Think differently 2017 by LTL Media PR

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THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

Table of Contents 2017 Spring Issue

Politics: The Congressional Black Caucus

Inspiration: No More Hidden Figures, No More

Women Pioneers: Story of Ruby Bridges

Truth Lives On: Sojourner Truth

Mentorship: Experiencing Change with Emma

Growing and Empowering Future Leaders to

Financial Success: An Amazing Woman,

Leadership in the Body of Christ: The Elephant in

Five Things You Should Know Before Starting a

by Farrell Chiles

Mystery by Pastor Mel Keyes

by Dr. Madeline Lewis

by Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson

by Sir Charles Cary

Success by Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson

Osceola MaCarty by Shawn Dorrough

the Room by Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson

Nonprofit by Hazel Blake Parker

20 10 Great Online Project Management Resources 2

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

Thank You! President & First Lady Obama

Job Well Done!

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politics The Congressional Black Caucus By Farrell J. Chiles

he Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) was established in 1970 and originally had 13 members. Today there are 49 members including two senators. The Congressional Black Caucus and its members have exhibited leadership in the halls of Congress and in their respective communities. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership— leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.” Congressman James Clyburn has served as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district since 1993. As Assistant Democratic Leader since 2011, he is the third-ranking Democrat in the House and was the House Majority Whip from 2007 to 2011 and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2000 to 2001. Clyburn is the current Dean of the South Carolina congressional delegation. Congressman Cedric Richmond was elected by fellow CBC members on November 30, 2016 to become the 25th Congressional Black Caucus Chair. He represents the Second Congressional District in Louisiana. First elected to Congress in 2011 at the age of 37 years, Richmond vaulted to the CBC chair in record time and age. Congresswoman Barbara Lee has served in the House of Representatives since 1998. She represents the California 9th Congressional District. Congresswoman Lee was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2009 to 2011. She was previously the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest membership organization within the Democratic congressional caucus. Lee demonstrated her leadership courage when she was the only member of either house of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

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Congressman Bobby Rush represents Illinois's 1st congressional district. He was first elected to Congress in November 1992. In the 2016 General Election, he amazed 95.69 percent of the vote against his Republican opponent. On July 15, 2004, Rush was arrested in front of the Sudan Embassy by United States Secret Service. He marched on the sidewalk in front of the Embassy with 50 other protesters. Rush was supporting the Congressional Black Caucus and other international protesters demanding an end to genocide in Sudan. Congressman John Lewis has served Georgia's 5th congressional district since 1987. He is the Dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. He is also a member of the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and has served as a Chief Deputy Whip since 1991 and Senior Chief Deputy Whip since 2003. From 1963 to 1966, Lewis served as Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He has dedicated his life to protecting human rights and securing civil liberties. Lewis has been called "the conscience of the U.S. Congress”. In January 2001, Lewis boycotted the Inauguration of George W. Bush by staying in his Atlanta district. He did not attend the swearing-in because he didn't believe Bush was the true elected president. On June 23, 2016, Congressman Lewis led a sit-in on the House of Representatives floor in protest of the Republicans failing to allow votes on gun control measures in the wake of the mass shootings in Orlando, Florida. The sit-in lasted for 25 hours. On Friday, January 13, 2017, Congressman John Lewis announced that he would not attend the 2017 presidential inauguration, also stating that he did not view the incoming president as a “legitimate president-elect.” Lewis did not attend the inauguration. Each of the leaders are examples of how one can they can successfully demonstrate their unique brands of leadership within the scope of their political careers. Leadership is serious business. I call it the art of giving. Farrell J. Chiles is author of “As Big As it Gets” farrellchiles@yahoo.com

inspiration No More Hidden Figures, No Mystery in History By Pastor Mel Keyes

erhaps, you’ve read it, “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly. Maybe you’ve seen it in the theatres, if not both. If not, you owe it to yourself and others to enter the conversation still so applicable today. You are officially called upon to enter the conversation of how that in 2017 so many millions of us; both black and white alike have never even heard of someone as noteworthy as Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan or scores of other unnamed African-American mathematicians who played such an integral part in NASA’s historical space-race success. How could there be such a “mystery” in this “history?” Every American citizen has lost out as a result of this disrespectful documentation of American history. If it is history it shouldn’t be a mystery! The truth needs to be told. Clearly there are still some in powerful positions who still stand against the truth. Our slain soldier for justice did remind us however of what that truth is: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Furthermore, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Perhaps they say “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Well, I say, they are not the only ones with pens anymore. They are not the only ones who can tell a story. Black, white, brown, red or yellow … it’s time that the only story we stand behind is the one that is true. Let the chips fall where they may but if we can’t be loyal to “the truth” then we are loyal to

