Military Edition 2014 by Mocha Market

phi•lan•thro•pist—n. a person looking to further the benefit of others, especially through generosity toward beneficial objectives.

Seeing Ourselves as Philanthropists We work. We provide for our family. We enjoy our lives. We save. And, because we are blessed, we look for ways to help others. Meharry Medical College has been at the forefront of helping others since 1876. Our mission is, and always has been, to meet the health care needs of those who need it most. It takes the generosity of those who appreciate our mission to keep producing top-notch physicians, dentists, biomedical scientists, researchers and health policy experts for a world in need.

It’s never too early to develop a well-rounded financial strategy for your family that includes your budget, a will, life insurance, retirement plans and gifts to help sustain the organizations you care about. Meharry is available to discuss philanthropic options with you and your financial advisor that complement your path toward wealth accumulation and preservation. For more information, contact Ruth E. Johnson, Associate Vice President for Advancement, 615.327.6045 or, via email: rejohnson@mmc.edu. Help change the world through thoughtful philanthropy.

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Volume 4 | Issue 1

FEATURE STORY

PROTECT & SERVE

VETERAN OF WAR

ARTICLES 10 Doris “Dorie” Miller 14 SAFE Program By: Jodi McCullah

16 Women Veterans By: Genma Holmes

18 The Greatest Generation By: Genma Holmes

20 Protect and Serve Fashion Spread By: Milton White

28 Veteran & Actor, Melvin Kerney By: Robert Blair

34 The A-List 44 Meharry 12 South 46 Restaurant Spotlight By: Dr. Carmen April

48 Doing Good

EVENTS

Vintage Affair Grape Stomp

Heroes Breakfast

40 Warrior Centric Luncheon

42 NBCC Luncheon

Letter from the Publisher

As I grow older, the work force seems to look younger and younger. The college students look like high schoolers and the high schoolers like they belong in middle school. I recently went and toured a few colleges with my daughter and had a hard time grasping that the young men and women giving these tours were in COLLEGE! They looked like babies! The same holds true when I see a young man or woman in uniform. It appears to me that they are participating in their high school JROTC program, but they are actually enlisted and serving our country. These young men and women are making the ultimate sacrifice so that we may have freedom--these babies! I recently had an encounter that gave me pause regarding the amount of respect that we give to our military. A student with a minor roll in a school play was scheduled to perform on a Thursday. Earlier that week the student found out that her uncle was returning home for a week from fighting in the war in Afghanistan. The student was excited that her uncle was safe and wanted to see him. The only problem was that she would miss the Saturday performance of the play. To me this was a no-brainer. This student attends a very patriotic schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one with an eagle as mascot, red, white and blue as the school colors, and several veterans as faculty members. Easily, this should have been a teachable moment in which one practices what he preaches. But, what was to me a no-brainer, sparked into a brainless decision by a few. After performing in the Thursday performance, the student was told that she was being replaced for the remaining shows--not just the Saturday performance--and she was being replaced by an adult who was not even a student at the school. So now I ask, what message did the teacher just send to her students? Do we really value our military and their families? Do we really understand the sacrifice that they make for us? Or do we only like to talk about being patriotic, refusing to make sacrifices of our own? Sincerely,

Ernest V. Campbell III Publisher Mocha Market 6 MOCHA MARKET

Congratulates

for receiving the

COMMUNICATION AWARD for Excellence in Journalism

Mocha Market Magazine VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 5

Publisher | Ernest V. Campbell III ernie@mochamarket.com Editor

Graphic Designer

Carmen Campbell

David Jon Walker

Editorial Contributors

WE CAN HELP!

Dr. Carmen April

Robert Blair

Genma Holmes

Jodi McCullah

Photographers Lawrence Taylor, Jr

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MOCHA MARKET MAGAZINE is published by Mocha Market Media. All contents ÂŠ 2014, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. Content and photos on these pages do not imply any endorsement or support of any product or person. We are not responsible for, nor will we return, any unsolicited photos, product samples, editorial content or manuscripts and we may use any and all material at our sole discretion, printed or otherwise.

