me and my family and I would not change a thing,” Scott said proudly.

As times change, traditions seem to change. But it’s good that some things remain just like they were back in the day. Richard “Zoom” Scott is the kind of person we never want to see change. ●

Scott flies on the FOX 8 Sky Fox helicopter every morning to bring the weather and traffic to Clevelanders.

HISPANIC CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Hispanic holiday traditions give Latino children the chance to celebrate the holidays well into the new year.

Written by ELISA CUERVO CLARK

Whoever coined the phrase, the best of both worlds truly knew what they were talking about. Growing up in a mixed household, I not only celebrated the birth of Jesus while anticipating good ol’ Santa sliding down the chimney with a big bag of gifts, I also got to enjoy many Latino celebrations and festivities that last well into the new year.

Latino holiday celebrations are big, with family and friends,

and sometimes, depending on where you live, entire neighborhoods come together to eat, drink, sing, and dance until the wee hours of the morning. Most Hispanic traditions come from a religious background. However, it's interesting to see which ones have stayed religiously based and which have morphed into more social celebrations.

Here are a few Latino holiday activities courtesy of https://bilinguallyyours.com: #1 Día de la Inmaculada Concepción

Elisa Cuervo Clark is the CEO of Spanglish Media Groupe, LLC. She is an award winning writer, director and producer. She contributes articles to the magazine to increase mainstream attention to the Latinx community.

December 8th

El Día de la Inmaculada Concepción celebrates two things. Religiously speaking, it honors the Virgin Mary and is a celebration of the fact that she was conceived, born, and lived until her death without sin.

The date, December 8th, was chosen because it's exactly nine months before Virgin Mary was born on September 8th.

Beyond that, however, this holiday is the official start of the Christmas season in many Spanish speaking countries. Once December 8th rolls around you can expect to see Christmas

decorations, and nativity scenes, and hear villancicos straight on until Three Kings' Day on January 6th.

#2 Las Posadas

December 16th 24th

Las Posadas is mainly celebrated in Mexico and Central America during the nine days leading up to Christmas. Why nine? Because that's how long it took Mary and Joseph to make it to Bethlehem (or Belén).

Starting December 16th, people reenact the trip. Some dress up in costume and have a pregnant Mary ride a donkey while asking for a place to stay (pedir posada) at various houses.

Again, depending on the family or region, friends and family pray, get together, hit a piñata, and share food and drink.

#3 Parranda

Want to combine Christmas carols, musical instruments, and waking up your fellow friends and family late at night? Then Puerto Rico has your number.

Parrandas are groups of people who go from house to house late at night singing Christmas carols, are invited in for some food, and then move to the next house as the group gets bigger and bigger.

#4 Tamaladas

For many Spanish speaking Christmas lovers, Christmas isn't complete without tamales.

Mexico and many other tamale making countries have tamaladas around Christmas time. Tamaladas is a full day affair where friends and family gather together to (socialize and...) make tamales. Yum.

#5 Nochebuena Christmas Eve

Where English speaking countries typically place importance on Christmas Day, many His-

Hispanic Christmas is a

panic countries place the focus on Christmas Eve. That's the day for large family gatherings and opening presents, while Christmas Day is calm and lowkey.

#6 Misa del Gallo

Midnight Mass

La Misa del Gallo is a Christmas Eve midnight mass. It's named Rooster Mass because some people believe a rooster crowed the night Jesus was born. There's that and the idea that a rooster crows to start a new day as in Christmas Day.

#7 Dia de los Reyes Magos

Three

Kings' Day

Three Kings'

Day

Lastly, January 6th is Three Kings' Day, also called Epiphany in English. It celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar and the gifts they gave to el Niño Jesus.

This is another gift giving occasion for kids and the close to the holiday season. ●

Hispanic music offers festive sounds for the holiday season.

Tis the season for gift shopping. If you are anything like the rest of America, you struggle to find the gift that keeps on giving. Luckily, for you, CODE M has done the work of finding gifts that make you look like a genius and thoughtful at the same time.

4. Changeable Felt Letter Board

Any room will look so trendy with a letter board that can be updated with cute, funny phrases. If pink's not your thing, it comes in 26 other colors, including Ombre designs and rainbow. $26.95

5. Premium Bamboo Bathtub Tray Caddy

For a fancy feeling gift that's actually affordable, look to this bathtub tray caddy. It has a stand that can be propped to read a book or display a tablet, plus a wine glass holder. $29.99

6. Le Specs. Air Heart Sunglasses

If these glamorous and slightly oversized sunnies look familiar it's because Meghan Markle sported this exact pair during her 2019 baby shower. Shoppers, note that these fan favorite shades have a track record for selling out fast. $69.00

7. Leather Touchscreen Texting and Driving Gloves

If you're bougie on a budget, check out these Italian cashmere lined leather gloves that boast over 1.7k ratings. As one reviewer put it: "They are great, and actually fit very well. Beautifully packaged. Could be a gift but I am keeping them!" $19.99

8. BoostIQ RoboVac 15C MAX

It's hard to come by a list of best robot vacuums online (written by experts who actually tested hundreds of models) where eufy's RoboVac 15C MAX isn't included as a budget friendly mention. The RoboVac 15C MAX has wifi and Alexa voice connectivity, which makes it easy breezy to set up and use. Reviewers love how it delivers an impressive clean with strong suction and self charges after a clean. $149.99

