MARCH/APRIL 2021
Issue 07
1st ANNIVERSARY EDITION
CLERK OF COURT
MAHASIN EL AMIN Page 12
Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze Page 28
VICE CHAIR OF BOE
Sonya Williams Page 8
Here Comes the Judge! Judge Ingrid Turner Page 16
VANDPMAGAZINE.COM
The Woman of Many Hats Beverly Fields
Page 20
VISION & PURPOSE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
8 12 Newly-Elected Vice Chair The Clerk of the of a BOE in Maryland Circuit Court
16 Heres Comes The Judge
20 A Woman of Many Hats
6 Inspirational Moments Tempted By A Familiar Face 23 Business & Entrepreneurship What Is Your Empowerment? 24 Community Outreach March/April Awareness A Community Hero...Wessita McKinley 36 Health & Wellness The Art of Deep Breathing SuperWoman A Healthier Easter Dinner 43 Authors Speak Getting Beyond Writer's Block! 46 All Things Fashion Spring Showers High & Low Porosity Self-Care & Healthy Hair 50 Performing Arts Photographer, Jacqueline Hicks...In Her Own Words Poet Laureates of the DMV: Esteemed Wordsmiths Share Eloquent Insights
28 Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze African Union Ambassador
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March/April 2021 Founders Karen McConnell-Jones & Dr. Sharon H. Porter Editor-In-Chief Dr. Sharon H. Porter
Contributing Writers: Inspirational Moments Education Is Key
Marjorie M. Middleton Sharon H. Porter, Ed.D.
Business & Entrepreneurship Karen McConnell-Jones Donna Harris
Health & Wellness
Political Awareness
Community Outreach
Authors Speak
All Things Fashion
Performing Arts
Jason Greene Candice Camille Kyonna F. Brown
Karen McConnell-Jones
Krystal Glenn
Essie McKoy, Ed.D.
Antonio "Tony" Turner Martina Turner Laila Cunningham
Deputy Editors Karen McConnell-Jones Seth Washington Marjorie Middleton Layout & Design Dr. Sharon H. Porter Krystal Glenn Director of Graphics & Design Krystal Glenn Director of Sales Karen McConnell Jones Sales Team Michelle B. Hauser Photographer Michael Atcherson Krystal Glenn
Seth Washington
Contact Cover Story
Karen McConnell-Jones Sharon H. Porter. Ed.D.
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www.vandpmagazine.com info@vandpmagazine.com sales@vandpmagazine.com
@vandpmagazine
V&P Service Page Special dedication to Donna Harris and Krystal Glenn
The V&P Team is here to be a positive voice for our community through the stories that are shared in our magazine. In addition, we would like to provide services for our community to continue to help build our community one VISION and one PURPOSE at a time! For services and pricing, please contact us at info@vandpmagazine.com. Karen McConnell-Jones Dr. Sharon H. Porter Krystal Glenn Karen Clay Stevie Gaymon Domminique Massaquoi Angela Bryant Jason Greene Kyonna F. Brown Dr. Essie McKoy James Adéll Antonio Turner Martina Turner Seth Washington Candice Camille Donna Harris Michelle B. Hauser Laila Cunningham
Inspirational Speaker and Business Development Consultant (Marketing & Branding Specialist) Educational Consultant, Panel Facilitator & Book Publisher Graphic Designer Website Designer Photographer Photographer Gospel Singer & Real Estate Agent Chef & Catering Service Inspirational Speaker & Social Media Specialist Inspirational Speaker & Educational Consultant Custom Men's Clothing Designer Hair Stylist & Hair Care Products Hair Stylists & Hair Care Products Writer, Vocal Artist & Master of Ceremony Personal Trainer Tax Accountant Virtual Assistant Model
Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine "Inspiring Our Community" www.vandpmagazine.com
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Contributors
Marjorie Middleton Deputy Editor Inspirational Moments
Marjorie Middleton is a teacher, active in the community, striving to serve the underserved. Marjie’s journey began on an Apache Indian reservation.
Marjie led her team to a successful , police awarded de-escalation of a marginalized neighborhood’s open air drug market, also reaching many children and their parent’s spiritually. Marjie writes, and leads Zoom discussion/prayer groups addressing present time facing COVID--19, emphasizing the vitality of understanding Black Lives Matter.
Dr. Sharon H. Porter (Dr. Sharon), educator, best-selling author, publisher. Dr. Sharon is the Executive Director of the Next In Line to Lead Aspiring Principal Leadership Academy (APLA). and President of SHP Enterprise, the umbrella entity for Perfect Time SHP LLC, Coaching, Consulting, and Book Publishing Firm, The GRIND Entrepreneur Network, and SHP Media and Broadcasting. She is the host of The I Am Dr. Sharon Show.
Dr. Sharon is a Founding Partner and VicePresident, Media & Communications for WNM Ventures, LLC (The What Now Movement).
Chef Jason Greene Health & Wellness
Chef Jason R Greene is a certified chef who studied at the Art Institute of Washington. He is a very skilled, technically savvy, determined chef who specializes in Cajun Cuisine and innovating new types of menus as time progresses.
A passionate and detail-oriented Tax Accountant, Donna Harris has been meeting the needs of individuals and corporations for more than 20 years.
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Karen McConnell-Jones is an Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, being the first African-American full-service upscale Salon/Day Spa, located in the prestigious downtown Washington, D.C., two blocks from the White House.
Ms. McConnell-Jones is the CEO & President of Class Act Productions and Class Act Speakers Bureau, lending her expertise in the area of Business Development, Business & Purpose Coach, and Inspirational Speaker. Best known for her work she does in the community, earning over 30 proclamations for her work in the community. She is also Deputy Editor, Director of Sales, Co-Founder and Owner of V&P Magazine & Media.
Donna Harris Business & Entrepreneurship
Chef Jason is constantly expanding his culinary knowledge and has strong aspirations in making Donna has degrees in Management, Accounting and Business. Chef J Greene a household name. In January of 2013 Chef J Greene branched out and started TJay’s Catering Company, a company he quoted to provide high quality cuisine to nourish the mind, body and soul.
MARCH/APRIL 2021
Karen McConnell Jones Business & Entrepreneurship The Sports Report Community Outreach Politcal Awareness
Dr. Sharon H. Porter Education Is Key Community Outreach
Kyonna F. Brown Health & Wellness
Kyonna is a media guru, successful business owner, and an established author. She wrote Blessed Hands: The Pathway to Forgiveness, and contributed to Breaking Free Forever, The Momentous Journey, and Break Through. Kyonna recently became a CMAT prison mentor.
Pooch Styles, her trendy creative pet grooming and aesthetician business in the Washington, DC area, is where she and her staff offer FURgiveness to 4-legged members of various families. She provides tips and tools via her book How to care for the pet I love.
Contributors Antonio Turner All Things Fashion
Tony Turner is co-owner of Tony Turner Hair Products & Salon located in Richmond VA. He is a licensed cosmetologist/ salon owner with over 30 years experience. He has worked for many hair care brands before creating his own line of hair care products. Tony is an award-winning hair stylist and was named Hair Styling Icon by Beauty & Barber Magazine.
Martina Turner All Things Fashion
Martina Turner is working on building the Tony Turner Unleashed Brand with her Husband/Business Partner, Antonio Turner, located in Richmond, Virgina.
Martina has 26 years of experience in the Cosmetology field. She's had the opportunity to do Platform work at the International Beauty Show in New York City, work with Wahl Clipper Company He has owned multiple hair salons. Beginning with at the Bronner's International Beauty Show in his first salon The Untouchables at the age of 19. Atlanta Georgia. He is looking forward to sharing his insight with V&P readers. Martina is working on photography, filming, designing, creating new looks for advertisement, commercials and Trade shows for Tony Turner Unleashed Hair Care Products.
Candice Camille Health & Wellness
Candice Camille is CEO of Candice Camille Enterprises, Founder of Sexy Fit & Well, and Plank Talk Nation. She is a planking world record contender, an award winning sort after International Speaker and Media Personality.
Along with being a High Performance Personal Trainer, Certified Emotional Mastery Coach and Amazon bestselling Author. She has also been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, WUSA 9, and ION TV. As a committed community leader, Candice is CoFounder of Girls Run, Inc. where she serves as a running and mentoring coach for young girls.
Seth Washington Performance Arts Deputy Editor
Seth Washington writes about Performing Arts for V&P Magazine. Also, he performs spoken word poems, at DC-area venues, including Busboys and Poets. These days, Zoom is the venue, wherein, this writer has hosted, moderated, spoken, as well as, simply watched and listened. IG: seth.voice
Dr. Essie McKoy Authors Speak
Dr. Essie McKoy, CEO of Dr. Essie Speaks, an award-winning educator, a four times Amazon bestselling author, a coach, an inspirational speaker, and a radio host.
She received her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) and an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed. S.) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s Degree from Appalachian State University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Winston-Salem State University.
Michelle Hauser Sales Team
Dominique Massaquoi Photographer
Dominique Massaquoi was born and raised in Washington DC. She is an up-and-coming photographer. She has a marketing degree from The Pennsylvania State University and is the owner of a photography business, HawaDigital.
She enjoys capturing special moments with her lens. She feels like photography is an art and it allows her to tell a story that can be captured in a second. She specializes in street photography, especially graffiti murals.
Krystal Glenn Community Outreach Photographer
Krystal Glenn is the Lead Cinematographer at OG Media Productions. She graduated from Hampton University in 2002 with a degree in Business Administration and started a career in Accounting with a non-profit organization.
She went on to attend Full Sail University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinematography. She is a cinematographer, writer, speaker, and producer. As a cinematographer, she has worked on a variety of genres of projects including commercials, PSA, music videos and minidocumentaries, video streaming, short films, commercials and more.
Michelle B. Hauser is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has worked in the medical field for over 17 years.
She is currently a Compliance Educator with a HealthCare Organization in North Carolina. Michelle earned a Master‘s degree in Medical Health Administration from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Salem College.
