Edition - 2020 Vol. 16 Issue 2
Feature Contents
06 D. Woods (Former Member of Danity Kane) Actress, Singer and Dancer talks about new Show
09 Lawrence Traynor on Health Wellness Recovering Alcoholic makes a Difference in Life
11 Estella Pyfrom - Community & Business 13 Health: Suicide Prevention 14 The Millen Twins [Exclusive Interview]
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Radio Personalities, Philanthropist, Educators and Businesswomen
18 Tocarra [New Single and more] International Recording Artist
20 Sports: Race Car Driver Nicolas Hamiliton 22 Television Star & Singer Vanessa Williams 26 Wolf’s Mane Beard Care [Product Review]
Regular Content Just Thinking
By Dorothy Robinson
Life is full of surprises, happiness, heartaches and pain. Life is more important than you think it is. What you make of it… I could go on and on but I must stop there. And always remember, Life is no game. Take it serious not delirious.
Cover: The Millen Twins
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04 Editor’s Page 05 Letters/ Awareness 09 Someone You Should Know 11 Words of Encouragement 11 Business/ Profile 12 Environmental Elements 12 CM Corner 13 Health Solutions 20 Sports Community 26 Album-Book-Movie Review(s) 26 Know Your Rights Teen: College Spirit Section
Editor ’s Note :
CONSCIOUSNESS
“Urban Inspiration”
Personal Growth
STAFF
Founder & Editor Aaron Robinson
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Administrative Asst. Julia M. Robinson Josephine Robinson Consultant Frank Robinson Fred Robinson
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A&M Marketing Group
O
ver the past decade, Consciousness Magazine has been instrumental to giving back to the community. We have been instrument in strengthening the livelihood of our readers, followers and supporters through our helpful content, by providing beneficial information. As we carry on with our mission, we understand the importance of personal growth and touching the hearts of individuals, in hopes that they can continue to grow and live a prosperous and productive life. In this edition of Consciousness Magazine, we will provide you with more helpful life tips and empowerment articles that are meaningful and contain valuable content. We will also go into the life of entertainers and significant individuals to understand how they overcame obstacles to rise above the many challenges in their life. Thanks again for reading this one of a kind publication. Like always, we thank you. Enjoy!
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Tocarra Eldridge Dr. Shanessa Fenner Elder Lee M. Harris, Sr. Sirrocco Hogue Darnell Jodan Eric Plaut
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Reviews
Aaron Robinson Founder & Editor
Tocarra Eldridge Darnell Jordan Hector De La Rosa Aaron Robinson
Contributors
Lawrence Traynor Vinay Saranga M.D.
Syndicated Content Allison Kugel
About Consciousness Magazine™
“Keeping our Pen on the Pulse of the Community” Consciousness Magazine “Urban Inspiration,” is committed to raising the level of consciousness of the residents in our community. The mission of Consciousness Magazine is to promote understanding, make a difference in society, touch hearts, as well as, emphasize positive celebrities and significant social figures through strong articles and compelling visuals. This publication embraces ethnicity and multicultural, in hopes of bringing different cultures together in peace and friendship. Consciousness Magazine 4
Views expressed by advertisers and/or press release are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Consciousness Magazine™. Consciousness Magazine™ will not be held responsible or liable for advertisers misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors, etc., herein contained. Consciousness Magazine™ requires that all advertisement be in compliance with all applicable laws and be truthful and not offensive or detrimental to individuals, groups, or businesses. Consciousness Magazine™ reserve the right to revise, delete, objectionable words or phrases, and refuse any advertising it deems unacceptable. Subscription rates; $24.00 per year (6 Issues) Consciousness Magazine™ ISSN:1553-5568 is published by Robinson Publishing, Inc. Postmaster: Send address Change and Subscription Orders to: P.O. Box 2496, Kankakee, Illinois 60901, Phone: (312) 715-7884 Email: info@consciousnessmagazine.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Publisher. ©2020 Consciousness Magazine™. All Rights Reserved.
Letters Essence and Character The articles that are highlighted in the Adina Howard’s edition are outstanding! I love the way you capture essence and the character of the individuals you all interview and the articles that you place. You are doing good giving insight to your readers. That difference is important. Mitchell Michaels Chicago
Determination Thanks for sharing such amazing interviews with celebrities and significant individuals who are making a difference in our community and who are also taking a stand to take responsibility and accountability for their actions. The interviews are very informative. Most importantly these interviews bring awareness to these individuals’ endeavors that are rarely highlighted in mainstream media. Thanks for sharing! Damon Georgia
Great Media Continue to publish great media. You guys have been around for numerous years and never have changed the course of your mission. That is great to see and great to know that there is a publication out here that cares about people and life. Continue to inspire and empower others. Thanks for being an inspiration to me and my family. Kevin Rouch Houston
Well-Rounded Content When I was introduced to this inspirational magazine, I never knew that it would make my day. The interviews and articles that you publish online are like any other material that I have seen. The information in the written material is unique in terms of the questions you ask and the knowledge you place in the content to help others. It is very well-rounded and has meaning, which we are missing at times. Thanks for caring about the community. Sara Weathers Little Rock
Write to us: We want to know what you’re thinking.
Send emails to info@consciousnessmagazine.com. Include your name, address, and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and/or length. For Customer Service and Subscriptions visit us at www.consciousnessmagazine.com.
Consciousness Awareness:
How to invest in people? Give them purpose. Invest is a powerful word – and an even more powerful action. Where capital is concerned, a good investment can turn a significant profit. But where people are concerned, a good investment can deliver a sense of purpose that’s impact is unmatched by the tangible. When Maxine Mirowitz faced a traumatic, near-death medical emergency in 2012, it was the commitment of her doctors, presence of her family and friends and support of her community that first transformed her understanding of compassion. Their collective devotion of time, resources, energy and prayer to make her recovery a reality, helped Maxine uncover an inner peace and awareness of her ability to help both herself and others celebrate life’s richness. Maxine turned to the written word to express and ease the feelings of emotional trauma associated with her physical circumstances. Creating a journal helped Maxine self-reflect and find liberation from a painful subject by opening an inner dialogue that led her to restoration of mind and body. Today, Maxine is driven by the therapeutic benefits of writing and actively seeks out channels to help those suffering from trauma find their own purpose by connecting their physical and spiritual selves. Maxine’s commitment to make an impact in the lives of others is most recently exemplified by her participation in the Hadassah Leadership Fellows Program, where she joins 23 other women as modern-day agents of change.