the wrong thing. Thus, the importance of “Black History Month” begun as “Negro History Week” so many decades ago. So, thank God that in 1926 Carter G. Woodson a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher had the vision to see the need to teach all of us about African American achievements realizing, tragically that it would not be in the interest of all Americans to do so. It was Mr. Woodson who taught us: “...to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching. It kills one's aspirations and dooms him to vagabondage and crime.” To intentionally remove or to tone down the African American’s part of the story is to tell a lie. Do we not swear in court to “Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”? So, let our lives be like a courtroom for we will all be judged by the future generations of those who deserve to know the truth. One last quote from the dreamer himself: “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” So, for God sakes, if you didn’t know already that some important things have been left out of our history, then go get the book, watch the movie or both. Now, let’s get busy. There’s still work to do. Let’s go make some history and then let’s tell it like it really happened. | Pastor Mel Keyes CEO, Pastor Mel Keyes, LLC www.pastormelkeyes.com

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

WOMEN PIONEERS RUBY BRIDGES: The First Black Child to Desegregate An All White School By Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis

uby Bridges is famously known for being the first African-American child to enroll in an entirely white public elementary school in New Orleans during desegregation in 1960. Born in Tylertown, MS on September 8, 1954, she was six years old when she joined a Southern elementary school. Her mother used to escort her to school along with U.S. Marshals because of the violent mobs. In school, it was not easy for her. There was a lot of discrimination and most white parents threatened to pull their children out of school if Ruby would continue going to that school. Only one teacher, Barbara Henry, accepted to teach Ruby. Henry loved and supported Ruby and not only helped her in her studies but also with the traumatizing experience of being ostracized. Ruby’s mom urged her to be strong and to pray every time she would enter school. When Ruby had finished her first year, some white children in her grade started to associate with her. When Ruby was in the second year, everything had begun to change. Ruby would attend school by herself every day without supervision of the federal marshals. People no longer spoke about the past, and the white parents began to enroll their children again. Ruby was able to finish grade school and later graduated from the integrated Francis T. Nicholls High School. Ruby then studied tourism and travel in Kansas City business school and worked as a world travel agent for American Express. In 1993, Ruby’s younger brother was murdered and she took custody of his four children. Ruby started to volunteer at the school which the children attended and she was soon made a parentcommunity liaison. Ironically, it was the same school that she had attended as a young girl. She did not

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

understand why her brother’s death would make her go back to her elementary school where she had gone through so much. She got a response to her question in 1995 when a children’s book was published which contained her story. Ruby’s experience as a liaison at the school and the reunion with people who had influenced her life in the past made her see the importance of parents taking more responsibility for the education of their children. In 1999, Ruby formed the Ruby Bridge Foundation to promote the value of respect, tolerance, and accommodation of all differences, seeking to eliminate prejudice and racism through inspiration and education. “Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it,” is the foundation’s motto. In January 2001, Bridges was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton. In 2007, a new exhibition that documented Ruby’s life was unveiled by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Ruby Bridges’ bravely made her push for continued civil rights action, and she used her story as a motivation to future generations in different education forums.

Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis is the President/CEO of the Executive Women’s Success Institute Website: www.exwsi.com; E-mail at info@exwsi.com.

A Tribute to Women Veterans - Unsung Sheros

Thank you for your service and sacrifices. I understand, I am one of you Amicitia Maloon Gibson, Lieutenant Colonel USA-Retired