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Inspirational Moments
Tempted By A Familiar Face by Marjorie M. Middleton At many points or, even, events in our lives we try to change. We may want to be a better person, treat people differently, or just grow and mature. During those times, we are always tempted by a familiar face. Whether literally looking into the mirror or just falling back into old habits, we at some point during our transformation come face to face with that old man, that old creature…the one we’ve been working on for as long as we can remember. The book of James is a book in the Bible addressed to the early Christian churches, attributed to James, a Christian Jew, whose identity is disputed. In the text, Chapter 1 of James, I am referencing the author encouraging us, believers, to put our faiths to the test! James 1:12-15 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me’. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” We have the ability to choose our own fate. God has given us free will and free choice. Because the Lord does not tempt us, we must be good stewards of our choices. Follow the leader you desire to end up with! MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 6
The enemy, whether it’s the devil or the world, has many of us imprisoned by our own desires; we are deceived by things that look “shiny”, causing spiritual imprisonment. Especially during times such as these, with so much turmoil and confusion, we must not allow the evils of the world to manipulate our emotions or our feelings, falling prey to temptation. Your thoughts, your lack of fearing the Lord, and doubts can create habitual sin. Those misplaced emotions encourage you to create your own version of how you should live your life separate from God, consequently keeping you imprisoned and spiritually bankrupt. We must never forget, we need God in order to live a purposeful life! We all want to be better! Greater! Change is possible. Transformation is within our reach, if only we strive to attain the goal. Start out by remembering that you are the familiar face! Face yourself in order to start the work of transformation. Face your ungodly desires, face your weaknesses, face your mistrust…face anything that is keeping you from your goal or purpose.
Inspirational Moments It certainly takes work to get out of imprisonment. A set and made-up mind is the beginning. We must begin the activity of freeing ourselves from temptation. I want to see my familiar face as a victory, not a failure. We must put in the work by following God’s word, knowing His word and using it as a sword and shield, and by having open communication with Him through prayer and supplication. It is time to pass the test and escape imprisonment! We live in a world so full of atrocities and evil that at times we are not sure where to turn. We can be easily fooled in this environment. Those whom we have always trusted, including Pastors and spiritual leaders, are supporting things we know are wrong; people of color and others are murdered daily and their deaths not avenged; children are being stolen for sex trafficking…the world is evil, but we must pass the test! Nothing less than 100 percent is acceptable. It has been almost a year since all of the restrictions were brought on by the Covid19 pandemic. During this time, racial disparities and systemic racism continue; an insurrection at the United States Capitol occurred and people are suffering financially, emotionally, and physically. But, there is a God. He will never abandon us. During times such as these, we must: 1.Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. Doing this also preserves our mental acuity. Colossians 3:1-2 NIV says “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Keep your eyes on the prize!
3. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. James 1:19 NIV says “my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Manage your thoughts, feelings, and emotions with help from above. A good word for today! 4. Manage yourself. Colossians 3:5 NLT says “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.” Just a few things to remember: We will sometimes make wrong choices, but if we are determined that won’t last. God never gives up on us. Do not be afraid. God never leaves us. He will never tempt us with evil, but because He knows we are not perfect…He will always wait on us. Pray before you become prey. Eternal life is promised to those who serve Him. We can be successful, satisfied, and live a victorious life by living above the circumstances of this world. It is not always an easy task, but certainly a satisfactory one. There are so many things and people we cannot change, but we can change that tempting familiar face (YOU)!
2.Not forget who we are in Christ. Don’t forget what you heard. James 1:22-25 NIV says “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” Be tempted not by a familiar face but by the face you intend to make familiar. Change, change, change!!!
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Education Is Key
Newly Appointed Vice Chair of a BOE in Maryland By Sharon H. Porter. Ed.D.
An interview with Sonya Williams EDUCATION IS IS
Prince George's County Executive, Angela Alsobrooks, appointed current Board Member Sonya Williams as ViceChair of the Prince George's County Board of Education. Mrs. Williams was appointed to the Board by County Executive Rushern Baker in January 2014. She was sworn in for a second term in December 2018. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Mrs. Williams, who represents School District 9 of Prince George's County, Maryland. As a resident of School District 9 in Prince George's County, Maryland, I experience firsthand her visibility in the community and the concern of her constituents. Let's find out a little more about, Mrs. Sonya Williams!
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Education Is Key SHP: You are a civil engineer with over 25 years of project management experience. What was your motivation to serve as a school board member? SW:A friend actually motivated me to pursue the Board position. Civil Engineering and Politics, in my mind, are completely unrelated career paths. I would venture to say that there are not many civil engineers who are politicians. But in 2013, a friend of mine called to suggest that I put my name in for the position to complete the remaining term left from the previous Board member that represented District 9. My response to him was, “I am not a politician”. He went on to state how my resume included the experience that he thought the school system could use. So, I agreed and applied by completing the application questions. To my surprise, I was shortlisted for an interview. And to my astonishment, I was one of two people asked to meet with the Senators to discuss school matters. And then, there I was, selected to fill the seat. I remember the first day I sat at the dais, I had no clue about all the education lingo they were using; IEP, Title 1, Operating Budget, Associate Superintendent, etc. I did not even know how to buzz in to add commentary to the discussion. Then I remembered my friend’s comment, it was my experience that the school system needed. I refocused and realized, it was not about what I did not know, it was about the leadership knowledge and experience that I brought to the table. That is what got me the support and the selection to fill this seat at the dais. So, I put on my project management and engineering problem solving hat and jumped in. The first thing I started to do was listen. Listen closely for problems, and believe me, there were problems all around the system. I listened for what was known and the unknown. I listened for who was responsible for what. I listened for what were the outcomes we were trying to achieve. As an engineer, we are taught to find solutions to problems. If we can understand the problem and the outcome sought, engineers know that we can manipulate the variables to work towards achieving a solution. And so I went to work as one of the leaders of the school system and not a politician filling a seat. My focus has and always will be about solving problems and achieving outcomes that move the needle on education, communication, and the physical environment that students and staff use. Therefore, my motivation for serving as a member of the Board of Education is simply to lead in solving problems and making legacy changes to the school system.
SHP: You are a product of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), having graduated from Crossland High School in1985. You have also served as PTSA President in the school district. How can county residents become more involved with the local schools in your district and across the county? SW: Volunteer! Ever since my first son started school, I have volunteered to help his school. Originally it was for selfish reasons, I wanted to keep an eye on my son and see how the teachers interacted with him. But what I came to learn is that I was actually building a relationship with the school community. At some point, whenever I was in the building it changed from, Enor’s mom to Sonya. And at some point, the relationship between his teacher and me changed, from the educator being his teacher to my friend. We developed a trust for each other and the role we played in the development of the academic success of my son and the other students in his class. Eventually, that trusting relationship gave me access to more information just by being present. Things that were unknown to me became known. And if I did not know something, I began to (at a minimum) know exactly whom to ask to get the correct information. So, to answer your question, how can county residents become more involved with the local schools in District 9 and across the county, become a volunteer. Let it be known that there are many opportunities to volunteer through formal associations such as the PTA, extracurricular activities such as band and sports, and things like participating in career day. But there are also other ways to volunteer informally, such as offering to read to young students, or simply offering to share a skillset with students such as knitting, sewing, etc. The best way to start the process of volunteering is to ask a teacher or the school principal how you can help. My involvement with the PTA at my son’s school that eventually led me to serve as president resulted from me reaching out to the Principal the first day I was in the building and just simply letting her know that I wanted to volunteer. Note that in Prince George’s County Public Schools, all volunteers must complete a number of steps before being able to interact with students on a regular basis. These steps include fingerprinting and a background check.
SHP: You represent the School District 9 community and your goal is to keep the community informed. What are some ways that you have implemented to keep the community informed? SW: Ever since I became a Board Member, I have held informal community events every 3rd Saturday of the month to give community members an opportunity to sit with me to discuss and be informed about school matters. These events are called “Coffee with your School Board Member”. Before COVID it was hosted in person in the Starbucks area at the Safeway in Brandywine (sort of the center point for the ninth school district), but during COVID the event has been moved to the virtual space. At the events there is an exchange in information. I share information about things that the Board is currently working on and inform the attendees about how they can engage with the leadership of the school system. The attendees shared with me their issues and concerns or provide input on actions that the Board may be taking in the near future. For me this has been invaluable because I can hear directly from constituents on matters. This is my opportunity to grasp the issues in all its dimension; context, tone, expression, etc. without my own personal bias coming into play as one might do by simply reading an email. Fully understanding individuals’ issues or concerns, I believe, allows me an opportunity to better serve them as an individual and serve the district as a whole.
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I tell the attendees all the time, as a mother of two boys, I do not know directly the experience that girls have in school. Not having an athlete, I do not know the issues athletes deal with. Not having a student with an IEP or 504, I need to hear from parents who have challenges with students with special needs. These coffee events allow me an opportunity to listen and hear issues and concerns from the community, so when I am sitting at the table with my other 13 Board colleagues voting and making decisions, my votes are representative of the community I represent and not just my own point of view. SHP: What do you hope to accomplish as Vice Chair of Prince George’s County Board of Education? SW: As Vice Chair, I believe more responsibility is placed upon you over and above your normal work as a board member to facilitate and lead the work of the Board. As Vice Chair, I have made it my duty to ensure the Chair, who is new to the Board of Education but not new to PGCPS, gets acclimated to her role, the people, and the issues. She comes to the position with years of leading in the community and she is and has shown she is ready to lead. But true leaders must understand the environment that they are entering into and the operations that are already in motion. As Vice Chair, my first goal is to help the new Chair get adjusted to her role to effectively facilitate leading the Board. The second goal I plan to accomplish is to improve upon how the Board communicates and operates. I know we can improve upon telling our own story about PGCPS. Our story is not just about the good things that are going on in the system, but also how we educate parents on how to get answers and support. Our office has seen quite a bit of turnover in the last few years and systems have gotten lost in the shuffle. I have a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Georgetown University and many many years of project management experience. Using my education and experience, I plan to improve how we communicate and operate. My goal is to accomplish that in an educated, thoughtful systematic way as Vice Chair of the Board. SHP: What else would you like our readers to know? SW: I actually LOVE being a member of the Board of Education and I am thankful for my friend that suggested that I go for it and I thank God for giving me the skill set to lead and make change. Although challenges come and go, and sometimes are created intentionally, the work that I do, the people I meet, the smiles from students when they achieve success, the sadness that comes with failure, all motivate me to continue to push forward towards changing the perception of PGCPS. I see, I know, and I live within a community that is filled with people who want to achieve the greatest that can be attained. If I can serve and help in achieving success, I am willing to do the hard work necessary. After serving for seven years on the Board, we are about to embark on real change in moving the needle in PGCPS. Over the next three years starting in 2022, we will have nearly 10 new schools built all over the County. That will be the most schools ever built, in recent history in such a short period of time. I am proud I was able to be a part of the initial idea development of the use of the Public-Private Partnership program that will build 6 of the 10 schools. As a proud Prince Georgian, proud PGCPS alumni, a proud parent of a graduate of PGCPS, and a proud member of the Board of Education, it is with great honor and pride that I serve my community, my friends, my neighbors, and family and I am thankful for the opportunity and trust that they have all place din me.