9. Daily Remedy Foot Soak

Add one cup per gallon of water, soak for 20 minutes, and let the sea salt, Epsom salt, eucalyptus oil, hemp seed oil, arnica oil, and vitamin E oil soothe your tired, aching feet. $14.97

10. Bombas Originals Ankle Socks

Bombas famously gives away as much as they sell. They give socks, tees, and underwear to more than 3,500 partners who distribute their clothes to shelters, rehabilitation centers, street outreach teams, schools, and more. Buy a pair of these sturdy, comfortable socks for you, and know that another pair goes to someone in need. $22.99

All items can be found on: https://amazon.com

Pricing my change from the date of publication of this article.

THE LAND OF MERRY AND BRIGHT

Sparkling lights and festive events mark the start of the holiday season in Cleveland, offering plenty of options to get residents and visitors alike into the merriest of spirits.

The official holiday kick off in Downtown Cleveland has a new name this year, and the holiday fun is more plentiful than ever before. Winterland's kick off event features a day full of fun in Public Square on Nov. 26, including live music, ice skating, carriage rides, fire pits for roasting marshmallows, pop up shopping experiences, and plenty of tasty food and drink. This year, the merriment continues throughout the winter season and Clevelanders can enjoy ice skating in Public Square, as well as special events and activities planned around Downtown through February.

Full calendar of winter events & activities available online Wild Winter Lights

Wild Winter Lights will once again transform Cleveland Metroparks Zoo into a winter wonderland. More than 1.5 million lights will bring hundreds of displays to life in different holiday themed areas such as Candyland, Enchanted Forest, Starry Skies, and Santa’s Workshop. Attendees can also enjoy carousel rides, ice carvers, live music, model train displays, and a dynamic light show featuring a 50 foot tree. A drive through option on certain days allows residents to stay cozy in the car as they view the light displays.

Walk through dates: November 17 20, 23, 25 27, December 1 4, 8 11, 15 23, 26 30. Drive through dates: November 15 16, 22, 29 30, December 6 7, 12 14

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland

Advance tickets are required (Daytime zoo admission does not include access);

Twinkle in the 216

The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s winter show, Twinkle in the 216, pays festive homage to Cleveland’s historic neighborhoods and the communities within them. The indoor and outdoor gardens feature vignettes of iconic local buildings and sights, along

Photo by Wil Lindsey

with plenty of twinkling lights, handmade gingerbread houses, festive horticulture displays, and decorated trees. Families can also enjoy Breakfast with Santa at the Botanical Garden on Dec. 11 or 18.

Saturday, Nov. 19 Saturday, Dec. 31 (closed Mondays except Dec. 19 & 26, Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day); full hours available online

Admission: $20 per adult, $14 per child, free for ages 2 and under

11030 East Blvd., Cleveland

Light Up Lakewood

It will be a winter wonderland on the west side as Light Up Lakewood returns for the 16th year. The outdoor community festival will take place in Downtown Lakewood on Dec. 3, bringing the holiday cheer with a parade, tree lighting ceremony, winter fireworks, a holiday market, live ice carving, and entertainment for all ages. It will also include plenty of local food and drink, along with a Beer Garden for the 21+ revelers.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 8 p.m.

Detroit Ave. in Downtown Lakewood

Holiday CircleFest

University Circle’s Wade Oval will become a can’t miss holiday stop during Holiday CircleFest on Dec. 4. The Wade Oval skating rink will open for the season with free admission on the day of CircleFest. Attendees can also enjoy live ice carvers and horse drawn carriage rides and get a start on their shopping list at the outdoor holiday market. Of course, it’s not a celebration without some holiday icons, so Mr. Jingeling, Santa, and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to greet families before the excitement wraps up with fire displays and winter lanterns after dark.

Saturday, Dec. 4, noon 7 p.m.

Wade Oval: 10820 East Blvd., Cleveland

Holiday Happiness: A Multicultural Celebration

Families are invited to explore different faiths, backgrounds, and cultures at Maltz Museum’s Holiday Happiness: A Multicultural Celebration. Different cultural organizations will be on hand to share what they do to commemorate the winter holidays. Children will learn more about different cultural celebrations and enjoy a Hanukkah story performance, Christmas music, readings of peace, multicultural stories, and more.

Sunday, Dec. 11, 1:30 2:30 p.m.

Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage: 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood

Free admission; advance registration required

THE LAND OF DECKING THE (PERFORMANCE) HALLS

Cleveland’s theaters, performance halls, and concert venues will be decked out and brimming with holiday cheer this winter.

The Black Nativity

Black Nativity, Langston Hughes soulful retelling of the Christmas story, will be presented by Karamu House again this holiday season. This year’s performances will take place at Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre, in partnership with Cleveland Play House. Legendary playwright and poet Langston Hughes spent many years in Cleveland and was a familiar face at Karamu House, which is the oldest, African American theater in the United States. The show tells the story of the birth of Jesus through poetry, scripture, dance, and plenty of music. Hughes was commissioned by Karamu to write the gospel drama in 1961.

