8 | May 2023 COMMUNITY
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND HOSTED OVER 250 MINORITY COLLEGE SENIORS AT DISNEY FOR PANDA CARES INSTITUTE FEATURING PINKY COLE, DALEN SPRATT By d-mars.com News Provider
P
anda Cares Presented by Panda Express & UNCF returned post-pandemic with a 3-Day Leadership Conference that took place at Disneyworld in Orlando Florida! For over seven decades, UNCF has helped minority students reach their educational goals through scholarships, workshops, galas, and more. During 2023’s spring break, Panda Cares
brought over 250 college seniors to Disneyworld for an all-expense-paid experience consisting of workshops, on-site field training, and a career fair with top companies such as Wells Fargo, The Walt Disney Company, and AT&T. Scholars joined the conference from 115 institu-
tions including Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Spelman College, Dillard University, Morehouse College, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Prairie View A&M University and many others.
The conference kicked off with a welcome dinner where the students wore attire that represented their schools and divine 9 organizations. It also consisted of students
meeting each other for the first time as they started Panda Cares in 2020 during the pandemic. As they mingled, danced, and listened to guest speaker, Taliah
Givens, Senior Director or UNCF, some students were filled with emotions as they soaked in the moment. One of the program’s shining stars, Olorundamilola “Lola” Okemeta was filled with emotion as she expressed her gratitude for the program. Lola is a first-generation college student from Africa. As a sophomore, she was attending college and excelling in the classroom, but she was also homeless. After UNCF found out that she was homeless and sleeping in a train station, they immediately found assistance. Lola is currently preparing for graduation and has been accepted into 4 Ivy League schools to receive her master’s degree. Scholars also participated in a walk-through at Disney’s
corporate office, where they spoke with executives and heard tips on how to excel in the workplace. After they spoke with executives, they received a surprise visit from Serial Entrepreneur and Clark Atlanta Grad, Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan. Cole discussed Maximizing Your Passions, How To Navigate In Your Lane When Others Are Selling The Same Product As You, Using Your Platform For A Greater Cause, and Balance Between Self, Personal, and Business Life. Before wrapping the conference, special guest, Discovery Channel’s Ghost Brothers Co-Star Dalen Spratt, held a concurrent session where he spoke to scholars about The Art of Negotiations and getting the salary you deserve. To learn more about the Panda Cares Scholars Program, go to UNCF.org/PandaCares.http://www.uncf.org/ PandaCares Source: Lemon Lime Light Media
COMMUNITY
HOUSTON INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER
COURTNEY GLAUDÉ’S COLLABORATION WITH MONIQUE FOR BET’S THE READING
IS CHANGING EDUCATION By d-mars.com Exclusive Interview
ouston native, writer, filmmaker, director, and writer Courtney Glaudé was not expecting the success he received after his vision for the BET+ thriller, The Reading. The film, which stars actress and comedian, Mo’nique, has thrust the visionary into a well-deserved spotlight. Executive produced by Fox’s Empire, Lee Daniels, the film was released on BET+ on February 2, 2023. It has since been ranked as one of the top 10 movies nationwide and on IMDb. Not bad for a guy who didn’t take the conventional route to study filmmaking. As a matter of fact, Glaudé exclusive with d-mars.com revealed why his road to cinematography wasn’t the same as others,
H
You know, I didn’t go to school and study filmmaking. I learned a lot through YouTube and really taught myself what to do. I’m a creative so I had other people around me to get there but the discipline I had really helped shape things for me. The idea behind The Reading came from a moment Glaudé had after watching New Edition alum, Bobby Brown, interact with a child medium, “Bobby Brown was getting interviewed by a medium
and [the medium] was a kid and the kid didn’t know who Bobby Brown was, he said. “It was his reaction to it, I was like ‘I want to write a movie where a medium gets a reaction like that.” When asked about how he felt regarding the metric of success post the film’s release, Glaude said, “It still hasn’t hit me, you know? Like I ‘see’ it happening, but it still has its surreal moments for me. And as a filmmaker, as a creative, this is one of the many highs.” Glaudé’s said he shot the film and received critical feedback from Daniels on how to perfect his craft. “He invited me over to his house and would be like ‘Now you see this here? What were you trying to tell the audience? If you’re going to this then take out that and if you’re going to do that, take out this.’” However, the independent film’s main character, played by Mo’Nique, sold the movie. “She was so great to work with and she said, ‘Don’t give this part to anybody, it’s mine.’” The director’s instincts paid off and so did the film. Shot in Houston, Glaudé detailed how he rediscovered beauty in areas of Houston such as the rural landscape of Humble to the historic parts of Third Ward saying, “My city houses some recognized Black people in their greatness and shooting the film reminded me to appreciate this backyard of mines.”
The director may have flexed his skills behind the camera but another project he was attached to was Retrospective Reflections Of A Life: An Evening Of Poetry & Prose With Antwone Fisher. Debuting as a one-night special benefitting the poetic event benefitted Highways & MoSamp Entertainment in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 2002 self-titled film starring Denzel Washington. “I’ve said it a few times now but I’m not retelling that story. In a movie, you can only do so much with time. But with this project, I just wanted to dig more into what made him who he was outside of the movie.” Glaudé was honored in February by Houston Council Member, Ja’leah Davis, who presented him with a proclamation from the city of Houston. “If I could tell my younger self anything about what to look for now, I’d tell him, ‘Take your time in everything you do because your process isn’t [God’s]. The multifaceted creative is a testament to his own ethics and dedication to the craft. To stay updated, visit www.courtneyglaude.com and follow his social media @courtneyglaude.
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