About Sonya Williams Mrs. Williams is a Civil Engineer with over 25 years of project management experience on local and national construction projects. Mrs. Williams, a Prince George’s County resident since the age of five, Mrs. Williams completed her secondary education at Crossland High School in 1985, after which she attended the University of Maryland to study Civil Engineering. During her first elected term, she held over 50 “Coffee with Your School Board Member” events every third Saturday of the month and worked closely with Prince George's County Public School (PGCPS) Capital Programs office to improve the school construction and renovation process. Additionally, she sponsored transportation for high school students to attend an annual college fair, created and enhanced several reports to improve how the administration communicate its progress to the Board to support better governance and decision making. Throughout her tenure, she has been an active member of several Board committees holding key committee leadership positions. Mrs. Williams’ goal to keep the District 9 community informed is achieved by being active on social media (Facebook and Twitter using the #PGCPSD9Rocks) and by sending out regular District 9 Newsletters. Sonya Williams continues to develop real estate across the nation through her full-time position as the Development Manager on multi-million dollar real estate development projects. Since her tenure, Mrs. Williams has served as Chair and Vice Chair on the Board Academic Achievement and Operations, Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committees at various times from 2014 to the present. In addition, she has been an integral part of the Career, Technology and Education (CTE) Workgroup, the Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) Development Team, and Bus Transportation Task Force. Mrs. Williams is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Lion’s Club, and a member of the Board of Directors for MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital. She resides in Clinton, Maryland with her husband and their two sons. They worship at Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland. MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 10
POLITICAL AWARENESS
The Clerk of the Circuit Court Is Where It All Starts and Ends By Karen McConnell-Jones Did you know that the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the administrative arm of the court? The Clerk’s office is responsible for maintaining the court’s records as every case filed in the Circuit Court starts with the and ends with the Clerk’s office. They also have to record land records, issue business and marriage licenses, perform civil marriage ceremonies, administer the oath of office to public safety officers, elected officials, and people appointed by the Governor and County Executive. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is an elected position by the voters of the community to a four-year term and carries no term limit. Here, in the Greater Prince George’s County, Maryland, is where you will find the Honorable Mahasin El Amin, Clerk of the Circuit Court. Now entering into her third year of a four-year term, Mahasin shared how it is still so very exciting for her to be in this moment. “I was taught that in order to effectuate change, you must be a part of the solution and not just stand on the sideline. What better way to be a part of something and make a difference than serving my community? The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a wonderful sweet spot for me. As a lawyer, it allows me to still be in the legal environment while providing access to justice. I can truly say that I am in love with my job! Being politically involved is in my DNA. My parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were politically active and engaged” said Mahasin. MARCH/APRIL
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”I can say there’s so much that I’ve learned from my family. Some of the top lessons instilled in me have been first and foremost, be true to myself. I don’t need to be someone that I am not because all my imperfections and character traits are what makes me Mahasin. I always strive to selfreflect and to be better than I was the day before. Secondly, stay humble. It is important for me to remember where I come from and the shoulders that I stand on. I didn’t become the Clerk of the Circuit Court without the sacrifices of the people who paved the way for people like me to hold office.
As the conversation touched on women in leadership, Mahasin believes that we are in extraordinary times and it is incredible that we don’t have to go far to see all the women in leadership,not to mention women of color in leadership. If we look at the courthouse in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, it’s all women of color. We have the Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams, Chief and Administrative Judge Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy, and the Honorable Cereta A. Lee, Register of Wills.
Mahasin ended by saying “now this is what I call an impressive line-up of phenomenal black women!” I asked Mahsin what is one of her proudest moments as the Clerk of the Circuit Count? She shared the time when she had the honor of administering the oath of office to her big sister, Sonya Williams, School Board Member for District 9. She went on to say how very close they are, and she has learned a lot from her sister. So, to have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in her big sister’s career was an honor and special moment.
Lastly, have mentors. Life is a journey and I am not the first one to go through it. It’s important to reach out to those who have the experience and knowledge, and who can provide me with guidance. As I stated before, I stand on the shoulders of many and it’s important for me to seek their advice while I can. Having mentors is important for professional and personal growth.”
Photo Courtesy of DaKara Spence
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Overcoming the Challenges of COVID-19 I asked Ms. El Amin about the challenges that COVID-19 has presented for her office. She responded, "If I have to be honest here, our office runs by the use of paper. Everything that is filed in the Circuit Court is filed on paper. We are in the beginning stages of converting to an online case management system and then COVID-19 hit. My office wasn’t structured to manage cases remotely 100% of the time; therefore, we had to be here to process all the work that came into the office. People still needed to get married during the lockdown, folks were buying property, so land records had to be recorded and cases were still being filed. My staff and I never left the courthouse because work needed to get done. The biggest and scariest challenge for me was managing the health and safety of the nearly 200 staff members of my office while serving the public. Thankfully, I have an incredible team and we worked with our justice partners, and we planned and implemented business processes to effectively conduct the Clerk’s office business." El Amin's theme for 2021 is “Be Great”! She says it is important for her to acknowledge her staff and their hard work because she cannot be successful without their efforts. "They are the ones on the frontline being directly involved with the customer. Therefore, I encourage them to “Be Great” at everything they do." She also encourages them to take pride in their work no matter how monotonous the task may be. She celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges the successes, and encourages them to take advantage of the many opportunities the judiciary has to offer. She continued by saying, "I also must lead by example. I don’t ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do. That may mean I have to answer the phone so they can help someone at the counter. Or I may have to roll up my sleeves and open hundreds of pieces of mail so they can easily enter the filings into the computer system. I always tell them…I am no different from you, I still put my pants on like you, one leg at a time." "My desire is to have the honor of continuing my service with my team as the Clerk of the Circuit Court. I always say that it should be illegal to love your job as much as I do. Hopefully, if the residents will have me around for a little while longer, I would like to see the implementation of MDEC, the court’s online case management system, through to completion in Prince George’s County." "I believe that life is not a dress rehearsal. We only get one shot at it and I will continue to make the best out of life. I will stay positive, treat everyone how I want to be treated with respect and dignity and have a good time while doing it.” Ms. El Amin received her Bachelor of Science in Public relations from the University of Florida in 2003 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2009. After graduating from the University of Baltimore, Ms. El Amin served as law clerk to the Honorable Beverly J. Woodard, Associate Judge for Prince George’s County Circuit Court. She practiced law at the Maryland Legal Aid Metropolitan Office from 2010 until 2014. She later joined the Law Offices of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. in 2014. She served as the President and Corresponding Secretary of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Inc. Through her membership with the local and national bar association, Ms. El Amin has coached high school mock trial teams, been a mentor to newly admitted attorneys to the Maryland State Bar, and chaired numerous community service projects throughout the state. In 2015, Ms. El Amin was named as one of Prince George’s County’s “Forty under 40”. Ms. El Amin is a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County. She is an avid marathon and ultra-marathon runner with a commitment to promoting a healthy work environment for employees of the Clerk’s Office.
Photo Courtesy of Ingrid Turner
HERE COMES THE JUDGE By Karen McConnell-Jones
Please allow me to take you on this beautiful journey on how Judge Ingrid won the seat to the “BIG CHAIR.”
Here’s How It All Started
The beginning of Ingrid’s “fair forum” for justice began in elementary school. During The Honorable Ingrid M. Turner shares her the fifth grade, her teacher created a microstory of life, family, serving her country, her society for their class. The elections were community, and her desire as a young girl of held for a president, vice president, chief of wanting to become a judge. This story will police and judge. Ingrid’s classmates said, leave you in awe as well as inspire you, in “Ingrid, are you going to run for president?” the manner of Judge Ingrid’s pure Her response was, “No! I want to be the determination and her will to stay the judge!” She was elected judge and presided course and travel the road that lies ahead over class cases, listening to evidence and for her. She permitted herself to do the hard deciding whether classmates were guilty or work and she had the endurance to stay innocent, sometimes determining their devoted to the calling and purpose that God punishment. had placed on her heart.
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This was when she realized that judges were in a position to ensure that people were treated fairly and received the help when they needed it the most. Ultimately, she knew in her heart this is what she wanted to do.
POLITICAL AWARENESS
Ingrid’s Family Values and Being a Part of a Military Serving Family Ingrid is the daughter of June and Henry Turner, who taught her the values of education and hard work. Ingrid’s mother was a teacher and her father served in the military for over thirty years. Ingrid and her brothers were raised to be compassionate, humble, and hard-working. As children, they understood that education was the open door of possibility – it was a clear, concise, and consistent message that their parents always stressed. Ingrid’s father exemplified hard work and perseverance, even in the most difficult of circumstances, and they followed his example. “While my parents are no longer with us, their lessons are ones that I continue to draw from today,” said Ingrid. While coming from a military serving family, the military was always an option, Ingrid stated that she did not feel compelled to join. In fact, she was drawn to military service because of her lived experiences. Her family benefited greatly from the opportunities the military provided, especially during the country’s period of integration. It was during this time that she witnessed her father’s rise through the ranks to ultimately become the first African American to lead the Optometry Department at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. With faith, hard work, and determination he went from being an enlisted soldier to a full bird Army Colonel and Department Chief at the most prestigious military hospital in the country. Like her father, she wanted to make a difference and accomplish great things. The military was a vehicle that provided Ingrid with opportunities to do that and much more. “While my father and brothers served in the Army, one of the most important lessons I learned growing up was how to think independently, which certainly played a role in my decision to “Go Navy.” In the early 1980s, the country was facing a recession and many of my friends found it difficult to secure a job after college. I wanted to have a job following college and attending one of the United States service academies would essentially guarantee a career in military service. I was blessed to be accepted into three of the military academies - West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 17
As the maritime service branch of the Armed Forces, the Navy was a natural fit for me. I have always loved the water and was a part of the varsity swim team in high school, so combining military service with an area I loved was always an intriguing option. I decided to attend the United States Naval Academy and set out to ensure I had the foundation to be the best possible naval officer that I could be. Even though it was difficult at times being an African American woman in the Navy, I know you cannot have great success without difficulty. My time at the United States Naval Academy was particularly tough. My class was only the sixth to offer admission to women, and I was one of only a few women of color. Issues surrounding race and discrimination were very real and complex, but with family support, prayers, and the grace of God, I graduated in four years. I was one of only three African American females to graduate in a class of almost 1,000. The year before, one African American female graduated. When I reported to my first duty station, there were some who were a little shocked by what they saw. Ultimately, being a graduate of the United States Naval Academy provided skeptics who may have doubted my intelligence and skills with some measure of comfort. I was blessed to have a great supervisor that supported me, and I was named Federal Women of the Year. The Naval Academy has come a long way since my time there, and as glass ceilings are broken, it is that much easier for those who come behind you. I am encouraged by the number of women, and women of color being accepted into the Naval Academy and look forward to even more progress in the years ahead.”