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

Women’s rights SOJOURNER TRUTH The Truth Lives On By Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson, PhD

n history classes in the early 1970’s many heroes and heroines were studied and few were women. You would hear names briefly like Mary Bethune McLeod, Harriett Tubman and Sojourner Truth when it came to Black Women. The library became a place for young people at the time for doing additional research in the encyclopedias and card catalog on any topic. Some of you reading this article are scratching your head and say, “say what”, that’s because you were born in the high technology era of I Pads, I Phones, Kindles and Google Search. After researching the above three Black women as young women, there were commonalities that they each had unique gifts, a zeal to help others succeed and a passion for give of themselves and what they had to make their race better. Each of them left a legacy behind and most of us are enjoying our freedom and the fruits of their suffering and seeds planted. The word Gratitude is an understatement to thank them for what they have done for me and my growth as a youth and adult. To sum it up I would have to say, living is giving and leave this world better than you found it. You don’t have to be “rich” to make a difference. You must have a passion. Dream it, Plan it and then Do it. Set goals, take actions and get a team or group of like minded individuals to collaborate with. All three of these women were strong, Black women with a passion to do good. I will only write about one and hope you will be encouraged and empowered to research the others. Do you know Isabella (Bell) Baumfree? I believe you may know her by her what we call today an “alias or stage name.” An evangelist, abolitionist, and feminist, Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-1883) is remembered for her wisdom with little to no education. She was the unique voice raised in

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support of women’s rights, abolitionism, and the freed-men. Her best known extemporaneous speech on gender inequalities, “Ain’t I a Woman?”, was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

Sojourner Truth stature from the ground up was six feet, some say her voice was powerful (she spoke English with a Dutch accent), her passions was driven by religious commitment. Harriet B. Stowe attested to Truth’s personal magnetism, saying that she had never “been conversant with anyone who had more of that silent and subtle power which we call personal presence than this woman.” Truth was born of slave parents owned by a wealthy Dutch patron in Ulster County, New York. “Details of her early life remain cloudy.” History documented her name was Isabella (Bell) Baumfree and she served a as a servant to a family in New Paltz, New York, from 1810 to 1827. During this time line she mothered five children by a fellow slave. Three of her five were sold away from her during these years. Isabella escaped slavery in 1827, one year before mandatory emancipation in New York State, by fleeing to a Quaker family, the Van Wageners, whose name she took. She relocated to New York City, worked as a domestic, became involved in moral reform, and embraced evangelical religion and eventually joined a utopian community in Sing,

New York. Though illiterate, Isabella obtained a broad knowledge of the Bible and emerged in the 1840s in Massachusetts, working among the Garrisonian abolitionists. She became popular by sing Gospel songs and story-telling as a form of entertainment. She embraced the name “Sojourner Truth” in 1843, and became a wandering orator. In the mid-1850s she settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, her home place until her death. During the Civil War, Truth tramped the roads of Michigan collecting food and clothing for black regiments. She traveled to Washington, D.C., where she met with Abraham Lincoln, at the White House, and immersed herself in relief work for the freed people. During Reconstruction, Sojourner Truth barely supported herself by selling a narrative of her life as well as her “shadows,” photographs of herself. She lent her unique skills to the women’s suffrage movement and initiated a petition drive to obtain land for the freed people, even suggesting the idea of a “Negro state” in the West. She preached cleanliness and godliness among the freed people and dictated many letters about the land question, which provide rich details about that aspect of Reconstruction. Truth’s most important legacy is the tone and substance of her language. As an old woman she stumped the country providing emancipation with an eloquent epigraph: “Give ‘em land and an outset, and hab teachers learn ‘em to read. Den they can be somebody.” Few modern activists have better described politicians or the purpose of a petition drive than Truth did: “Send tons of paper down to Washington for them spouters to chaw on.” And when she was brutally knocked off of Washington’s segregated streetcars, she denounced racism: “It is hard for the old slaveholding spirit to die, but die it must.” She herself died of old age and ulcerated legs in 1883; her funeral and burial in Battle Creek was the largest that town had ever seen, testimony

to her hold on America’s historical imagination. Today several organizations carry Sojourner Truth legacy forward through various channels. The National Congress for Black Women (NCBW) is one of those organizations. Through their combined collaborative efforts under the current leadership of Dr. E. Faye Williams, National Chair. The organization was founded in 1984, and led by then Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm the First National Chair. She was succeeded by Dr. C. DeLores Tucker. Three strong African American Women (AAW) and hundreds more (chapters in many states) dedicated to the educational, political and economic and cultural development of African American Women and their families. NCBW also serves as a nonpartisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African American Women at all levels in government; and to increase AAW’s participation in educational, political and social arenas. On Tuesday, April 28th 2009, in Washington, DC, Sojourner Truth was welcomed to the United States Capitol Visitors Center, Emancipation Hall, where a bust in memory of her work was donated to the U.S. Congress by the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Sojourner Truth Stamp was issued as a part of the Black Heritage Stamp collection on February 4, 1986 in New Platz, NY; Stamp Artist: Jerry Pinkney. For these reasons and more The Truth is Living on. Partial Credits: The Reader’s Companion to American History. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, Editors, 1991 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The National Congress of Black Women (www.nationcongressbw.org, The Sojourner Truth Institute of Battle Creek (www.sojournertruth.org) Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson is a best selling author, literary award winner "Growing and Empowering Future Leaders for Success Now"

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mentorship Experiencing Change with EMMA!