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Doris “Dorie” Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919 to Henrietta and Conery Miller. He worked on his father’s farm before enlisting in the U.S Navy in September 1939. Following training at the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship USS Pyro (AE-1) where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on 2 January 1940 was transferred to USS West Virginia (BB-48), where he became the ship’s heavyweight boxing champion. He was serving on that battleship when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Miller had arisen at 6 a.m., and was collecting laundry when the alarm for general quarters sounded. He headed for his battle station, the antiaircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went on deck. Because of his physical prowess, he was assigned to carry wounded fellow sailors to places of greater safety. Then an officer ordered him to the bridge to aid the mortally wounded captain of the ship. He subsequently manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship. Miller described firing the machine gun during the battle, a weapon which he had not been trained to operate: “It wasn’t hard. I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us.” During the attack, Japanese aircraft dropped two armored piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship and launched five 18-inch aircraft torpedoes into her port side. Heavily damaged by the ensuing explosions, and suffering from severe flooding below decks, the crew abandoned ship while West Virginia slowly settled to the harbor bottom. Of the 1,541 men on West Virginia during the attack, 130 were killed and 52 wounded. Subsequently refloated, repaired, and modernized, the battleship served in the Pacific theater through to the end of the war in August 1945. Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on 1 April 1942, and on 27 May 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral (then Admiral) Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) for his extraordinary courage in battle. Speaking of Miller, Nimitz remarked: This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I’m sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts.

A cartoon illustration depicting Dorie Miller’s heroic efforts during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

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In 1943 Miller was assigned to the newly constructed USS Liscome Bay. On November 24, 1944 a single torpedo from a Japanese submarine struck the USS Liscome Bay, sinking the warship within minutes. Listed as missing was Dorie Miller. Only 272 survived the sinking of Liscome Bay, while 646 died. The USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-class frigate, was named in honor of Doris Miller on June 30 1973.

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By Jodi McCullah

The Lazarus Project, now SAFE: Soldiers And Families Embraced, is a free counseling and support service for Soldiers, veterans and family members in Clarksville, Tennessee.

“I always went when they said ‘go’ and always did what they told me to do. Now, they throw me away because I can’t fight?” Tommy told us at The Lazarus Project, now SAFE: Soldiers And Families Embraced, a free counseling and support service for Soldiers, Veterans and family members in Clarksville, Tennessee. Tommy served five combat tours out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which sits next to Clarksville. Fort Campbell has provided about 20 percent of the combatants in the past 13 years of war and seen 20 percent of the deaths and life-altering injuries, both visible and invisible. For years, he was the “good soldier,” returning to combat even after surviving a mustard gas attack, three improvised explosive devices and a rocket-propelled grenade attack that left splinters in his skull. To this day, he has limited use of his right hand, left knee and left eye. He has asthma, severe headaches, memory loss and cognitive issues. He cannot walk without pain. When the trauma of multiple combat tours started to take its toll, Tommy’s wife, Elaine, persuaded him to ask for help with his posttraumatic stress, which SAFE does not consider a disorder, but a reasonable response to the trauma of war. For the next two years, Tommy was stuck, like too many wounded warriors, in paperwork hell. Elaine, already a mother of two, quit her job and became his 14 MOCHA MARKET

full-time nurse, managing appointments and more than a dozen medications at a time, along with their side effects. He was grieving the loss of his military career, and also was struggling with the progression of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She was trying to hold the family together while navigating the minefield of Tommy’s ever-changing moods, flashbacks and growing depression. Though Tommy was on target for a medical retirement, the paperwork delays, his deteriorating brain, and his fear of being a burden took their toll. Like many with PTSD and TBI, he ran afoul of his chain of command. Charges were filed, and Tommy was denied a medical retirement. The Army decided he was not a “good soldier” any more because he was losing his struggle with PTSD and his brain injury including anger impulse issues, anxiety and blinding headaches. He became convinced his wife and sons would be better off without him because he might never be able to pull his own weight again. Meanwhile, Elaine had not only become full-time caretaker for three but also had become her husband’s champion with the medical team and military chain of command. Her reward was to be branded as difficult, unreasonable, and possibly unbalanced! Even worse, the stress was too much for her and she began to self-medicate until