D. Woods stars in new Televison Show Interviewed and written by Tocarra Eldridge
D. Woods, former member of the girl group Danity Kane stars in the relationship drama Stuck With You. Several of the cast members include Timon Kyle Durrett, Tammy Townsend, AJ Johnson, Terrence Green, just to name several. The show airs on UMC and has just recently premiered a month ago. D. Woods, the triple threat, being a professional singer, dancer and actress continues to utilize her amazing talents and abilities as she advances her career. I had the opportunity to interview this phenomenal woman. Here is what she has to share with the readers regarding her career, life and starring role on Stuck With You. Tocarra Eldridge: Can you briefly tell us a little about your role in the new dramedy series Stuck With You?
D. Woods: Yes, my character, her name is Mora, and she is the assistant to our lead character played by Tammy Townsend. Her name is Candace. Mora really looks up to Candace. She idolizes her relationship. She has this total romantic idea of love. She has a five year plan; she has everything on paper, but she is not really good at applying it in real life. I think people will get a kick out of Mora’s naïve, bright eyed, bushy tail ways. Tocarra: What was your experience like working with such a talented cast? D. Woods: We had a great time! The scene that I had with Tammy, we knocked ours out in about an hour. We were like ‘yeah, the girls get it done’. It was a little bit of battle of the sexes. Of course, I had some very nice eye candy. You don’t have to go too far with stretching the imagination.
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(Laugh) They were all perfect gentlemen. It was good energy on the set period; it was a lot of love shown from makeup, wardrobe, the production team, and so forth. Tocarra: UMC is the first streaming service available for Black TV and film. How does it feel to be a part of this streaming history? D. Woods: It’s really great! It’s been a conversation lately a lot, representation, and then how do we not just get in front of the screen, but also the decision making, positions, being distributed, being the writer, being the producer – just taking the right steps in that direction. As I’ve been promoting through my social media pages, my friends and family are all like ‘support this, and just be down with this movement’. These are all of the things that we’ve all talked about or complained about during conversations, and now we have it, so we have to support it. Tocarra: As a successful singer, when it comes to acting, it that a passion that you have always had? D. Woods: Yes, I actually started in theater first. I started in theater at five years old. I grew up in theater in the performing arts high school in Atlanta, Georgia, Tri-Cities High School. So, I was trained in dance. I trained at Alvin Ailey School. I trained at New York University School of Art in all the different facets…voice, drama and dance, so I am well rounded, you could say like a triple threat. I’ve never separated one from the other. I’ve been doing all three facets my entire life – rather in a dance room or in a theater, or a recording studio. It’s always been something creative and just getting out my expressions in all these different ways. I know people are seeing more of my acting projects, but it’s definitely something that I’ve been doing from very very young. Tocarra: Can we expect more acting roles from you in the future? D. Woods: Definitely! I just finished a off Broadway run of The Revival called For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf directed by Leah C. Gardiner. It was a very wonderful piece to be a part of. I don’t know if you know the history of it, but it’s definitely like a rite of passage type of theater, and this was the first time it came back to off Broadway in 40 years at the original theater that it started at the New York Public Theater. It was life changing. You can expect us to hit the official Broadway stage sometime in 2020. We are very excited about that!
we’ve been doing our whole lives. They thought we were weird and they told us we were crazy. They didn’t get it, but now it’s starting to become more mainstream and more acceptable to the general public. Tocarra: How about music? Can your fans and listeners look out for any recent, upcoming or new music projects from you? D. Woods: Yes, you can expect a new project from D Woods this year, 2020. My project is called My Favorite Color. It’s kind of divine timing that I was doing For Colored Girls while I was in production for My Favorite Color. I was like ‘see this is how God works’. You can look out for that, and also you can find all of the releases from D Woods on all streaming and digital platforms that I’ve been releasing independently under my label Woodgrane Entertainment. Everything is there. I was a part of a female collaborative project called Project Girls Club and you can find those releases out there, visuals as well as audio. I’ve been doing a lot of collaborations with other artists, as well as music in soundtracks. I have a piece of music in a documentary that was a part of the Tribeca Film Festival, and you can find that right now on Hulu, it’s called Ballet After Dark. It is a part of Queen Latifah’s Queen Collection. She selected two young black female directors to present their work and she did that through the Tribeca Film Festival. So, yes girl I just been working, doing my thing, putting it out where it fits and where it makes sense. Tocarra: Would you like to share any advice or words of encouragement for young or aspiring artist and entertainers who are looking to be successful as yourself? D. Woods: Don’t stop! The only people who are not successful are the ones who quit. As long as you don’t quit you are going to succeed. I know it sounds simple, but you just have to keep going everyday and discover what else you can do to further your talent, further your knowledge, broaden your horizon and network. You have to just keep going. Persistence and preparation leads to success. There is no shortcut about it; you just have to do the work. Tocarra: Would you like to add anything in closing before we end the interview? D. Woods: Go to UMC and sign up and get your subscription and tune in and watch Stuck With You!
I made an example in another interview, like the things that you saw Janelle Monae do at the Oscars, that’s what Consciousness Magazine 7
www.twitter.com/YaGirlDWoods www.Instagram.com/YaGirlDWoods www.misswoods.com
Someone You Should Know
Talk in a Whisper or Scream Louder!
Addiction to the Big Bottle and the Little Bottle Written by Lawrence Traynor
I never thought my personal addiction struggles may one day be of value in helping others suffering from addiction to the Big Bottle, alcohol and the Little Bottle, pills. I just loved escaping through drinking and as my drinking progressed felt like it just started raining and I was the third monkey running to get aboard the Ark. I am not a licensed medical doctor or member of the medical community but I am not, as we say, “just another
guy in the diner,“ either when it comes to alcohol addiction. I am a recovering alcoholic with twenty-eight years (10,220 days) of continuous sobriety making me uniquely qualified to offer insight into this family tragedy. Alcohol is a legal, controlled substance and today one of the most common addictions in America. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is marked by an emotional and physical craving for alcohol and an inability
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to stop drinking – even when it causes extreme personal or social harm. Unfortunately, 47% of men and 42% of women do not receive the substance abuse treatment they need from the Big Bottle and or the Little Bottle.
and addict will resort to seek help only when their addiction leads them to hitting their “bottom” allowing them to become ready and willing to finally give up being sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic, but anyone whose life is negatively impacted by alcohol on a consistent basis is usually considered to have a problem with alcohol.
There are only two “bottoms” an alcoholic will experience. There are what are referred to as high bottoms and low bottoms.