? By Sir Charles Cary

s a change management strategist I notice a lot about behavior. Sometimes it’s personal behavior and sometimes its professional behavior. I wasn’t always that way; however there have been a countless amount of people that have had a hand in molding me into the person that I am today. So, I take my hat off to none other than Ms. Emma Mustgrave. I was all of 19 years old thinking that I knew everything and thinking that my youthful looks would carry me through any and every situation. I would soon receive one of life’s most important lessons about growing up and living life on life’s terms. Ms. Emma was in charge of the orientation section, which hired provisional workers and gave them a chance at working in New York City’s Housing Preservation & Development agency. I forget exactly how I was afforded the opportunity, but I showed up on Monday all bright eyed wearing a shirt and jeans to begin the two-week process. The orientation was the first couple of days. There were about ten of us (young men and women) excited for this paid job. The down side was that we could be fired with little reason. As we began filling out paperwork I remember needing a pen and asked Ms. Emma for a pen and she abruptly told me that she didn’t have one and that I should ask one of my colleagues. I’m thinking, what’s wrong with this woman? My ill prepared behavior continued for a day or so more. It

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really bothered me how Ms. Emma responded; until I realized the part I played in this scenario? All I did was show up without a pen, writing paper, dress clothes, dress shoes or even the right mindset. I asked Ms. Emma if I could speak with her just before coming back from lunch. She reluctantly agreed and I told her that I understood what was going on. She wanted to know what I was talking about. I told on myself! I admitted to my lack of maturity and submitted to her expectations of me as a young black man that needed to always put his best foot forward in this world that would show me no mercy. That second week I started wearing my suits and carried my bag with pen and pad in tow. In a reverse psychological manner Ms. Emma Mustgrave impressed upon me the importance of being professional and being prepared. I always wanted this life but was about to throw it away if it had not been for her. I’ll never forget that smile on her face that day when I asked for a quick powwow. Many civil service employees lost their jobs during my tenure…I have a sneaky suspicion that I had a guardian angel. I experienced change for the very first time in the professional world. I’ve had many failures since then, but today I’m a national trainer, speaker & author.

Sir Charles Cary is a national trainer, speaker, author, television personality, transformational leadership strategist. www.sircharlescaryinc.com

Growing and Empowering Future Leaders to SUCCESS By Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson

ere’s an empowerment moment for you that will be a stepping stone to your success as you start your journey and follow your passion in any career field. Many of you are already creative and have found your passion, especially those in the creative arts of musicality. As a product of the baby boomer generation, here are some tidbits I can share with you on your journey to success that will save you thousands of dollars and time in going down the wrong path. Answer these questions. First: Are you an individual seeking job satisfaction? Second: What is the greatest obstacle that is paralyzing you from reaching your goal? If you are an employee, you should have a back-up plan? Third: Do you have an option or back-up plan if you are released from your current position today? Like Nike says, “Just Do it!” Why? Well, employers are doing more with less and not really looking at succession planning, meaning that today you are the best thing that ever happened to them yesterday. Employers are seeking to retain the best of the best and that may not be you, although you have greatness in you. Putting it nicely, there is a projected shortage of highly skilled employees and employers, like the baby boomer generation, recognize this skillsets-GAP-lack. Highly skilled and experienced Boomers are being offered retention bonus and other benefits to stay in the workforce as late as 75 years of age. Boomers are being offered work-at-home options, flexwork schedules, promotions and health packages never offered in previous generations. Why? Boomers have coined the work ethics that no other generation has exemplified. Even living longer, boomers have skillsets that are unique and valuable, so they can retire early, start a second career or become an entrepreneur.