she simply did not wake up one morning. To this day, Tommy does not trust anyone enough to accept help for himself or the boys. After losing their home, Tommy and his family moved closer to where Elaine was buried. Tommy and Elaine were the first clients of what was originally The Lazarus Project, which was started in 2010 to try to help the growing number of military families struggling in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. From the beginning, we realized the most pressing need was for help navigating the system that seemed to be working against them. Many feel discarded and betrayed. We also realized that any counseling we offered to Soldiers, Veterans and their families needed to be free to them because far too many of our active duty were taking their own lives and many more would not seek any kind of counseling with someone in uniform for fear was that they would not be promotedor allowed to stay with their units. Don McCasland, combat veteran and a retired Sergeant First Class turned APSU social work student, agreed to help me and we started operating out of an APSU campus ministry building with some grant monies from the United Methodist Church. We used what we knew to guide us. From the biblical story of Lazarus, we knew that we needed to go to the one who was walking away from a place of death and unbind him, to remove the trappings of death that kept combat veterans from living. From our military experience, we knew that if our clients trusted us, they would send everyone they knew to us. But...if we betrayed their trust, they would tell everyone they knew to avoid us. We guard their privacy while offering professional counseling. We modeled ourselves after the Al-Anon program (the family component of Alcoholics Anonymous), which works to strengthen the family around the alcoholic. If the family is supported and strengthened, they were much more likely to stay in relationship with the Soldier and thus much more likely to be around when he hit rock bottom. Too many of our veterans had reached the point of suicide alone. Our mission was to make sure that when the Soldier or veteran is ready for help, someone will be there. Ironically, when we started focusing on the family to help the warrior, we found that the families themselves were struggling and stressed. One of our first clients was a spouse whose husband was deployed. Their six-year-old daughter had awakened screaming and accusing her mother of lying to her. “He isn’t coming back, is he? He is really dead, isn’t he?” When the child was able to speak by

phone to her father, she asked, “Do you still have both of your arms, Daddy?” As a nation, we have begun to track the PTSD afflicting our veterans. However, we do not yet understand the impact of these wars on the families, on the spouses, and on the children. Secondary PTSD abounds but most of the family members struggle to find help because so many of the services on post are overwhelmed with active duty Soldiers. When they do get help, too often it is simply medication. Another six-year-old was brought after she stabbed another child with a pencil. The father was deployed for the third yearlong tour in this child’s six years, the mother had left because she could not take any more, and the children were being raised by the grandmother. Doctors wanted to put the child on yet another medication for her anger issues.

We suggested she see a therapist instead because her anger was actually a healthy response to the situation but she would have to work on other ways to express it. She is doing well today but still having to cope with the anger she feels because her father is still at war. Our client load has grown exponentially since the beginning even though we seldom advertised except by word of mouth. By 2012, we partnered with veteran counselor Rebecca Townsend who had started SAFE in an effort to find more counselors to work with combat veterans. Today, we pay ten counselors to work part time for us. New clients walk in daily. Mostly, we operate on private donations and corporate grants. We provide internships and training opportunities to create more therapists to work with this demographic. Finally, we try to educate. We try to tell stories like these because this has become a one percent war. One percent of our population is bearing the burden, while the rest of us are privileged to muddle along, blissfully ignorant of the frightening realities these Soldiers and their families face every day. Rev. Jodi McCullah is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and serves both as campus minister for the UMC for Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where many veterans attend classes and as Executive Director and co-founder of Lazarus Project, now SAFE: Soldiers And Families Embraced, in Clarksville, Tennessee.

For more information, call SAFE offices at 931-591-3241, email at info@thesafenetwork.org or visit www.thesafenetwork.org.

