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F E AT U R E S C OV ER S TO RY :

Elinor Tatum continuing 100 year old legacy Amsterdam News

S P I R I T UA L R EVOLUTI ON : B AC K TO B A SI CS

Pastors Walrond brin g Hope with Fund ament al Tr uths a t First Corinthian Church

N E W Y ORK ’ S F I RS T L A DY

Miche lle P aig e -P ate rs on - H ar le m Pride: Part of a New Kind of American Dream

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Harlem Torch Magazine is a major fulfillment in my life. Harlem was my dream destination and chronicling the journey is most rewarding. It has little to do with geographical location, but mostly to do with the extraordinary people with brilliant ideas and remarkable stories, cloaked in a magnificent cultural heritage. Our cover story epitomizes all of that besides authenticating the value in establishing a family legacy. We completed our story on Elinor Tatum just before the loss of her father. And although his passing was heartbreaking, he left a pattern and restored the standard of our birthright. That for me is the ultimate fulfillment, leaving an inheritance for our children. During the funeral services, Elinor thanked her father for entrusting her with the legendary newspaper and for grooming her into the position. She then continued that statement with a thought provoking assertion, “unlike others who allow their children to drift into the world.” Drifting into the world can be serendipitous for some, but destructive for others. Establishing a sound family base, passing the torch, growing and perfecting, I believe, are the antidote for economic hardship. We can either pass down cycles of dysfunction or pass along wisdom, encouragement and opportunities. When I was 23 years old, one of my coworkers sponsored me for an intensive training seminar in Dallas, Texas created and run by Dr. Phil McGraw of which she said would be a life-changing experience. And life-changing it was.

These were the Dr. Phil days before television, undiluted and powerful. He led the seminars with his father – who had passed the torch so that Dr. Phil could perfect their profession - and another female psychologist. That one semester broke through fears, false concepts and social barriers that so expanded my mind I could not go back to business as usual in my life. Before then, I was a mess. I had all these puzzled pieces, missteps and a nagging nebulous feeling in my belly that there was more to life than what I was living. Those Dr. Phil moments, then called the “You-ie Seminar” or Pathways, catapulted me into a purpose finding journey that ultimately led me to self-discovery and family/cultural identity to pass along to my children. Grasping understanding along the way helps make sense of our lives. The three potent influences I had growing up all seemed contradictory when I was young. My maternal grandmother loved and cared for children and taught Jesus all the time. My father, an academic, dealt in city government, education, finance and civil rights. Finally, my mother, who one of my friends accurately described as the ultimate debutante, had an unshakable integrity, graceful demeanor and almost pain-staking social consciousness. We had our issues, but the prevailing characteristics that integrated my character along the journey became faith, critical thinking, strong social consciousness and presentation. All of that became my inheritance, besides sacrifices they made so that their children could do better. We all have these unique components that make up who we are and empower us for our purposes in life. But we need the right tools, some guiding words or fundamental principles as a stimulus to make sense of it all. I have had the opportunity to witness some of our American families who pass down wealth from generation to generation. My American subculture, however, which was affected by slavery: families split apart, identities stolen, concealed history –now has to catch up. We have to be deliberate in establishing the groundwork for our family legacies and conscious of the sacrifices and gifts of our ancestry. The American President is now our standard. Our subjects in the Harlem Torch are maintaining and setting standards. That’s what the torch symbolizes for us, enlightenment, passing on a legacy, and telling our stories the way our stories should be told.

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Elinor Tatum By Keira Wesley-Busher

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100 YEARS The New York Amsterdam News office with a line of people in Harlem waiting for the edition covering the historic Presidential election of Barack Obama

Photo Credit: David Karp

was the second time as an adult that Elinor had run into her grade school teacher, an elderly white lady named Ms. Kerry. She stood face to face with the teacher who had called her stupid, advised her to go to trade school and find a job. Now, as a graduate student and the editor in chief of a legendary newspaper, Elinor Tatum, in a fury and a deep-seated sense of justice unleashed, shared her accomplishments of being named a Violet scholar at St. Lawrence University, a designation of leadership, graduating St. Lawrence and then studying abroad at Stockholm, Sweden for a year. She told of her appointment as editor in chief and then reciprocated by asking Ms. Kerry what she was doing. The teacher revealed that she had retired from teaching, and in splendid candor Elinor cried out, “Oh, thank God!” During first grade, Elinor was diagnosed with dyslexia and many of her teachers who apparently weren’t familiar with people like Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie, Albert Einstein or John Lennon, who also viewed letters a bit differently, underestimated the potential within Elinor. Fortunately she did not let such discouraging words deter her. “It was just one of those things,” Elinor describes, “there are just people out there who are not going to believe in you and you have to prove them wrong. I learned that very young. There are people out there who will be your detractors and you don’t play into what they say to you. You have to prove them absolutely wrong.” As painful as those encounters may have been, they fueled Elinor with a dogged determination to excel and the passion to help level the path for others. The force of her dynamism is concealed by her subtle freckles, curly locks, almond eyes and fresh-faced beauty, but when she verbalizes her point, whether it is on Israel or the social inequities in this country it is with profound brilliance.

Elinor Tatum is the only child of Wilbert and Susan (Kohn) Tatum. Her father, one of thirteen children born in North Carolina, is a prominent businessman and journalist – part of Harlem royalty. He initially acquired the Amsterdam News with a consortium in 1971, which included Percy Sutton and Mayor David Dinkins. He later gained controlling interest in 1996. Her mother is Jewish, born in Czechoslovakia, who fled with her family from the Nazis at the beginning of the Holocaust. And as Elinor indicated, her mother’s family moved to South America at the time because the United States did not accept Jews into the country during 1939. Fortified with the potent DNA of two powerful cultures, identifying as both Black and Jewish, Elinor appears to be a freethinking leader who has a broad understanding of the social disparities between black and white lifestyles. She seems the perfect voice of expression for the Black press and the catalyst to begin bridging the cultural gaps. However Elinor doesn’t see true racial harmony coming in her generation or the next. Albeit, she welcomes it, she explains, “to be free in your thinking goes to the idea that people are talking about transcending race, which I don’t believe we can do right now. Look at what happened in Oakland. The fact that we have a Black president is not going to stop racism. It’s not going to stop police brutality. It’s not going to further a larger percentage of people of color to become the CEO’s of the fortune 500 companies.” Sitting higher in her chair, Elinor continues with a visible resolve, “A Black president is only the beginning, but it won’t bring us equality overnight. One man can’t make the necessary changes that give people the quality of life, change the way our families are treated.”

The Jersey Dress by Henry N Jackson and hat & earrings courtesy of The Brownstone

Photo Credit: Johnny Rodriguez

Elinor Ta tum

With 10 years under her belt as the publisher and editor in chief of the 100 year old weekly, Amsterdam News, a Harlem institution with coveted influence, she perhaps has more power to set those changes in motion than she has envisioned. Elinor, in the footsteps of her father and on the shoulders of those who partook in the fruit of Amsterdam News including W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Roy Wilkins and Malcolm X and in the spirit of the Black newspaper that championed civil rights causes and chronicled the movement of the Freedom Riders, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and countless other significant events, still carries the voice for those who may have otherwise never been heard. All of the history, passion, ideas and freedom have culminated into her hands and she is well equipped to bring in the next wave of social justice. At 37, Elinor is stepping into the role she has been groomed for her entire life, not only a journalist and business woman, but the next generation of leadership. It’s a natural progression. She worked on her first political campaign at 13 years old when David Dinkins was running for borough president and as she stated, she did so alongside David Paterson. But more than nepotism and environment it is within her character to make a difference. “It’s just a way of living your life and being honest with yourself,” Elinor clearly articulates, “telling the truth and speaking up for what you believe in.” Now that the newspaper business at large is facing uncertain times and many are closing their doors, the nearly century old Amsterdam News has kept its head above water. It is mainly because the paper fits within a niche market and is rooted in Black tradition. Elinor says she is reminded of the paper’s purpose when she drives by the newsstand on 135th Street and Seventh Avenue and witnesses people buying their Amsterdam News on Thursday morning. It’s woven into the fabric of Black New York.

Red Jersey Dress by Henry N Jackson She is holding a piece by artist Timo Solin

“to be free in your thinking goes to the idea that people are talking about transcending race, which I don’t believe we can do right now. Look at what happened in Oakland. The fact that we have a Black president is not going to stop racism. It’s not going to stop police brutality.” - Elinor Tatum

With that optimism, however, must come some realistic adjustments. Many changes have been made during Elinor’s tenure, including technological development and a more news-centered composition, but now there must be a greater thrust in every revenue stream to compete in this high-tech age. Philanthropy will probably become more and more important in the days to come for the weekly. Speaking of philanthropy, a perfect segue to shine light on the Amsterdam News’s centennial campaign to raise $5 million for the archives dating back to 1922. The archives will be housed around the corner from the headquarters on 126th Street. It will be a complete learning center open to the public and is projected to culminate in a gallery this December 2009. Sounds like tourism revenue, too. Marketing is said to be one of Elinor’s strong points, according to a senior account executive, Shahiydah Sanders, who has been with the paper throughout Elinor’s reign in leadership. And now that Elinor has really gotten her feet wet, there will almost certainly be more progress. She brilliantly let things evolve at a pace that allowed long time employees to adapt to change. That was important for a 27-year old who had just become the youngest appointee as an editor in chief within the national black press. For those who know, Harlem resistance can be brutal. Almost immediately she was leading on her own. Within six months of her appointment, her father had a quadruple bypass and she was forced to navigate solo. But that was ten years ago. She and her father both made it through. As a major nucleus for black culture in Harlem, gentrification may become a factor in the stability of many institutions like the Amsterdam News. “It’s a really hard line between progress and gentrification and the extinction of our community,” Elinor inputs, “but the fact of the matter is some of our community is not doing what they need to be doing. At the same time other parts are just being pushed out. There are so many different dynamics going on and I don’t know the answer.” Elinor says that we are living in a very exciting time, scary, but exciting. There are many uncertainties all around, but she hopes the Amsterdam News will be around another 100 years. “I take it day by day,” she says, “everyday is exciting. Everyday there is a struggle and everyday there are successes.” And living she is. With two horses upstate, a journalism professor boyfriend, a huge dog named Hercules and opportunity in her hands, life is exciting.

Elinor in the center, between her father, Wilbert Tatum, and mother, Susan during the annual Links luncheon.

Wilbert A. Tatum 1933 - 2009

Fred R. Conrad 1987

All of the New York powerbrokers were in attendance to pay their respects to journalism royalty, Wilbert “Bill” Tatum, board chairman and publisher emeritus of the Amsterdam News. Governor David Paterson, Congressman Charles Rangel, Mayor David Dinkins, Assemblymen Keith Wright, Senator Bill Perkins, City Council members Inez Dickens and Charles Barron, NAACP leader Hazel Dukes, journalist Roz Abrams and Mayor Michael Bloomberg all gathered at Riverside Church in honor. The general consensus among all those who remarked was that Tatum “spoke truth to power.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg admitted that he and Mr. Tatum had not always seen eye to eye, but that he held him in the highest regard. He used the word “iconic” to describe Mr. Tatum. The esteemed journalist and businessman, who helmed New York City’s oldest and most influential Black newspaper for decades through its groundbreaking coverage of the most pressing issues pertaining to the African American community died Wednesday, February 25 while on vacation with his wife Susan in Dubrovnik, Croatia at the age of 76. The ceremony included reflections by NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel N. Dukes, attorney Victor Kovner, writer Sidney Offitt, journalist and author Herb Boyd and others. The Rev. Al Sharpton performed the eulogy for the service, which was presided over by the Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton, senior minister of The Riverside Church. Elinor Tatum, his daughter, who took over the reins as publisher and editor of the Amsterdam News in 1998, offered a personal view of the man people respected as an influential voice of the Black community. She also thanked people for the heartfelt condolences and the overwhelming outreach of support. Born into a newspaper family - his father published three small North Carolina newspapers for Black farmers – Tatum’s fighting spirit was nurtured in community activism. It began more than half a century ago when he served as executive director of the Cooper Square Committee to save housing for the poor on the Lower East Side; Tatum’s determination influenced the views of Congressman John Lindsay to change his position and create an alternative plan that led to Cooper Square becoming a model urban renewal area. Tatum went on to serve as assistant director for community relations for the Department of Buildings and deputy Manhattan borough president. In 1971, with a group of businessmen, he purchased the Amsterdam News. Mr. Tatum assumed full control of the publication in 1984, taking it into a more progressive stance and setting the bar for aggressive journalism that decried injustice and worked to protect the rights of the Black New Yorkers. He had a brief stay in the mainstream in 1993, when he was named publisher and editor of the New York Post. Under his guidance, the Harlem-based Amsterdam News continued to publish amid the disappearance of brother and sister Black newspapers across the country. Mr. Tatum’s fiery editorials taking political leaders and public policy to task were a mainstay of the paper until his death.

“Be Proud of his scars, they made us free.” - Rev. Al Sharpton

Images by Alonna Cole

In a few eloquent words, The Rev. Al Sharpton’s stirring eulogy described Bill Tatum as a man who kept his commitment to speak for those who couldn’t speak for themselves, even if it meant going against the core; even if it meant that it would cost him advertising dollars. “No matter how they marginalized us in the community, he would straighten it out on Thursday,” he sermonized. In a vivid description, Rev. Sharpton reminded those who knew Mr. Tatum of his compassion for people and his resolute authoritative demeanor that commanded attention just at his presence. “He was the only man I knew who could strut in a wheelchair – he had swagger in a wheelchair.” Rev. Sharpton spoke intimately of Mr. Tatum’s wife of 45 years, Susan, commending her for her faithfulness and sacrifices. And to Elinor, “Eli, you are the offspring of history itself,” he said. Then in his lasting words to Mr. Wilbert A. Tatum, “You were faithful – you were faithful – you were faithful.”

HARLEM NEW DOORS | THE LITTLE GYM OF HARLEM W r i t t e n by B r a u c k W e s l e y - Bu s h er , Photographs by Rudy Collins

one another’s sentences. When it comes to making changes it takes a certain amount of self assurance to jump out on uncharted territory, and apparently they had a double amount of assurance. After thirteen years each in corporate America, both Toirey and Michelle were growing increasingly restless. But after having their daughters, who are both almost three years old, that restlessness became irrepressible. Toirey explained, “After having your child you want to spend as much time with them as you can and corporate America doesn’t seem to respect motherhood anymore.”