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In addition, Ingrid shared that serving as a Navy JAGC officer was a rewarding and exciting opportunity along with being able to serve her country. She also shared that there are approximately 900 select attorneys based throughout the world who practice law, support the Navy, and serve our nation ashore and at sea. As commissioned naval officers, they are the uniformed lawyers of the U.S. Navy. Their practice encompasses a broad array of law and provides the legal expertise necessary to conduct military operations worldwide. Their practice areas include Military Justice (prosecution, defense, judiciary, and appellate) Legal Assistance (personal legal services and advice to military members and their families) National Security Law/Administrative Law/Environmental Law/Healthcare Law/Civil Litigation/Admiralty and Maritime Law/Information Operations and Intelligence Law. Becoming a Politician and Serving Her Community Like many women in elected office, Ingrid’s own road to politics was slightly unorthodox. She was about to start her twentieth year of military service and a Commander in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Nevertheless in 2006 when Prince George’s County Council Member Douglas Peters vacated the District 4 seat to successfully run for the State Senate. Ingrid decided to run for his seat which means she had to retire from the military. With no prior political experience, she was a newcomer to the political scene, and no African American had ever been elected to the District 4 Council seat in Prince George’s County. She ran without the established political backing that supported her male opponents, yet Ingrid and her family had dedicated their lives to serving the people of Bowie. So together, they mobilized an enthusiastic group of residents and supporters who shared her vision and wanted to accomplish great things for the community. She won the election by 58 votes over the second-leading candidate. She was re-elected in 2010 and unanimously elected to serve as the Chair of the Council in 2010. Her second term ended in 2014 and term limits prevented Ingrid from running for re-election. With work still to be done, there was a vacant seat in Congress, so together with the community, Ingrid mounted a campaign. At the time, not knowing there would be vacant seats for Circuit Court Judge, she learned during the congressional campaign that she could run for one of the judicial seats. No one had been elected to a judicial seat in the 50-year history of the election process and she was told it would be political suicide.
In the state of Maryland, circuit court judges are appointed by the governor, and required to run for election to a 15-year term against other appointed judges and qualified person(s) whose names are certified to appear on the ballot. In recent years, the level of awareness concerning the judicial selection process has increased; we are starting to see more attorneys and members of the public engaged in the process. So, after much prayer and consultation with close community friends, Ingrid made a leap of faith and decided to switch from Congress to Circuit Court Judge. Once again, her family and the community pulled together and got to work. Out of 5 seats for Judge of the Circuit Court, Ingrid garnered the most votes to take first place in the election and was elected to a 15-year term. To this day, many of the residents who supported her campaign refer to Ingrid as, “The People’s Choice” for Maryland Circuit Court. “I believe residents want to have some input related to who their judges are, and they should have that opportunity in the election process. The residents came out and voted, helping me to make history in the process by becoming the first judge to be elected as “The People’s Choice” for Maryland Circuit Court. You don’t need influence to become a positive voice in the community. You need to become a positive voice in your community to have influence. I was deeply humbled that Prince George’s County residents thought enough of my work and history of service to elect me to the bench, confirming my belief that God determines your destination. With prayer, hard work and determination, anything is possible” said Ingrid. So, there you have it, a heartfelt story from the Honorable Ingrid M.Turner. A job well done my friend! It was truly my honor to have served as your campaign manager and now to be able to do this interview with you and tell such a beautiful story. We love you Ingrid and God bless!
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Business & Entrepreneurship
The Woman of Many Hats By Karen McConnell-Jones Photography by Michael Atcherson and Krystal Glenn
Beverly Ann Fields is truly a “Woman of Many Hats” as she shares with us all the details of her professional and humanitarian journey, her story will keep you entranced as well as inspire you to follow your dreams and reach your true potential. Yes, Ms. Fields wears the hats of an Attorney and Mechanical Engineer with degrees from Howard University. At present time, the hats of Chief of Staff for the Washington, D.C. (DC) Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, Registered Parliamentarian, President of the Metropolitan DC Chapter of The Links, Inc., and has also served as President of her local Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter, amongst many other positions. Yet, this beautiful, liberal, well-rounded, intelligent, and talented woman of class just wanted everyone to know that the hat she wears the best is being a blessed child of God. As she quotes her favorite scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, And He will make your paths straight” (NASB), with her head tilted up and her eyes looking above. In asking Ms. Fields to walk me through how she came to be a Mechanical Engineer and an attorney, which seems to be at two different ends of the spectrum, a big smile came upon her face like a grin of a little girl who could not wait to get the story out, then she answered. “I will have to tell you the story as my mother, Mrs. Mamie King Fields, would tell the story. My mother said she discovered me taking the television apart as a toddler. When she asked me why I was basically breaking up the television, I told her that I wanted to know how to get to those people in the box!"
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Ms. Fields continued. "This curiosity and interest in mechanics and technology at a young age was groomed throughout my school years, As a student at the Academy of the Holy Cross, I was quite involved in mathematics and scientific endeavors, including the math and science clubs, and I excelled in these subject matter classes. I interned at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) in Greenbelt, MD., and realized that a technological field was going to be my path. Upon graduation as salutatorian of my class in 1983, I attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Howard University School of Engineering." Ms. Fields began a career at Booz, Allen & Hamilton working in the Submarine Shock Qualifying and Silencing Division. During this time, she maintained her commitment to community service and advocacy of social justice which brought her to the desire to pursue a law degree. Ms. Fields stated "I felt that the study of law would serve as a foundation for addressing the myriad of social issues that were of concern to me. As such, after three years at Booz, Allen, I entered Howard University School of Law on a Merit Scholarship where I served on the Law Journal and Moot Court Team. After a sound and exciting experience, I graduated as number eight in a class of 135 based on grade point average. I believe that the study of engineering and law has particular similarities, including discipline, logic, and the ultimate goal of solving problems.`` Now, Ms. Fields currently holds the position of Chief of Staff of the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Her duties are varied. She is responsible for oversight as chief operating officer of the agency whose mission is death investigation and certification. Also, she is responsible for the overall operations which encompass budget and finance, procurement, human resources, information technology, records management, epidemiology and data fusion, quality control, fatality review committees, risk management, labor management, as well as toxicology, mortuary, histology and anthropology laboratories. In addition, a key part of the Agency’s work involves fatality management which has been a critical part of the District’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. While there is a myriad of important duties associated with this work, she has stated that the most significant duty is to provide quality, respectful and compassionate services to those families that have lost their loved ones. Ms. Fields has been a diligent Chief of Staff for the agency for seventeen years and has had the pleasure of working with four elected Mayors while in her position. Her motto in the workplace is “Striving for A-1 Excellence at All Times” and the agency has a stellar record and reputation within the District government. In 2019, Ms. Fields received the agency’s Exemplary Service Award for her dedication and superior performance. Ms. Fields states that “It was an honor and thrill to be admitted as a member of the bar for the Supreme Court of the United States - the highest court of the land and pinnacle of our penal system. Standing before the justices on the day of admission, the significance of the moment does not escape you. You realize that you have the capability to argue cases wherein the justices’ ruling will impact many aspects of people’s lives.” Ms. Fields has been fortunate to meet Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in special sessions on two occasions and cherishes her pictures with Justice Ginsburg.
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Photo Courtesy of Beverly Fields
Another one of her proudest moments was obtaining a Black Belt Certification in Six Sigma, a professional certification, which is, a set of quality management methods, such as empirical statistics designed to improve business processes. Lastly, Ms. Fields is also proud of successfully completing testing to become a Registered Parliamentarian (RP), of which there are only about 450 Registered Parliamentarian members out of 3400 in the world and now she is in the pursuit of becoming a Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP), later this year. Ms. Fields’ commitment to serving the community arises from growing up witnessing the kindness and concern for others displayed consistently by the two most important role models in her life, her Mother Mrs. Mamie King Fields and her Aunt Daisy Allen. The giving nature of both women instilled in her a desire to show compassion and empathy for those less fortunate. One of her first forays into public service was as a Girl Scout with the Girl Scouts of America through
high school where she volunteered at hospitals, shelters and community centers. Her commitment to public service continued through college as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated as she worked to uplift those less fortunate through the organization's food drives and mentoring program. Her pledge of lifelong commitment to “service to all mankind” has been carried out as she has served as President of her graduate chapter of the sorority, Xi Zeta Omega Chapter, and many other positions on the local, regional and international level. She has also continued her strong commitment to social justice and equity throughout the years as a member of several other organizations such as The Links, Incorporated’s Metropolitan (DC) Chapter where she currently serves as president and as a board member of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). Ms. Fields believes that you must lift others as you climb and make a bridge for others to realize their full potential in this global community.
Most importantly, Ms. Fields’ spiritual upbringing and her faith also provide her with the desire to “help somebody as she passes along.” “I believe that Vice President Kamala Harris, who is my sister in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated, gives us insight as to the future for Women in Leadership. Young girls and adult women gain inspiration from our Vice President and all those women around the world that are making strides and paving the way. We should work to continue to place a rung on the ladder of all women so that it will eventually reach the ceiling so that woman can shatter that glass ceiling.” As we come to the conclusion of the interview I asked Ms. Fields at the end of the day and after wearing your many hats professionally and humanitarianly what does your fun/personal life look like? She replied “I am a classical pianist who enjoys listening to different genres of music, concerts, an avid skier and ski racing medalist, a certified scuba diver, enjoys cycling and motorcycles, aerobics, and the love of basketball. I will end by saying this; I am the embodiment of the words of my favorite song His Eye Is on the Sparrow: I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches over me.”
Business & Entrepreneurship
What Is Your Empowerment? By Donna Harris Finding yourself in a quagmire? In the November/December issue of V&P magazine, you read “A Failure to Empower”. This was the first article in the series of articles that I will be providing insight dealing with topics of “empowerment”.In the article, you saw where a “big box store” fell short of keeping their employees a priority all while the company’s net sales were in the billions during 2020. The second installment of this series can be found in the January/February issue which expounds on the importance of staying abreast of the legislation that will shape the economy, ergo, your financial position. How else do you stay financially empowered if you do not know the ground rules? It is these ground rules that aid us in understanding the playing field. In my upcoming articles, you will meet entrepreneurs with varying backgrounds who have garnered their knowledge, skills, and abilities to establish themselves in the marketplace. You will come to understand their passion and how they are honing their talents to make significant inroads toward financial empowerment in this challenging season. While following along with the series of this all-encompassing topic presented in the upcoming issues, as I expound on this topic, you will be enlightened and encouraged to redirect, redistribute, reconstruct, and reconsider your actions on finding your empowerment! In our future issues of V&P, I would like to address the tax matters that are relative to our readers. If you have a situation that you are concerned about, let me hear from you. Your name and/or company will remain anonymous. I do ask that in your contact information, you provide me your name and business type if applicable. Also, give yourself and/or your business a code name. This will enable you to recognize that the article is addressing your specific concern(s) while possibly helping others in similar circumstances. On the subject line of your email, enter “Tax Matters''.