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BY GENMA HOLMES

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Dr. Betty Moseley Brown

here are over 39,000 women veterans in the state of Tennessee, and each one of them is part of our nation’s unshakable foundation and remains an unstoppable force for our state and local communities. That is why the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with Women Veterans of America Chapter 20, held Tennessee’s second annual Women Veterans Summit April 13-14 2013 at Opryland to honor their service and protect their future. The summit provided women veterans with information on healthcare, disability compensation, and many other benefits and services available to them. There was also great networking opportunities to provide women veterans with chances to meet sister veterans from across the state. Panel discussions with women veterans from many eras of service, as well as Tennessee Senator Dolores Gresham who shared stories from her Marine Corps career that helped to shape her interest in making a difference in education, employment, and economic development. Country Music’s rising star Steve Cochran, a Marine Veteran,who was critically injured by an IED, shared

his story and perform several songs. Comedian Sheila Van Dyke, who has entertained troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Qatar as well as many military installations and hospitals nationwide, provided laughter for the veterans. “Mission of Laughter” is Sheila’s one woman show that she performs for veterans, sharing the healing power of laughter. The summit had several smaller breakout sessions dealing with employment assistance, financial empowerment, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and reflexology. The summit concluded with a passionate advocate for women veterans, Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, the Associate Director of VA’s Center for Women Veterans. She announced several exciting advances in women veterans’ initiatives and participated in a panel discussion with other VA experts, including officials from the Nashville VA Regional Office and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. TDVA Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder hosted a closing reception and immediately began to make plans for the 2014 summit.

2013 Summit Participants

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by Genma Holmes

Mark H. McCann, Sr., like many from the G. I. Generation, grew up during the depression era and went off to fight in World War II. He vividly recalls his family making ends meet when there were no ends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My father, who fought in World War I, showed us how to make a way out of no way in rural Mississippi.â&#x20AC;?

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“W

e worked the land and made the most of it,” said Mr. McCann. Mr. McCann was born on January 8, 1922 in Waynesboro, Mississippi. He received his early education through eighth grade in Mississippi. His ninth through twelfth grade years were spent at Wilcox High School in Miller Ferry, Alabama. Shortly after graduating from high school, Mr. McCann attended Snow Hill Institute in Alabama under the War Power Training Program. “I signed up because that was what you did back then. You fought for your country,” reflected Mr. McCann. When Mr. McCann joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on August 16, 1943, he was unknowingly making history. During World War II, McCann was one of the first of approximately 20,000 African Americans who enlisted to become a Marine. This was unprecedented at the time because of Jim Crow that existed even in the Armed Services. Executive Order 9981 issued by President Roosevelt, required the armed services to recruit and enlist AfricanAmericans. The USMC was the last branch of the military to desegregate. Even though the African-American Marines had earned the right to enlist in the Marine Corps, new African-Americans recruits were trained at Montford Point, a swamp in North Carolina. The Marines usually trained at Recruit Depot Parris Island or San Diego. The Marine officers’ rationale for Montford Point Camp was they believed the two races training side by side would cause racial tensions among the ranks. Despite facing unparalleled racism, the Montford Point Marines transformed the Marine Corps and opened the door for all Americans to earn the title of “Marine.” The Montford Point Marines were crucial to many of the battles fought during World War II, especially the battles of Iwo Jima, the Chosin, Reservoir, and the Tet Offensive. Despite having to overcome

much discrimination to become a Marine, then fight for the right to fight alongside their fellow Marines, Mr. McCann along with other Montford Point Marines served our nation bravely while fighting for freedoms abroad while remaining unable to experience the same freedoms, like the right to vote, in their own country.

Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to the Montford Point Marines. Mr. McCann along with other surviving Montford Point Marines traveled to Washington, DC in 2012 to be honored by our national leaders for his service to our country. He was accompanied by his son, Mark McCann, Jr. a Marine and Tennessee State University alum.