Neither one of them will admit to which one had the brilliant idea first, but the pair of energetic entrepreneur moms who dared to put a suburban-type fitness center for babies in Harlem is definitely on to something. Michelle Pyles and Toirey Smith, owners of The Little Gym of Harlem are delightful to be around and as dazzling as their colorful playrooms and it appears their customers agree. The Little Gym® franchise, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona specializes in helping children four months to twelve years old develop fundamental motor skills that help children advance physically, intellectually and socially. There are hundreds of franchises nationwide and growing to other countries, but this is the first of its kind in an urban center like Harlem. The two are like twins, just not with the same parents. They share the same birthday, and both earned an M.B.A from the University of Bridgeport, they had daughters at the same time and they even finish

Both of them had done everything right, they thought: college, graduate school and then the American dream corporate job where they could climb the ladder to the top. However instead it felt more like a trap. Neither of them was fulfilled. They often talked about starting a business together, but there was no real commitment until after they had their babies. Their daughters were part of The Little Gym in New Jersey and Michelle and Toirey loved the concept and witnessed the development their children were achieving so they began talking to the owners. The journey began with a trip to the Arizona headquarters where they had to qualify. The company is very selective in their qualifying process and candidates must have a net worth of at least $250,000 and have $75,000 in liquid assets – just to be considered. Undoubtedly they were pleased with the exceptionality of the East Coast dynamic duo. They had the passion, the

The Little Gym of Harlem® background, the energy, besides qualifying financially. By the end of their orientation sessions they were taking photographs with the President and CEO of the company. The Little Gym of Harlem lights up the corner of 123rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue with a bright colorful façade full of windows and signage with smiling toddler faces. Some of their little customers come in limousines with their nannies and others arrive in strollers from a nearby block. “Every nationality is here,” Michelle shares with excitement, “that’s what Harlem represents. When we look at our classes, it’s like wow; they are all here, white, African American, Hispanic, the melting pot.”

258 St. Nicholas Avenue Harlem At 123rd St.

www.tlgharlemny.com 646-684-4485

Michelle and Toirey opened their doors December 8. Together they say it was like being born all over again. Despite the many hurdles, and there were lots, they say it was worth it. There’s an even greater value in experiencing the pride of parents when they see their child achieve something. “I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and when it is time to make a change no one has to force you, you just feel it in your heart,” Toirey shares as Michelle finishes the thought, “and it’s liberating. When I talk to my former co-workers they tell me I sound different, and I do. I’m free.”

Harlem Celebrates Business Excellence

Ben Chavis

Regina Smith, Walter Edwards and Princess Jenkins

Deborah Wright

PHOTO CREDIT RUDY COLLINS

The Harlem Business Alliance (HBA) has served the community for more than 38 years as an advocate for the preservation and retention of Harlem’s business community. They have actively kept businesses informed and empowered through an ongoing network of resources. Recently HBA stepped up its communication system with a broader marketing format through e -blasts. Strong alliances to aid in the sustainability of area businesses are critical now that the nation is experiencing a shift in the economy, in addition to the gentrification imbalances A short time ago, HBA honored eight standout business leaders during an annual fundraising dinner at Columbia University’s Low Library

Kenneth Woods Honorees pictured on the adjacent page, top inset, left to right: Bob Pickett, Bob Slade, Princess Jenkins, Deborah Wright, Sheena Wright and Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad

GIVEN THE MIXTURE OF BUSINESS SAVVY AND GRACE IN THE ROOM, THE DINNER WAS A GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY

Rotunda. It was a great networking opportunity for new entrepreneurs to meet business trailblazers in an intimate setting. The annual dinner typically sets the mission for the upcoming year, and the messages this time were all in line with the presidential idea of hope, change and brighter tomorrows.

The Business Person of the Year honor deservingly went to Deborah C. Wright, CEO of Carver Bancorp. Her aggressive business knack helped preserve and prosper the 60 -year old financial institution. Honored for outstanding community service was Abyssinian Development Corp’s President Sheena Wright. Other awards include the Percy E. Sutton Award (Bob Pickett, Bob Slade and James Mtume), Entrepreneur of the Year (Princess Jenkins) and the Chairman’s Award ( Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad). Among the distinguished guests at the dinner were City Councilwoman Inez Dickens, keynote speaker Ben Chavis, and NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson.

Harlem’s landmark building that houses the First Corinthian Baptist Church community is beautifully adorned with hand-painted carved pillars, red cushioned theatre seats and a stunning multicolored crystal chandelier at the highest beam. However, the rest of the physical church has been stripped of all pretenses. The standard church platform, which formerly decked elaborate royal high back chairs and the light oak gothic pulpit with grape leaf, vine carving and brass cross, was completely undressed and now sets a single steel table and bar stool for the teacher. Merchandise is not for sale in the lobby, but on any given Sunday and several weekdays one might find a variety of free resources that enhance quality of life, from literature to free HIV screening. And, in the case a consumer plans to “purchase” the pastor’s sermon after service – that will not be an option – that is, not for a price. All of the pastor’s sermons may be heard at no cost online. On several occasions, there are free meals served to those in the community. Representation of the scaled down interior convey an idea of the character and disposition of the church pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Lakeesha, who functions as executive pastor. Their image is not plastered on any billboards, neither on their church program nor website banner. But under their leadership, First Corinthian Baptist Church has grown from 400 members to more than 4,000 in just over four years. There are no frills, no gimmicks, no superstars and no seductive promises, yet the membership resembles a collection of groups from all cultural, social, ethnic and economic backgrounds and each Sunday adds more.

HOPE PLAIN AND SIMPLE Pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. Peels Back the Layers of Organized Religion to Reveal True Empowerment PHOTO CREDIT ED LEWIS

A rare photo opportunity with the Pastors of First Corinthian Baptist Church, Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr. and his wife Pastor Lakeesha who seldom let their images distract the Gospel message or eclipse the concern of spiritual and psychological healing, personal development and social service.

“Jesus preached a Gospel that was By Keira Wesley-Busher revolutionary, On this Sunday morning, Pastor Michael radical, communal and world Walrond, Jr. dressed neatly in his standard casual transforming. Here is our down attire, jeans and argyle v-neck sweater over a problem as pastors, we have pressed white collared shirt, took his seat on the stage in a manner of an affectionate fireside chat. In an informal, laid-back demeanor he speaks to been preaching Jesus, but not his his audience of more than 1,000 with an intimacy teachings. Because that only close friends share. He unfolds an anonymous letter that had been placed in the offering plate the teaching means the dismantling Sunday prior and begins to read. This particular letter was from a person who had been attending of the status quo. It means the the church for some time and wanted some final assurance that what they had been experiencing radical reorientation of society. there was genuine. The note’s author explained the It is not characterized by what emotional impact of being diagnosed HIV positive and wanted desperately to believe that they had found that place of acceptance without judgment. divides but by what unifies. The The pastor’s answer spoke to the entire room who Good News liberates, empowers could have all easily written such a letter. Perhaps not with the same physical ailment, but with the and strengthens.” - M. Walrond same longing for inclusion – the same need to be understood and accepted. With the disappearance of many of the barriers that typically hinder spiritual and personal growth, the full value of the evolving First Corinthian Church experience is in seeing the significance of what has happened in a short span of time. The theological dynamism of Pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. clutches a consciousness that holds vision and understanding on a level that unlocks spiritual and intellectual emancipation. Blending a mix of the spiritual and the social, the pastoral and the political with a personal candor that openly discloses their own human frailties; the Walrond duo has seemingly administered the shift needed to push past church as usual. Pastor Michael humbly articulates that his connection with people is not in spewing platitudes, but it is the bearing of your own soul to the soul of another. He recalled a sermon that he once heard by the influential minister, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor entitled, “Only Scarred Hands Heal,” of which he relates, “I have dealt with a tremendous amount of scarring, not just emotionally but physically. Many people come to me after a service and say ‘Pastor, I felt you were preaching to me.’ And I tell them, no I was preaching to me, and in doing that I am preaching to all of us.”

Pastors Lakeesha and Michael met as college freshmen at Spellman and Morehouse, had a child their sophomore year and managed to juggle classes, parenting and jobs throughout school. Lakeesha carried an extensive class load to graduate on time with a Bachelor in psychology and early childhood development and went on to gain two Master’s Degrees and her Ph.D. in education. They share many experiences along their journey. Pastor Michael’s road from Morehouse to Duke School of Divinity, Pastor of Zion Temple United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina and the road back to New York is filled with hardships and triumphs. “Through our experiences God has given us some inherent mechanisms to remain humble,” explains Michael Walrond, “I know what it is to have to go to the church and ask for help with rent. I went to Duke full time while working at a hotel and Blockbuster video. We remember eating Jell-o for dinner.” Although they both acknowledge personal effort, neither of them takes the grace of God that has shined on them for granted.

As some of the older traditional churches seek out new ways to attract youth, First Corinthian Baptist has experienced a tremendous influx of young people, sometimes even referred to as the “hip hop” church. But the music is not hip hop, and the pastor doesn’t speak in hip hop terms. In fact, to typecast the church in anyway would be a disservice to the move that is taking place. As Pastor Michael communicates, “This is the age where people are looking for church growth models and we forget the most important factor – the God factor.”

The model, as many members point out, is the examples they have in the Walronds. “I can watch my pastor and learn how to be a good man, to be a faithful husband,” Pierce, a new member emphatically expresses, “if he finished school I can finish school.” “My husband is a humble man,” Pastor Lakeesha affirms, “I can say that he really has a heart for people – a real shepherd’s heart. And he is transparent, our lives are transparent. We openly share our challenges.” She continued to disclose that she was a young rape victim and has an intense desire to minister to others who have been abused.

Steps are now being taken to implement a new program called “Total Refuge,” which will be crafted by Pastor Lakeesha. The components incorporate the help of abuse survivors within the church coupled with professional counselors that will effectively deal with the normal repression, denial, shame and guilt associated with abuse to begin the healing process. Before moving to New York, Pastor Lakeesha had been an elementary school principal in Durham, North Carolina. She assisted her husband in a variety of roles there in Durham, while balancing her own career with motherhood, working on a Doctoral besides her role as wife/first lady. Her priority in parenting is evident, even during the interview she watched the clock closely to ensure they were on time for their 14-year old daughter’s track meet on Long Island. They both beam as they speak of their two children, proudly sharing that the 17-year old son would soon be off to college on a football scholarship.

Pastors Lakeesha (above) and Michael met as college freshmen at Spellman and Morehouse, had a child their sophomore year and managed to juggle classes, parenting and jobs throughout school. Lakeesha carried an extensive class load to graduate on time. 27

Photography by Ed Lewis and Makeup by Romell Duresseau

The Texas native seems to have settled in well and shares the same kind of shepherd’s heart she describes in her husband. Her eyes sparkle as she greets congregants during and after services with a genuineness that would be hard to simulate.

Michael Walrond teaches that people are called by God to live and not just exist. Many members in the congregation have been inspired to continue their education; even seniors are going back for their GED or to college. “I used to think the role of pastor was to cast the vision of the church and the people would grab hold to it and run with it. But, I have learned that it is not about me casting the vision, it is about creating an environment where all members see themselves as visionaries. Everyone then begins to tap into their gifts and they begin to maximize what God has given them,” he explains, “We create a community of visionaries, a community of dreamers, who not only dream, but dreams with their eyes wide open. That’s when we will begin to see the possibilities of true humanity.” In setting their course those same ideas are committed in the church purpose statement: “We are an ever evolving community of visionaries and dreamers who have been called by God to live the lives we were created to live – Commanded by God to love beyond the limits of our prejudices and commissioned by God to serve.” During the Obama campaign, there was a promotion termed “Joshua Generation,” which attracted young people of faith Evangelical and Catholic groups. The name is based on the biblical story of how Joshua’s generation, after Moses’ death, led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Similarly this is the post Civil Rights generation crossing into the dream. And the new move of leadership is embracing these new ideas, where theory and practice unite to counter oppression and injustice. By all appearances, Walrond is part of this Joshua Generation movement where they are rolling up their sleeves and creating concrete methods for changing the social, political and economic obstacles of the times, one person at a time. The perpetuating language of victimization won’t be heard here and the standards have been lifted. “I think that the galvanizing thing here is, we are really seeking and pushing people to their best in an environment that challenges them to be the best,” Walrond shares.

Noticeable and gradual changes have taken place within the church. More traditions are being broken, the hierarchy is flattened and the rules and rituals fading. One Sunday they opened baptism to everyone who wanted to be baptized that moment, including tourists and visitors, which broke standard church rules of membership prerequisites. Sixty people were spontaneously baptized that morning. Perhaps it is their transparency that makes them effective. Pastor Michael often exposes the times when he wasn’t sure of his destiny and he is quick to tell members that they should never put him on a pedestal because he is a man of like passions and he will let them down. He claims, however, that he preaches the solution and that is God. Most people relate to the simple things Pastor Michael shares about his life. He said that Morehouse College changed his life, but before that he never thought of himself as college bound. But a mentor saw something else in him. In a strange twist of events, after he had been rejected by several colleges, he was choosing to join the navy. It so happened that a traffic Pastors Michael and Lakeesha jam delayed him just long Walrond have take enough to set him up for his on the challenges appointment with destiny. The of ministry disappointment of missing his together. naval enlistment appointment for that day was quickly vanquished by the college acceptance letter awaiting him at home. Now all the overcoming power he has built up along the way enlightens the way of many and sets them on their own upward journey. As the nation borders on a future of brighter things, it is more important than ever to accept the right philosophy and not fall for stifling deception. There are no instant remedies, or quick fixes, but strategic processes to true liberation. Pastor Michael points out, “The trappings are there, but God didn’t call us to be successful, He called us to be faithful. We have to take those necessary steps to reach our goals. Fulfillment will come when everyone discovers their own personal destiny.”

Every day, nearly four children die in the United States as a result of abuse in the home. Eighty percent of these children are under age four, and forty percent do not live to see their first birthday. Imagine if we lived in a world where everyone knew the signs of child abuse and knew what to do to protect children they believe are in danger?

Visit safehorizon.org 31

“The election of

President Obama does not mark the realization of Dr. King’s dream.

The scope of King’s dream is much larger.

King’s dream pleads for sweeping reform in all of American society, not

merely the election of a black President. “

-Trevor Delmore, II

Op Ed by Trevor Delmore, II

Photo Journal by Alonna Cole In Pasadena, California, a live audience watching the ceremony via satellite sat in hushed silence. In Memphis, Tenn., a local church assembled together to witness history, their eyes fixed to a large overhead monitor. In Kenya, the native land of Obama’s father, children danced merrily in the streets. People in Times Square paused in the middle of their daily activities. Others on the streets of Harlem waved U.S. flags as a sure sign of patriotism. One friend of mine watched the entire event in streaming video on his cell phone from his desk at work. Another huddled near an office water cooler with a hundred of his co-workers.