Dec. 9 18; full schedule of performances available online

Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre: 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Tickets ($40 $50) are available online

Hip Hop Nutcracker

Giving a contemporary twist to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, “Hip Hop Nutcracker” will fill the stage at Playhouse Square for one night only this holiday season. The performance features a supercharged cast of a dozen dancers, a live DJ, hip hop performances, and digital graffiti to tell the classic holiday story in a new and innovative way.

Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.

Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre: 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Tickets ($25 $65) are available online

Cleveland Ballet performs The Nutcracker

For those looking for a more traditional take on the holiday favorite, the Cleveland Ballet will enchant and inspire with their performance of “The Nutcracker.” The family friendly production is unique to Cleveland, featuring choreography from Cleveland Ballet’s artistic director.

Thursday, Dec. 15 Sunday, Dec. 18; full schedule of performances available online

Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace: 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Tickets (starting at $28) are available online

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts

A Cleveland holiday tradition, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Holiday Concerts feature sing along music performed by the internationally recognized orchestra accompanied by guest choirs. Concertgoers will feel the holiday spirit as they are surrounded in the festive splendor of Mandel Concert Hall at Severance and will even be treated to a special visit from a jolly man in a red suit.

Thursday, Dec. 8 Sunday, Dec. 18; full schedule of performances available online

Mandel Concert Hall at Severance: 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Tickets (starting at $49) are available online

Christmas a lo LatinUS Ohio’s first all Latino theater company will host a holiday show featuring two short Christmas themed works during Christmas a lo LatinUS. “La Apuesta” and “Santa Clo va a la Cuchilla” are comedic takes on the classic Christmas story. Both works are presented in Spanish with English supertitles.

December 2 4 & 9 11; Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

LatinUS Theater: 2937 W. 25th St., Cleveland

Tickets ($18) are available online

Pop stars celebrating in Cleveland Several big names will make stops in Cleveland as part of their holiday season celebrations: Crooner Harry Connick Jr. will kick off the holiday festivities with An Evening with Harry Connick Jr.: A Holiday Celebration at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theater on Dec. 1.

The following week, Brett Eldredge will bring his annual Glow LIVE Tour to KeyBank State Theater, performing

Christmas is always a special time in Cleveland, Ohio.

Christmas classics from his 2016 album of the same name.

Jazz fans can join Dave Koz and Friends for a special holiday show on Dec. 11 at Connor Palace.

Locals and their visiting friends and family can wrap up the holiday season at Trans Siberian Orchestra’s Ghosts of Christmas Eve performances on Dec. 30 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

THE LAND OF YOUR WINTER PLAYGROUND

There’s SNOW place like Cleveland in the winter, and, even as the temperatures drop and the lake effect snowflakes fly, there are plenty of chances for Clevelanders to make #TheLand their own personal winter playground.

Seasonal Brews

Nothing says holiday cheer in Cleveland quite like a festive ale, and there’s certainly no shortage of options thanks to local breweries. The season isn’t complete without a fresh brewpub pour of Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Christmas Ale which celebrates 30 years this holiday season complete with a ginger, cinnamon, and honey rim. Other local breweries have followed suit and added their twist to the suds of the season, creating a lineup to keep Clevelanders’ thirst quenched all season long. (Local beer lovers should also be sure to take this chance to finish up their check ins on the 2022 Cleveland Brewery Passport!)

DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s concierge team is available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact the team via email (cleconcierge@destinationcle.org). ●

Photo by Cody York

Happy HOLIDAYS

Wayne Dawson discusses his new book, his amazing family, and his wishes for everyone this holiday season.

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.

and inside photo taken by Sylven Lamar.

As 2022 ends, many people take a moment to reflect on their year and count their blessings.

They count their blessings so they can ring in a new year by appreciating what they had. For Wayne Dawson, the counting of blessings started a long time ago, and seems to continue year after year after year.

Dawson is the morning anchor for Cleveland’s WJW FOX8 News program going on for twenty years. His career at FOX spans over forty years and Dawson is currently the one person, on air, who has been on local TV, at any station, that long. “I am so blessed. Every day I thank God for what I have been able to do,” Dawson said.

The Glenville native and Shaw Highschool graduate always knew he wanted to work in news. The journalism major got his first job at FOX8 as a part time employee and worked his way up to morning anchor over the course of time.

Dawson’s career at the station has survived eight ownership groups, nine station managers, eight news directors, and he has worked with ten co anchors over his 42 year career at the

station. He credits his faith, and his ability to stay relevant as the keys to his success for being on one network that long.

“

Everyone always asks me what the keys are to me being on TV this long. I always tell them that my secret is to know that times change. You can either stay with the times or die. I choose to stay up with the trends so I can be the best journalist I can be,” Dawson explained.

The times have changed. Back when Dawson first started on the news, there were only three channels on TV. The purpose of the news was to inform and keep communities connected. Today, the news is seen much differently. FOX8’s morning news show has been number one in the market since Dawson became the morning anchor.

Dawson attributes his success to his strong belief in God. His faith guides his decisions and choices, so much so that for the last five years, Dawson has been the pastor of Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church. He always wanted to do more when it came to working for other people and pastoring allows him to do that.

“

It’s a lot of hard work to be a pastor. But it’s Gods strength that allows me to do all the amazing things I get to do,” Dawson said.