Here are the surveyed statistical data that should stimulate and give you a wakeup call or aha moment. Some survey show that 76 percent of baby boomers intend to keep working and earning in retirement, although many say they will "retire" from their current job at 64 and then jump into an entirely new job or career. According to Silvernail Consultants, by the year 2030, 57.8 million baby boomers will still be alive with 54.9 percent being female. For more statistics visit census.gov/ipc/www/ usinterimproj/ and refer to the link genpolicy.com/2006_journal/ index_articles.html. Explore the following site that will help calculate your estimated SSI payments: ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/index.html. However, Social Security benefits may not be available to your generation. Again I ask you, “What are your options and back-up plans if you are released from your current position today?” As a twice retired senior executive, I can tell you from experience that thousands have benefited from baby boomers like me. At MGAA Professional Development Institute, our mission is “growing and empowering future leaders now” the next generation—you. We want you to be the best of the best. We want your team, church, choir and organization to stand out as 21st Century great leaders and we have the experience, tools and skillset to get you there. You benefit from our mistakes and stepping stones that took us to the top! Lack of mentorship, coaching and leadership results in performance that is marginal and poor. For organizational corporate coaching and leadership sessions, take time to contact us today at empowermentdoc.com or citagibson.com.

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

FINANCIAL SUCCESS An Amazing Woman

Oseola McCarty By Shawn Dorrough

he name Oseola McCarty probably doesn’t come to mind when mentioning great African American women. Those accolades are usually reserved for women like Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, Barbara Jordan, Rosa Parks, Michelle Obama or Oprah Winfrey. But I would suggest that Ms. McCarty was just as powerful and all she used was dirty clothes, work ethics and her incredible kindness to change the lives of so many. Born in 1912, Ms. McCarty was raised in the segregated south. Hattiesburg, Mississippi was unkind to people with her melanin and her upbringing was far from a rosy experience. In the sixth grade she quit school to earn income for the family, she never married nor had children. She didn’t even learn how to drive in her lifetime because in her words she really never had anywhere to go. AN AMAZING WORK ETHIC But what she did have was a work ethic and a heart of gold that would make anyone take notice. She was known as the washer room lady, cleaning the clothes of the affluent whites in her neighborhood. Clothes for weddings she would never attend, parties she was never invited to, graduations she would never see… and over time, her modest pay of mostly dollar bills and lose change grew into a savings worth more than $150,000. But as miraculous as that was, the story doesn’t end there, she was only in the beginning stages of her journey. You see, according to Ms. McCarty, the money was “more than enough” for her so she’d planned on helping others and decided to give her money to the University of Southern Mississippi to finance scholarships for black students where tuition is $2,400 a year.

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AN AMAZING SACRIFICE Here is a woman who never made more than $10,000 a year who not only spent close to seventy years diligently building her nest egg but now was willing to give it away to support the education of children so they could do what she never had the opportunity to achieve herself. Bill Pace, the executive director of the University of Southern Mississippi, which administers donations to the school was even blown away with her unselfishness. He said, “I’ve been in the private fund raising business for 24 years now and this is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this from an individual who simply was not affluent. In fact, she gave almost everything she has.” AN AMAZING EXAMPLE I believe that we all have a responsibility to be a Legacy Leader and leave behind our fingerprint. Not everyone will do it from a financial perspective but I believe everyone can do something. As a financial advisor and coach, I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of people with their finances. I’ve heard the struggles, I’ve seen the disagreements between couples, I’ve witnessed the heartaches, and I’ve experienced the triumphs. But rarely do I see the kindness of that shown by Ms. Oseola McCarty.

Shawn Dorrough is The WealthShift Strategist shawn@thewealthproject.com www.thewealthshiftproject.com

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Ministry

LEADERSHIP

in the Body of Christ The ELEPHANT in the Room By Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson, PhD

initially to function as a leader in the church or elsewhere. When accepting a leadership position in

ith a growing increase of attacks on

the body of Christ the Elephant in the room maybe

churches, communities and leadership

this question, will the person be a committed

clergy the perception within the

follower during the good, bad and hopefully not, the

community is to see the resolve of every and

ugly? Will they stand with the Executive Leaders

anything to be "the church." About leadership in the

(Bishop, Pastor, Co Pastors, Board of Directors

body of Christ, the question that most Laypersons

during phases of Abundance and/or in between

are confronted with, Is this an assignment from God

blessings (lack)?