In Washington, the end of a presidency and the beginning of another is referred to as the peaceful transition in power. On Inauguration Day, when President Obama placed his hand on Lincoln’s Bible, I couldn’t help but recall the words I overheard in a popular rap song— as hackneyed as they might seem: “Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk/ Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run.” As President Obama solemnly pledged to preserve, protect, and defend the United States Constitution, the entire world took notice. Amid all the excitement, one CNN analyst accurately observed, “This isn’t just a transition—this is a transformation.”

I couldn’t spend this day in an ordinary way. If I couldn’t be in Washington, DC, I had to be some place just as significant, 125th Street Harlem. - Michelle, Cambridge, MA

Two million people gathered at the Mall in Washington. Some were in awe, while others were in disbelief. Some were in a little bit of both. Nine out of ten Facebook statuses also commented on the event— be it superficial (“My president is black!”) or substantive (“I didn’t think it would happen!”). I never doubted, not for one second, that America would elect a black President in my lifetime. When I was little, my parents told me I could be whatever I wanted to be. And I held on firmly to their words. Growing up in East Elmhurst, NY, I received a pre-school education at a small private school named the Learning Tree. Most of my teachers there were black. They taught me a slanted version of American history, emphasizing its black heritage. I knew about Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman way before I knew about Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin. What’s more, David Dinkins— the first black mayor of New York City— was in power when I was a toddler. For me, his example was the rule, not the exception. On Inauguration Day, the entire world tuned in not simply because of Barack Obama, but also because of what his presidency symbolizes. Not too long ago, America was a place where Jim Crow was en vogue, and the very humanity of black people was called into question. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have parents who told me I could be anything I wanted to be. Yet, understandably, not everyone’s parents believed they could honestly tell their children the same.

The election of President Obama does not mark the realization of Dr. King’s dream. The scope of King’s dream is much larger. King’s dream pleads for sweeping reform in all of American society, not merely the election of a black President. Still, Obama’s election undoubtedly draws us one step closer. His election validates King’s dream— “a dream deeply rooted in the American dream”— and signals to every little boy and girl in America that absolutely nothing is beyond their reach.

All things are possible.

Harlem’s Art Beat

Eighth grader David Boren embraces his guitar outside the practice rooms of Harlem School of the Arts where he spends most Saturdays and afterschool days training to potentially realize his dream. The school serves more than 3,000 students aspiring toward artistic careers and promotes emerging artists in the community. The saxophone images shown above were taken by Harlem photographer Rudy Collins who was among the first to be exhibited in the lobby’s gallery known as the “gathering space.” 36

Delilah Khudad-Zade

Compiled By Tyler Busher with Marquel Parker

feature on Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) was not our original intent prior to our visit. Our team was going in for a quick look at an exhibit by one of our favorite Harlem Torch photographers, Rudy Collins, which was among the first to be exhibited in their gallery for emerging artists. On that particular Saturday afternoon the vibrancy of activity inside the building on 141st and St. Nicholas captivated us. It was reminiscent of the Fame movie the 80’s babies grew up fantasizing about. Hundreds of children throughout the building participated in some form of art and the surrounding energy encapsulated our group. Immediately Adarsh Alphons, director of the visual arts department, introduced himself and invited us on an impromptu tour of the facilities. His infectious excitement was boyish in a way that almost made it hard to imagine him as the director until his intellect surpassed his enthusiasm. He explained the classes in sculpture, painting, cartooning and photography, and then led us into a dark room where his students were learning about their own community. “When we live so close to beauty we take it for granted. Many of our students don’t realize the awesome historical value in Harlem.” Part of the artful expression is taking in the beauty and then creatively expositing the interpretation. And we begin to understand that a key ingredient to art is also in the art of thinking and seeing. A couple of steps outside the visual arts darkroom we ran into Kakuna Kerina, the president and CEO of HSA. She hadn’t planned on an interview that day either, but took her coat off to chat a while. During her tenure she has worked to reinforce the framework of the 46year old organization and currently works with a new board of directors to intensify fundraising.

She made a thought provoking statement as we closed our discussion and someone in our group made reference to having a vision. “Anyone can have a vision, but one must have insight and a strategy to carry that vision out,” Ms. Kerina intimated. And instantly the notion of Harlem’s many waning cultural and artistic institutions came to mind. One of the main features that made Harlem famous is the arts: literature, dance, painting and music, inspiring a revolutionary movement that empowered a generation. Yet seemingly the transformative power of the arts in Harlem has always been threatened by insufficient funding, which makes carrying out artistic visions challenging. Adarsh Alphons Parents and students watched us as we moved throughout the building watching them. The vibrancy of the students veiled the burden of rising tuition costs felt by many parents. But in order to continue bringing the best in-depth artistic study to its students money has to come from somewhere. However that defeats the original vision of teaching fine art to low-income families. The Harlem School was founded in 1964 by the late Dorothy Maynor, a highly revered soprano recitalist. She retired from her performance career to work in the community with her husband, Reverend Shelby Rooks who was the pastor at St. James Presbyterian Church at 141st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.

Harlem School of the Arts

Hip Hop Instructor Emilio Mercedez, opposite page left, Modern Teaching Artist Keith Lewis in red and Tap Teaching Artist Yvonne Curry, introduced by Dance Department Director Sophia Fatouros, pictured right.

One of the main features that made Harlem famous is the arts literature, dance, music And it should be kept alive

Harlem School of the Arts was started in the basement of that church with the objective to offer classes in music, drama, ballet and modern dance to poor children in Harlem for an affordable fee. Again it was about exposing the beauty within the community. Our tour continued. The large gathering space led out to a courtyard and up a winding staircase are the rooms with all the action. Up for music and down for dance. The first corridor led us to practice rooms for horns and just around the corner we found a student on the piano taking private lessons from Ms. Tsyala “Delilah” Khudad-Zade. A different turn took us to the hall of percussion. Art and music are like soul food and at each turn we were being filled. The dance studios on the lower level each had their own theme, hip hop, classic ballet, modern dance, intermediate tap and an enlivened class moving to Brandy’s new single. Sophia Fatouros, director of the dance department gave us in intimate rundown of the various forms of dance in each studio. There were no marquee names there, not yet. But you get the sense that great art is emerging from inside those walls.

Harlem School of the Arts operates on a $2 million annual budget, besides the cost of much needed building repairs and only about 15%-20% of that budget comes from tuition. In a financial crunch like our economy is experiencing now, arts is the first in budget cuts. But a program like HSA can make all the difference in the success of the student it serves. Over the years they have even taken up the slack for the near abandonment of arts education in many public schools even as they exist as one of the least served communities. For those who believe in the arts as a tool for success in other areas, their unrelenting will to exist despite the odds keeps programs like these going for generations. Parent Association president, Linda Hall says she has witnessed the results over the eight years her daughter has participated in the program. An arts education impacts a child intellectually and emotionally besides giving them discipline and commitment to excel in other areas. “Some students that attend the program clearly have issues at home, “Ms. Hall describes, “but when they come here it’s like a different world for them – they flourish.” Private arts schools across the country echo the same philosophy that art can drive learning. Besides philanthropy, HSA has a full production calendar each month and the facilities can be rented out for community events. Read more about Harlem School of the Arts on their website: www.harlemschooloftheart.com

Harlem’s Art Beat

Rudy Collins In 1964, Rudy Collins leaned out of the window of his family’s apartment and snapped the picture of the Apollo Marquis shown on the adjacent page. The entire family loved Jackie Wilson and at 15 years old Rudy wanted to capture the moment. That may have been a lucky shot, but years later Rudy picked up his camera again and hasn’t been able to put it down. Rudy enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Korea from 1969 through 1972. He took pictures there of the Korean countryside. When he returned to Harlem after four years overseas it was as if he was seeing his hometown for the first time. He noticed the details of the architecture, the culture of the streets and he suddenly had an overwhelming passion to capture every intimate detail. He says he has taken almost 20,000 pictures over the last few decades. Recently his work has been shown in local galleries, including Harlem School of the Arts and the Upper West Side Arts Coalition at 96th and Broadway.

Simply Putâ&#x20AC;Ś Jazz - we play it, we teach it, we write it, we dance it, we sing it, we present it, we photograph it, we film it, we produce it, we archive it, we record it, we broadcast, we commission it, we celebrate it, we love it, we share it.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young PeopleÂŽ Who is Benny Goodman? Saturday, June 6, 2009 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM

Rose Theater How did a young boy from Chicago's Jewish ghetto become the King of Swing and the most popular bandleader in the country? The licorice stick is back in the limelight when the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Swing, Swing, Swings this classic American story.

McCoy Tyner & Ravi Coltrane The Allen Room Friday - Saturday, May 15 - 16 7:30 & 9:30 PM The unique connection that exists between them is on display when master pianist and four-time GRAMMY® winner McCoy Tyner joins the groundbreaking and compelling saxophonist Ravi Coltrane for a special duet.

Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Thursday - Saturday April 23 - 25 8:00 PM Rose Theater

SWING UNIVERSITY: SPRING 2009 Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University offers a deeper understanding and appreciation of jazz through adult education classes for everyone from novice to aficionado. Insights and expertise are shared by award winning jazz scholars and historians who have witnessed the history first hand. As well, these courses offer the rare opportunity to learn about jazz from the musicians themselves. Spring 2009 classes include:

Legendary pianistcomposer Chick Corea and influential guitarist John McLaughlin make their long-awaited Rose Theater debut. Working together for the first time since the days of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew era band over 40 years ago, they bring their newly created Five Peace Band including saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade.

• LESTER YOUNG with Phil Schaap • BEBOP! with Vincent Gardner • JAZZ 101 with Phil Schaap • JAZZ RAGTIME & JAZZ with Terry Waldo • JAZZ 301 with Phil Schaap

www.jalc.org/swingu

Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center | Broadway at 60th Street | NYC

FINANCIAL

Wealth Therapy

By Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr.

The heart of the Wealth Therapy system can be captured with the phrase “IKEA Retention.” IKEA stands for steps of the behavior modification process:

• • •

And, the accumulation of money comes from the ability to retain it in three ways:

• •

WEALTH THERAPY 1

Primary Retention: Save More Than You Earn Secondary Retention: Protect Your Assets Tertiary Retention: Invest Wisely

In the last article I mentioned that your financial health is anchored by your identity. And, many forces go into shaping it. The true identity is more evident in what you do versus what you say. This is why it is so important to look at objective evidence to understand where you are, and to monitor your progress accordingly. In this segment, we will continue the discussion of identity with respect to your use of time. Money and time are your two most precious resources and they are intricately linked. How do you think you spend them? The measurement of how you spend your time says a lot about you. The things you make time for indicate what you consider to be important. Your assignment from last time was to write down a list of how you think you spend the 168 hours that make up your week. Compare your expected schedule to your actual schedule and analyze how you allocated your time. Group the items into a few areas like work, fun, sleep, exercise, etc. What do you discover? How does your perceived use of time compare to your real one?

Photo: John Ricard

Identity Knowledge Evaluation Adjustment

Quantity: I like to talk about time in two ways: Quantity and Quality. In saying “Quantity,” I am referring to the number of hours allocated for a particular purpose or task. Making time for something is the first step of indicating that it’s priority in your life. There are standard activities that most of us have on our schedules. They include: • Working • Sleeping • Eating • Cleaning • Organizing • Exercising • Fun Activities • Time with Family and Friends

Money & Time Management

There are a few key activities (usually not on the above list) that I have found to be critically important for improving “Quality” time. They include, but are not limited to the following: • Quiet Time • Planning • Continuous Learning

Developing Quality:

These three activities become the cornerstone of developing greater “Quality” in your use of time (which is discussed below). As far as “Quantity” goes, it is important to allocate sufficient time for each of the events in your schedule. And, it also is important to add time for the three “Quality” generating activities. Both “Exercise” and “Sleep” can often times be on second list since so many of us do not make adequate time for either. Of course there is no exact formula here. And, there are times in your life when you might have to sacrifice certain activities for others, e.g., not sleeping and eating properly to meet a deadline at work. It is natural for your schedule to become skewed from timeto-time, but in general, you want to make your way back to a healthy balance. Once you have allocated sufficient time for the important activities, the next step is looking at your effectiveness. In trying to maximize your use of time, your focus shifts from “Quantity” to “Quality.” Figuring out the “Quality” of an activity takes a little more work. You start by getting a sense of what goals are meaningful to you. Then the next step is creating a focused and realistic plan to accomplish those goals.

Andy’s Life To further illustrate all of these points, let us look at Andy’s case again. Andy has twenty-four hours in a day, and seven days a week like the rest of us. Look at how Andy spends his 168 hours of the week:

When it comes to making “Quality” use of your time, I like to base it on your personal perspective. Accomplishing what you hold most dear to your heart would obviously be more meaningful to you than doing something that was not important to you. This personal insight comes out of “Quiet Time.” Quiet Time can be time spent contemplating questions, meditating, praying, etc… Doing whatever is appropriate for you and your belief system. The stillness of your mind creates the space for your “inner voice” to be heard. That voice in turn provides directions and insights to help you effectively guide your life. Once you figure out which way to go, then you can construct a plan focused on those objectives. By definition, planning allows you to structure your activities and resources towards the accomplishment of your personal goals. The order and priorities are set in ways that yield some type of success. Think of the steps of a staircase. If the steps are at random heights and directions, then you might have trouble navigating your way up to the next floor. When they are put in the same direction, in successive order, than they become a functional tool to help you move up in the world.

Work: Cleaning: Exercise: Sleeping: Eating: Transportation: Fun: Family:

40 hours 3 hours

2 hours 35 hours

21 hours 14 hours

8 hours 4 hours

Unplanned Time:

41 hours

Total:

168 hours

FINANCIAL

At first glance, it seems that Andy’s schedule is somewhat reasonable in terms of quantity. He’s putting in forty hours at work, and he gets an average of seven hours of sleep each night. He has adequate time allocated to prepare and eat nutritious meals. We can see that he makes time for the gym and for cleaning his apartment each week. He finds four hours a week to catch-up with family, and another eight to meet up with friends for fun activities. In looking over Andy’s list of activities, it is clear that he has not allocated time for Quiet Time, Planning, and Continuous Learning. Making time for these activities will set the groundwork for Andy to improve the quality of his time. Andy needs to make time for planning (including budgeting) and contemplation of what he wants to do with his life. In having a plan for his life, he can start to decide what tasks are effective for him. The plan organizes the parts into a cohesive body of work that allows for broader and more meaningful accomplishments. If Andy is not following his own plan, then whose plan is he following? Would you take a boat out to sea without a map? Would you build a house without a blueprint? What do you think would happen if you did not have a map or blueprint in each of these cases?