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e z d u f a M a k u a d l i r o d a ss a b m A
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Celebrating International Black Women’s History Month with Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze By Karen McConnell-Jones and Dr. Sharon H. Porter Photography by Michael Atcherson and Krystal Glenn
V&P (Vision & Purpose) Lifestyle Magazine takes the distinct honor and privilege to bring to you such a “Woman of Honor” as we share with you the life experiences of Hilda SuKa-Mafudze the person and an Ambassador. This story will allow our readers to gain some remarkable insight into the history of culture, international relations, and statesmanship. Meet Hilda Suka-Mafudze the Person Hilda Suka-Mafudze is a person of family values based on her upbringing as an African-grounded parent who values family which is rooted in love, culture, and hard work. Hilda’s parents taught her that if you want to go far, never leave a family member behind -- help them and love them. She learned those things and they became her foundation at an early age. Growing up in Zimbabwe in a region mostly inhabited by farmers, crops, and cattle -- belonging to a community was key to her family because everyone loved and depended on one another, and that added value to the community. “This resulted in my passion to serve and promote what is good for the community, for my country, for the African continent, and the world. So, who am I? Like all women, I am many things. I am a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter, a sister, yet more importantly, I am a passionate leader."
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The Journey on Becoming an Ambassador Ambassador Hilda’s journey was long, but it seemed short as she took in stride what her parents taught her...that hard work was key to everything in life. Her career started as an energetic young lady who wanted to have change happen in her immediate world and beyond that quest, she wanted to make a positive change for the good of all which led her to serve by working for local businesses, international companies, and humanitarian organizations, she established and led Non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Ambassador Hilda was appointed to several government high-ranking positions and elected as a parliamentarian. Everywhere she was, she wanted to be an influential voice committed to ensuring Zimbabwe’s laws were balanced and served the interests of the poor and marginalized groups – women, youth, the elderly, and children of Mhondoro Constituency in the Parliament of Zimbabwe. “I can honestly say this is how my career into diplomacy was brought into being because diplomacy is being a representative whose job is to be the voice of those you represent and work to advance their interests,” said Ambassador Hilda. “Yes, my career in diplomacy was influenced by many factors as a person and a civil servant. First, growing up in a family that values both the female and male gender and actually sees them as equal, I have been cognizant about gender balance. When I was appointed Ambassador to Sudan and South Sudan, I decided the women who make up most of the poor and less served in the rural areas were one of my main priorities. Also, based on the time I was there, women were recovering from the effects of the war. As you know, wars disproportionately affect women and children more than men. As a woman and a mother, myself, I had to own the problem. I became an advocate for women both as a representative of my country and the international stage because the embassy worked closely with international organizations, including the United Nations. For these reasons, there was no way women and poor rural communities were to be left out of the equation while I was there.”
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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP The Role of the African Union Ambassador to the United States
Here is an important factor to know – Ambassador Hilda’s mandate actually transcends the United States, she is responsible for Canada, Brazil, and the Caribbean countries. The roles and duties of the African Union (AU) Ambassador are not far different from that of an Ambassador from an individual country. The difference, however, is that you have to multiply the roles of that single ambassador and his or her country by 55 because AU is composed of 55 member States and Governments. Ambassador Hilda represents 55 member States and Governments. Her roles and duties are to enhance and maintain existing bilateral ties between the United States and the other countries that are part of her mandate, and the Union. The major objective is to strengthen democratic institutions, advance trade, and investment engagements, share knowledge, promote peace and security, and strengthen mutual relationships which are built on culture and on shared values. For example, Ambassador Hilda’s office's daily activities range from working with the executive and the legislative branches of the U.S. government, public and private sector, social institutions, and all diplomatic representatives to the U.S. She handles all issues that any other government handles.
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The African Union Mission to the U.S. office came out of what was then the Organization of African Unity (OAU) during its 67th Ordinary session in February 1998. OAU authorized the Secretary-General to open the OAU office in Washington, D.C. The office was officially opened on July 11, 2007. The United States established its own diplomatic Mission to the African Union which was established in 2006. This was before the official opening of the AU office. The U.S. Mission is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the city where AU is headquartered. The purpose of these two mutual Diplomatic Missions is to establish and maintain a close and good working relationship between the African Union and the United States. On different occasions, the two entities hold high-level bilateral meetings either in Washington or Addis Ababa. During those engagements between both AU and the U.S., matters of a strategic partnership are deliberated, such as peace and security, economic development, trade and investment, and institutional relationships. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) is a classic example. It is currently quite a germane point due to the global pandemic. The History of the African Union AU is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, The Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the manifestation of the Pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free, and in control of its own destiny. This was solidified in the OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognized that freedom, equality, justice, and dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African people. There was a need to promote understanding among Africa’s people and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for brotherhood and solidarity, in a larger unity, transcending ethnic and national differences. The guiding philosophy was that of “Pan-Africanism” which centered on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal characteristic and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage. The African Union standards have been to uphold the ideals of the founding fathers of the OAU and AU and generations of Pan-African is on the continent and the diaspora to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion, and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and the African States. The priorities of the Union were reassessed during its 50-year anniversary in 2013. During the 21st Ordinary Assembly on May 26, 2013, a call to the new 50-year trajectory for the continent known as Africa’s blueprint for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future was made by the Heads of States and government. It’s called Agenda 2063 and it is described as the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. Another key objective of Agenda 2063 is to prioritize inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance, and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.
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Our future plans are to continue to grow our community outreach here in the United States. We want to continue to engage students locally and around the US from high schools to colleges and universities. What Does the Future Hold for Ambassador Hilda and the AU? “Our future plans are to continue to grow our community outreach here in the United States. We want to continue to engage students locally and around the U. S. from high schools to colleges and universities. We would like to grow more on getting invites from different organizations, students, or professors so I as the Ambassador of the AU can address them on the student’s current issues or the topic of their interests." "We, the AU, will start to organize more town hall meetings to dialogue with communities around the U.S. for the purpose of informing America about Africa and the many different opportunities that exist, such as investments and trade. At the top of my priorities, this year is addressing America on The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which I am happy to say “is one of the largest trading blocs in the world with the majority of African countries now operating under its preferential trade framework.” The continental effort became operational on January 1, 2021. The AfCFTA aims to create an African market of 1.27 billion consumers with a cumulative GDP of around $2.3 to $3.4 trillion. Ambassador Hilda's aim is to spread the word to Americans and African Diaspora alike who are interested in doing business in Africa, especially small and medium scale entrepreneurs. With the African Continental, Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) benefits abound like never before. Another involvement and extensive presence are with African Diaspora groups where her responsibility is to update people of African descent on the decisions and policies of the African Union, and the implementation of Agenda 2063. "If I may end with these final thoughts; I have truly enjoyed every bit and all aspects of my career. I can honestly say that I take delight in my work in the different ministries of the government, in the private sector, and in Parliament. But as a Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, articulating the concerns of the people of the Mhondoro constituency, was truly fulfilling. Participating in debates to ensure the passage of development, human rights, justice, and democratic laws makes me proud of my service. In addition, I was proud of my involvement in monitoring and managing electoral processes, humanitarian assistance, peace-building and peace-making, and human rights issues in a context that ensures gender mainstreaming. As I continue my work as the AU Ambassador to the United States I will continue to be an influential voice that helps bridge the gap between 55 AU member countries and their communities and the United States communities.”
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Health & Wellness
The Art of Deep Breathing By Candice Camille Have you ever had one of those days where you were so stressed that you felt like you could use some help to save your sanity? If so, you’ll be pleased to know there is a strategy you can use to reduce stress, anxiety, panic attacks and improve your health at the same time! This strategy is easy and convenient, and it’s called deep breathing. We all know having the ability to breathe is what gives us life. So, if you want more life, breathe deeper. Deep breathing is a breathing exercise that involves manipulating the breath in ways that bring about certain feelings on an emotional level. Our emotions are associated with our breathing patterns. No matter what emotion you’re trying to achieve deep breathing exercises will help you get there. Breathing deeper can help you develop your mind and body. It can help you enter a state of meditation. The beauty is that it doesn’t cost you anything to breathe. There are no hard and fast rules stipulating when to do breathing exercises. It really depends on what you’re wishing to achieve by doing them. Actually, you can do these exercises at any time and anywhere. If you want to achieve a state of calm, feel alive, reduce stress, or wind down at the end of a long day, stop what you are doing right now. Close your eyes, take a deep breath INHALE EXHALE! When you wake up in the morning, do some quick deep breathing exercises to feel invigorated and ready to go. You can go outside, take a deep breath, and then breathe in through your nose, and slowly out through your mouth. This breathing exercise can serve as a workout for your abdominal muscles and lungs. It can make you feel quite refreshed at the beginning of your day and provides a similar effect to taking a morning jog. When you’re having a rough day at work, whether you are in front of your computer or dealing with conflict, you can use a few calming breaths to help reduce stress. Sit back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Hold it in and then let it out. Repeat the process until you feel relaxed. If you just need a quick lift, then you’ll only need to spend a short time here and there doing some deep breathing exercises. On the other hand, if you’re looking to have a significant impact on your health and serenity, you can form a routine of several breathing exercises throughout your day.
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Health & Wellness Whatever the duration, breathing exercises can bring you many health and wellness benefits, including: • Reduce your blood pressure • Calm your nerves • Tighten your core muscles • Aids in digestion • Aid in the elimination of waste and toxins • Bring you higher levels of energy Your own results will depend upon the type and frequency of breathing exercises you use. Let your lip go. Stop holding your breath and breathe. Breathing exercises can benefit virtually anyone. The only individuals who should take extreme caution are those with respiratory issues. Always check with your physician before attempting these exercises. Nevertheless, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the relaxing effects that deep breathing can provide. It’s an effective solution to reduce stress, bring you peace, and improve your life. “Namaste”
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Health & Wellness
Super Woman By Kyonna F. Brown Super Woman is a classic definition of a strong powerful woman. She is one who takes on the challenges of her community, of her world. She is deemed to be capable of handling the worst villains and doing it all while looking fabulous. She embodies excellence. When we think of the fictional character she reminds us of the majority of the women in our world today. Women are not just mothers and wives. They are doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and even the Vice President of the United States of America. We as a group have evolved from being Mrs. Susie the homemaker. While we have evolved we have inherited more challenges with our multifaceted lives. I for one have felt the pressures of the world and have often felt as if I truly bore an “S” on my chest, right along with the cape. What happens when the pressures of just being who you were born to become just a little too much. What happens when you realize that you can’t save the world? Is there a secret place you can go hide? As women, we must remember to have that safe and special place just for you. Sometimes we don’t deal with pressures. We use compartmentalizations just to make it through the day. Our lives should not be like the perfect makeup bag with sections to divide. Who we are, emotionally, plays a big role in the sections we try to hide. They will eventually merge, creating less of the perfect picture. Being Superwoman is not just about your strengths or what you can do. It’s more about how you connect to the inner you. Check out this list to help you find nine ways you can stay Superwoman without the stress.