(A Calling as a Servant Leader) or an assignment to fill a leadership lapse/gap by top clergy? It matters

The body of Christ is a TEAM of many members

not! What matters are you willing to be committed to

that when collectively combined is a church, in

the position as a leader and follower in the body

reality a corporation. Co-depend on each other to

of Christ?

build the Kingdom of God each with unique assignments and corporate goals in the body of

Well, no one is here to judge anyone that was

Christ. Read Ephesians 4: 1-16. We have a destiny

called or assigned to the ministry. However, when

to walk and serve in purpose. With the Elephant

called to minister there must be some sign of

still in the room, the question is : Can you be an

intentionality that you care more about others than

effective leader?

about yourself. John Maxwell stays, "everything rises and falls on leadership," this is true.

The key goal of a church leader is winning souls for Christ. Kingdom Building for Christ to be Glorified

Not everyone will go to seminary, pastor a church or are fully equipped with everything they need

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and Satan horrified. However, you must be

equipped, empowered and engaged to administer

Dr. Cita's Leadership Philosophy

effective leadership and that requires professional training and development on a continuous basis.

1. Keep God First In Everything

There are many leadership principles, styles,

2. Family Second

strategies and philosophies in books tapes and seminars. You must choose what is best for your unique calling and situation. There is no one size

3. Communication for clarity in mission

assignments

fits all in leadership. I recommend, start by studying

4. Active Listening to hear what is being said

the Word of God and get in a good bible based

5. Delegation no one is an island

church.

6. Diversity & Inclusion for cultural fluency So, what are the duties and responsibilities of a leader in the body of Christ? Read Matthew 25: 3140. In addition, some sign of empowerment in God's Word - the Bible and unconditional Love or Agape Love, should be exemplified in your core values, leadership style and personal decorum.

7. Empowerment daily for growth and relativity

in "Now Times" 8. Healthy Lifestyle mental and physical 9. Balance & Love Conquers all 10. Financial freedom from debt. Wealth!

During my years as a Leader in military, ministry and community, this is my basic philosophy that keeps me efficient, effective, empowered, to being the best at my calling as a servant leader. A

11. Giving is a part of living equals legacy for

the next generation 12. Fun & Travel

combination of great leaders I have trained and studied with and under that complies my philosophy. My core values were ingrained in my DNA by my

Thanks, Pastor Mel for the opportunity to share my perspective. Hope this is what you were looking for. I can add or delete. You're one of my mentors.

parents from my socialization process to present day. Call to Action develop yours and share with family and your leadership team.

Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson is a best selling author, literary award winner "Growing and Empowering Future Leaders for Success Now"

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FIVE Things You Should Know Before Starting a Nonprofit By Hazel Blake Parker

any people have good ideas about how to solve problems within their communities, and some just want to give back to society, sharing their knowledge and experience to fill unmet needs. Both of these are reasons an individual may want to start a nonprofit organization. So, if you are one of these people, here are five things you need to know before you set out on this venture.

1. Is starting a nonprofit the best solution to the problem? Nonprofits must be established for purposes such as, but not limited to, religious, educational, charitable, scientific, or literary. So the first consideration is whether or not your mission fits into an eligible category. If it does, you should develop a good mission statement that accurately reflects what the organization is about. To be truly effective, they must state your cause, actions and impact. Aspects of a good mission statement:  Uses language that is emotionally stirring  Indicates why the organization exists, not just what it does  Is a concise, yet powerful sentence. Avoid using a long, rambling paragraph.  Is specific and actionable.

2. How do I get started establishing a nonprofit? First, you need to research the issue and enlist other interested individuals. This cannot be a oneman show. You also need to develop a business or strategic plan to outline how the mission of the organization will be implemented. Among other

items, the plan should consist of the mission and vision statements, a problem statement, activities, resources needed (funds, people, materials), a budget, and a timeline. Another important element to include are organizations with whom the nonprofit may form partnerships. You also have to consider a name, select board members, prepare the necessary state and federal documents, and pay any applicable fees for filing the documents. You also need to consider where you will carry out the stated activities. This could pose a challenge for new organizations, which likely have sparse funds and little chance of securing space or a building. You might consider partnering with a local church or community center to see if there are times available when they may allow the nonprofit to meet or conduct activities free of charge or for minimal cost. For activities that will generate revenue, paid venues may be an option.