Andy’s Quality of Life: When taking a closer look at Andy’s life, some new information comes to light. It turns out that Andy is single, overweight, performing poorly at work, and “stressed out” about his life. And, his Sleep includes an hour-and-a-half of late night TV each evening. He prepares both breakfast and dinner while watching TV. He goes out to lunch each day with his coworkers for about an hour. They talk about their favorite shows and current sporting events. Andy really enjoys the time that he spends with his colleagues. Andy goes to the gym twice a week during the busiest times. The two hours at the gym include a fifteen minute walk each way and another 10 minutes waiting for his turn on equipment each time he goes. He does not mind the walk, but he gets annoyed having to always wait his turn for the equipment. Andy lives in Harlem and commutes to his job in Midtown Manhattan by the bus each way. He could cut his commute time significantly by taking the subway, but he really enjoys taking the bus. This is the time when he reads the morning paper and catching up on emails without interruption.

When looking at the effective vs. ineffective use of the allocated time, Andy realizes that he should be decreasing the allocated times by the respective hours listed below:

Andy is able to save many wasted hours by: • •

Not web surfing at work. Going to the gym at an earlier time when it is less crowded. • Not watching TV in bed or while eating dinner. He watches the news and reads through current events on the internet. He records his favorite shows to watch them during his down time. And, he schedules small breaks where he surfs the web at work, but he does most of it when he is relaxing at home.

Work:

40 hours minus 11 hours of web surfing

Cleaning:

3 hours

Exercise:

2 hours minus 1 hour of walking and 20 minutes of waiting

Sleeping:

35 hours minus 10.5 hours TV in bed

Eating:

21 hours minus 7 hours TV

Transportation:

14 hours

Fun:

8 hours

Family:

4 hours

Unplanned Time:

41 hours

Total:

168 hours

Even though Andy is trying to make his day more efficient, that is not his singular goal. He could skip lunch with his coworkers and instead eat at his desk. He could also use the train instead of the bus to get to work in less time. But, there is no reason for Andy to give up the joy of his lunch hour or riding the bus. The point is not just to be as fast as possible with everything. Instead, it is to organize his life around what is important to him. You, like Andy, get to define how things are prioritized. Everything does not have to be perfect in anyone else’s eyes for it to be right for you.

Wealth Ther apy ®

Just like you can have unallocated spending, where you can’t remember where the money went, the same can happen with your time. It can be lost watching TV, doing things you don’t enjoy, spending time with people whose company you don’t appreciate, etc. With an understanding of where time is being wasted, it sets the stage for change. The resistance to the change will start to give insights into what unconscious processes are driving your behavior. In summary, what you are “actually” doing is more important than what you “think” you are doing. Secondly, your actions are driven by unconscious processes that you are probably not even aware of. And finally, you have the power to change your unconscious processes by simply becoming aware of them independently or with the assistance of a therapist. Next time, we will explore ways of maintaining focus when performing a task.

This publication provides general concepts and theories in the subject matter. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial, medical or other professional services. If expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability, loss, or risk which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the concepts or theories of this work.

Dr. Delori s B. Brow n| The Power of Education

At four o’clock

in the morning while most school-age children were sound asleep enjoying the last few hours of slumber, Barack Obama was awakened by his mother. Like most kids his age, young Barry as he was fondly called, tried to find a way to encourage his mother to let him go back to sleep. He tried every thing that he could think of including the old tummy ache act. Yet, his mother, S. Ann Soetoro, was not budging. Educating her son was a priority, even if it had to happen at 4:00 A.M. Despite his complaints, like clock work, each morning young Barry received three hours of academic instruction. In Dreams from My Father (1995), Obama vividly recalls the dreaded morning ritual: …She had arranged from the moment of our arrival to supplement my Indonesian schooling with lessons from a U.S. correspondence course. Her efforts now redoubled. Five days a week, she came into my room at four in the morning, force-fed me breakfast, and proceeded to teach me English lessons for three hours before I left for school and she went to work. I offered stiff resistance to this regiment, but in response to every strategy I concocted, whether unconvincing (“My stomach hurts”) or indisputably true (my eyes kept closing every five minutes), she would patiently repeat her most powerful defense: “This is no picnic for me either buster (Obama, 1995, 47-48).”

Clearly, Obama’s mom was emotionally sensitive to waking her elementary school-age son at such an ungodly hour to begin his English lessons before going to work. Apparently she understood the power of education. Not only did she convey its importance, but she also made it a part of his every day routine. In other words, Barack Obama’s mother created an appetite for learning that would empower him to become the 44th president of the United States of America. From humble beginnings, Obama continued his journey towards academic achievement. While living in Indonesia, he attended local schools in Jakarta until he was ten years old. They included Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School. By 1971, Obama’s mother sent him to Honolulu, Hawaii to live with her parents Madelyn and Stanley Amour Dunham. There he attended Punahou School from fifth grade until he graduated from high school. Upon graduating from high school, Obama gained admission into Occidental College, located in Los Angeles, California. He remained there for two years and then transferred to Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia, Obama like his father before him, applied and was admitted to Harvard University. At Harvard he was elected the first African American President of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. Also, like his father, Obama, Sr., he was in search of higher education from a prestigious University that would stimulate his intellectual appetite.

By Dr. Deloris B. Brown During his educational journey, Obama, left a clear pattern for success exhibited through a solid investment in education. His investment paid off when he broke through the proverbial glass ceiling to acquire the highest seat in the nation. Overall, Obama’s life story is a testament of what can happen when parents are involved in the education process. Today’s parents can also learn from his mother’s unwavering belief in the importance of utilizing a discipline and consistent approach when motivating our youth to develop an appetite for learning. Once an individual has acquired a high profile position of influence because of his academic success, that individual has two choices. He can allow his knowledge to propel him to promote those policies or laws that support his view. Or, he can simply choose to see his experience as an isolated personal event that should not form the basis of his judgment. However, when looking at Obama’s Education Agenda, it is clear that he intends to make education, a priority. In fact, his original Economic Stimulus Package allocated over one hundred billion for education. If the plan remains in tact, it will set a record by awarding the most money ever earmarked for education in our nation’s history.

CNNMoney.com staff writer, David Goldman reports Obama’s comments during a speech about his Stimulus plan: To give our children the chance to live out their dreams in a world that's never been more competitive, we will equip tens of thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities with 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries (Goldman, 2009). President Obama seems to understand the power of education. His first major initiative speaks volumes to making education a priority during his first one hundred days. He has taken on Washington’s political machine and made bold steps to bridge the gap between schools with inadequate facilities and their counterparts. He appears to understand that research suggests a definite correlation between inadequate school facilities and student learning. Similarly, there appears to be a link between our president’s understanding of the power of a solid education and his current Education Agenda. Below is an excerpt from Obama-Biden Transition Project at www.change.gov.

President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that our kids and our country can’t afford four more years of neglect and indifference. At this defining moment in our history, America faces few more urgent challenges than preparing our children to compete in a global economy. The decisions our leaders make about education in the coming years will shape our future for generations to come. Obama and Biden are committed to meeting this challenge with the leadership and judgment that has been sorely lacking for the last eight years. Their vision for a 21st century education begins with demanding more reform and accountability, coupled with the resources needed to carry out that reform; asking parents to take responsibility for their children’s success; and recruiting, retaining, and rewarding an army of new teachers to fill new successful schools that prepare our children for success in college and the workforce. The ObamaBiden plan will restore the promise of America’s public education, and ensure that American children again lead the world in achievement, creativity and success. Finally, Goldman reports: Analysts, policy makers and politicians agree that if the government gets it right, stimulus could help transform learning environments, giving American students a leg up in the years to come (Goldman, 2009). Cash, C. (1993). A Study of the relationship between school building condition and student, achievement and behavior. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Blacksburg VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Goldman, D. (2009). Obama’s school patchwork project. CNN Money.com, Retrieved February 5, 2009, from: http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/news /economy/school stimulus/ Obama-Biden Transition Project: Retrieved February 9, 2009, from: www.change.gov. Obama, B. (2004). Dreams from my father. New York, NY: Three River Press. Impact of inadequate school facilities and student learning. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/archives/inits/construction/impact2.html

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Our Lady Michelle

There was a sensitivity in the interview with First Lady Michelle Paige-Paterson, a cultural sensitivity unlike that of the mainstream media. Beyond reverence, there is an inherent sense of discretion held within the Black family model that once served as preservation against stereotypes and slander. There is an added pressure to bearing the standard in womanhood, specifically Black womanhood. And although her inauguration into the gubernatorial spotlight was a far cry from private, that guarded demeanor was still evident and at the same time she did not hide her vulnerability for the sake of her new role. The same sincerity and dignity that caught the attention of the son of one of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent political families is the same that makes her a great first lady.

Like a great many political wives, Mrs. PaigePaterson is grappling to recover her equilibrium between parenting, her professional identity, her new role and the man she married who is continually under public scrutiny. Her ascendancy has occurred at a time when the benchmark of our political landscape is being redefined and she is one in several that is re-telling our story with images of accomplished, elegant black women and their functional families. Perhaps not as the fairytales read, but functional families that demonstrate commitment and stability that overcome human frailties. From our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michelle to our stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michelle, first ladies across the country are lighting several paths. .

Written by Keira Wesley-Busher Photographed by Johnny Rodriguez

First Lady Michelle Paige-Paterson seated here between New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and her father-in-law, a longtime prominent political leader, Basil Paterson.

If you believe in divine destiny, the kind of destiny that our country’s founding fathers believed in, then you might see Michelle’s path as providential. It’s as if life’s little GPS recalculated each turn until it led her right back to her destiny with the governor. A romantic may see them as soul-mates. Michelle calls her relationship with David Paterson the typical “When Harry Met Sally.” They met during the summer of Michelle’s junior year in college. She was home in the city from Syracuse University interning at radio station WBLS. The radio station had given her four tickets to a Temptations concert. She invited a friend and the friend invited David Paterson who was then studying for the bar, and David’s date. They all met at her mother’s home on New York’s upper east side. That was in 1982. During the concert Michelle encountered an uncomfortable situation and immediately David picked up on it. Her unpretentious reaction appealed to the governor. They married ten years later and he proposed to her on that very same radio station where she won those Temptation tickets. Within the ten year span between the time they met and married they dated for a while after Michelle finished college, on again, off again, and dated other people. Michelle even married for a brief spell, a marriage that produced her daughter Ashley. Marrying the Governor moved her to Harlem where she said for the first time she felt part of a community. “I had lived in a building with my mother on the upper east side for fifteen years,” Michelle explained, “and the people on the same floor barely spoke to one another. You didn’t know your neighbors – you’re kind of in and out. Well in Harlem people always speak, they ask about your children. It’s like they say, it takes a village to raise a family.”

She married into a family with long stemming political roots. Her father-in-law, Basil Paterson, has spent the majority of his life in New York politics alongside former New York Mayor David Dinkins, Percy Sutton and Congressman Charles Rangel. Together they have been branded the “Harlem Clubhouse,” the powerbrokers of Harlem. Michelle, who had not been a part of that social or political scene blended well with her intrinsic graceful demeanor, which she attributes to the southern style refinement of her mother, Kaye Johnson. She also has a natural political savvy with a broad understanding of social conditions that affect everyday people. Her career choice in health management is a clear indication that she had a bent toward public service early on. Although the role of Governor and First Lady of New York was not one either Paterson actively pursued Michelle does believe that it happened for a reason. “I don’t know what that reason is just yet,” she chuckles. But whatever the obstacles, her sense of self makes the task less challenging. “I think you have to be a somewhat grounded person in who you are,” Michelle Paterson shares, “you have to stand for something, believe, and believe in yourself.” It helps to have a belief system when suddenly it feels like a loved one is under continuous attack, especially of such sacrificial nature. Michelle’s outlook is one of faith in God and she rests in the idea that life is a journey of experiences in which to always learn.

The media has not only been tough on the governor but has criticized the first lady for defending her husband while on the job. Aside from the triviality of those far-reaching news reports, her genuineness, her sincerity of purpose and her graciousness precedes her. Coworkers and friends, especially members of the Harlem community know Michelle for her benevolence. Barbara Strayhorn remembers regularly cutting their son’s, Alex, hair at their barbershop on Lenox Avenue. “Mrs. Paterson was a genuinely good person, always kind,” Barbara Strayhorn recalls, “and the boy was a really nice young man.” Many took Mrs. Paterson’s efforts to protect her husband to be admirable. She asked friends to join in a letter writing campaign to help lessen the negative media pressure against the governor. She even gained more respect with supporters as she stood composed while their private lives went public. “It was helpful for us as women to witness Michelle Paterson during the Governor’s inauguration as she faced the

Michelle Paterson became the first lady of the first Black family of New York just months before Michelle Obama became the first lady of the first black family of these United States. Outside the obvious similarities each Michelle is transforming their role distinctively. The brilliance of such a milestone is the evidence that they are both free to choose and through their examples more women are liberated in their options. First Lady Obama chose to set aside her career for her family and First Lady Paterson has been emphatically clear about maintaining her career while her husband governs the state, and they are both justified. When Michelle married David Paterson sixteen years ago, he was already a State senator and she was settling into her career. First Lady Paterson has a M.S. in Health Services Management from the Milano Graduate

New Yor k’s First Family C h i e f J u st i c e J u d i t h K a y e pi c t u r ed l e f t , for t h e s w e a r in g i n o f D a v id P a t e r s o n a s G o v e r n o r o f t h e S t at e o f N e w Y o r k M ar c h 2 0 08 a s M i c h e ll e P a i ge - P a t e r s o n l oo k s o n . T h e en t i r e f a m i l y cel e b r a t e s th e i n a u g u ra l e v e n t s . G ov e rn o r P a t e r s o n l i f t s d a u g h t er A s h l e y ’ s h an d a s t h e i r 1 4- yearold son Alex fl as hes a s mile.

public with such poise and dignity at what had to be a really hard time. That lets us know that we can make it through tough times,” one Harlem resident commented as several shared their opinions. “Being in this spot you really get to see firsthand how the press shapes perception – the perception that they want people to see,” Michelle says, “it is so unfair. But I think it makes you stronger. So I just learn to focus on the good things and continue pushing toward what we are trying to accomplish.” She continues, “I try not to read the papers. I tell my friends, if it’s not positive don’t tell me about it. The State has a $15 billion dollar deficit, thousands of people are being laid off and we are nearing depression levels and people are worried about gossip and hearsay.”