Wayne Dawson and the FOX 8 TV morning team.

Wayne Dawson releases his new book, The Seeds of Greatness are Within You in December.

And he is doing amazing things. This month, Dawson released his new book, The Seeds of Greatness are Within You. The book discusses Dawson’s amazing career and his wonderful life.

The book goes over Dawson’s life growing up in a single parent household, his struggles in school, and how he barely graduated because of hanging out with the wrong crowd. And finally, how he turned his life around to become what he is today.

“I hope the book shows that you can come from humble beginnings and get everything you want out of life,” Dawson stated. “I didn’t have a lot growing up. We were poor. But I found something that I wanted to do with my life, and I worked hard to get my degree from Kent State University, and I got lucky some, too.”

Dawson doesn’t want people to use their current condition as an excuse to not try. He wants everyone to believe that there is something better for them out there and that they can achieve their goals with prayer, hard work, and effort.

The message of the book is that adversity makes you stronger. If Dawson could share any point, it’s that people can rise and overcome their problems.

Dawson wants people to know that his path was not easy. He had to go to summer school to graduate from Shaw. He had to go to night school to graduate from Kent State University. He wants people to know that when they see him on TV, they’re seeing him at the end of tons and tons of hard work put into being on TV every day.

“Most people see the effort and think that I had it easy. It’s not true. I struggled as a kid. My mom was on food stamps when I was growing up. It’s what it is. But we overcame it. I’m here and I did it,” Dawson said.

Top photo: Dawson’s amazing kids and grandkids.

Bottom Photo: Dawson is the pastor of the Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church.

The book and story of Wayne Dawson is so important for kids to understand today. In the world of “everything comes easy,” people need to know that there are no shortcuts to success. It doesn’t come overnight. And it never, never is as easy as it seems.

Success takes sacrifice, dedication, and patience. Dawson’s 42 year career at one station may not seem like an accomplishment, but when you finally get it, you develop a great appreciation for seeing this Black man on TV. We all should be so blessed to do something that we loved for 42 years.

Dawson wishes everyone a very merry Christmas this holiday season, as only a pastor can. ●

Top Photo: Dawson and his beautiful wife Laverne.

Bottom Photo: Dawson and the members of FOX 8 TV.

HOME WORKOUT WITHOUT WEIGHTS

A

ttention Men! How men feel is largely based on how good their physical and mental being is. There is no better time to begin the journey of creating a better you.

That journey begins with exercise. Exercise builds a better body and a better mind because it impacts everything. Blood flow, sleep, inflammation, mood, and stress level are all impacted when you get enough exercise.

This four part series on working out comes with no excuses. CODE M has put together a workout regime that you can use with no weights. You only need your motivation and time to begin this routine.

CODE M wants readers from all around the country to join in and get fit together.

Join CODE M’s four part series on getting into mental and physical shape. As 2023 approaches, Black men need to be on their A game if they are going to dominate life next year. https://garrettwaller.com by

Knee high run

Overhead squat

Glute bridge march 2

Glute bridge march

Garrett Waller

All photo are of Garrett Waller.

THE CODE: START STRONG, FINISH STRONGER

How you finish one chapter is how you will start the next. The best way to cultivate a transformative 2023 is to make a mental switch at the end of this year. You don't need a complex training plan to get or maintain better health and looks during the holiday season. All you need is your body weight, seven moves, and your will power. The first workout bolsters your strength, the second channels cardio neither will keep you from the holiday mix.

DECEMBER PROGRAM

Tackle one of these workouts 6 days a week. Start each workout with 1 minute of the warmup move. Rest at least 1 day each week.

Warmup

Do the Warmup for 1 minute then begin the Strength or Cardio workout.

Do each move in the circuit for 60 seconds. Complete 2 rounds then take a 60 second rest before starting the next round. Do up to 5 rounds.

BLACK WOMEN’S HAIR UNDER ATTACK

AAmerican popular culture has always been driven by Black influence. But for Black women, hairstyles seemed to be dominated by white culture. For over 200 years, Black women have been straightening their hair in order to fit in, get jobs, and be accepted among dominant beauty standards. But with recent studies, Black women are dying from the chemicals used to straighten their hair, forcing them to develop alternatives.

A 2007 article by researchers at the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University and the Howard University Cancer Center was one of the first to publish work regarding a threat that hair relaxers might be connected with breast cancer.

Oxford Academic published research in 2012 regarding Black women being at risk of uterine leiomyomata (fibroids) due to hair relaxer use.

For over a century, Black women straightened their hair to gain social acceptance. Cancer-causing agents found in relaxers are killing Black women and forcing them to rethink their hairstyles.

The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published research in 2017 that detailed, “African American women experience more hair related anxiety and are twice as likely than white women to experience social pressure at work to straighten their hair,” and exposure to these toxic chemicals during pregnancy can trigger adverse health issues.

In 2021, further research about hair relaxers and breast cancer surfaced in Boston University's Black Women’s Health Study, which followed 59,000 Black women over a 25 year period and found that hair relaxers put women at a higher risk for breast cancer.

Recent media uproar came when research results were released in October 2022 by the National Institutes of Health from a study conducted with 33,497 Black women participants. They found that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products, defined as more than four times in a year, were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not. These findings have companies such as L'Oréal under the knife and in the courtroom.