Even people who drink only during social activities or only drink beer or wine on the weekends are susceptible to an alcohol use disorder. Alcoholism is hereditary and oftentimes referred to as a family disease.
Examples of an alcohol addict’s low bottom oftentimes include DWI’s, divorce, bankruptcy, job loss, house arrest and jail.
In the extreme, those with a severe alcohol dependency may feel they simply cannot start their day without a quick, harmless swig or two of vodka, or finish their day without a glass or four of whiskey, gin or vodka straight or on the rocks. Alcoholism has been described not only as a disease but as an “allergy” as well. Can you imagine someone being allergic to nuts or certain seafood thinking that just this once it will be OK to eat them knowing for certain how violently ill they will become upon consumption? This is the insidious, insane behavior of the afflicted mind of an alcoholic and addict. Alcoholism is a progressive disease. It is imperative we remember our loved ones and their families that are slowly losing their addiction battle with the Big Bottle and or the Little Bottle are sick and suffering from a disease and not a simple lack of willpower. In an alcoholic’s mind there is no such thing as one when it comes to a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. The disease of addiction is described in Twelve Step literature as being “cunning and baffling” for a reason. Why? Alcoholism is the only disease that tells the person suffering that they really don’t have a problem with their alcohol consumption and if their friends and family members would just leave them alone to simply drink in peace then everything would be fine. This is the power of the denial so often associated with this disease. What men and women must do when caught in the vortex of addiction and denial is to reach out and ask for help. Anyone reading this who is battling addiction knows that reaching out for help is what logically you should do but don’t or can’t. Surrender does not come easy. An alcoholic
Fortunately, in my case it was a high bottom. I remember it had snowed earlier in the day on January 22nd, 1992. It was a cold, wintry afternoon living with my wife and children on the outskirts of Boston. It was Super Bowl Sunday and the refrigerator was stocked with beer planned well in advance for watching the big game on television. The life changing conversation between my wife and myself took place in our kitchen. I was unaware and not prepared for her ultimatum of either immediately stopping my drinking and getting help or losing my marriage and children. That was it. That was my bottom. I proceeded to open the kitchen refrigerator door, took out the last bottle of beer I had and threw it as hard as I could into the woods of our backyard. The bottle made a violent, smashing sound as it hit and splattered off a nearby tree. I have not had a drop of alcohol since. If a loved one, family member or maybe “just another guy in the diner” is struggling and losing their battle with alcohol (Big Bottle) or (Little Bottle), pills remember it is not a question of their willpower or self-control. They are sick and have a disease. Pray for them of course, let them know you love them and care about them but most importantly tell them they are not weak willed, that they have a treatable disease and that there is help. In order to get them to realize they need help and surrender you must either talk in a whisper or scream louder! Lawrence (Laurie) Traynor lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida – a retired executive, volunteers his time free of charge in helping Jacksonville addicts and alcoholics, their loved ones and their families locate public and private drug and alcohol assistance resources. Tel (904) 553-1600
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Business Profile
Estella Pyfrom: Estella’s Brilliant Bus - Entrepreneurship Interviewed and written by Aaron Robinson – Editor
I recently spoke with Estella Pyfrom. This phenomenal woman had a vision after retirement and invested her entire life savings to start Estella’s Brilliant Bus. Her organization is a nationwide success. This shows that if you have a vision, set goals, discipline yourself and work persistently you can make your vision a reality. Aaron Robinson: When you began this initiative, you used your pension - your entire life savings. What was it that you saw or envisioned that made you want to take on such an amazing endeavor? Estella Pyfrom: I knew that it was a big dream; it was a big idea to be able to go into something like this. As I was growing up, my dad use to say, ‘if you want to dream, dream big. If you want something to happen you have to put forth the effort to make it happen.’ And also, ‘you don’t have money, don’t none of your relatives have money, so if you want to make something happen you gotta work to make it happen. Nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter.’ So I knew I had to put together a no failure plan to make this work because failure is not an option. I put together a 5 year plan so that I could not fail to make it happen. As a result of that I went through the years of putting together this puzzle while planning. Then during that time I wrote my plan. Aaron: That’s amazing! Some people give up on their vision but you didn’t, what was instilled in you along the way of your life path that made you want to give back to the community, especially undeserved youth? Estella: Giving up, to me appears to be like a road to failure. Anything you do, there will be challenges. Winners never quit and quitters never win. So that stayed in the back of
my mind. If I was going to make something happen there wasn’t any way that I was going to quit. When faced with a challenge, I just proved that I had to work harder and work around that, stay in my lane, keep my focus and it was going to happen. Aaron: Where would you like to see Estella’s Brilliant Bus in the next 10 years? Estella: In the next 10 years I would like to see a bus in every city in the U.S., or as many of them as possible. That is the focus that we have, that is the direction that we are going to be going. Please visit www.estellasbrilliantbus.org to learn more about Estella’s Brilliant Bus
Words-of-Encouragement
Inspirational Quote
By Earnest Pugh
I don’t care what you’re dealing with, or what struggles you’re going through. It’s a lot going on with the Senate, a lot going on with the Congress, and a lot of things going on in the Whitehouse. Don’t allow fear, doubt or unbelief to grip your heart. Draw unto God. The bible says if we draw unto Him then He will draw unto us. What I like about drawing unto Him and Him showing up, He don’t just come to take sides – God comes to take over when He comes into a situation.
(Excerpt taken from a prior interview with Consciousness Magazine.)