3. Who should be on the board of directors? First and foremost the board members must have the skills and experience you need to accomplish your mission and effectively manage the organization. Also, you must be careful about stacking the board with family members, as this could be seen as a potential conflict of interest, and may actually pose legal problems in some states. Board makeup should be specifically addressed in the organization’s by-laws, including the number of members, terms of office, and the number of terms allowed. There are two very important points to remember about boards of directors. The first is that they must be committed and active. They must attend board NONPROFIT Continued on Page 18

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NONPROFIT Continued from Page 17

meetings and functions, actively participate in organizational activities, and be willing to give financially to the organization. Some organizations set annual financial expectations for board members. This is an excellent way to generate funds that can be used as seed money to fund basic costs until the organization has a sufficient operational budget. It should also be noted that all funds raised by the nonprofit must be used to further the causes for which it was established, and cannot financially benefit individuals, including founder and board members. This does not mean that the organization cannot have paid staff or pay individuals who perform services. The other point concerns terms of office. The organization must maintain a certain level of continuity. To this end, board member terms must be staggered such that there is never an entirely new board in place. The remaining members can orient new ones about the organization, ensure consistent oversight and management of the organization, and ensure that projects and activities continue to be carried out according to plan.

4. Become familiar with the various types of nonprofits, as well as the state and federal laws that govern them. There are more than 25 classifications of nonprofits that can be exempt from federal taxes, including but not limited to civic leagues, fraternal organizations, professional associations, charitable organizations, and social clubs. Depending upon the classification, donations made to a nonprofit can be used as a tax deduction. Most nonprofits that support local community causes are classified as 501 (c) 3. Laws regarding nonprofits vary between states. The Secretary of Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office in each state is the entity generally responsible for establishing nonprofits, and should be consulted before proceeding with establishing one. The Internal Revenue Service governs establishment and

operations of nonprofits at the federal level.

5. Be prepared for accountability. Starting a nonprofit is a commitment to be accountable to its constituents, its funders, and to the community. Being accountable includes being transparent, keeping accurate fiscal records, and adhering to high ethical standards. Nonprofit financial information is public record. Therefore, the organization must demonstrate that it produces specified outcomes and exhibit fiscal accountability if it is to remain viable.

While starting a nonprofit can be very rewarding, it does come with its challenges, including hard work and long hours without pay, increased public scrutiny, and a significant amount of paperwork and regulations. However, nonprofits perform vital functions in our society, and are valuable to the lives of countless individuals. Ms. Parker has worked with nonprofits for over 20 years in many capacities, including establishment, strategic planning, grant writing, and grants management. She has also served on several nonprofit boards. For more information on starting a nonprofit, contact me at parkerinstitue@sc.rr.com.

Hazel Blake Parker is CEO of Parker Institute for Excellence, LLP

www.parkerinstitute.com

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

Great Project Management Resources Websites and Organizations All About Project Management includes an overview of project management as well as information on all major phases of project management. Also has general resource links to glossaries, tools, references, and professional organizations. Project Management Institute (PMI) is recognized worldwide as the certification agency for PM professionals. They are responsible for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and maintaining the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) book documenting the industry’s standard practice for PM. International Institute for Learning, Inc. provides a comprehensive course catalogue, covering both core project management concepts and advanced strategies. Passionate PM has a wide selection of on-demand learning modules for earning PDUs, or enrolling in live online prep courses for the PMI-RMP exam. Project Management Institute (PMI) E-Learning allows you to earn PDUs through online seminars, on-demand courses, and publication quizzes straight from PMI. RMC Project Management hosts live, instructor-led online classes on project planning, scheduling, communication, work breakdown structures, and more. Watermark Learning courses are built on interactive case studies, so students get hands-on, practical learning opportunities.

Software/Apps Teamwork Project Manager – http://www.teamworkpm.net Basecamp – http://basecamp.com/ 10,000 ft – http://www.10000ft.com/ For more information contact: www.inspireleadgrowwebinars.com

THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017

Thank you MGAA staff , clients, supporters, contributing authors, family and friends. ~ Psalm 23, 121 - To God be the Glory 22 THINK DIFFERENTLY Spring 2017 www.inspireleadgrowwebinars.com www.EmpowermentDoc.com www.Mgc4e.com