TAMEKA ELLINGTON

Black people’s hair has been under attack since the beginning of chattel slavery in 1619. Black people were conditioned through physical and verbal abuse to see their bodies, facial features, and hair as othered as animalized. According to the Harvard Library’s article entitled “Scientific Racism,” one of the most effective tactics used to rationalize the mistreatment of Black bodies was the comparison of Black bodies to animals through scientific research called polygenism, which

Dr. Tameka Ellington, the Black Beauty Activist, has been conducting scholarly work about Black hair since 2002. She is co curator of the internationally acclaimed exhibition, TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair. And her upcoming book, Black Hair in a White World, will be released in summer of 2023 by Kent State University Press.

Written by DR.

suggested human races were of different origins and claiming the European race as the superior race.

As time went on, Black people were constantly bombarded with messages that led to brainwashing and self degradation. After the abolishment of slavery, Black people had to become employable and were forced into assimilation and acculturation by way of lightening their skin and straightening their hair. The topic of straightening Black hair has been controversial since the early 1900s when Jamaican born Black nationalist and leader of the Pan Africanism movement, Marcus Garvey, warned Black people, “Do not remove the kinks from your hair remove them from your brain.”

Today, Black people have more choices than their ancestors did; however about 60 percent of Black women continue to straighten their hair according to market research institute Mintel; and since the fall of the natural hair movement in recent years, that number may be increasing.

TikTok has 72.6 million views on the topic, “relaxers are back.” Pop Culture has pushed the idea about the need for Black women to relax their hair in order to be considered beautiful. For example, rapper Nicki Minaj, who refers to herself as Barbie, references “nappy headed hoes” in her song, “Did it On ‘Em.” The social conditioning from dominant Westernized beauty ideas, as well as from the African American community itself, pressures many Black women to chemically relax their hair, which according to the research, is putting them at risk or in other words under attack.

One recent case that demonstrates Black women wanting their hair to behave in unrealistic ways is with Tessica Brown and her Gorilla Glue incident. Another example involves the rise of the “melt,” where Black women use a technique to make wigs appear as their “real” scalp and hair. The process calls for gluing the wig to the skin of the hairline and using a hair dryer to “melt” the netted lace front of the wig to the hairline; followed by short strands of hair, a.k.a. “baby hair,” which are then gelled at the edges to further hide the netting of the wig.

These hairstyles are almost always paired with relaxer straightened hair. And thus, many Black women are voluntarily attacking their hair to fit within the dominant ideas of beauty. However, Black women are not fully to blame: centuries of brainwashing is most certainly the reasoning. This article is meant to shed some light on the hard to hear truths that Black women continue to follow along with dominant beauty ideas at the risk of their own health. The domi-

nant Westernized beauty standards uphold that women who are white with straight hair, light eyes, and skinny (nowadays slim thick) are the most beautiful, leaving all other women who don’t fit into this category going to great lengths to try to obtain the unobtainable.

Articles have been recently published regarding some hair professionals' thoughts that the relaxer research is propaganda to scare Black women, leaving the need for further investigation on behalf of Black women themselves. Many hair care professionals’ propaganda ideas may be tied to their wallets. Forbes published a recent article that stated, “Sales of chemical hair relaxers to salons and other professionals have been declining for at least a decade, according to market research firm Kline & Co., from about $71 million in 2011 to $30 million in 2021.” If Black women listened to and acted on the results of research, relaxer production and application profits would take a major dive.

The indoctrination that Black women have endured throughout history regarding being the lesser beauty makes it difficult to see the true reality. A new way of thinking about Black beauty OUTSIDE the dominant idea would require an entire shift in mindset. It would require a response to the issues that many just are not ready to respond to. And that’s understandable hundreds of years of brainwashing will take another hundred to undo.

Black women, the choice is yours to take control over your hair, bodies, and overall well being instead of allowing society to dictate who you are, how you should look, and which chemicals you allow near your body. ●

The goal of turning your passion into profit is always the goal of anyone looking to start a business. It’s said that if you’re fortunate enough to be able to do both, you will never work a day in your life. Antwanye Ford slightly agrees with the phrase adding one small change. Ford is working very hard to grow his company, Enlightened, a Software Engineering and Security Tech Firm, and at the same time building a thriving mentorship program for underserved communities.

The business is involved with cybersecurity, management consulting, and software development integration. Based in Washington, DC, it has been in business for over twenty years, has over 250 employees and last year did over $23 million in revenue. But when you speak with Ford, he’s only interested in trying to figure out who to help next.

PAYING IT FORWARD AS A PASSION

When Antwanye Ford started his business, Enlightened, he merged his passion for Software Engineering and Security and mentorship into one concept. It turns out that this combo is perfect for his bottom line and his heart.

by Bolling Smith

“

I have been passionate all my life about giving back,” Ford said. “I was very fortunate to be raised by loving parents, so it’s always been my goal to give people a chance who might not have had the same upbringing as me.”

Ford’s success allows him the ability to reach back and provide tremendous support for those looking to get an education in the Technology and Cybersecurity fields.

“We became a DOD (Department of Defense) and SBA (Small Business Administration) Mentor,” Ford continued. “There are kids out there who want to be more than an influencer, but they need the space and time, and mentorship to get what they need to be successful.”