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Environmental: EarthTalk
School Bus Pollution I’ve heard that school buses cause a lot of pollution, especially for the kids riding inside. Is anyone making greener school buses yet? Jake McConnell, Philadelphia, PA
Now that school is back in session, those big yellow diesel-fueled school buses are all over the roads again. While they’re relatively safe—and definitely old school—they’re also big polluters, chugging along at 4-6 miles to the gallon while creating a cloud of harmful airborne pollutants. According to the non-profit Clean Air Trust (CAT), some 25 million American kids travelling on half a million school buses every day are exposed to five to 15 times more air toxins than the rest of us. “Those buses travel more than four billion miles each year and these kids spend three billion hours on [them],” reports the group. “About 90 percent of these buses run on diesel fuel, annually emitting 3,000 tons of cancer-causing soot and 95,000 tons of smog-causing compounds.” If you don’t think all that pollution is having a negative effect, think again. A March 2019 study from researchers at Georgia State University found that students did significantly better on standardized English tests and marginally better in math when they spent their commutes riding in school buses retrofitted to reduce emissions
by 95 percent as compared to students riding in non-upgraded buses. The researchers conclude that “engine retrofits can have meaningful and cost-effective impacts on health and cognitive functioning.” Luckily the retrofits are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive, especially when you factor in the costs of health care to treat sick kids, not to mention the price tag for raising kids’ test scores in other ways. Retrofitting 10 percent of the average school district’s bus fleet in Georgia, for instance, would cost less than $100,000, a drop in the bucket of the state’s $10.6 billion K-12 public schools budget. And beginning in October 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set aside $9 million to help pay for upgrading older diesel school buses nationwide. School districts and other public agencies charged with transporting school kids can apply for rebates of up to $20,000 per bus to help cover the retrofits on up to 10 individual buses. Retrofitting is a great start, but even better would be replacing old buses with new, more efficient all-electric
CM Corner w/Tocarra Eldridge
models. But few school districts can justify the $300,000 price tag to replace perfectly functional older diesel buses. That didn’t stop the school district in White Plains, New York, though, which purchased five electric buses last year with financial help from the local utility, Consolidated Edison, and a grant from the state. These outside contributions helped bring the final cost to the school district down to something along the lines of buying new diesel buses. While ConEd gets the benefit of good public relations and good karma, it also gets to use the buses during the summer as excess electricity storage that can be moved around to where it’s needed most (when the air conditioners are blazing). White Plains is hoping other school districts across the country will follow a similar model to clean up their acts. CONTACTS: Clean Air Trust, cleanairtrust.org; “School bus emissions, student health and academic performance,” sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0272775719301530#!.
Hip Hop Artist Keith Murray
Fun and energetic describes a part of Keith Murray’s character extremely well, especially after he performs at a show that electrifies his audience. It’s always great to meet individuals Consciousness Magazine 12
that have a true passion for their craft; nonetheless, who loves their fans and listeners. I thank him for being an amazing artist!
HEALTH Solutions
Ending Suicide By Vinay Saranga M.D. Suicide is a growing issue in America, with an estimated 44,965 Americans ending their own lives each year, or roughly 123 each day. Think about that for a moment: 123 people each day saying they’ve had enough. Suicide is the worst possible outcome there is not just for the individual, but for the family he or she leaves behind. Quite often this involves parents and grandparents, children, siblings and friends who are left wondering why. Why did he do it? Why didn’t I see the signs? Could I have done more? Is this somehow partially my fault? Was I not nice to him or her? As mental health professionals, it hurts us too. If the person didn’t get help, why not? Was he or she denied access to mental health benefits? If he or she was under our care, where did we go wrong? Did we not see the signs or prescribe the wrong course of treatment? When it comes to suicide, there are no straightforward answers. In fact, most of the time, we never get answers unless the person left behind a note, and even then, we are still often left scratching our heads in disbelief and dismay. The reality is, we need to have open conversations about suicide, depression and overall mental health all the time, 365 days a year. We need to end the stigma surrounding mental illness immediately or unfortunately, suicide will continue to needlessly end the lives of so many around us. The only bit of good news is that suicide is preventable, but an intervention must take place. The driving force behind a suicide must be properly dealt with before it spirals out of control, whether this is a mental illness, nasty divorce, job loss or anything else. We can provide hope and support by starting a conversation. Reach out to help normalize the topic. Don’t hesitate to seek treatment for mental illnesses. It is not a sign of weakness. Someone suffering from heart disease wouldn’t hesitate to seek help for their heart
condition. The same normalization needs to be visible in the mental health community. If you suspect someone might be suicidal, here are some things you can do to help. Talk Again, help normalize the topic by conversation. Simply asking someone if they are thinking about suicide is a good step. Never promise to keep their suicidal thoughts a secret. Be open and non-judgmental. Encourage immediate professional intervention through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-2738255. It is available 24-hours a day. Connect Professional help is essential. Don’t just suggest it because they might be unlikely to follow through. Do it for them. Someone who might be suicidal could be suffering from deep depression, mania and other conditions that sometimes prevent clarity. Do the research and help get them set up with an appointment with a mental health professional like a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist or licensed counselor. Support If someone in your life is contemplating suicide, constantly remind them that there is hope. There are many successful treatments which can help turn how their feeling around. Life is worth living. Continue to support and communicate with them. You can increase their feelings of connectedness and share your ongoing support. There is evidence that even a simple form of reaching out, like sending a card or email, can potentially reduce their risk for suicide. Remember, loneliness is a major cause of depression. Let’s put an end to this horrific epidemic once and for all. The more we continue the conversation and bring attention to it, the more people we will reach and save.
Vinay Saranga M.D. is a psychiatrist and founder of Saranga Comprehensive Psychiatry. https://www.sarangapsychiatry.com/
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Radio Hosts, Authors, & Business Women
Kristle and Kerese Millen
The Millen Twins Interviewed and written by Aaron Robinson & Tocarra Eldridge
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n today’s society, when it comes to following our dreams, it is rarely seen in the current global environment where twins team up to join forces with their endeavors and follow their purpose as philanthropists, authors, educators, entrepreneurs, trendsetters and radio personalities. Regarding their education, Kristle has her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Illinois University, with a Type 04 certification, a Special Needs Endorsement and a Post-Doctorate with a Certificate of Advance Studies in Curriculum and Instruction with an Endorsement in (ESL) English as a Second Language from National Louis University of Chicago, Illinois. Kerese has her Master’s Degree in Teaching, Learning and Assessments, and her Post-Doctorate with a Certificate of Advance Studies in Curriculum and Instruction with an ESL endorsement from National Louis University of Chicago, Illinois, along with her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Northern Illinois University. Kristle and Kerese Millen are hosts of The Millen Twins Exclusive television show. They have interviewed significant individuals such as Kim Foxx, Drew Peckat and Bigg Vonn, just to name a few. They recently hosted the The Millen Twins Highlights Movement Show on iHeart Network and Intellectual Radio. Kristle and Kerese Millen are successful authors. They have published several books, There’s Power In Your “I Am” and Thoughts Become Things. When it comes to business, these amazing two young women are the CEO’s of I AM. You Are. Perfectly Imperfect LLC, where they host empowerment events that shed awareness on community. During our career as journalists, we have interviewed bands, gospel groups, cast members and so on. However, it was our first time having the opportunity to interview such amazing and phenomenal twins whose lives are overfilled with so much excitement and joy. Nonetheless, they stand the test of time and have beat many odds on their life journey. We introduce to you, Kristle and Kerese…The Millen Twins. Tocarra: You amazing women are the host of the “Millen Twins Highlights Movement Show” on the iHeart Network and Intellectual Radio. What was the inspiration behind putting this show together? Kristle: Pretty much everything that we do in regards to our business, our books, just our platform period… we thrive off of giving back to people. So, we said what better way to do that than to give a platform on the radio station to give back to people and allow them to
come on our platform and tell their story and how they are making moves despite the obstacles and issues in their background and journey. It doesn’t matter, because we are not here to judge. We are here to love and highlight you and say, ‘look, we got you,’ no matter what. We started off with our business I Am. You Are. Perfectly Imperfect LLC. With that, we give back to the community. Our first event was Kreate A Kloset For Domestic Survivors. So, we collected over a thousand bags and boxes of clothing to give to women shelters. We also feed the homeless quarterly. Everything we do is about giving back. The radio station is just another chapter and platform of us giving back.