Mr. McCann served in the Marines until 1946. As a Marine, he was trained in communications and experienced combat. After witnessing the horror of war and experiencing a new sense of gratitude for his life, he was determined to make the most of his training as started his post combat life in Nashville. With an honorable discharge from the Marines at the rank of Corporal, Mr. McCann enrolled at Tennessee State University, then known as Tennessee Agriculture and Industrial College. While attending college, he met his future wife, Quinnetta Evelyn Bugg. He received his Bachelors in 1949 and his Masters in 1951. After receiving his Masters, Mr. McCann became Professor McCann at Tennessee State and taught Business and Economics until 1975.

In the summer of 2013, city and state leaders recognized Mr. McCann. Like many from the GREATEST GENERATION THAT EVER LIVED, Mr. McCann was humbled by the recognition and believed he was only doing what all Americans should do whether in the military or not, “serve our country, as we serve one another, faithfully and with dignity no matter the circumstances.”

Mr. McCann training in Marines made him a natural leader at the university. In 1975, later became Director of Personnel and Human Resources. In 1980, he was promoted to Budget Director. In 1983, he was promoted again to Director of Auxiliary Services and V.P. of Business Affairs and finally, Senior Analyst. Mr. McCann served in that role until his retirement from Tennessee State University in 1992. Mr. McCann’s life as a Marine was not known by many in the Nashville community or Tennessee State University. For many years, a faithful few fought for the Montford Point Marines to be recognized for their heroism and commitment to our country during World War II. Finally in 2011, The House of Representatives unanimously voted to award the Congressional Gold MOCHA MARKET 19

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Michael Stars olive cardigan with grey quilted shoulder pads (eAllen); 3.1 Philip Lim white sleeveless drape front blouse with beaded collar (Jamie); Carolina Amato charcoal cashmere fingerless gloves (Debby Church Fine Furs)

Be it drill commands or unit formations these military inspired looks always command attention.

Fashion Editor: Milton White, The Fashion Office Photographer: Wee Seing Ng Hair Stylist/Make-up Artist: Betsy Briggs Cathcart, Studio BBC Salon Hair Stylist/Make-up Assistant: Jessica Riehm, Studio BBC Salon Model: Alana Baker, AMAX

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Line & Dot army green trench (Stacey Rhodes Boutique); Cecilia De Bucourt black tank with gold chain links and leather collar, 3.1 Philip Lim stone pants with zip pants (Jamie); Prada grey suede boots (Shoe Salon at Jamie)

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Gentlefawn camouflage jacket, free people army green thermal pullover (Stacey Rhodes Boutique); tibi black leather strapless blouse, Jordan Louis canteen utility pocket suede pants (Jamie)

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November striped tee with olive sleeves, sacai luck black leather joggers (Jamie); e boots (Shoe Salon at Jami); Trilogy Collections olive and black fur infinity scary, Trilogy Collection camel and grey fur infinity scarf (Debby Church Fine Furs); Aquatalia dark taupe fur trimmed ankle boots (Shoe Salon at Jamie)

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W118 by Walter Baker olive trench with black quilted sleeves, willow & clay camouflage pullover (eAllen); BCBG black on black leggings (Stacey Rhodes Boutique)

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By Genma Holmes Educational funding for veterans and their families members are often overlooked by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Since I have been writing about men and women of color who serve our country, I have notice a trend–often one generation is unaware of a family member’s military service. The unawareness of a person’s military service also extends to the community as well. The lives of our military members are filled with many stories of sacrifice and hardship that comes with the courage to serve bravely. There are few true rewards that can be given to our military who choose to risk their lives for our the freedoms we enjoy. But there are some benefits that come with their service that are often ignored and could actually improve their lives and the communities where they reside. Here is some history for us to review. After World War II, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (aka the G.I. Bill) was a law passed that provided many benefits for 26 MOCHA MARKET

returning World War II veterans. The benefits included low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans to start a business, cash payments of tuition and living expenses to attend college, high school, or vocational education, as well as one year of unemployment compensation. It was available to every veteran who had been on active duty during the war years for at least ninety days and had not been dishonorably discharged; combat was not required. By the end of the program in 1956, roughly 2.2 million veterans had used the G.I. Bill education benefits in order to attend colleges or universities, and an additional 6.6 million used these benefits for some kind of training program. HBCUs saw many Black men and women attend college using G.I. funds. Although not as many African-Americans took advantage of the funds as their White counterparts, those who did attend college helped increase HBCU enrollments, especially in southern states. The G.I. Bill passage led to additional laws passed that benefited HBCU students. The Lanham Act of 1946 provided $100,000,000 in federal funding for HBCU expansion and improvements. In

subsequent years and wars, additional educational funds have been provided for veterans and later for family members of veterans.