School in New York and a B.A. from Syracuse University. Even before her husband became head of the State, she began integrating her health management expertise with political affairs. Her position as the Director of Community and Government Affairs at North General Hospital in Harlem made a significant impact. And now that First Lady Paterson has greater visibility that passion for healthy living draws more attention. The sense of responsibility for Governor and First Lady Paterson is evident as their lives forge ahead as role models. While their lives play out on the public stage somehow it is reshaping the way people see families.

First Lady Michelle PaigePaterson stands in the hallway of the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices in New York City. She is using her new role to bring higher visibility to healthy lifestyle practices and childhood obesity prevention.

Accountability for the community at large becomes much easier when leaders openly demonstrate healthy lifestyle practices with a transparency that reveals shortcomings and strengths. Those examples give everyday people a pattern for persistence. Michelle PaigePaterson embodies the woman who can have her cake and eat it too, without gaining an ounce. From her fit frame to raising great children, Michelleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions are deliberate. Just as calculated as this interview, her life is structured to balance every aspect fully. That translates to healthy eating, a regular exercise regimen, and quality time with her fourteen year old son besides her own career, meeting first lady expectations, grooming a college-aged daughter and being a good wife. Still with all of that she finds a way to take on new hobbies like golf and tennis and find time for friendships. First Lady Paterson is using the influence of her new role to bring a higher visibility to healthcare issues and childhood obesity. Her primary campaign focuses on middle school children because she says that is the time when self identity and lifestyle habits are developing. Mrs. Paterson says fitness helped build up her self esteem in middle school.

The New York Times described First Lady Paterson as an apprehensive figurehead. However we beg to differ. Her reserved demeanor is that of a standardbearer who is well aware of how the power of her influence affects people and her husband. She has simply chosen to protect what is precious by not casting every pearl. And she has accepted her role of support to assist the governor in making a difference. Pictured left, First Lady Paterson looks on as her husband, Governor Paterson, addresses an audience and below she chats with a friend during a photo shoot inside the tea room of the governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarters.

Style Director: Lanier Long | Wardrobe Stylist: Andre Austin | Assistant Stylist: Quayson Pierce | On Location: Eli Fuchsberg

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Lanier Long Presents

Photographed by

MICHAEL BENABIB

Natural beauty never goes out of style. Lanier works in Mac Revealing natural shades of copper and mocha with stilla eye shadow trio in bronze glow

The Brownstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100% cotton Sweater Girl hat is lightweight for spring and summer.

Fashion and beauty collide with a breeze of sensuality that warms the chill of winter. Nichole kicks back in an off the shoulder look from Blanc de Chine and lifts her day with a pair of jeweled Baby Phat open toe platform heels.

The Necklace

The necklace is among many fine accessories at the Brownstone. Ask Princess Jenkins to enhance your style with one of her bold pieces. 62

Subtle beige and shades of brown in silk or soft cotton are romantic this Spring. Makeup may be barely there like this sheer scarf dress from Harlemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brownstone, which can be draped over anything to spice it up a bit.

Creative Festive colors when you want to make a lasting impression. The eyes have it, Alcon Pro CrĂ¨me Shadow. Gold lip gloss by Yves Saint Laurent.

Lip color - Cognac by Vera Moore

Hair Stylist Karen C. Bishop creates a pompadour with a dramatic twist that makes pomp sensual.

Celebrity fashion stylist Andre Austin describes Blanc de Chine as a dimension in consciousness of the modern lifestyle

Spring Flowers

Ooooze sensuality - Smokey eyes and sculpted cheeks: Lanier creates an intriguing glance no one can overlook. Eyes by Hard Candy, cheeks stroked with Maybelline’s Expert Wear Blush in Almond Love. Finished by Iman’s Second to None Semi Loose Powder: Earth Dark

Bold Beauty

Red leather gloves by La Crasia. Print shawl and necklace found at the Brownstone

Actress/Model Nichole is exquisite in every look. Black suede Christian Louboutin stilettos excite the already exciting. Jacket and necklace found at The Brownstone. The bracelet is a custom design handcrafted by Lanier Long.

Fashion Director: Lanier Long | Stylist: Andre Austin | Assistant Stylist: Quayson Pierce | Hair Stylist: Karen C. Bishop | Assistant on Location: Brauck Wesley-Busher

“For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the

faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.” - President Barack Obama Election Night Speech The words of President Barack Obama resonated in the hearts of many. He left countless Americans searching inside as to whether or not we had used our lives to make a difference in our world. His entire campaign that spoke to hope and change became the agent that brought in a new wave of possibilities. It seemed for a moment people in general had grown apathetic, perhaps the many vicissitudes of life had weighed in and self preservation turned to greed and self-absorption. Our narcissism had begun to affect our families, our communities and our planet. Those with a natural inclination to help seemed to be drowning by the overwhelming tide of hardship. Until somehow, that old spirit of altruism began to break free; the kind that we witnessed in the faithful few within our schools or in the neighborhood who never seemed to give up on hope no matter the circumstances. Our collective consciousness toward goodwill finally subdued the deteriorating systems that were beginning to take our country on a downward spiral. And we started to awaken to the idea of, “Yes We Can!”

Within these next few pages, Harlem Torch highlights everyday people in the community who selflessly give of themselves to others in need. Philanthropy comes in all forms and sizes, the simplest act of kindness can yield tremendous results. The list is not short on names or acts and we plan to include “Those Who Do” in upcoming issues. Among those selected are people who have made giving a lifestyle. Ashanti Chimurenga, our editor’s pick, is a lawyer, educator and civil rights activist. We first encountered her during a very traumatic time for a Harlem school in crisis. She could very well be akin to some of the great crusaders throughout time that are on record for going about doing good. Her light first rose as an attorney for Amnesty International when she championed the cause to save Shaka Sankofa from an execution sentence in Houston, Texas. After six successful stays of execution and after a worldwide outcry for justice, the man whom she had laid down her life to fight for and had grown to love, who had taught her so much, was executed. She led the international campaign alongside Danny Glover, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and many other celebrities, but in the end they all came up short. It was then that Ashanti realized that our system had failed Shaka Sankofa long before his execution. Sankofa was sentenced to death at the age of 17. His childhood was fear-driven and darkened by misinformation from an oppressive system, the mother who would have cared for him suffered from mental illness, so he was left scared, misguided, pushed aside and disenfranchised, left to make sense of the world around him, alone. At 17, his chance for transformation or that great awakening that many bear witness to was taken. Originally, Ashanti Chimurenga believed that the legal system was the power she needed to combat the social inequities she witnessed growing up in Chicago, but the experience and pain from the execution of Shaka Sankofa led her to the idea that she could intercept a child on a misguided path earlier on in their life.

When Ashanti Chimurenga became the principal of The Choir Academy of Harlem, the academic arm of the famous Boys Choir of Harlem, the school had been torn by scandal. The climate was dissonant and the nurturing community that once was had turned antagonistic, yet as if she had cradled the soul of the entire school community into the nurturing arms of a loving mother, she ushered in a spirit of healing. She took on the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues one child at a time, one parent at a time and also cultivated her staff. Indisputably, she believed in each student. Armed with experience and compassion, Ashanti attempted to meet every need, which in an underserved school population can be overwhelming. She used her own paycheck to ensure that students were properly fed and clothed, she stayed late to personally tutor students who found themselves behind and she created programs so that students short on credits could make them up in time for graduation. At times her heart seemed too big and the tug on it too great. But within that year she calmed the storm as if God had sent His angel and then she was off again, on another crusade no doubt. Before her departure, the students who were at risk of being left behind were guided to better paths and many attest to the difference Ashanti made in their lives.

ASHANTI CHIMURENGA 72

SUSAN GREEN

Kara Smith of Karasma Media, a Harlem-based public relations firm, first brought our attention to Susan Green, principal of Alain Locke Elementary School in Harlem. They hooked up through a partnership program that connects New York City school principals with private-sector business leaders called PENCIL. Through their connection, Alain Locke elementary became the first Harlem elementary with a green conscious environmental club. One of many great educational leaders, Ms. Green stands out because of her expectation, which is evident throughout the school. While most of the schools in Harlem are failing schools, the school culture at Alan Locke feels like a private school. Each student is dressed neatly in school uniform and they move with a sense of school pride that projects their school mantra: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was born from greatness therefore that makes me great. Today I will spread love not hate, not vise, not violence, just love. Today I will do more, learn more, and be more than anyone ever thought I could. Today I will strive for greatness and nothing less.â&#x20AC;? The entire school recites the school mantra each day before school starts. That is the expectation. Ms. Green also realizes that there are several learning styles and with the idea that each child learns differently, she believes there is absolutely no impossible case. In the third year as principal there, Susan Green has successfully created solidarity between parents and teachers within a community that characteristically fell short on parent involvement. Those ingredients drive school performance, which many charter and private schools boast, but the difference here is that the students are not selected from a pool of applicants by motivated parents. So what makes Susan Green and Alan Locke the exception? The probability of expectation.

How many times have you passed a homeless person without thinking twice? Have you ever looked at someone going through the trash and turned your nose up at them? Perhaps you’ve encountered Toye Francis, a retired Harlemite, and her little pooch on a late night walk through Manhattan and passed judgment. Well Toye is not homeless, but the trash she finds thrown out on sidewalks is little treasures to the homeless and countless others. And Toye says when folks look at her strange as she gathers her goods it never bothers her, because the benefit to others is sensational. Raymond Lewis of RPL Consulting told us about Toye. It took some coaxing to get her to talk to us because her belief is that you don’t talk about the good deeds you do. She explained that one night a few years back while walking her dog she noticed that people in a building nearby had set a lot of great things on the sidewalk for garbage collection. The items were like new and while she had plenty she knew a lot of people who might benefit from the objects being cast away. Her little nightly treasure hunts have helped people in Africa, Trinidad and locally at daycare centers, hospitals and homeless shelters. Toye says she grew up poor in the south and knows what it feels like to be hungry. Her grandmother taught her generosity. She has at times taken in homeless cases, sometimes to her chagrin, but believes that helping people is like “paying your rent to God.” Now that many area condominiums are priced in the millions, she has been able to find items like fax machines, computers and even a matching washer and dryer just like new. The toys are great, too. She takes everything in, sanitizes it, and passes it on. Toye explains that she is not in need anymore, “but anybody can be in an unfortunate place, it’s only by the grace of God that we are not. People have to remember that.” She remembers one evening walking with an associate who is a financial analyst and they passed a woman on the sidewalk with a small child in need of help. The bus they needed was arriving at the stop and that particular associate wanted to rush to catch it. When Toye asked her friend if she noticed the mother and child, the friend responded, “we don’t have time for that.” Toye shockingly replied, “Maybe you don’t but I do.” She says she still can’t understand how anyone can look into the eyes of the needy and not care.

TOYE FRANCIS 74

“DR. SUJAY” Harlem’s District Leader, Marion L. Bell, shared her excitement with us over Dr. Suzan Johnson-Cook bringing her message to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre. “Dr. Sujay” as she is affectionately referred, has come across our radar several times: she was a White House Fellow, she is the first female New York City Police Department Chaplain, she ran a successful Wall Street lunch time prayer service, among many other things. Her evangelistic purpose, Hallelujah Harlem, is a simple one. She wants to bring the message of hope to a legendary site that might draw people from all walks of life. When we stopped by she had just participated in the National Prayer Service at the National Cathedral during President Obama’s inauguration and she had been energized like most of those who had attended the inaugural events. Dr. Sujay sharply reminds those who come to hear her message not to look to President Obama as their savior. She is all about accountability and self improvement and preaches that it will take a collective effort to turn our country, our world, around. For the most part, she uses the one hour on Sunday, from 11:00 am – noon to encourage people to move ahead and reach higher - effectively tying the bible to practical situations for people who need to figure out how to get by in tough times. Dr. Sujay will be at the Apollo Theatre through Spring. 75

Vera Moore Cosmetics

Photographed by Rudy Collins

Vera Moore Cosmetics is back in Harlem. The high-end line, which sells in department stores, was a rare uptown find in Harlemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nubian Heritage on 126th Street and 5th Avenue and just when clients adapted to the full-service boutique with the licensed esthetician on-site, Nubian departed. Fortunately, The Brownstone on 125th Street near Madison Avenue opened a space for them to continue serving their growing clientele in Harlem. More than a new buzz, the proof is in the product. Owner Vera Moore has worked for nearly 30 years with the best chemists and artists to develop a formula for brown complexions that even out skin tone and texture to allow the radiance of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own skin to glow.

Through continuous research, testing and development over the years, Vera Moore Cosmetics has a full service skincare line, body and bath line, and more than twenty uniquely blended foundation shades among pressed powders, concealers, eyeshadows, and makeup accessories.

A Family Affair Her search for such a product started off more for selfish reasons - personal professional needs, which is perhaps the best motivation for effective research. We all want the best for ourselves. The results are a full line of quality products that are good for the skin, from skincare to coverage that brings out natural beauty. More impressively for the Harlem boutique, their experts, including Vera Moore and her daughter, licensed esthetician Consuela Helms, may be found on-site from time to time for hands on help. When Vera launched out with her own line, it was based on need. There were not many options for women of color. She was one of the first Black actresses on the soap opera scene, so makeup artists rarely had the proper match for her skin. Other options for women of color bled on to everything, so playing a nurse on NBC’s Another World, which required her to wear white, didn’t fare well with her makeup alternative. The concept underlying Vera Moore products is that makeup should only enhance the natural beauty of every woman and that proper skincare is the beginning. Through continuous research, testing and development over the years, Vera Moore Cosmetics has a full service skincare line, body and bath line, and more than twenty uniquely blended foundation shades among pressed powders, concealers, eye-shadows, and makeup accessories. As destiny would have it, Vera Moore fell for her hair stylist almost forty years ago during a walk-in hair cut between acting gigs; they married and had their daughter who now works in the family business. Billy Helms, her husband, and Consuela Helms, daughter, are both licensed estheticians. Beauty is the family business. Unless it’s all in the genes, the real witness of Vera Moore products is in the radiance of their skin. They have been developing cosmetics for women of color long before the mainstream cosmetic companies discovered that shades of brown were in vogue. The Harlem Torch Magazine family has also taken a liking to the Vera Moore product line. Celebrity stylist Lanier Long has incorporated Vera Moore products in his working collection. Our editor, who is resistant to certain change,

Husband Billy Helms and daughter Consuela Helms take part in the family business. Vera Moore-Helms (seated), creator of the cosmetic line of the same name says the quality products speak for themselves.

tested it out for the feature’s sake and now says the Vera Moore skincare line customized by Consuela restored her complexion. She has started a daily regimen. Beyond outer beauty work, Vera Moore herself has an inspiring inward spark that started long before the stage or television. We pick up her story right after her high school graduation in 1963 when she immediately took a job as a clerk in the U.S. Customs Building in lower Manhattan. She dreamed of performing, but first had a five-year plan with the objective of buying her mother a home. Conscientious of her mother’s sacrifice, she never wanted her mother to scrub another floor as a domestic. “The only floors I wanted my mother to scrub were her own,” Vera recounts.