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Once you find your purpose then everything becomes easy afterwards.
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Aaron: You both share some of the same core values when it comes to having a great outlook on life. What was instilled in you or placed in your heart that made you all want to give back and shine your light in society? Kerese: Well, I guess from growing up we were blessed from my parents…my grandparents. We were always provided with the things that we needed. So as a young child, we always gave back. We were blessed with two toys every time we had a birthday or Christmas, but we were those kids that were like ‘hey, I want to give toys to other people or other friends’ because we realized that other kids didn’t have the same family homes. Kristle: It actually started off at a young age – just having the role model from our mother. She would give her last penny if she had to. So, just seeing that the 36 years of our life…and she still does it. It’s just in us. It’s one of those generational things that is attached to us. Kerese: So, we always say we will always love to give people help. Kristle: We want to make giving contagious. That’s our goal. Tocarra: When did you realize that you both could work together as a team? Kristle: Like since forever! (laugh) Our mom taught us at a early age that people are not going to like you. You are going to elevate in life and people are just not going to like you. As a youth, Kerese and I would be confronted with people not liking us because we were twins. They would literally tell us ‘I don’t like y’all because y’all
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twins’. That wasn’t up to us! My mom taught us to stay close. We’ve been best friends since we were little. We fight and argue; we’re not perfect, but we come right back like ‘hey girl, what you doing? What you cooking today?’ (laugh) Since we’ve been best friends since we were little we don’t allow anybody to come between us. Kerese: Being that we are twins we have a special bond. We share the same belief and values, so that wasn’t really hard to figure out if we were going to work together because we have always had the same passion. Aaron: You both obtained Master’s degrees in teaching and just completed your Post-Doctorate in its respected area of study. With both of you having the same goals, what type of sacrifices did you have to make and what type of gratification is this for you? Kerese: I hated school. The reason being is because I was told that I was the dumb twin in fifth grade. I always followed in my sister’s shadow. My sister actually inspires me to do so many things when it comes to education.
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What you think of yourself is what you will become.
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She actually obtained her Master’s degree first when she attended NIU. I was like ‘ok, you go girl’. I tried, but I could never pass the test to get into the Master’s program. That discouraged me. I was thinking, ‘well maybe school is not for me,’ plus I hated school anyway, and it was always instilled in me anyway that I was the dumb twin, so I decided to leave school and go to work. So, that’s what I did. My sister has always pushed me and told me that I was not dumb and encouraged me. I eventually went on to get my Master’s and the Post-Doctorate. I was a step behind my sister, but my sister never made me feel like I was that dumb twin that I was told by my teacher. I’m the single mother, so my sacrifices included going to night school, having my sister watch my kid, having my mother watch my kid, to taking an online program to make sure I was able to take care of my kid. So, a lot of sacrifices were made on my behalf. At the same time I’m still grateful for the support that I have from my sister and my mom. It’s crazy because at the age of 35 I realized that I always pushed my sister to the forefront because it was still instilled in my head that I was the dumb twin. That is why I talk to a lot of youth and encourage them. There are certain things you should say to young people because it
actually sticks with them, and mines stuck with me until last year. Tocarra: You are the C.E.O.’s of I Am. You Are. Perfectly Imperfect LLC where you host events that bring awareness, empowerment and resources to your community. How did this wonderful initiative come into fruition? Kristle: Just to give you a little background, we are both divorcee’s. Our heart is so big. We grew up seeking validation from people. We wanted people to like us. We would always wonder why people didn’t like us. It was almost to the point where we were buying people. Seeking validation ended up leading to being abused mentally, physically and emotionally. In 2015 our grandmother died. Our grandmother always told us that you guys are loved, you guys are amazing and you can do whatever you want to do, so stop looking for people to like you. She would tell us that we were good, we were beautiful and that we were enough. After she passed away we decided that our first event would be towards domestic violence survivors called Kreate A Kloset. At this event we were able to tell over 300 men and women that they didn’t have to feel like they needed to be validated because you end up staying there, because, #1) you’re content with it, #2) you get comfortable, and #3) you’re afraid to leave because you don’t know what’s outside of that. So, after we got out of that and got healed from that, we decided to start a business where we are not only talking to domestic violence survivors…but now we can encourage everyone. When we talk to people we’re able to tell them ‘you’re enough’. Thoughts become things and that’s where our first book came from There’s Power In Your “I Am”, because we learned to seek validation from ourselves. Then our second book Thoughts Become Things – your thought of yourself is what matters, not what someone else thinks. Aaron: If it’s okay to ask, in one of your books you mentioned a while ago that you both dealt with depression. How did you fall into it and how did you overcome it? Kerese: For me it all started off when I had my son and the bad relationship that I was in also played a part in it. I got married and was married for nine months. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t happy. Me, at that time, I was a people pleaser. So, I was trying to make sure he was happy, happy, happy, but at the same time I wasn’t happy. I attempted to commit suicide three times and it wasn’t successful, because God said ‘I have more for you to do on this earth’. What stopped me the last time that I tried to commit suicide is my son. We were driving in the car and out of the blue my son just said ‘mommy you know I need you right? I love you!’ He was only three years old and he was like ‘mommy I love you, I need you! I can’t
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have another mommy like you’. That was the last time I thought about committing suicide. That is when I grew out of depression, and that is when I wrote a letter to suicide saying you can’t have my life. The great thing about that is when I wrote that letter I put it on our website and also on Facebook, and somebody wrote to me and said ‘you just saved my life because I was getting ready to commit suicide’. Kristle: Kerese posted that letter on Facebook and someone wrote to her through messenger and said that something kept telling her to go to the twins website. The suicide letter was posted on our website. She said something just kept telling her to go to the twins website, but she didn’t know why. She had the pills in her hand, and she said when she went to our website the first thing that she saw was the letter. When she saw the letter she immediately threw the pills in the toilet. So, that’s how I knew God used my story to be transparent and to help others. Tocarra: That’s heavy! On another note, do you have any encouragement for aspiring women authors or anyone who is looking to fulfill their dreams, striving to be the best that they can be or who is always battling suicide or depression? Kristle: In short, thoughts become things. What you think of yourself is what you will become. You have to get to the point in your life where what other people say or think doesn’t matter. You have to realize we’re on this earth to please God. You can believe in whatever you believe in; I’m not here to judge you, but we will say that we are here to please God. Other people bleed the same blood, get the same scratches. You just have to understand that getting validation from other people will hurt you in the long run. Kerese: For me, I’ll say find your purpose. Once you find your purpose then you’ll stop looking for other people to try to fulfill any voids in your life. Once you find your purpose then everything becomes easy afterwards. Kristle: For someone who may be depressed or thinking about suicide, seek help. We as a black community, we are afraid to go seek help. Seeking help does not mean that you are crazy. Seeking help means you realize you have an issue and desire to fix it. So, it’s okay to seek help. Also, since I am a survivor of suicide attempts, I would say realize that you won’t just be hurting yourself; you will be hurting others, so that is one major factor that you should think about. Also, for the authors, the one thing that Kerese and I tell people who reach out to us and ask us, ‘how to write?’ The one thing that we tell everyone is to just write. All you have to do is write. If it’s in your head and you keep saying ‘I need to write a book’, as soon as you start typing I promise you it will flow. It took my sister and I two weeks to write our first book. We sat down and it just flowed.