Ford provides mentorship by partnering with the DOD and SBA through the Mentor Protege Program, which creates meaningful programs that companies can offer to help other

small businesses get funding, leadership, and guidance from other companies.

In 2017 Ford and his company received an award for mentoring small businesses. His company helps smaller companies navigate the complicated waters of understanding the requirements and rules of getting government contracts.

Ford purposely put his new office building in Ward 8 in Washington DC just so the community could see that success is possible. “We try to have between 6 to 10 interns with us every year and will be targeting new programs in 2023 to teach en-

open. So, he tries to set the right tone for the small business owners he mentors so they can expect the same thing from themselves.

“I would take some people up to one of our balconies where we could see people enjoying happy hour,” Ford said. “I would show them all the fun the people were having and how they were done working by a certain time.”

What Ford wanted them to understand is that the competition might still be at their desk working. The competition might still be working to make a change to a proposal that

Ford commented.

trepreneurship to inner city residents,” he said.

Ford is hoping to open a non profit, named after his late mother and father, in the early part of 2023. Serving as the Vice Chair of the board of the US Black Chambers, Inc. Ford wants to have a larger impact on Black business in general. The new non profit would allow Ford to mentor minority businesses, no matter what field they’re in.

Ford understands that not everyone will be able to take advantage of the programs that the non profit will offer.

“Business is not for everyone. We tell people that all the time. If you’re not going to work hard, come in and listen and learn, this is not for you,” Ford stated.

The work might be more intense for self employed people, but the work they do seems to be more enjoyable.

Ford wants his mentees to understand that they are going to have to grind and work hard if they expect to make it in business.

Ford knows that over 30 percent of businesses fail to make it to year two of being

Ford’s passion is mentoring small business owners.

might win them the government contract that those having a drink might have won.

Ford didn’t get to where he is by resting or shutting things down early. His work ethic radiates from his personality. There is no question that his company will reach its goal of becoming a 100 million dollar company in the future.

“We have huge expectations here at Enlightened. We know what we have to do to grow, and I know we can reach 1,000 employees and help small businesses all over the US realize their dreams of becoming successful businesses,” Ford said.

The decision to marry his purpose and his passion is paying off for Ford. Everyone should be so lucky to have a career like his.

●

“Business is not for everyone. We tell people that all the time. If you are not going to work hard, come in and listen and learn, this is not for you,”

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Dr. Willie Jolley inspires millions around the world to live their best life by getting up every day and becoming the person you always knew you could be.

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.

The arc of a person’s life is necessarily one of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, failures and successes. The key to more than just weathering life’s trials is perspective and Dr. Willie Jolley has developed a perspective that has won worldwide acclaim. The core of his programs and talks is an important distinction between motivation and inspiration. As he states, “Motivation deals with your head. Inspiration deals with your heart.”

Dr. Jolley, one of the top five speakers in the world and an inductee into the Speaker Hall of Fame, is a legend in the speaking industry. His entire approach is about each of us determined to be a winner in every aspect of our lives not in terms of beating out others, but in creating win win scenarios that uplift, support, and encourage oneself and others to strive to be a better version of themselves step by step, day by day. He speaks from experience.

Originally on a trajectory to be a professional singer and has signed contracts with a number of recording industry leaders, life suddenly took a left turn when the mainstay of his career live gigs began drying up because a new phenomenon hit the scene: karaoke. Live entertainers for clubs were no longer in demand as now anybody could get up and “entertain” a crowd.

Willie had no idea what he was going to do as he had no other marketable skill sets. Life became a struggle trying to make ends meet and support his wife and children. But then life delivered another left turn.

“I was offered an opportunity to work with the Washington, DC public school system to help them develop a drug prevention program utilizing music and the arts to help decrease drug usage and dependence in young people. As part of my job, we had to give presentations to elementary school kids. I started giving a lot of presentations as part of my job and I found what I was born to do: be inspirational, motivational, encouraging, and uplifting. I was off to the races.”

Dr. Jolley began receiving invitations from schools around the country. That turned into a 10 year stint of giving presentations to young people not just in the US, but in other countries. He did a PBS special for young people and Blue Cross Blue Shield named him one of the top speakers for young people in the country. He won numerous awards for speaking to youth about drug prevention and scholastic achievement.

Serendipitously, following one of his school presentations, a motivational rally was being held that evening in the same building. The primary speaker had been passing by and listening to Willie’s presentation. That speaker was none other than Les Brown, one of

the great motivational speakers of our time.

“You’ve got quite a gift that’s different than anybody I know because you speak and you sing,” he said. “We’re putting together a tour and we’re looking for an opening act. I think you would be the answer. It’s called the Les Brown Music and Motivation Dream Team Tour.”

You can bet he accepted the invitation. He ended up going on tour with Les, Billy Preston (the great keyboard player and recording artist), and Gladys Knight (the iconic singer). The tour was fantastic because they introduced Willie to not only corporate meeting planners and corporate buyers, but also to media people. The outcome is that Willie began developing a media presence and launched his own radio show that’s now a daily syndicated show heard in over fifty markets around the country on the Radio One network.