in the 1940s to almost 4% a decade later throughout the US. That educated Black Middle Class provided a foundation for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

In 2008, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 became law. This bill was unique in two ways: (1.) It covered 100% of educational costs of a public university or college for veterans serving active duty on or before September 11, 2001; and (2.) It allowed benefits to be transferred to a spouse or children. At private colleges and universities, the program is called the Yellow Ribbon program and the tuition is shared one to one up to 100% with the institution.

Years later, the Post- 9/11 Veterans Bill can be an opportunity to educate millions of family members of veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Many of those veterans will also become entrepreneurs. With the fastest growing segment of the Armed Forces being Black women according to a Pew Research, this will have a direct positive effect on the Black community in the next decade. But those changes will not happen if we are not more engaging of our veterans and their families who need us now more than ever as they transition to post combat life.

With unemployment rates for veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq under the age of 30 at 21%, it is important for us to encourage our veterans to consider higher education and to use the benefits they have earned. For many of the Black veterans of recent wars that I have spoken to, it holds true that their career options and educational opportunities are not addressed within their community nor are they recruited by HBCUs. A solution for this lack of education and employment may be found in older veterans. Older veterans, who chose not to use their education benefits, are positioned to help their family members obtain an education by passing their benefits on to them. A crisis in America usually hits the Black community hardest and has greater long term effects. At this moment, education-related and economic plights are being touted loudly in the community, but often without solutions or servant leadership to make lasting changes. But in the Black veteran community, there is historical proof that veteran educational benefits, veteran business ownership, and military leadership knowledge can be used to transform a community and strengthen the Black Middle Class. The G.I. Bill help increased Black college attendance from 1%

I encourage HBCUs and the communities of HBCUs to become more engaged in Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affairs. It is time for HBCU communities to look for new ways to engage and look for leadership in a place that minority communities continue to overlook, but majority communities turn to first: a person with a military background. Maybe the structure and discipline of a veteran may play to strengths and improve weakness without the wave of emotion that often accompanies HBCU discussions. With the millions of dollars that is being provided for veteransâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tuition, this can help bring much needed increases in enrollment at HBCUs. The harvest is plentiful. HBCUs have an opportunity to seize the moment. If HBCUs do not aggressively recruit our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s veterans and offer veterans jobs to gleam from their leadership experiences, there are other intuitions that will do so without thinking. Educating our veterans and their families to help provide economic stability after their years of service should be a priority for everyone.

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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Robert Blair

esonating in his spirit are the words above that are not only a constant reminder of greatness but an eternal imprint on the heart of Melvin Kearney II. Kearney had the ability to unselfishly step outside of himself so that he could reach inside the souls of others to serve and protect those in harm’s way. His story began as a bright, smiling young man growing up in small town of Tarboro, North Carolina. Love and the encouraging words “Greatness is waiting for you in this world,”were constant friends to him in his youth. During his high school maturation, Melvin made the decision early on that he wanted to serve in a great way. After gracing his high school stage and becoming a graduate, he began to carve out greatness by joining the Army National Guard. At Fort Benning in Georgia, Kearney successfully completed his training and then relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina to join rich legacy of scholars at North Carolina A & T State University. There he majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Political Science with plans to become a U.S. Marshal. Shortly after his studies began, he was deployed to serve his first combat tour in Iraq with the 30th Brigade from 2004-2005. Upon returning home, Kearney continued his Undergraduate education. During this time he was also completing a double internship with the U.S. Marshals, and MOCHA MARKET 29