Kerese: Another tip is to isolate yourself. Sometimes you have to isolate yourself from social media and television, because so many things will come to your head and you’ll be like ‘wow, I never knew’ …well it was always there but your head was so distracted. Get in a quiet place. Whenever you have a vision or a goal always keep it to yourself and in private. Don’t let it out until it’s complete. Tocarra: What are some exciting or interesting things that you would like your fans, listeners and the readers to know about you? Kerese: Nobody knows, so you all are getting an exclusive, but we are transitioning to a TV show called Chicago Today with the Millen Twins. It will be a digital marketing. We had our first Exclusive interview with Kim Foxx, the State’s Attorney. We have some more exclusive artists from Atlanta and Los Angeles that we are interviewing. Nobody knows yet, because as we said, we like to move in silence. Nobody knows that we are transitioning from the radio to a TV show. Aaron: Would you like to add anything that we haven’t talked about before we conclude the interview? Kristle: Just continue to follow us. MillenTwin1 and MillenTwin2 (Instagram). Kerese: We are both educators. We are having our second MTE Awards, which is the Millen Twin Educators Awards on June 27th 2020 at the Beverly Art Center where we will be awarding 30 individuals who are educators in their field. Kristle: It’s 25 awardees in the educating field and 5 prestigious awards. The 5 prestigious awards are Teacher of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Principle of the Year, Coach of the Year and Student of the Year. So, yes that’s June 27th at the Beverly Art Center from 6pm to 9pm. We will be posting soon. We have a new website also coming up. The new website will be MillenTwins.com and they will be able to purchase tickets on the website. Everyone has been nominating the educators that they want to see awarded. We are now in the process of picking those names so that we can email them and let them know they have won the award. Kerese: One more thing, we have our clothing line also. It’s the Millen Twins brand. You will be able to purchase that on our MillenTwins.com website as well. The current website is still active for now but the MillenTwins.com website will be coming soon, and literally everything that that Millen Twins do will be located on our new website. Visit The Millen Twins Social Networks:
Kristle: www.Instagram.com/millentwin1 Kerese: www.Instagram.com/millentwin2
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I AM. You Are. Perfectly Imperfect LLC www.iamyouareperfectlyimperfect.com
Tocarra
I
... International Recording Artist
nvigorating and energetic international recording artist, Tocarra (a.k.a. TK), has quickly become one of the most popular artists in the music scene. With her astounding melodic rapping abilities, lyrical content and rising popularity, her musical ambition continues to grow as her distinctive style developed. She is ready to take the world by storm with her new single “It’s A Party” featuring hip hop icon and legend Keith Murray affiliated with Def Squad. Her recent hit single “Crazy” produced by certified platinum producer Earl “LC” Robinson (founder and original member of R&B group Public Announcement) has been receiving many raves.
abilities, she hastily began to tap into her music talents and began to pursue her dream of becoming a noteworthy artist. Due to her tireless work effort, Tocarra always believed her ultimate dreams would come to a reality. Her mission in music is simply to become the leading recording artist, not just for ladies, but for the entire music industry. Her electrifying songs and lyrics provide a combination of excitement and energy, while having a melodic rhythmic delivery.