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Steps to Becoming a Natural Superwoman
1. Tune Into Your Body Clock The ability to follow and understand your own natural rhythms and patterns over a day, a week, even a lifetime, will help you get the most out of a busy life. Our natural body clocks are triggered from the hypothalamus in response to light and are genetically determined. 2. Balance Your Brain Don’t waste time agonizing over knotty problems. Sometimes left-brain rationale(analyzing, brainstorming, deducing, using logic) simply doesn’t work. So instead, try going for a long walk or just watch a movie. It is amazing, by resting the left brain the right often pops up with a solution. 3. Laugh Women who don’t take themselves too seriously are not only more likely to have happy lives, they are more likely to succeed, both at home and in the workplace. If you make yourself smile, you actually feel like smiling. Research shows that it triggers hormones in the brain which promote feelings of wellbeing. 4. Cry A good cry makes you feel better because the chemicals built up during stress are released in tears. Research has shown that heart disease is caused as much by the inhibited emotional expression – depression and suppressed anger, for example – stress. 5. Prioritize This is the key to releasing more time for yourself. Prune the unessential, so that you get things done how and when you want them done It means doing the essential work when your body clock is at its most efficient, and doing the less-essential when you are just ticking over. Balance time spent with friends and family with time on your own. Privacy is not a luxury, it is a real need. Make sure that you have at least halfan-hour to yourself every day. 6. Feed the Brain No busy woman can function fully on a strict calorie-controlled diet because when you’re hungry, all you think about is food. There is no room left for being creative, motivated, successful, and energetic if you are starving. Self-esteem and effectiveness are weakened, depression and irritability set in, and passivity takes over. 7. Listen Carefully It is easy to take loved ones for granted if your energy levels are low. Develop the art of being a good listener – and the even more important art of remembering what you have been told! Be there for those friends or family in need and master the art of putting yourself in their shoes. 8. Learn to Delegate If you and your partner have full-time jobs, it is ridiculous for the household management to rest entirely with you. It will wear you to a frazzle and set a bad example. 9. Rid Yourself of Toxins Rid your body of accumulated toxins with a short regime of detoxification. You may have headaches and other symptoms as the body releases its toxins, but once cleansed, you will feel full of energy. Remember the power was always inside of you. MARCH/APRIL V&P MAGAZINE | 39
Health & Wellness
A HEALTHIER EASTER DINNER
By Jason Greene
With spring quickly approaching Easter dinner is on the minds of everyone. But this year is completely different, Covid-19 has forced most people to re-think a traditional Easter dinner due to health concerns. The days of the large family gathering have turned into small families virtually connected to each other on holidays. Noticeably, this has created a unique opportunity for people to experiment with less traditional meals and more creative healthy-friendly meals. A traditional Easter dinner menu would consist of roasted ham, greens, candied yams, macaroni and cheese along with homemade biscuits. No, do not get me wrong, this menu is very flavorful and a staple on most dinner tables, but now is the time to get a little more extravagant. Some alternative proteins to consider would be Cornish hens, lamb, or salmon. Some delicious sides to go with your alternative sides would be asparagus, petite green beans, spinach, and carrots. The Cornish hen is a particularly good alternative protein to use for your Easter dinner. It is a chicken variety which is a crossbreed of white rock and Cornish chickens. This small chicken is also known as rock Cornish hen or Cornish game hen. Sometimes, it is called a poussin, a French word that refers to a young chicken that weighs not more than 1.5 pounds. Although it carries the word hen in its name it can be sold either male or female in grocery stores. In North America, this meat is considered fancy because it is more expensive than regular chicken. This delightful poultry is as lean as they come due to the age of the chicken being so young making the product healthier for consumption. Lamb and salmon are other proteins that can be used as an alternative and are lean and extremely healthy when properly prepared. Cooking-style ingredient substitution can also help with making your Easter dinner healthier. Instead of the traditional style of cooking sides such as greens or mac n cheese with butter, you can sear green beans or sautée spinach in extra virgin olive oil. It has been found that sautéing or searing your vegetables in extra virgin olive oil enriches them with natural phenols, a type of antioxidant linked to the prevention of cancer, diabetes, and macular degeneration. This was mainly attributed to the olive oil itself, which “enriched” the vegetables with its own phenols. Plant-based compounds containing phenol are known to be antioxidants. This means that they can stop the reaction of free radicals with other molecules in your body, preventing damage to your DNA as well as long-term health effects. Easter dinner will have a different feel to it this year due to the pandemic. I recommend keeping the dinner attendee numbers low to ensure space and exploring a total healthier makeover of your dinner menu. A total healthier menu or healthier menu items could also be greatly beneficial in the long term, due to the need to have a strong immune system to fight ongoing illnesses. Delightful recipes and alternative Easter dinner items can be found on Pinterest or AllRecipes.com. Trust me, I use these sites myself! MARCH/APRIL 2021
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Authors Speak
Getting Beyond Writer’s Block! By Dr. Essie McKoy
Now that you have made the commitment to write your book, let's take a journey into overcoming writer’s block! Yes, there is such a thing as writer’s block, which simply means your inability to think about what you are going to write and how you will proceed with your writing. Many authors experience writer’s block from time to time and go days, months, and even years before writing again. So many times, when a writer gets started on a new writing project, they initially have writer’s block. Beginning the writing process may lend itself to you having an imagination that is so vivid, your ideas may be so grand, and your enthusiasm may be so overwhelming. Then those quiet moments become reality, and you sit and reflect about where do I start, what do I write about, do I write with perfection, do I write something long or short and the list goes on. This is when you think to yourself, I cannot do this, but let me share that you can! It may take a little bit of time and remember to only compare yourself to you as you think, write, and bring your writing to life! Since you are so excited about your commitment to write your book, tell your story, or share your life journey with the world, you will find ways to overcome and learn quick techniques to delve into your new project! Let your creativity flow and your thoughts manifest themselves into a work that is so powerful that even reluctant readers will want to engage!
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Authors Speak There are several ways to approach writer’s block and I want to share just a few of the things that I have used as a six times Amazon bestselling author to help me overcome and release myself from writer’s block. Also, I will share some lessons and techniques I have read about, discussed with other authors, or just simply discovered on my journey to becoming an author! First, I start with sharing the simple things, such as when I am going to write. Sometimes, that can be a challenge, since I write a lot. My advice to you is to put your writing day and time in your calendar and write whatever comes to mind every single time. Do not miss a writing session! Trust me, it will pay off in the end and you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish just by setting yourself up to be disciplined in the early stages of writing. Not for one second should you think about style, format, genre, perspective, or anything related to writing, just write. Writing techniques thought about too long, can cause you to block your uniqueness and delay your masterpiece being sent to print! Think about your end goal and let that motivate you to write. It may be that you want to write an article for a magazine, or you may want to write a chapter before writing an entire book. No matter what it may be, think about the final product before you even begin, and, keep in mind that it will be written dayby-day, thought by thought!
Always think of simple things that you can write about. When we allow our minds to go to the simple things first, it gives us the ability to allow our thoughts to flow as opposed to spending too much time on more in-depth topics or ideas. Remember, this is your story and it does not have to be complex, but share it in such a way that it is compelling.
Many times, it helps when writers write from a different perspective. It gives you a different angle and you may be able to provide insight that has not been provided before. You write, you discover, and you uncover your hidden potential by trying a different angle. This can help you get past your temporary writer’s fog and leap into the pages with confidence.
Another great strategy for me was to write with other authors and engage in collaboration projects of just writing a chapter. It makes writing so much easier, because you do not have to produce an entire book by yourself. You gain knowledge and ideas, along with tips that they share about what makes the process easier. So, do not be afraid to be a first-time writer and connect to a writing project that you are passionate about and begin a collaborative journey. Usually, the visionary author of these projects will guide you every step of the way. This may be one of the best ways to overcome writer’s block, that is to grow, learn, and write with other authors!
Too often, we want to write and find the topic that is so appealing to our readers. We want to captivate the mind of those thumbing through our books. We want to sell books as soon as they arrive at the bookstores. We want to do all the great things that make us a bestselling author and have books that are bestsellers, but what you may not know is that some of those authors had serious writer’s block.
A simple and prevalent technique for me is to just write down everything that comes to mind and then go back and sort it and embellish my ideas with specific details. I love to brainstorm my ideas and write them down. After all,I do not waste any ideas. I find ways to connect ideas to my topic and expound on it to make it bring clarity to my book, chapter, article, or to whatever I am writing.
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Guess what the secret is in overcoming it; just keep writing whatever comes to mind. Remember it is okay to take breaks, but just because you sit down one day and have nothing to write, do not hinder your dream of becoming an author. Future authors, write about things that are around you, write about your experiences, and share funny stories. Sometimes it is the things that are around us that make us able to connect with others and keep us grounded in who we are and what we do. Real people love to read real stories about how to overcome.
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So, a tip is to keep it real and be able to connect to readers. Share what you know, not what you think will make a number one best seller. Put your heart and soul into your writing and let your vision turn into your purpose while writing. Vision and purpose can help you to create a masterpiece! I love to read and believe it or not, reading helps you to overcome writer’s block. The more you read, the more knowledge you gain about so many facets of the writing process and it helps you to formulate your ideas. So, a simple thing to do is to read about what you want to write about and write about what you read! A hidden little unspoken, unwritten tip is to take something that is beautifully written and put your own little twist on it. In other words, give a different ending, a different beginning to something that may be well known to readers. That way you can connect with it and write in such a way that will help you overcome your short lived writer’s block. You are well on your way to writing that next word, that next sentence, that next paragraph, that next paper, that next article, that next chapter, that next book. Write it anyway, share it anyway, and complete it anyway! Now get out of that rut and write! Stop staring at your computer thinking words are going to appear from out of nowhere. Stop thinking too deeply and just write. Stop comparing your skills to that of someone who is a seasoned writer and just write. Stop telling yourself that you have writer’s block – mind over writing. Allow your strong will to get you to that next idea, the next thought and eventually the next book!