As Dr. Jolley’s message spread, as you might expect, this led to writing several books, all bestsellers, which can be found on Amazon. All of the books speak to anyone of any age. Very importantly, Dr. Jolley’s 3 point message to young people is always topical and needed. The message was put forth in a PBS special for young people titled “Dare to Dream, Dare to Win.” In it, he covers the three primary life obstacles that he terms “dream busters.”

•

Drugs and alcohol

•

Negative and toxic people

•

Choosing mediocrity over excellence

“We’ve got far too many young people who stunt and limit their growth and possibilities as an intellectual development activity,” Willie explained. “They create a mindset that they just want to do enough educationally to get by. But we want to encourage them to not take that mindset. There’s a direct correlation between your thinking and your income, your education, or at least your development in the capacity to think.”

Dr. Jolley relates the story of the director of a government organization whose son, though sent to the best schools, began hanging out with some toxic people, started using drugs, got involved in some illicit activity, dropped out of college, and was doing nothing with his life. The director told Willie, “I don’t know what to do.”

Willie suggested he take one of his inspirational videos and give it to his son. “But, instead of telling him to watch it, explain that you heard this speaker and you’d like his

opinion.” Several months later, Willie ran into the director who described a very different young man. He explained that his son watched the video and began watching it every day. Next thing he knew, his son had gotten a job at a nearby mall, had gone back to school, and was now on the Honor Roll.

Dr. Jolley tells parents, “You must be willing and open to listen to young people really listen to them. Of course, you want to direct them and give them your feedback and direction. But when you’re able to listen to their thoughts, you get a better barometer of what they’re aware of and what they’re thinking. And you can have a more impactful development on your relationship with them when you’re willing to listen to them and have an honest dialogue.”

For the past twenty years, Dr. Jolley has been focused not only on youth and now has expanded his focus on developing people as a whole. His book, A Setback is a Setup for a Comeback, has become a global phenomenon and PBS Special. Also, he has a new book coming out soon that delves into the difference between being rich and being wealthy.

“What many people don’t understand is that when you have a wealth mindset, you have revenues coming in, but you control the revenues, the revenues don’t control you; you control the money, the money doesn’t control you,” Dr. Jolley explained. “Secondly, when you’re wealthy, you understand that it’s not singular, just for you. It’s multi generational. A wealth mindset is about generations yet unborn.”

What Dr. Jolley wants to do is empower and inspire people of all ages to be the best they can be, and to be successful in their lives. As a result, he now offers free e books, music, and motivation on his www.wjwow.com website, and you can get access to his youth and other motivational materials at https://www.winwithwillie.com.

As he says, “Inspiration deals with your heart. It also breathes life into you to be able to do what you do. The word inspiration is to breathe anew. Expiration means the breath of life goes out.”

And Dr. Jolley is definitely helping people breathe life anew into their lives all over the world, essentially, choosing and shaping their destiny. And why? Because he believes 100 percent that for them the best is yet to come! ●

Jolley’s podcast Turning Setbacks Into Comebacks is a best seller.

COUPLES EARN MORE

Since the beginning of humanity, it was determined first by God that men do better when they have a helpmate. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

’” Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

Written by CHRIS A. MATTHEWS

Chris A. Matthews is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and approved supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Visit chrisAmatthews.com to learn more about his work with couples and families.

ased on data reported by the American Economic Association (AEA), married men earn up to 33 percent more in wages compared to single men, but the question is why? What makes establishing a marital union more profitable and if this is the case, why are Black men less likely to get married in comparison to other ethnic groups?

The Male Marital Wage Premium is a well studied concept that has been proven by several researchers over the past few decades even when controlling for age, occupation, work experience, and education levels that married men earn more than

unmarried and divorced men.

WHY MARRIAGE EQUALS MORE MONEY

Specialization theory is atop of the reasons why married men make more money in their jobs. This theory is rooted in the belief that wives contribute to unpaid laboring tasks such as tending to domestic duties, which in turn, provides husbands with more time and energy to move up the corporate ladder.

Men who have wives who don’t work make more money than married men with working spouses and this correlates with the need for single provider married men to negotiate larger salaries. Married men make 12 percent more per year and this gap continues to grow the longer they stay married. Specialization theory further delves into explaining why men who divorce experience a decline in wages, due to their need for more time away from work to accommodate for additional household tasks that were once shared with a spouse.

Productive theory, which is another well studied notion, con-

cludes that marriage increases men's overall work output because of their need to be accountable for persons other than themselves.

An excerpt from a published research article written by Dr. Tera R. Hurt, “Toward a Deeper Understanding of the Meaning of Marriage Among Black Men,” quotes a 33 year old husband married for nine years saying, “It just makes everything better to me as far as trying to build things together, provide for one another together.”

Further research conducted by Korenman and Neumark, which found that married men are 46 percent more likely to receive higher performance ratings and 36 percent more likely to be promoted when compared to single men, also supports the belief that married men are more productive performers at work.

Selection theory hinges on the English proverb, “birds of a feather flock together” by suggesting high earning husbands tend to marry high earning wives. Based on a study

conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) Insurance Agency, which surveyed 5,000 physicians, found that 40 percent of those doctors will marry another doctor. Selection theory is also backed by the Pew Research Center, which identified that in 2019, 81 percent of spouses who earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, had a partner or spouse who also graduated college.