Being in love with music for as far back as she can remember, Tocarra’s unique style is the result of a lifetime of musical influences including TLC and Salt and Pepa. The stimulating artist grew up Tocarra is more than just a typical female from listening to the likes of New Edition, Monifah, the small town of Kankakee, IL, where she grew Tony Toni Tone, then later Lil Kim, Beyonce, Destiny’s up in a low-income single parent home. Desiring Child and Lauryn Hill. Growing up, she always to utilize her full array of extraordinary gifts and had a passion for rhyming, as she would often write Consciousness Magazine 18
poetry in her spare time as a youth. Her love for teamed up with international DJ “DJ Slugo”, to writing has played a major role in her success in the release her hit single “So Hot (feat. Comprehend)” music industry. produced by DJ Slugo, while steadily growing mome ntum, a s she is we ll on he r w a y to Outside of music, Tocarra is a remarkable journalist, revolutionizing the sound of music. Representing and is also extremely passionate about giving back a sexy, exquisite and tasteful look that sets her to the community, as she volunteers her time to a majorly apart from the masses, this music sensation multitude of nonprofit organizations and community has a following stretching across the map, as she is initiatives. She is the Executive Director of Still I rapidly blazing her own trails to musical dominance. Rise nonprofit organization, and is also a driving With her distinctive voice and fearless, but fun force behind a large number of successful delivery, Tocarra is swiftly cutting an eccentric dash innovative businesses in her community. While through the competitive music industry. promoting her positive energy, she has worked alongside and been in the company of a Twitter: www.twitter.com/TocarraMusik massive amount of industry greats including Nelly, Instagram: www.instagram.com/TocarraMusikWorld Bow Wow, India Arie, Scarface, Ja Rule, Murphy Facebook: www.facebook.com/TocarraMusik Lee, Tanay Jackson, Jon B., Fred Hammond, Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tocarramusik Donald Lawrence, and a host of more. Tocarra has worked with a wide array of music producers and artists. Several years ago Tocarra
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/tocarra Bandcamp: www.tocarramusik.bandcamp.com Website: www.TheyAuthenticRecords.com
Consciousness Magazine 19
Sports Community
Nicolas Hamilton
Inspired to Drive Consciousness Magazine 20
GRATIFICATION
I didn’t definitely realize the magnitude of what I achieved until I sit here and sort of tell people about it in interviews. I really realized the mountain that I had to climb to overcome everything. In fact, at the start of my life, I was told that I would never walk - I would never talk. I can sit here now and say I’m a professional race car driver and race against athletes. It’s very phenomenal to be honest because I think that just in general life you don’t realize it because you’re always focused on improving and reaching a goal - you don’t think to take the time to give yourself a pat on the back and realize what you have achieved already.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
I think, the first thing is the mindset and sort of realizing that it is what it is. You have what you have, you can’t change it, the only thing that you can do is live with it through the best of your abilities the best way you can. My condition is what I know. Every day I’m always learning something new, something different and something similar. There are always changes going on. I think that’s the whole fact, that’s why I’m here and I have to make do with what I have. It kind of spurred me on. Really, there’s no other way; there’s no other option. There is no other avenue that I can go down that would make my life better. Any way that I can make my life better is by overcoming obstacles and pushing through it. To get out of a wheel chair and be able to walk was the biggest obstacle that I had. The whole motor sport thing is completely a different task and goal. I sort of used the same mindset that I had to learn how to walk, to driving a race car. That’s pretty much how I did it.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
My mother always told me, “When there’s a will there’s a way, as long as you have the desire to do something regardless if you area disabled or not.” There’s so much nowadays in terms of technology, experience and knowledgeable people that can really help you achieve your goals. The first thing that I have to say about able bodied people that can reach their goals, that can get up every day and don’t have to worry about stretching, being in pain, their ribs or pelvis being out of line. They can get up, they can run, and they can walk. With a disability, I think the thing that sort of made me realize is that being disabled doesn’t make you different, it makes you unique and it makes you special. It’s the goals that you set and the target that you reach, which makes you unique and different from anybody else. www.nicolashamilton.com
Consciousness Magazine 21
The Grace, Beauty and Grit of
Vanessa Williams Interviewed and written By Allison Kugel
Vanessa Williams is a creature unlike any other. It’s as though she came here to impart the ins and outs of living life on one’s own terms. From unwitting societal lightning rod during the 1980s to multi-platinum selling recording artist; and Broadway, film and television star, Vanessa Williams slayed the male-dominated Hollywood dragon long before the #MeToo movement happened. You can tell from talking to her that, both, the scars of past judgment she endured, and the fruits of her sweet success have made their impact. Both created indelible imprints. In more recent years, Williams stunned audiences with sultry scene-stealing characters on hit series like Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty. Her recent film starring Orange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba, Miss Virginia, tackles the socio-economic and educational inequities that urban students of color endure, showcasing a more socially conscious film portrayal. Vanessa Williams’ exotic beauty strikes you dead on arrival, but Williams does not lead with her looks. She prefers to enter a conversation with intellect, boldness and strength.
Williams is now preparing to take her Broadway-honed stage skills across the pond to London’s West End, where she will be starring in a production of City of Angels, opening at the Garrick Theatre in 2020. She’s also added fashion designer to her packed resume, launching the sexy and sophisticated Vanessa Williams collection for HSN, and fresh on the heels of a multi-album deal with BMG, Williams is working on new music to reflect a collection of musical genres she is currently passionate about. A renaissance woman for the ages, Vanessa Williams’ life is nothing if not purposeful. Allison Kugel: Something told me to read your 2012 memoir, You Have No Idea, which I read cover to cover yesterday. I’m so glad I read your book, because it was the missing piece to really understanding you. The one constant theme throughout your life, it seems, is that you are a natural born rebel! Vanessa Williams: (Laughs) Yeah. Allison Kugel: That quality plays out in one way when we’re young, but changes as we get older. How do you express that side of yourself now?
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Vanessa Williams: It’s now about being unafraid to take chances. In terms of my career, I just signed on to do City of Angels on the West End [of London]. It’s not a lot of money, but it is an opportunity to work on the West End. It’s always been a dream of mine to live overseas, and to study in London. I’ll be working at the Garrick Theatre. We started rehearsals in January, we open in March, and the show will be running until the end of July. There are no guarantees, in terms of leaving my life in the states behind, but it’s something that excites me. At this stage of my life it’s all about asking myself what I want to do that I’ve never done. The challenge of it excites me, and doing the same thing bores me.
National Convention, and word was out that he was someone to watch. I gave my little spiel about how we needed more funding for the Special Olympics. I could see the appeal, and then he announced. When he announced that he was going to run for president, I was definitely in his corner. My mother was coming from the perspective of having lived through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being assassinated, and Kennedy being assassinated, and she was fearful for his life. That’s the generation that she grew up in. I felt that it could happen, and she also, of course, had some issues with it. It just showed the fear that was due to where my mother’s generation had come from.
Allison Kugel: Clearly, you value adventure over routine. Vanessa Williams: Well, I look at some people who have been on the same show for eleven or twelve seasons, and it’s a great cash cow. It’s great to have that kind of consistent salary where you can budget and put money away. God bless everyone who has had a series on the air for ten years, but there is an energy that keeps you kind of hungry when you are always looking for the next thing and you don’t know what that next thing is.
Allison Kugel: What have you learned about love? What’s been your greatest love lesson? Vanessa Williams: I’m lucky to have four children, and there is nothing like that love; a love like that never ends. Once they’re out of the house, you’re still, as a mom, always available. You’re still always worried (laughs) and concerned. And you’re still always extremely proud, no matter their age or what they are doing.