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ALL THINGS FASHION Tee
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Spring Showers By Laila Cunningham Spring is here and I am so excited. The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, the trees are becoming greener and greener. This is the perfect time to put away your winter gear and start picking out your spring attire. This season is all about getting a little dressy while throwing in a little casual. You could wear a cute skirt with a nice top and throw on your favorite matching sneakers. Or you could wear a cute strappy dress with a casual top to create a nice spring look. Be mindful that itś still a little chilly. The best covers to wear this season are light hoodies, cropped hoodies, leather jackets, zip-up jackets, and cardigans. Cardigans and cropped hoodies are especially in style during this season. You could pair a cute cardigan with your favorite dress, skirt, or jeans to create a cute chic look that will go great with the spring flowers. You could also wear a cropped hoodie with some jeans and your favorite boots. Speaking of shoes, this seasonś weather can be very unpredictable. It is very common for it to rain or to just be sunny. It also may snow. Rain boots, heels, flats, combat boots, or any athletic shoe of your choice are good options to put together with your look. Make sure your shoes accommodate the possibility of changing weather. MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 46
Let's talk about accessories. April showers are still a thing, so make sure you keep an umbrella with you (as well as your rain boots and raincoat) around that time. Since this season can get a bit dressy, you could try pairing a cute necklace with matching earrings in all sorts of colors, sizes, and shapes to spice up any look you have. Bracelets are also a great addition to your spring wardrobe. Anything dainty and elegant like a basic gold bracelet is super cute for the spring too, and would go well with the aesthetics of the blooming flowers. Your nails can also spice up your spring look. You could get a cute floral nail set that will bring your look all together. Let's not forget about rings. Any simple gold or multi-colored rings would be super cute to add to your look, as well as adding a bit of edge to your spring look. Don't be afraid to go all out and be daring this spring.
This season's colors go above and beyond what you may think. Anything bright and outgoing is super in style during this time. Bright oranges, turquoise, yellows, pinks, greens, whites, and reds. Anything that will make you stand out in the streets and blend in with the flowers is great. Your pastel colors are also in style this season. Your light pinks, purples, yellows, and blues are a great part of this season. Let's not forget about your holiday attire. Easter is approaching. Make sure to grab your favorite floral or pastel Sunday dress so you can celebrate Easter in style. St. Patrick's Day is also during this season. Don't forget to grab yourself some lucky leprechaun accessories. Don´t be afraid to add a little green to your wardrobe. You can also wear a cute bright or pastel-colored mask to go with any look you have for the spring. You can pair your look with cute lipgloss or a nice lipstick to add something a little extra. The spring season is just around the corner, so have fun in the flowers and create a look that is unique just for you!
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All Things Fashion
High & Low Porosity By Tony Turner Porosity is the ability to absorb moisture and/or hair products. Some of us have high porosity, which means our hair's cuticles are raised. Water and product go into the hair shaft quickly. It also leaves quickly. Most times, if your hair seems rough, dry, and brittle, your hair is normally high in porosity. If your hair is slick, smooth, and straight in texture, your hair is normally low in porosity. This type of hair doesn't need a lot of heavy Hair Products because the product lays on the hair shaft, weighing the hair down making it limp and very oily. There are some environmental factors that can affect your hair's porosity. The sun's rays can increase your hair's porosity as well as heat exposure. Chemicals can also raise the porosity of your hair. Relaxers, hair coloring, texture, and cold waves can alter your hair’s porosity. Normally those processes raise the hair's porosity to allow the chemical to enter the hair shaft. Then we use conditioners to seal the cuticle layer of the hair trapping process inside of the hair shaft. We also study the best types of conditioners that will heal any type of deficiency the hair might be experiencing. This is why we should use high-quality care products on our heads. Our scalps are also potentially vulnerable and our scalps also have a cuticle layer. Products we put on our hair can also enter our scalps. We must be aware of what's in our hair care products.
Some chemicals in hair products geared towards African descendants have been linked to cancer. Avoid hair products with paraben & harsh sulfates. Water temperature can also affect your hair porosity. That's why we hairstylists like to put you under the dryer with the plastic cap. We know your cuticle is going to be raised, so those good conditioners can enter the hair and heal from the inside out! On a spiritual note, check your mind's porosity. What's in your noggin? What are you putting on and in there? Real or fake, healthy or not, clean or dirty. Sometimes I wonder if we even care. The negative seems to be the norm. Anyway, back to the piece. Find the right products to fit your hair porosity. And, also stay hydrated after all it's all about absorbing water and whatever else you're drinking! Much respect due to our V&P Team! We are celebrating our one-year anniversary! This is so awesome! We have had the honor and pleasure of sharing our knowledge and insights on various important topics. We have met inspiring people from different walks of life. Our team has gelled together, we have grown into a caring community of conscious people. Karen and Sharone love you! Thank you for keeping the dream alive, even in a pandemic. You all are faith walkers, making things happen in very difficult times. May The Most High continue to bless you immensely! On to an Amazing New Year! It is a pleasure to serve with you! To God be the glory! Peace & Love.
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All Things Fashion
Self Care & Healthy Hair Care By Martina Turner As we spring forward into a new season, let's take time to focus on areas of self-care and healthy hair care. It's time to work towards those goals you have set for yourself. It could be getting in shape, losing 10 to 20lbs, taking a class, or finishing up a course that would take you to the next level. It could be just as simple as taking time to take better care of your hair. It takes time, commitment, and effort to achieve any goal or dream. Consistency is key. As women, we have to multitask so much that once you finish your daily duties you are ready to shower and go to sleep and start all over again tomorrow. Who has time for self-care? Today we begin to change all of that, it's time to write down your goals, write down your goals and put them in a place where you can see them daily, and begin the transformation. Working out is a positive way to release stress and tension, lose weight, cut back on medication and give yourself a clear mindset. Working out also gives you confidence in your self-esteem (Self Love). No matter your size, just take the first step and lose one to five pounds You gotta start somewhere. It also helps with the growth and health of your hair. Beginning your hair care routine can be simply taking the time to shampoo and deep condition your hair weekly, prior to styling. Sitting under the dryer with your conditioner helps to improve your hair health, it adds shine, smoothness and makes the hair more manageable to comb through when detangling. Bi-weekly you can do a protein treatment to help strengthen and repair your hair from chemical or heat damage. Keeping up with your trims and using quality hair care products definitely helps, too, even if you wear protective styles such as wigs, weaves, or braids. Take care of your natural mane in between services. It's all about healthy hair growth. Three simple steps. As we celebrate the first year of Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine, it's also International Women's Day ( March 8) which is a global day that celebrates the achievements of women’s, political, cultural, social, and economic growth, and social movement. Women have fought for equal rights, voting rights, and are now in positions that were once dominated by men. As we celebrate our first female Madame Vice President (Kamala Harris) to our first female coaches NBA (Becky Hammon) MLB ( Alyssa Nakken) to NFL (Jen Welter), from politics to technology, entrepreneurship to Corporate America, women are continuing to thrive worldwide. There are so many women in different industries breaking barriers, all different races, and ages. These women are inspiring, supporting, and being role models for young talented girls. Take the time to take care of yourself and work on self-development. You could be the next female making history. I am grateful to be a part of the Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine All Things Fashion team. Celebrating its First Year Anniversary. Congratulations Karen and Sharon! I love both, your determination and dedication, in starting a publication during a Global Pandemic and not giving up. I wish you both continued success. You are definitely a great inspiration for women. The Best Is Yet To Come!! Happy Anniversary Ladies! MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 49
PERFORMING ARTS
Photographer, Jacqueline Hicks...In Her Own Words Edited by Seth Washington
Prince George’s County, Maryland based Portrait Artist, Jacqueline Hicks offers candid reflections on making a great image, photographing dignitaries, the power of the camera and more. Vision and Purpose Lifestyle Magazine (VPLM): How long have you been a photographer? Jacqueline Hicks (JH): If I had to place an actual year on it, I would say that I have been a photographer since 1994 and in 2005 I received the prestigious title of Master Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).
VPLM: How do you distinguish a great image? JH: There are really two types of answers to this question. A great image can be technically sound with great lighting, dynamic composition, good exposure, etc. But to me, a great image artistically is being able to capture a moment that when a viewer sees it, it stops them in their tracks and evokes an emotion: happiness, sadness, anger. As long as the viewer is feeling something, then you have a great image. VPLM: What inspires you? JH: The ability to tell a story through my imagery. I receive inspiration through so many avenues. At any given moment you can find me at The National Museum of African American History and Culture and my most recent favorite, the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC.
VPLM: Whose work has influenced you? JH: If I were to answer this question fully, I am afraid that I would take up pages upon pages telling you who has influenced my artistry. I will settle for four at this time. James Van Der Zee was an African American photographer. He may be best known for his portraits of Black New Yorkers and was a true leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Most importantly he was a pioneering documentarian of the time. What made his work so fascinating for me was his photography of African Americans. He photographed them with poise, beauty and opulence. Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe is the wife of the late pro tennis player Arthur Ashe. She is an African American photojournalist and activist. Her black and white photography of the human condition of blacks is so moving that I think she is greatly underrated as an artist. I will always encourage budding photographers to study her work. One person I would consider the grandfather of all African American photographers would be Gordon Parks. His photojournalism documented the times from the 1940s through to the 1970s particularly in issues of civil rights, poverty of not just African Americans, but America as a whole. What a lot of people do not know is that he moved from photojournalism to fashion with ease and was one of the few freelance photographers that shot for Vogue magazine. Ansel Adams was an American landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his black-and-white images of the American West. The reason I love Adams’ work was his breathtaking artistry of not only how he would photograph the national parks, but his magical ability in the dark room to produce outstanding black and white prints. Every time I take the time to shoot landscape work, I would always say “how would Ansel shoot this?”