Vera Moore Cosmetics

Her five-year plan took four and she saved every penny she could, put $4,000 down on a home for her mother and landed her first role in the chorus of South Pacific at the Jones Beach Theater. From that point she worked on television commercials, film, on Broadway and several soap opera roles. And in the 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s found her starring role as the creator of Vera Moore Cosmetics. The entrepreneur, actress, book subject and singer is endowed with the formidable energy of a genuine motivator and always a self-motivator in what seems to be a one-woman show at times: creating formulas, branding the line, delivering the product, standing in department stores or kiosks and seeking out financing. It sounds difficult, but when it is your passion, the toil is sweet. In an era of economic austerity the Moore-Helms are among those who know how to ride the tide of life. The beauty industry is somewhat resistant to recession, with customers trading down luxuries like beauty rather than giving them up completely and Vera knows how to cater to her clientele in tough times. Her natural benevolence keeps her customers coming back through discounts and free gifts, besides sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensitive to circumstances because, for Vera, beauty is beyond the surface. Recently Vera Moore had a weekend long open house, in her home, where indistinguishable friends and customers stopped by for facials, hors d'oeuvres, and great networking. Each guest was treated to a facial and private consultation for personalized skin care. Every woman walked out with red glossy bags full of their own customized beauty products purchased at a discount. Luxury is in the product and personal touch.

In the Line:

Skin care Liquid foundations Mature skin Creme foundations Anti-aging Pressed powder Cleansers Loose powder Toners Collage powder Moisturizers Concealer Retexturizers Lips Masques Eyes Essentials Cheeks Accessories Bath & body Bags Moore for men Brushes Happy hands Accessories Bags www.veramoorecosmetics.com Brushes

NEW DRAMA SERIES

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING NOVELS BY ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

DEBUTS MARCH 29 ON HBO Grammy Award Winner Jill Scott Stars

The Story Line 1

The new seven-episode drama series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, based on the international bestselling novels by Alexander McCall Smith, debuts Sunday, March 29 at 8:00 PM ET, exclusively on HBO. Filmed in Botswana, the series stars Grammy Award winner Jill Scott as heroine Precious Ramotswe, one of the most beloved characters in contemporary fiction. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a presentation of HBO Entertainment in association with The Weinstein Company and BBC. With nine novels published to date, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” book series chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the eminently sensible and wise proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Aided by her highly efficient yet rather peculiar secretary Mma Makutsi, Ramotswe investigates cases, helps people solve problems in

their lives, and begins a special friendship with the highly respectable owner of a garage. Also starring in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency are Anika Noni Rose (“Dreamgirls”) as Precious quirky secretary Mma Makutsi and Lucian Msamati as Mma. Guest stars in the pilot include David Oyelowo (“The Last King of Scotland,” HBOs “Five Days” and “As You Like It”), Idris Elba (“28 Weeks Later,” HBOs “The Wire”), Colin Salmon (“Die Another Day,” “Match Point”) and Tony winner John Kani (“Final Solution,” “The Ghost and the Darkness”). When Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott) was a little girl, she spent her days with her beloved father (Winston Ntshona) in the wilds of Botswana, learning to use her eyes, ears, memory and patience. Years later, after he dies, Precious inherits his 180 cows – a windfall that draws the interest of her

abusive ex-husband Note (Colin Salmon), a trumpet player, and conniving lawyer Lucky (Tumisho Masha). Asserting her independence, Precious sells the cows at auction, using the money to drive her father’s truck to Gabarone, where she buys a house and opens The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, her dream business, in a former post office.

Encouraged by new acquaintances like JLB Matekoni (Lucian Msamati), an auto mechanic she met when her truck broke down, and BK (Desmond Dube), a hairdresser working at The Last Chance Salon next door to the agency, Precious sets about establishing herself as a detective, hiring Grace (Anika Noni Rose), a high-strung yet devoted secretary.

After a slow start, the agency gets its first client: the well-off Happy (Bongeka Mpongwana), who is suspicious that the old man (John Kani) who showed up at her door claiming to be her long-lost father is a fake. As Precious starts investigating, Alice (Nikki Amuka Bird), who suspects her husband Kremlin (David Oyelowo) is cheating on her, hires her for another case. With a little help from JLB, Precious tracks Kremlin down and confirms Alice’s worst fears – though the case doesn’t quite turn out as she hoped. Meanwhile, Precious, along with much of the country, is mesmerized by TV reports of a boy who was abducted from his father, a teacher, by a group who may be using the child’s body parts for nefarious witchcraft purposes. Ruminating about the abduction, Precious arrives at a “eureka” moment in the case of “The Dubious Daddy,” and with the help of some new friends at a local hospital, exposes Happy’s lodger as a fraud. Soon after, Precious becomes embroiled in a dangerous situation when she pinches an evil “muti” medicine bag from a damaged Mercedes that JLB is fixing; inside is the bone of a child’s finger.

Back at her office, bolt-factory owner Hector Lepodise (Lindani Nkosi) visits Precious with an unusual problem: Solomon (Kabelo Thai), one of the factory workers, lost his finger and wants sizeable compensation from the boss, who is suspicious that the finger wasn’t lost at work. The case brings Precious back in contact with Lucky, betting him a thousand pula (the equivalent of about 15 cents) that he will lose the case. As she follows a medical paper trail in the case, Precious runs into Charlie Gotso (Idris Elba), the sinister head of a criminal web, who’s looking for the muti that was stolen from his car. Refusing to bow to Charlie’s threats – including the blatant abduction of a local girl selling cakes in the street – and with a little help from Grace, a camera and hidden recorder, Precious turns the tables on Charlie, in the process solving the case of the missing boy. As Precious and her new neighbors attend a traditional musical performance in the square, JLB summons up the courage to ask for her hand in marriage, but she defers, at least for now. “All will be well,” she assures him. As for The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Precious and Grace look to a bright, if not immediately profitable, future.

Dinner for 2 By Paul Chisholm

A romantic dinner for two at home is a very passionate way to bring love and great food into your evening together. Romantic Dining in the comfort of your home or at your favorite restaurant is not only for Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the identified holiday for lovers. One can have a romantic experience anytime for that special person in your life. All one needs is the right ambience: atmosphere, mood setting including music, candlelight, flowers and the right occasion to indulge the senses for an elegant fine dining evening.

Now, add the food and wine, if you like, to the adventure. Romance is defined as enjoying a romantic adventure. Nothing is more adventurously romantic than food. Think of eating slowly at your leisure, sipping fine wine and savoring the flavor of baby lamb chops that can be eaten as finger food, rounded out with baby spinach and mushrooms with the flavor of rosemary roasted potatoes and topping it off with an aphrodisiac chocolate tart for dessert. Love, Paul

Baby Lamb Chops with Red Wine Sauce SautĂŠed Spinach and Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes Chocolate Tart for Dessert

P ho to g raphy by E d L ew i s

Chef Paul Chisholm | Ro mantic Dining fo r Two

Chocolate Tart Tart Shell Pastry: 2 Cups All-purpose Flour, Plus more for dusting 3 Tablespoons Sugar ¼ Teaspoon Salt ¾ Cup (1 ½ Sticks) Unsalted Butter, cold and cut into small chunks 1 Large Egg, separated 2 Tablespoons Ice Water, plus more if needed Filling: 1 Cup Heavy Cream ½ Cup Milk 10 Ounces Semisweet Chocolate, chopped 2 Tablespoons Sugar ¼ Teaspoon Salt 2 Large Eggs, at room temperature To make the pastry, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the better and mix with a pastry blender or hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the middle of the pastry. Combine the egg yolk with the ice water in a small bowl, whisking to blend; pour it into the well and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle, about ¼ inch thick. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin (this may take a little practice) and lay it inside a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough into the pan so it fits tightly; press the edges into the sides of the pan. It is important to press the dough evenly into every nook and corner of the ring, especially the scalloped edges. Shave off the excess hanging dough with a knife. Put the tart in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to relax. Preheat the over to 3500F Place the tart pan on a sturdy cookie sheet so it will be easy to move in and out of the oven. Line the tart with aluminum foil and add pie weights or dried beans to keep the sides of the tart from buckling. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and weights. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the crust with a beaten egg white. Return to the oven and continue to bake for another 8 minutes until the tart is golden in color, but not brown. Remember the tart will be cooked again with the filling. It should be cooked but light in color so that it will not burn on the second bake. Set aside to cool and lower the over temperature to 3250F. To make the filling: Heat the heavy cream and milk in a pot over medium-low flame, until it simmers slightly around the edges. Remove from the heat; add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smother out. Add the sugar and salt and whisk until well incorporated. Beat the eggs in a small bowl until blended and add them to the chocolate mixture, stir until completely blended. Pour the filling into the cooled tart shell and bake at 3250F. for 15 to 20 minutes until the filling set and the surface is glossy. If you see any bubbles or cracks forming on the surface, take the tart out right away – that means it is beginning to become over baked. Cool before cutting.

Baby Lamb Chops with a Red Wine Sauce 3 – 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil Combine: 1 Tablespoon Salt 1 Tablespoon Pepper 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder 1 Teaspoon Paprika 2 Packages Baby Lamb Chops ¼ Cup Red Wine 1 Tablespoon Butter Preheat oven to 350o F Over high heat, preheat a large skillet with olive oil. Season the chops with the seasoning mixture. Place chops in the pan and sear all sides until evenly browned. Place the chops on a baking sheet and put in the oven to finish cooking. For medium rare allow about eight (8) minutes, medium ten (10) minutes and well done, fifteen (15) minutes. Allow the chops rest for about 10 minutes. Now for the Sauce: From the skillet used to prepare the meat, add the wine to deglaze the pan breaking up all the brown bits left behind by the meat. This is all flavor for the sauce. Cook over a low to medium flame, add the butter and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Sautéed Spinach

1 ½ Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Pepper ½ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper 1 lb Fingerling Potatoes or Baby Red Potatoes 2-3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 4-5 Cloves of Garlic (Chopped) 1-2 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary (Chopped)

2 Packages of Baby Spinach (salt and pepper to taste) 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 2 Cloves of Chopped Garlic In a skillet over medium heat, add the spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach begins to wilt down. When finished cooking, toss in chopped garlic and mix in - keep warm until ready to serve.

Preheat over for 3750F Cut Potatoes into bite size pieces. In a bowl add potatoes and season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Add oil and coat well. Spray a heavy baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray. Arrange the potatoes on the baking sheet so that they are not touching each other. Roast for 30 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn them over. Continue to roast for another 20 minutes. Once finished, transfer to a bowl, add the garlic and rosemary. Toss well. Keep warm until ready to serve.

The latest from Chef Carl Redding, founder of Amy Ruthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Harlem, Docâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, is serving up his specialty.

1902 Seventh Avenue | Harlem, New York Between 115th & 116th Streets 212.222.8820 | www.docsharlemrestaurant.com

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Caribbean & Soul Fusion An Uptown favorite for those with discerning tastes

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Celesteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hops Move over Budweiser: thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new beer in town. Sugar Hill Ale, produced by the Harlem Brewery, is expanding distribution throughout the city and changing the way Harlem looks at beer. By Eli Fuchsberg

The woman behind the beer is Celeste Beatty, the company’s founder, brewer master, and marketer. A woman who wears a lot of hats, Celeste manages all of the brewery’s operations with only the help of her 26-year-old son. A passionate cook, Celeste had always enjoyed cooking with beer or wine, and when a friend gave her a beer kit as a gift she began experimenting with five gallon batches produced in her Harlem apartment. Celeste calls the process “similar to following a food recipe,” from shopping for the necessary ingredients to following step-by-step instructions to prepare the item for tasting. Celeste found that it was liberating to use different fruits and spices in order to create unique beers that taste unlike anything else. Some ingredients even come from her own backyard, where she grows the hops and berries that flavor the beer.

Celeste Beatty Before going into the beer business, Celeste worked with the 125th Street Ben and Jerry’s. Trading in her ice cream scooper for a bottle opener, and after a few false starts, the Harlem Brewery was founded. Its first beer, Sugar Hill Ale, a golden craft-style beer, was launched in 2000. Celeste tried to model Sugar Hill Ale after the style of beer found in Harlem speakeasies during Prohibition. “As alcohol was illegal during Prohibition, this beer was brewed in a secret, well-preserved African tradition handed down from generation to generation,” she explained. Celeste spoke with long-time residents, researched historical accounts, and tirelessly experimented before coming up with what she felt was an authentic and delicious recipe that reflected the flavor and themes of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s. She also toured breweries in the United States, Africa, and Asia to research different tools and production methods used in beermaking all across the globe. Because the high cost of real estate in Harlem makes production here prohibitively expensive for a startup brewery, Sugar Hill Ale is brewed upstate in Saratoga, NY. (It is of note that cross-town rival, Brooklyn Brewery, opened its first plant in Utica, NY before making enough money to open a plant in Brooklyn.) But Celeste keeps a close watch on the product, traveling by Amtrak up the Hudson every other month to the Olde Saratoga Brewing Co., where she personally brews Sugar Hill Ale using their facilities. Yet the Harlem Brewery and Sugar Hill Ale remain “as local as local can be.” Local artists designed the label, local musicians promote the beer, and all of the ingredients are produced in New York. Proceeds from the Harlem Brewery support Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Dance Theatre of Harlem and local high schools – no, not by getting the students drunk, but by providing beverages for adult fundraisers. Sugar Hill Ale’s logo and tagline, “Taste The Music,” is a tribute to the other great love of Celeste’s life. Her great grandparents were ragtime musicians, and she grew up playing the saxophone. The beer’s logo, a bass drum, was inspired by old photographs of her grandparents marching down the street carrying these enormous instruments. “That’s the part that gets me excited,” she said. “Making the beer is wonderful, but opening the doors to musicians…I have heard so many stories of musicians who can’t find a place to perform and make a living.” By supporting local performers and venues, the Harlem Brewery provides yet another service to the community. The Harlem Brewery has been approached by Chinese businessmen and is currently contemplating expansion into China. The beer would be brewed there, which would require Celeste to visit China frequently to oversee the process. While she is hesitant to bring her product to a country where one is “complimented by being duplicated,” Celeste sees opportunities both for her beer and for Harlem musicians who would travel overseas to promote it.