Allison Kugel: I want to go back a bit and talk about the beginning. I think people may forget because it was so long ago, but you broke through a pretty significant glass ceiling in your twenties by being crowned the first African American Miss America. You became this societal lightning rod at the time. In 2008, when President Obama was elected as our first African American president, did you feel a connection or kind of kinship with him, since he broke a barrier in a similar way? Vanessa Williams: Oh, absolutely, in terms of his safety, and his presence was worldwide. But there is an expectation that comes with that honor of breaking barriers. It’s also a tremendous fear, not only for yourself, but for family members; because there is such division, which doesn’t seem to leave us. I thought it was over in the 1980s and it wasn’t; I thought it was over in the 2000s and it wasn’t; and, obviously, it’s still apparent now. So, there is a specific fear and uncertainty that you have, but you have to be brave and you have to continue to do what you were chosen to do, and the job that is before you. Allison Kugel: Had you ever had that conversation with President Obama about that? Vanessa Williams: I met him right before he began his run for president. I’ve been on the Special Olympics international board for years, and I was on Capitol Hill with the Special Olympics meeting people and trying to raise money for our group. I met him right off the heels of that wonderful speech he’d given at the Democratic
Allison Kugel: How do you take care of your body, mind and spirit; and what’s your feel-good routine? Vanessa Williams: My feel good is waking up with a good cup of coffee and doing a crossword puzzle in the sun. That starts my day off perfectly. And when I get a chance to explore and travel, I love to horseback ride, wherever I am, and go to the stables and find a horse and go on an adventure and explore the terrain on horseback. Spending time at home is also a joy for me. I’m on the road traveling so much, so my happy place is kicking off my shoes and hanging out at home. Allison Kugel: You’re a practicing Catholic and you attend Church regularly, but in your most quiet and intimate moments, whom or what do you pray to, and what do you pray for? Vanessa Williams: Hmm... it depends on what it is. I pray to God and my ancestors and my guides, and everyone who has been with me along my journey. As far as what I pray for, it depends on what I want or need at that particular moment; whether it’s guidance, whether it’s “show me the way,” or whether it’s protection for one of my children. It depends on what my particular need is at that moment. Allison Kugel: What do you think you are here in this life as Vanessa Williams to learn, and what do you think you are here to teach? Vanessa Williams: I absolutely love to teach, in the literal sense, and I’ve done it for three years in a row at NYU
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(New York University). I’ve taught Master Classes at Syracuse University, where I went for musical theatre. I also teach women’s groups. It’s teaching strength and to be aware, because you never know when and where something is going to happen for you. Whether that’s your talent, whether it’s an opportunity… just be open to who comes into your life and what they can bring. Allison Kugel: And you’re here to learn? Vanessa Williams: That as women, for sure, we are a community, and to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or for help. Look for a mentor. I’ve learned that there are many people that are willing to be teachers and to help you along in your life, so don’t be afraid to ask because there will always be somebody there to offer help. I think I’m here to learn to keep moving ahead. On this earth we have setbacks, struggles and obstacles. You have to be able to say, “What is this teaching me?” so you can move through it and move ahead in your life. Avoiding something or trying to deny it won’t get you anywhere. Allison Kugel: Do you consider yourself a trailblazer for women? Vanessa Williams: I think my history has made me a trailblazer, unknowingly. I’ve always just been myself and that’s how it played itself out. Allison Kugel: What makes you feel most beautiful? Vanessa Williams: The sun and the warmth makes me feel beautiful. Every time I land someplace that’s warm, it makes me feel like I’m connected to nature. And that’s without hair and makeup and wardrobe, and all that stuff. It’s just the breeze, the water, and heat that makes me feel like my most natural self. And then being around children. Whether it’s my children who are all grown up… there’s a connection that I have with kids. Maybe because both of my parents were elementary school music teachers, but there is a connection that me and my kids have with young kids that I absolutely love. My
connection with children makes me feel so alive. Allison Kugel: You recently launched your own clothing line, Vanessa Williams, which is available through HSN. The collection is versatile, imaginative and sexy, yet understated. And I love how you incorporate animal prints and patterns with different looks. Vanessa Williams: Thank you. It’s another opportunity to be creative and I’ve got a great manufacturer, so the quality is fantastic. It’s an extension of what I love, which is putting my stamp on things. I love fashion, and I’ve been fortunate to work on amazing shows, both on television and on Broadway, where I’ve worked with incredible costume designers and been exposed to fantastic fashion through stylists. And I’ve settled into what my own personal style is, along with what resonates with other people. When I design, I keep my eighty-yearold mother in mind, and then my children; my girls are from age 19 to 32. Everyone’s got their own sensibility, and there’s one piece for everyone to enjoy. Allison Kugel: When will you be recording your next album? Vanessa Williams: Now! I just finished recording a children’s album, which will be out next spring. And I’m working on a new album for BMG that will be out next year. We’re leaning towards mood and tropical music for this next album, and there will be more projects to come. Allison Kugel: Let’s circle back to your upcoming show on London’s West End, City of Angels. You’re a Broadway veteran, but this will be your West End debut! Vanessa Williams: This will be my “junior year abroad” that I never got the chance to do! In college, I was supposed to go to London and then I became famous that September. So, it’s my delayed junior year abroad, thirty-six years later (laughs). And it’s getting a chance to show my stage talent on another respected stage. My children are not at home, so it’s an opportunity to take another thing off the bucket list.
Shop the Vanessa Williams collection at HSN and pre-order tickets to see Vanessa Williams star in City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West end. Visit VanessaWilliams.com. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, author of the memoir, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record, and owner of communications firm, Full Scale Media. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com. Photo Credits: Rod Spicer, Mike Ruiz, Gilles Toucas Consciousness Magazine 25
Reviews
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Public Relations Specialist Michelle Guess...
Wolf’s Mane Beard Care is an all-natural beard and skin care company that is rapidly growing in a competitive market. Established approximately 3 years ago in the Mid-West (Champaign, IL.), the brand is a must have and consumer choice for bearded customers. What makes WM products unique and incomparable is that they are not only hand crafted but possess a unique blend structure that sets the brand a part from its competition. The benefits of the amazing and successful beard products are numerous, as that it helps keep your skin looking fresh and healthy and your beard strong and protected, moreover, giving you the attractiveness and self-appeal that you deserve. It will unquestionably make a positive difference in your image.
WM includes Beard Oil, Styling Pomade, Butter Pomade, as well as Shampoo and Conditioner. Packages are included also. All products are made with natural ingredients such as Jojoba oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter and other natural ingredients as well. This is what makes these products the leading brand. This is only a landmark for WM as they will continue to expand their incomparable product line and add on more products in the future. WM company’s vision is to become a brand known and respected across the country as a high end brand made for the everyday person. To purchase products and to also find out more about Wolf’s Mane Beard Care products please visit www.wolfsmanebeardcare.com.
Parental Advisory: Views and opinions expressed in album, book, product or movie reviews within this publication reflect the opinion of their respective author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher and editors.
Know Your Rights!
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition
Article 29 and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
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