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VPLM: Please describe your style or type of photography?JH: Simply put, I am a Master Portrait Artist. It is my job to capture the emotion and essence of my subject. I do this by creating a relationship through personal interaction. I don’t just book a client and put them in front of my camera. I take the time to get to know my subjects. Their strengths and weaknesses. By the time we are at the shoot, it’s like two old friends coming together. VPLM: You worked as the personal photographer to Baltimore’s Congressman Elijah Cummings, can you share a few highlights of your experiences? JH: To have been Congressman Cummings personal photographer was an assignment of a lifetime. He was kind, thoughtful and generous. I will always remember him with grace when he admired my work as a Portrait Artist and when he confessed that he was a fan of my artistry, I was giddy (can I say that?). When he asked me to create his formal headshot, it was another experience I will always treasure. Upon his passing, his wife, Dr. Maya asked me to photograph his funeral. I was honored and will always cherish the memories. VPLM: As the Photographer in the office of the Prince George’s County Executive, Angela D. Alsobrooks, describe your experiences. JH: I have been afforded the awesome experience of documenting history by serving as photographer to the first woman and first African American woman to serve as County Executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland. I realize that this honor was not to be taken lightly and I hope that both of us have opened doors for African American women everywhere. Her love and generosity for others is very infectious, and these actions and emotions come from a very organic and genuine place, this I can attest to. It’s been my pleasure to capture her moments of community service, outreach, providing historical memories, for archives and generations to come...”Prince George’s Proud!” MARCH/APRIL V&P MAGAZINE | 52
VPLM: Through all of the events that occurred in 2020, what wisdom has the past year provided regarding the value and the need for portraiture? JH: 2020 has been a whirlwind of change, both violent and introspective. We have witnessed global transformation that we had not witnessed in this lifetime. Racism at an all-time high, the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor didn’t just rock this nation, but the world. Marches and protests from here to the far reaches of Australia. This told the world that we have had enough of the human injustice that has occurred on American soil and you know how we knew this..through photography. Each photograph was a microcosm of time that will never be repeated. Coupled with the pandemic, there was tremendous loss for many families. Not only was this pandemic a once in a lifetime experience for our generation, but it has also been a sense of awakening for so many. Cameras were the true weapons of choice at this time, because we were able to record the brutality of the front lines as well as the humanity of those who’ve passed. There is, and has always been, a need to capture moments of life that we want to archive for our memories and to show the next generation VPLM: Would you say that philanthropy and photography are important partners in your journey? JH: I have a quote that I live by: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”, Acts 20:35 (King James Version). I’ve strived not only to uplift my race, but my responsibility is to pass the talents that God has bestowed upon me to others. I regularly teach young people the magic of photography. VPLM: Final Thoughts? JH: Life is like a camera, capture the good times you develop from the negative and if things don’t come out right, you can always take another shot.
V&P Magazine THANKS Master Portrait Artist, Jacqueline Hicks, for her timeless words, along with her iconic visual contributions to women’s history and for producing images of excellence that empower our community. MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 53
PERFORMING ARTS Teen Magazine Poet Laureates of the DMV: Esteemed Wordsmiths Share Eloquent Insights Sassy
By Seth Washington A Poet Laureate is truly a champion of words. Facilitating performances, exhibits and workshops, they engage, as well as, inspire their communities through the artform of poetry. Recently we connected with a few Poet Laureates, in our region and asked them about the strength that poetry brings, along with, it’s meaning in three colors, also their favorite poet and a few other vibrant details. This is what they shared... KANIKKI JAKARTA The First Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia, Happily serving a 3 year term. How Poetry Adds Strength: A Poem adds strength to our life through inspiring words. Strength is gained through poetry about the pain of heartbreak and grief. Powerful words produce powerful things. God spoke us into existence, what can we write and then speak into a manifestation? Ase' Poetry in Three Colors: Red, for spilling of blood and fire. Blue for life experiences, inspirations, and wisdom. Yellow because it’s the most luminous of all colors on the spectrum and poetry is the luminous form of expression of happiness, optimism, and enlightenment and creativity. One of Her Poetic Works: ALABAMA GIRL, VIRGINIA WOMAN, a collection of poetry and short stories. Poetic To Do Item: Workshop Facilitator of The Write Like A Woman Networking Workshop Series. Favorite Poet: 13 of Nazareth
KIM B. MILLER Poet Laureate of Prince William County, Virginia From 2020-2022 STRENGTH: When we accept broken things about ourselves, we are empowered to fix them. A poem is an echo of truth. Strength is emboldened when any truth that we previously ignored is embraced. COLORS: Black, White and Gray; There are so many shades of gray in between black and white and poetry should touch all of the hues. KIM’S WORK: ‘My Poetry Is The Beauty You Overlook’ with 10 poems,10 Kimisms (my sayings) & 100 haikus ITEM: Every 3rd Sunday at 4 PM EST, Host of ‘Poetry Escaped’. Facebook Live via Zoom. Prince William County poets and other poets are highlighted. FAVE: Black Chakra. His word play is phenomenal. He delivers poetry right to your soul while he makes your heartbeat create a new rhythm. ROSCOE BURNEMS The First Poet Laureate of Richmond, VA From 2021-2023 STRENGTH: Poetry has been a voice to silenced cultures. Black and Brown poets used this to tear down the stigmatized canvas that white America painted. They used their words to recreate the narrative and empower people. Spoken-word has this power more now than ever. COLORS: Black, because I am and my work reflects that; Red, because bloodshed is real and to stop that we must speak up; Green, because in a capitalistic society, justice and restitution come in the form of dollars, not just an apology. ROSCOE’S WORK: ‘God, Love, Death, and Other Synonyms’ ITEM: I would like to start a city/ county-wide team poetry slam tournament among the high schools FAVE: 13 of Nazareth probably had the biggest influence on my early work as an artist. J. JOY MATTHEWS ALFORD a.k.a. SISTAH JOY Inaugural Poet Laureate of Prince George's County, Maryland From 2018-2021 STRENGTH: Poems permit or invite us to discover other worlds and experiences beyond our own. They also allow us to discover truths about ourselves. Poems often reflect truths that inspire and/or challenge us, often moving us to take action where there is a need. COLORS: Red for issues of significance; Green for peace; Yellow for optimism. SISTAH JOY’S WORK: ‘Lord I'm Dancin' As Fast As I Can’ ITEM: 2021 Monthly Virtual Poet Laureate series, "From A Poet's Point Of View" FAVE: Dolores Kendrick, former Washington, DC Poet Laureate
MARCH/APRIL 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | 54
PERFORMING ARTS
Manifesting Jack and Jill
Director Michael Joyner Talks About His New Film BY SETH WASHINGTON
With captivating sincerity, director Michael Joyner declares, "Jack and Jill is the story of an ex-con who finds God while he's incarcerated, he gets out and runs into a young lady who is a rebellious preacher's kid. Jill is trying to experience all of the stuff that Jack is trying to put in the closet. She then leads him into an escalating crime spree until their lives are literally turned down side up.” Further he entreats, “When you start watching this film, it is a ride from beginning to end. If you don't get your popcorn when the movie starts, you might not have any popcorn, cause you're not gonna want to get up." ‘Jack and Jill: An Urban Fairytale’ is an action drama romance written, produced and directed by Washington, DC based filmmaker Michael Joyner. This soon to be feature length film is not yet rated, but an M for momentum is certainly merited. At the time of our conversation, the director was near completion of editing a key marketing component of the film known as the sizzle reel, a micro version of the actual film utilized to stimulate funding for the main production. Says Joyner, "The sizzle reel will allow us to get in front of investors. We want to be able to utilize some of the people that we were blessed to work with on (the reel) and meld that with some Hollywood level talent." From here, the pace quickens for ‘Jack and Jill’, with prep for the main production scheduled to commence in early March 2021. Already, the role of Baltimore, MD has been cast as the cityscape for the feature length production. Regarding Charm City, used also as the setting for the reel, Joyner gushes, "It's just such a rich, rich city, I look at Baltimore as another character in the film." As vibrant as the odyssey depicted in the film, Joyner's quest to bring his vision to life has been a journey of inspiration, insight and spiritual growth. From the outset, more than 20 years ago the author began musing about the possibilities and what ifs of an urban cinematic adventure sound-tracked to Method Man and Mary J Blige’s Hip Hop remake of ‘You’re All I Need To Get By’, originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Recalls Joyner, “That song, for me, represented a seismic shift in the landscape of Hip Hop in that you hadn't heard love declared in the Hip Hop arena like that. It really struck a chord that haunted me. I started crafting scenarios, ideas and it took on a life of its own." From there, Jack and Jill were daringly on their way. Elevating the intrigue, Joyner's inner scriptwriter sought out enlivened narrative spaces of engaging plots and nuanced characters such as a great villain to give chase. Enter Morningstar, the film's evil antagonist and relentless pursuer of Jack and Jill. "In the bible you will see Morningstar referenced as the fallen angel. In our story, Morningstar is a detective who is basically the embodiment of Satan, the devil incarnate, his little ticks, his habits, his drink of choice. It all just represents evil. When you watch him, those little hairs on your arm are gonna stand up", emotes Joyner on this enigmatically cultured and confidently infernal cinematic figure. Similarly, life would pursue Joyner with subplots consisting of temporary refuge, well situated within successful real estate ventures, in addition to creatively fulfilling television and film projects. Sacred episodes that painfully shifted everything also ensued, such as the tragic loss of his father and sister due to cancer, as did his mother in prior years. Though not that the filmmaker would cast life as a villain, for it has also offered unto him a beloved son and two cherished grandchildren among other elements of joy. Alas, no weapon shall prosper against an anointed vision and with a hero's resolve, the concept of ‘Jack and Jill’ overcame the odds, finding it's rebirth in the midst of a pandemic. Like movie goers on opening weekend, talking passionately to the screen, some have wondered aloud, "Why now?" The director's emphatic response is, "Very simply because God said so! Me in my right mind, I would dare not be making a film in the middle of a pandemic. In a time such as this, trying to do probably what is the biggest creative undertaking of my career, I just wouldn't have chosen this time. Yet the thing that's very interesting about this season is that covid has been a very pivotal moment. The pandemic shut a lot of doors and created this focus, because the doorbell wasn't ringing as much. Work totally shifted and it just allowed a centering, so to speak, like never before and I thank God I was able to take advantage of it." With pride regarding the human resources from within the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area that have thus far assisted in the production, the director lauded all actors in the sizzle reel, in particular Cyrene Tankard as Jill, Awsim as Jack and Prentiss Watson as Morningstar. Additionally, Joyner recognized Co-Producer and long-time collaborative colleague, Chan Clagett, as well as, Director of Photography Daryl Vaca, along with the excellent crew. Decisions about personnel for the feature production are not finalized, however, he is committed to ensuring opportunities for local talent, "I mean we were blessed with a great cast to choose from and then some amazing technicians. One of the priorities is to have as much DMV representation as we can."
At the time of this writing, Joyner and his team are shepherding the project independently and continue to receive funding from donors. "Right now we're doing things via venmo, via paypal where folks can engage and support." Having acknowledged community financial support, he likewise spoke to the power of faith in bringing this urban fairytale to it’s cinematic home. "I don't think it's by chance that I'm still here, I think God has some work for me to do." With the peace of a visionary squarely on the path, Joyner attests, "Our plan right now is all gas no breaks, we're trying to move from this juncture, right into the next." Jack and Jill would have it no other way.
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