When both a husband and wife are educated and are able to draw valuable incomes, they can practice joint household decision making when searching for career advancement opportunities. If both spouses are pulling incomes, they can lean on each other while patiently waiting for greater opportunities to advance professionally and economically. In turn, married partners get a tactical advantage because they can comfortably turn down lower offers since they are not operating from a place of scarcity. This is in contrast to their single professional counterparts who often yield to the first offer presented out of fear or the urgency for immediate

“

income.

WHY BLACK MEN DON’T MARRY

Based on the most recent US Census data between 2015 2019, only 31 percent of Black adults were married. Out of every US state, the District of Columbia reported the lowest percentage of married Black adults during this time with a rate of 18.8 percent and Hawaii accounted for the state with the highest rate of 49 percent. Asian Americans reported the highest percentages of marriages at 65 percent followed by whites at 61 percent, which means Caucasians are twice as likely to marry in comparison to Blacks.

When Power actor Rotimi was asked during an interview by Fox Soul why he thought Black men don’t want to get married, he said, “We don’t see in our society enough successful marriages so we attribute it to being a headache, we attribute it to divorce that will eventually happen, we attribute it to being something that really doesn’t last long so why bother.”

With cohabitation rates on the rise, Black men in particular aren’t marrying because why should they buy the cow when they are getting the milk for free? High cohabitation rates are linked to higher divorce rates, which further drives the narrative expressed by Rotimi that marriage is a headache destined not to last. Couples who “play house” by cohabitating before marriage undermine commitment because when things get tough, it’s easier for them to justify leaving.

Since most cohabitating couples are sexually active, their lack of premarital boundaries promotes higher rates of infidelity, which bleeds over into marriage. When unmarried cohabitating males were surveyed by a couples’ counselor who asked them why they cheated on their girlfriends, their most common response was,

She isn’t my wife and we’re not married yet. Once we get married, I’ll be faithful.”

The problem with this faulty thinking is that when one partner cheats on the other, they create a traumatic experience that’s then brought into the marriage. It should be no surprise that couples who step into marriage on a weakened foundation undermined by a lack of trust will have a greater likelihood of divorce.

Alongside the lack of positive examples of what a healthy and happy marriage looks like, one can see why marriage is viewed as a headache for so many Black men. It’s a common practice for a Bowenian trained family therapist, during their initial sessions of conducting couples counseling, to author both clients’ genograms, which are illustrations of the couple’s family maps across a minimum of three generations. Often, the couple’s attitudes around marriage are linked to their family of origin, which are strong indicators of divorce.

Relationship partners, raised by guardians who never married or divorced, describe marriage as a union destined to fail. This is not a moot point because, according to the book Understanding the Divorce Cycle, authored by Nicholas Wolfinger, the risk of divorce is 50 percent higher when one spouse comes from a divorced home and 200 percent higher when both partners do.

Needless to say, marriage counselors face an uphill battle as they work to not only help heal and repair Black love in our country but also move the needle toward more Black men seeing marriage as a favorable choice. The focus at the beginning of this article was based on the premise that marriage is a catalyst to higher overall life wages. The fact is, though, that marriage is filled with so many amazing benefits that are linked to men living longer, healthy, and more fulfilled lives. ●

Black couples tend to earn and save more when married. The combined incomes offer faster wealth creation.

MUSIC

DJ COCO Z is making a name for herself by doing exactly what she loves, making great music and staying true to the game.

by John Horton

DJ COCO Z is a melting pot of nearly two decades of experience in music, dance, theatre, and video production, coupled with a business background. Born and raised in Cleveland Oh, she got her debut on FM radio in 2014 with 89.3 FM WCSB on 21Sick Radio show at Cleveland State University. Currently, Coco Z is on over 15 different radio stations weekly including The Midday Throwback on The Rewind Radio Network on iHeart Radio at 10a[1]noon Mon Fri and The Power Hour Groove on 95.9 FM WOVU at noon Mon[1]Fri.

DJ Coco Z is the house DJ for Cleveland Public Library (CPL) and Cleveland Metro Housing Authority (CMHA), she recently became the official DJ for Amazon. This Queen DJ is conquering the skill of

DJ COCO-Z IS BLOWING UP

turntablism on her own accord.

"Coco Z is dat DEAL!!!" says, Dave Tolliver of Men At Large. This dynamite Mix Mistress has wowed crowds and mastered the wheels of steel at more than 2000 diverse events, ranging from regular club appearances to private parties to corporate events, weddings, and even youth events.

She specializes in a diverse range of musical genres from Hip Hop, Classic Rock, Pop, Reggae, Rap, Old School, and more.

"She’s Fly, She Fresh, She's a DJ!", says, Suave Goddi of GMS Radio. Dre of Menace Radio 216, echoes with "It’s a crime to compare her to other female DJs... we just gone say, DJ!!!" Coco Z is affiliated with Nerve DJs, Fleet DJs, Mean Girlz DJs, and more.

Experience DJ Coco Z for yourself at www.djcocoz.com or check out her social media at @DJCocoZ on everything. ●

THE SHOE GAME

A man who understands that his shoes do most of the talking does not have to say much. First impressions start with a great pair of footwear.

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://www.styledbydecarlo.com/

JEARLEAN TAYLOR: Model