Trooper Sander (Clinton Foundation), Celeste, Pete Slosberg (Pete’s Wicked Ale), Michael Gardner (Clinton Foundation)

Why is Sugar Hill Ale better than Budweiser? “For one thing, Budweiser is a Lager and Sugar Hill is a Ale,” Celeste explains. “The main key is the ingredients…in Sugar Hill Ale there is a lot more flavor and a lot more care.” But there’s only one way to find out for yourself: Sugar Hill Ale can be found at local retailers including, Melbas, Sylvia’s, and the Fairway Supermarket. Celeste has found that running a brewery, like drinking beer itself, is a very social experience. “I can’t say I have sold a lot of beer, but I have met a lot of people. I will continue to do it as long as I can.”

BEER HISTORY The history of beer dates back thousands of years, and the intellectual debate over which was created first, beer or bread, continues to this day. While the first written account of beer production is credited to the Sumerians of the Middle East five thousand years ago, it is widely assumed that beer predates written records. In Africa, beer has been created with Sorghum, Millet, and naturally airborne yeast for centuries. Some credit the highly praised beer produced on President Thomas Jeffersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estate to his slavesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge of African brewing processes. Evidence suggests similarities to African-style ingredients and technique.

EXQUISITE TASTE Sugar Hill Ale is a medium-bodied golden ale with a malty richness. While the hops certainly come out in the flavor, the bitterness cuts out the sweetness and leaves the drinker with a refreshed pallet. Sugar Ale is a great beer for the summertime and for barbeques in particular. 92

diversonomix Edited by Marquel Parker

What’s the harm in printing a cartoon with a monkey in the New York Post that draws a striking innuendo to the newly elected Black President? What’s wrong with saying you’re going to Jew somebody down for a better price or call someone an Indian giver? Why are Black men offended when they are called “boy?” What does sounding Black sound like? All of it is acquired racism, a learned behavior by our various subcultures that pretty much hinders our progress. Corporate America has started the ball rolling with cultural awareness and now there is a group of professionals who say they can get people thinking about how to treat one another through a new enterprise called Diversonomix. It seems we are evolving as a nation and race relations have reached a place where many are having real conversations about inclusion. One group supposes us nearer to transcending our racial differences while another believes we have a long way to go. Diversity training came into the mainstream American workplace in the late 1980’s just after a report from an academic study projected that about two-thirds of the workforce would be people that were other than white male. Now twenty years into the diversity cultivation mandate, after some resistance and some tweaking, the majority of American companies conduct some form of diversity training for leadership and employees. But who are the social police outside the workplace who will help us with small real estate agencies, police profiling, medical discrimination, and everyday people at the bus stop? Harlem-born Joe Machicote, creator of Diversonomix, has been at the helm of diversity training since its inception and identifies with the importance of inclusion on an intricate level. Throughout his life and professional career, like many Black professionals, he lived in dual worlds in one day. For Machicote it began in elementary school, during the 60’s and 70’s era.

“All I knew was my world and I thought everybody shared in the same world and had the same experiences,” Joe remembers, “that was, until my mother wanted us to expand our minds beyond Harlem and I went to private school in the first grade.” Joe and his brother tested and qualified for scholarship to schools that were diversifying. Joe went to a private school named Alexander Robertson on 96th Street and Central Park West and that’s where he discovered that he was an outsider and his journey toward diversity began. “All of a sudden you realize that you are different and people, especially kids, point out your differences.” Joe’s exclusion didn’t stop there, but turned internally when he returned to school in Harlem for the 7th grade, where suddenly he didn’t fit there, either. His six years of private school had modified his speech and the educational advantages of private school set him at a higher knowledge level. As vice president of diversity and inclusion for Lance Foods, Joe has incorporated all his experiences into teaching a diverse group of people how to treat one another and has perfected his ideology into Diversonomix. He says that the Obama campaign was the best example of what happens when organized communities come together. The New York Diversonomix team includes partners Allyne Spinner, a Jewish professional, and John Crepsac a Black professional, in a unique mix of cultural awareness ideas and industry words like “well-intention racism,” “cultural competence” and “cultural destructiveness.” Their program mix works in corporate settings as well as affinity groups like nurses organizations, social clubs and community groups. The first step, Machicote says, is to admit that we still have issues. He used the example of racial profiling by police in the case of Robbie Tolan, the son of a onceprominent baseball player, who was shot by police officers in his own driveway after making a quick burger run with his brother on December 31, 2008, because police officers allegedly assumed that a Black kid didn’t belong in Houston’s prestigious mostly white Bellaire neighborhood. Partner John Crepsac is an expert in medical discrimination and works to build cultural awareness in the way patients are diagnosed and treated according to race and economics, another group that has begun the dialogue of discriminatory practices. The main thing is to get people behaving and learning from each other without constantly battling and realize that inclusion begins with respecting others backgrounds and accepting that it is good to be different.

www.diversonomix.com 94

GIVING BACK: A FAMILY BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

New Harlem Location - 125th Street & Lexington Avenue

Having made a promise to her husband that their children would have an opportunity at the American Dream, Mamma Rosa arrived in New York City with her daughter and four sons in the spring of 1970. THE KOLAJ BROTHERS SHARE: Though the early years were a struggle, Mamma always had a way of turning the hardships into opportunities of instilling in us core values through the lessons of life.

Through chores and responsibilities, we learned the value of discipline, teamwork, and commitment. We began working early on in our youth, and through the years gained much experience in the pizza industry in New York City. And, by the summer of 1986, we opened our own pizzeria, Famous Famiglia, in the heart of New York City! In the years to follow, we opened several more pizzerias throughout New York City, winning awards with our quality and customer service standards. Hence, the Famous Famiglia pizza chain quickly became a leader in the New York pizza market and earned the title of "New York's Favorite Pizza."

Above, Congressman Charles Rangel and Harlem Hospital Center Director of Fundraising, Randreta Ward-Evans are presented with a check from Mamma Rosa and Paul Kolaj, Co-Founder of Famous Famiglia. The famous pizzeria donated all the money from their first day of sales at the new Harlem location on 125th Street and Lexington to Harlem Hospital. Now that the Kolaj family has become an international success story, they are determined to remember those who helped get them on their feet. The family fled Kosovo to Italy in 1969, where they lived for 14 months. Their father died when the fifth born was only seven weeks old, but his dream for his family to reach America was still realized through their mother. They settled in the projects of the South Bronx where they lived in poverty and got by through the benevolence of others, which they haven’t forgotten.

As a 23-year tradition, every company -owned store that opens gives 100% of the first-day sales to a local children’s charity or local charity. The company supports a variety of charitable entities, including St. Judes, Dr. Patch Adams and Gesundheit Institute; Drug Awareness and Resistance Education and they helped raise money for Katrina victims. Harlem Hospital was the beneficiary for their new Harlem location.

From top to bottom: 1. Congressman Charles Rangel meets Famiglia’s matriarch, Mamma Rosa as son, Giorgio looks on. 2. Famous Famiglia staff. 3. The Kolaj brothers at their very first pizza shop in 1986, Tony, Giorgio, Paul and John. 4. Recent photo of Kolaj brothers who now own franchises worldwide.96

What Now? After two grueling years of arduous campaign activity and unprecedented expenditures, on November 4, 2008, a winner was determined. In fact, we can all declare ourselves to be winners. For those of us who have recollections of the freedom rides of 1961, lunch counter sit-ins, Medgar Evers, Mrs. Fanny Lou Hamer, the white citizen’s council of Jackson, Ms., and the voter registration drive of 1964 in Mississippi (not to the exclusion of other things and people), Barack Obama has accomplished the incredible. Martin Luther King said it way back then; “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.” And at last, here we stand. By Davie Hill

People Get Ready President Obama admits to standing on the shoulders of our forefathers resulting in his embarkation upon a mission that is important to all who desire truth, justice and the American way. On November 5th, we saw Jesse Jackson standing amongst the multitudes in Grant Park with tears streaming down his face. We also saw Oprah in the crowd donning a beautiful, eerie and admiring gaze as the new first family emerged and took center stage. Were these two icons stunned and amazed or just proud? Probably, all of the above. If you have followed my HTQ articles over the past several months, my prejudice has been recognizable. As such, you know that I am as proud as anyone of our new president. Like so many other Americans, I admit to being in the unfamiliar position of absolute admiration. It is my opinion that Barack Obama is the man who can get the job done in the manner by which it must be pursued. This postulation has been ratified by the world at large with unanimous affirmation. For years, I have observed the work of stars in the world of entertainment and successful athletes with recalcitrance. I often had the feeling that under the right conditions, I could have

accomplished what many of them have. I was a good athlete but lacked the opportunity to hone sufficient skills. I worked out with Bob Beamon, an Olympic champion and the former world record holder in the long jump. I seriously thought about competing in the 1968 Olympics, but life got in the way. Mom was sick and overall conditions precluded proper training and preparation. I enjoyed some success as a singer, writer and choreographer for a group called, “The Spoilers”. Our record, “Sad Man’s Land”, was headed towards the top of the charts when record industry politics intervened. Long story short, our train to stardom was derailed. My Park Avenue career was built ground up on pure sweat equity. Within a five year period of time, I managed to achieve growth whereby advancement from an entry level technical position to divisional vice president was my reward. It was then that I abandoned my musical pursuit and became a Brooks Brothers, briefcase carrying, full-fledged business person. I became the Black man’s Clark Kent; An “Uncle Tom”.

Davie’s Cor ner | What Now? But, as “baaad” as I ever thought I was, on the best day of my life, I couldn’t even stand in the shadow of a Barack Obama. As I watched Jesse Jackson, I sensed that he was reflecting upon similar thoughts and days gone by; the kind of thoughts harbored by old time Hall of Fame stars who watch the new stars make millions when they only made thousands. This casts no aspersion upon Jesse. - Davie

Jesse did and continues to do meaningful things. Neither he nor people like me are Obama types. They represent a new genre, one that seeks change in an educational, “braino-tech” way. These thoughts are not borne of jealousy, just complete and total awestruck respect. Even Obama’s Harvard classmate and friend of twenty years, (actor, activist, author) Hill Harper of television‘s CSI-NY fame and member of the Obama National Finance Committee, glowed with love and admiration when he was interviewed by CBS news anchor, Harry Smith. Harper appeared to verify Obama’s level of tolerance and limitless objectivity. In this regard, Barack is virtually bullet proof and not vulnerable to attacks or exploitation. He is a product and graduate of the infamous Chicago/Illinois political machine, which is currently represented by the controversial Governor Rod Blagojevich and his Senatorial appointee, Roland Burris.

Despite this, Obama’s reputation has survived intact as no one has been able to charge him with impropriety anywhere along his career path. He is the “Teflon Don” of Chicago politics. Obama has been besieged by experts at the political punch-counterpunch game, withstanding the merciless onslaught of both the Clinton and the RNC machineries. He has emerged in a Jesus like, “Forgive them Father…” manner. At the 2008 Gov. Alfred E. Smith gathering in New York, Barack was resplendent. This event is a traditional ceremony that allows for the roasting of the two presidential candidates by news media personalities and the senators themselves. Barack’s scripted monologue included the following: “Contrary to popular belief, I was not born in a manger. Actually, I was sent here by my father Jor-el from the planet Krypton to save the earth… If I have any fault, it may be that I am just too awesome.” Remembering that this Black man has become the president of the U S of A, I don’t doubt either of his scripted notions. As surreal as his accomplishment is, he just might have come from Krypton! I find myself waiting for him to bend steel bars with his bare hands or to leap tall buildings with a single bound. Perhaps, one day he will just take off and fly without even using Air Force One. Frankly, it is going to take the use of super powers to solve the problems and issues that confront him. Shortly after his remarkable victory, it was suddenly and officially determined that the United States of America had been in recession mode since December of 2007. Oh really now? Additionally, consider the following issues that have developed: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s elimination as the prospective commerce secretary hit our new president between the eyes. Richardson’s alleged involvement in a “pay for play” scenario required that he eliminate himself from contention. It is widely held that Richardson will eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the inquiry procedure would take “forever” and adversely affect Obama’s interests. It is the only taint associated with the new administration thus far. The Republican Party is already aligned against the new president and the Democrats’ efforts at implementing programs that are designed to save our butts, including theirs. The economy has tanked with unemployment figures for November 2008 totaling 530,000. Projections for December are of a similar nature and January 2009 is looking even worse.

It is projected that during the first quarter of 2009, more than 100,000 retail stores will have closed their doors for business. A conservative estimate of jobs lost as a result quite easily tops a-nother million jobs! We appear to be headed towards a 10% unemployment rate before things get better. Credit is by and large unavailable to anyone who really needs it. The stock market has all but imploded with the Dow Jones having gone from an (unreasonable) record high of more than 14,000 to a recent low of 7,552 (11/20/08), all within a one year time span. I have watched my retirement funds diminish by 40% during that same period of time despite having a properly diversified investment portfolio. I find myself behind the eight ball like so many Americans who stand on the doorstep of retirement. No matter what rock you were hiding under during the past year, you must know about the record number of people who have either lost or are threatened with the loss of their homes. Yet, there has been minimal assistance for these folks. Bailout money to the tune of 750 billion dollars has been set aside under “the Tarp” for Wall Street, the banking industry and big business; yet there has only been lip service offered for the suffering middle class constituency. One-half of the tarp allotment has already been dispensed with little oversight and few strings attached. There has only been reluctant and nominal financing to help the big three car manufacturers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. This is despite the domino effect and projected job loss residuals if these companies fail. Let’s throw in contingencies such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the national deficit of approximately eleven trillion dollars, Medicare, social security, health care, infrastructure, education, job creation, stimulus package dispensation, the decreasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) phenomenon and Lord knows what else. One can see the monumental undertaking that lies ahead and in the way of what we all hope will be a successful new administration. Consider the recently unveiled Bernie Madoff “Ponzi” scheme and its negative effects on persons at all levels of the financial spectrum. People in large numbers continue to hold their collective breaths with the hope that their life savings have not been handed over to Bernie for “investment”. The mystery continues to unravel and will do so for some time. One has the option of feeling sorry (or not) for those who trusted Madoff on a

one-to-one personal level. Their motivations were heavily influenced by human nature and greed. At least those investors entered the hungry lion’s den of their own volition. It is the poor folks who were represented by intermediaries, and whose funds were forked over to Bernie without due diligence having been performed, who I am concerned about. The emerging legal ramifications are complicated and will not be easily resolved. In the end, even successful litigation will in all likelihood retrieve only pennies on the dollar for only some victims. People have the ability to control levels of indulgence and to recognize when “all that glitters is not gold.” The rule of the streets is: “if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn’t (true)”. S-o-o-o, if one is guaranteed investment returns far in excess of that which is considered to be reasonable, red flags should emerge like Pop Tarts from a toaster. Human nature can allow people to ignore common sense, making them vulnerable to the lure of unreasonable rewards. The Bernie Madoff scam is the most recent and the most costly at an estimated loss to investors of fifty billion dollars. It is not the first nor will it be the last. Similar well publicized scams perpetrated include the Reed Slatkin Ponzi scheme that cost investors hundreds of millions of dollars. Slatkin was a minister of the Scientology Church in California. He was able to convince investors such as actress Anne Archer, newscaster Greta Van Sustern and movie producer (Die Hard II among others) Jay Sedrish, to turn their hard earned capital over to him under fraudulent pretense. There was also Barry Richard Hurt a/k/a Jonathan Ross Firestone of Tool Search Investors fame. His five year Ponzi scheme destroyed the lives and dreams of numerous smaller investors in a similar manner and all for the sake of living high on the hog. People of color, in particular, should never forget the name of “Reverend” Abraham Rennard. His scam affected 1,600 Black churches from the late 90’s until Rennard was busted in 2004. He cost the victimized churches millions of dollars by offering financial blessings through alleged investment opportunities. Although losing the church’s money was devastating, Pastor Donald Manning of the Heart to Heart Ministries, Fort Washington, Md., advised that losing friendship with ten other

churches, to which he introduced and recommended Rennard, has had an even greater negative residual effect upon his psyche. We have witnessed major corporations go down the drain, taking many of us with them. Our jobs, health plans, pensions, futures, hopes and dreams have been squandered and because of nothing more than avaricious greed and excess. Americans have been acculturated to obey, respect and honor rules and regulations that govern human interactions. Meanwhile, the people at the top of the ladder, who actually set policy and control our lives, operate under rules of relative morality and hypocrisy. For them, it is more of a do as I say and not as I do ethos. I recommend that my followers rent, buy or steal the 2003 movie, “Runaway Jury”, which depicts just how things operate from on high. Actor Gene Hackman portrays a corrupt attorney named Pitman. The Hackman character attempts to buy and influence a jury (a major legal no-no) that is determining the fate of his multi-million dollar corporate clients. He is noted to say, “Trials are too important to be left up to juries”. The law/rules be damned. Sounds like this character was a member of the former “Bush 43” administration! Will Rogers once said, “We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.” In this regard, we should not count on government to move us out of harm’s way any time soon. As proud as I am of him, I am convinced that Americans should not depend upon our new president to erase the ills that have been inflicted upon us over the past eight years. Realize that Bush 43 raised the national deficit more in eight years than the first forty-two presidents combined! I am afraid that no one can or will be able to help for quite some time. As such, we must help ourselves in all possible ways. We can no longer depend upon others to think and do for us. Barack Obama is a well intentioned man who operates within a system that has not recognized “Do onto others…” As the Boy Scout motto says, “Be prepared.” This is America where the rich always get richer and the poor get food stamps. Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, we might just starve to death! So, for the long haul and the foreseeable future, People Get Ready!!!

TOURING HARLEM AND LEARNING ON LOCATION

Harlem Council of Elders By Sheila Evans The Harlem Council of Elders (HCE) is spearheaded by President and founder Galen Kirkland, who grew up in Harlem and is currently Commissioner of The New York State Division of Human Rights. Mr. Kirkland was mentored into the role of President by Dr. John S. Holloman. Dr. Holloman was the Medical Director of the nationally acclaimed Ryan Health Center, which r e c e n t l y c e l e b r a t e d i t s 4 0 th anniversary as a community health care prototype. In addition, Preston Wilcox, founder of AFRAM, Alice Kornegay of the East Harlem Triangle, former Assemblywoman Marie Runyon, and Judge Bruce Wright were contributing founders of the HCE.

101

Photo Credit: Alonna Cole

Every

year American students and students

from all over the world visit New York City in droves, and now, more than ever, Harlem is on the Itinerary. In fact, a large percentage of tourism revenue world wide comes from student travel. Last summer, while in Italy, I marveled at the number of tour buses parked along the streets of Rome bearing tour operator logos catering to student travel. Then, it dawned on me that I too was traveling with a student group. Students of all ages along with their teachers, parents and other chaperons have discovered Harlem USA. Locally, in the Travel and Tourism program at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Dr. Elinor Garely and Professor Sandra Blake Neis both strongly support learning on location through tours. Over the past few years, BMCC travel club students have scheduled several tours of Harlem.

Harlem's Rich History One reason that Harlem is a popular tour destination for students is, it has an extremely rich history. The history of Harlem begins with the wealthy Dutch, who named the area. Harlem boasts three American Presidents having spent time within its boundaries: George Washington, during the Battle of Harlem Heights; Dwight Eisenhower, when he was President of Columbia University, and now Bill Clinton has an office on 125th Street (aka Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.). Additionally, General Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War victor and 18th President of the United States, rests in peace along with his wife Julia in the famous tourist attraction, Grant's Tomb. After WWI, there's the Harlem Renaissance, the era that cradled black American talent and scholarship; and there's much more. When it comes to history, Harlem is fully loaded.

The purpose of the Harlem Council of Elders is to: Identify the needs of the Harlem Community in collaboration with Harlem residents and to respond with service and advocacy. The council designs programs in collaboration with community institutions, seniors, youth and other groups to promote effective strategies for constructive change.

Educational Enclave of Higher Learning Greater Harlem is a large area in Manhattan geographically, and has many neighborhoods within it. Some of the best known schools in the country are in Morning Side Heights, (land marked as Harlem Heights). The Ivy League Columbia University, Barnard College, Union Theological Seminary, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Bank Street College, known for early childhood education and the Manhattan School of Music are all neighbors in Morning Side Heights. Located on West 125th Street is the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. A little further uptown located at 138th Street & Convent Avenue, is the City College of New York (CCNY), standing proud of its nine Nobel Prize winners, and stunning campus. Note: CCNY's David L.V. Bauer, a senior chemistry major has been named a 2009 Rhodes Scholar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of only 32 across the United States. Harlem has educated some of the nation's best and brightest. Special Note: Touring Harlem is also peppered with fun at the ever popular venues, Rucker Park and the World Famous Apollo Theater. At Rucker Park, groups sometimes get to shoot a few hoops with the locals. While at the Apollo, tour guide Billy Mitchell encourages tourists to show off their talents on the Apollo stage during a mock Amateur Night performance.

Harlem's Own Students Since students come from all over the globe to experience and learn about Harlem and its schools, surely, those who live in this historic village should be intimately familiar with its cultural and historical details. Students growing up in Harlem should be taught to respect and appreciate their famous, world class community. Now, especially, as the population shifts, it is important that all students be reminded of the strides made by blacks in Harlem. One organization making that happen is the Harlem Council of Elders, a volunteer organization founded more than a decade ago.

Harlem Council of Elders Executive Board Members, pictured left to right: Hanif I. Shabazz, Galen D. Kirkland (President), Mary A. Dowery, Ruth Helen Hood, Charlie Sutton, Judy Smith and Dr. Charles L. Dunn

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TOURING HARLEM AND LEARNING ON LOCATION

The HCE and Educational Student Tours Since its inception the HCE has put together programs to benefit Harlem students. I became familiar with the organization through one of the directors on the HCE board, Mary Dowery. Mary is retired from working both in academia at Ball State University, and as a licensed clinical social worker for New York State. She understood the value of Harlem students learning about its history through specially designed educational tour itineraries. Mary took the tour idea to the HCE. They already had an adopt-a-class program in place and setting up student tours of Harlem was an easy fit. Many of the HCE participants took the tour initially, including Mr. Kirkland. They immediately saw the benefit of Harlem's own students touring their own community. Some of the HCE volunteers, having lived in Harlem for decades were surprised by how much they themselves learned on the tour. Tours are slightly different from field trips which often focus on one locale or subject. Tours present a much broader scope and overview. While tourism is not schooling, it is definitely educational. With a scholastic approach, tours can be easily incorporated into a curriculum, providing a refreshing break from the school environment. The tour experience allows for a different kind of communication between students, teachers and chaperons. In addition to on site learning about a particular tour area, for many students, a tour is often a first acquaintance with a very different forum in which to learn outside of the classroom. It's an opportunity to interact with an adult who is not in the role of a parent, teacher or chaperon. The tour guide is a different kind of educator presenting a different way of learning. The HCE tour includes a visit to one of Harlem's most

precious educational gems, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. At the Schomburg, the students are still supervised, but they get a self guided look at the exhibits.

The HCE chose to end their tour with a culinary experience, lunch in the cafeteria at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Windows Over Harlem. This choice permits the students to have an inside look at one of Harlem's tallest, most visible buildings. Many of the students enjoy seeing familiar sights in the context of a tour and are anxious to share their personal knowledge. Some become totally engaged in the experience, in which they are learning through all of their senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and a tasty meal. A wonderful transformation takes place in their behavior as they become more comfortable with the tour as a learning format. Often, before the tour is over, students are asking if there will be another tour soon, a sure indication that they are enjoying the experience. Student tours are an integral part of the tourism industry. The advantages of learning on location can not be over estimated. The HCE student tour program has an interesting twist, a closer more attentive look at a familiar landscape. A neighborhood as special as Harlem merits this kind of exploration. The HCE student tours are successful and continue evolving and growing in number, illustrating the excitement that can be generated by creative tour planning. There is no rule saying that only tourists from afar should tour Harlem. Whether a student group is from out-of-town, downtown or uptown, Harlem is an excellent location for learning. Anyone interested in joining the HCE, or for more information about them, please visit www.harlemtorch.com and click on contact us.

Sheila Evans is a licensed New York City Tour Guide and Tour Director. She has introduced thousands of visitors world wide to NYC. Sheila earned a Master of Science degree in Education (with honors) from the City College of New York in 1998 which became an immediate asset to guiding. She has written articles on Harlem for the Japanese magazine O:Toccio and for Nommo at UCLA. And Harlem Torch Magazine is proud to feature Sheila Evans. 103

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Look out for the Harlem Torch Magazine Street Team. Harlem style is as diverse as its cultural mix. Show us what you are wearing. Tell us what you are doing. On your way to an event or an audition - we want to know.

Ronneak M. Lee Designer look without the expense. Her top coat was purchased at WalMart five years ago and she picked up her woven two-piece non label suit at a Nassau County shop. One canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put a label on genuine grace.

Photography by Alonna Cole

Anita Rivers Her Shirt: Ralph Lauren Jacket: Joyce Leslie Jeans: Forever 21 Boots: The cutest UGGS we have ever seen.

Ammon Rogers Vintage blazer, Gap classic v-neck chocolate sweater, plaid shirt and Ecko Red jeans.

Patrick Badobye Sean John coat, Rocawear cap and vintage Nike Air force 1

Jackie Herrera and Little Jia Jackieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s black velvet jacket is by BCBG and Little Jia is wearing J-Lo jean jacket and puma bottoms.

Sultana Aslamkhan Green double-breasted jacket by Calvin Klein, Rocawear jeans and Versace sunglasses

Robert Moring wearing Artful Dodger shirt and hoodie with classic Levi jeans. He is marketing Saint Solomon books.

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EDUCATION

Hallelujah Harlem at the Apollo: Chantay

Comans, Aleta Hernandez, Karen Pinkston

Franshara Hunter at Hudson River

Café impassioned by President Obama’s inaugural speech.

Rob Owens at Harlem River Cafe

Hudson River Café guest Sharonda Williams

Sylvia’s Restaurant: Sylvia Woods spends time with friends and family at her favorite table during inauguration day

Choir Academy of Harlem Students

Wazi Banfield, Tashawn Brown, Kasheba Pelle

The Uptown Chamber of Commerce Post Inaugural Mixer

Top left to right: Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Mayor David Dinkins, and Phyllis Yvonne Stickney Middle row, left to right: Voza Rivers, WBLS Deon Levingston, Rob Simons, and Lloyd Williams Bottom row, left to right: Princess Jenkins, Tuskegee Airman Dr. Roscoe Brown and Marko Nobles

Abyssinian Baptist Church

Amsterdam News

The Apollo Theater

Harlem Week WBLS - FM

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The100 Black Men, Inc. 29th Annual Benefit Gala

550 Guests Raised $450,000

Craig Simmons, Rick Colon (Eagle Academy student), Dr. Malcolm Reid, Phil Banks, Jr.

Craig Simmons, Tom DiNapoli, Carlton Giles (Eagle Academy student) , Phil Banks

Craig Simmons, Odell Patterson (Eagle Academy student), Don Peebles, Phil Banks, Jr.

“Recognizing Our Past, Shaping Our Future” was the theme for the One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York City 29th Annual Benefit Gala held on Thursday, February 26, 2009, at the New York Hilton Grand Ballroom. Craig Simmons, Tom DiNapoli, Carlton Giles (Eagle Academy student) , Phil Banks

www.ohbmny.org

One Hundred Black Men, Inc.’s service projects focus on mentoring, education, health and wellness, and economic development. The organization has a long and successful history working with its corporate and community partners to make significant differences in the lives of the communities it serves. Two celebrated examples are the establishment of The Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx and in Brooklyn, each with a focus on academic excellence, leadership and character development. Proceeds from the 29th Annual Benefit Gala raises funds to support these and other programs of the One Hundred Black Men, Inc. New York City.

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They came from throughout New York City, New York State and the nation to celebrate four leaders in the worlds of business, finance, real estate and health care. Guests included Hon. Eric Adams, Hon. Carl Andrews, Angelo Aponte, Della Britton Baeza, Dr. Cynthia Barnes, Valerie Lancaster Beal, Steven Boyd, Vickie Burns, Sybil Chester, Hazel Dukes, Rev. Dr. Edison Jackson, Patricia Lynch, Patrick Lynch, Jewell Jackson McCabe, Rashad Meade, Ian Moore, Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Hon. Kendrick Meek, Hon. Gregory Meeks, Al Dotson, Jr., Hon. Michael Benjamin and hundreds more. The Black Tie event, hosted by WNBCTV Anchor and Reporter DeMarco Morgan honored: Hon. Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, with the Distinguished Service Award; R. Donahue Peebles, CEO and Chairman, The Peebles Corporation, with the Corporate Citizen Award; Malcolm D. Reid, M.D., M.P.P., Chairman, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, with the Distinguished Physician Community Service Award; and John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Ariel Investments, with the Corporate Education Award. OHBMNY member Felton “Buddy” Johnson was saluted as Mentor of the Year.

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