while being an active member of the Criminal Justice and Political Science Societies. He demonstrated outstanding leadership and determination at a young age, maintained a high level of presence and participation on the campus of North Carolina A & T, and in 2007 graduated Cum Laude. Just after completing the familiar walk across the stage to receive his degree , Kearney was getting ready to take yet another familiar walk. Melvin was again called to duty in June of 2007 to serve in his second Iraqi tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour he led 13 motivated US Soldiers in combat as a Squad Leader in the 1132nd Military Police Company. Many of these soldiers not only reverenced him as a leader but sought him out to garner his advice on handling personal and professional situations. It was during this time Melvin used his words of encouragement and his mustard seed of faith to hone his skills as an excellent leader to motivate those around him when oftentimes things appeared bleak. During Melvinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second combat tour the 1132nd Military Police Company was the first NC National Guard company to take more KIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s since WWII with five KIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and 34 wounded. Having witnessed great loss and injury, Sgt. Kearney traveled to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC instead of returning to his home state of North Carolina at the close of his second combat tour. It was there that he sat at the bedside of a soldier and pondered the fate of homebound and severely wounded veterans. He found his answer in his fulfilling career with the U.S. Army Wounded Warriors (AW2) program. In 2008, Kearney found his calling as a Wounded Warrior Advocate in the AW2 program. Kearney advocates for the most severely injured, ill and wounded Soldiers returning to Michigan and Tennessee. He has been instrumental in establishing the Ann Arbor, MI and Murfreesboro, TN offices of the AW2 program. His responsibilities include conducting community outreach and assisting Soldiers/Veterans and their families with their day to day issues to ensure a seamless transition. Due to his outstanding service to his country Melvin was awarded several medals and citations for outstanding leadership and mission accomplishment within the combat environment. In addition, he has been awarded the achievement medal for civilian service by the department of the Army. Furthermore, he has received certificates of appreciation from the Army Wounded Warriors program and his alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University.

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Mr. Kearney has coordinated events that have received national media coverage such as the 2010 University of Michigan Veterans Day game, bringing over 116,000 plus fans to their feet to honor and support Wounded Warriors, soldiers, veterans, and gold star family members. He has also traveled around the country to share his motivational story to people of all ages and various backgrounds. Melvin’s journey hasn’t been easy but enthusiasm and persistence has made him the man he is today. When Melvin is not in the office changing the lives of soldiers and their families he is still working to make them proud. He can be found on the big screen in the new hit television series Nashville every Wednesday night. Playing the character of “Bo the Bodyguard” was not much of a stretch for the former Combat War veteran,“Instead of me protecting and serving on the battlefield I now protect and serve on the big screen.” Needless to say, Melvin feels blessed to have a platform where he can be inspired every day and also have the opportunity to inspire others. Through his acts of kindness and consistently having a servant’s heart, he continues to show the ultimate measure of a man.

...coordinated events that have received national media coverage such as the 2010 University of Michigan Veterans Day game, bringing over 116,000 plus fans to their feet to honor and support Wounded Warriors, soldiers, veterans, and gold star family members. MOCHA MARKET 31

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PRESENTS

The

Each month, Mocha Market scours the Middle Tennessee business community to find the best small minority-owned businesses, businesses that treat their customers in a colorblind fashion, and/or businesses that give back to the minority community. These businesses are excellent examples in their fields, and are independently evaluated by Mocha Market staff.

WE’VE DONE THE “DUE DILIGENCE” FOR YOU.

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phone 800-888-0531 22 location across Middle Tennessee www.resultsphysiotherapy.com

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

Artist in residence Joseph Dzuback Bibb Each month at First Friday Art Crawl Stites & Harbison 604 West Main Street Franklin, Tennessee

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Steven Shoup & Chris Lanigan

A VINTAGE AFFAIR GRAPE STOMP

Buzz Brainard & Mike Henson

Photography: Lawrence Taylor, ChiCagraphy Images

A Vintage Affair held their annual Grape Stomp Festival at O’More College of Design in October. If you think of the I Love Lucy “Grape Stomping” episode, then you have a pretty good idea of what this event entails. It is messy and a ton of fun as the participants stomp barefoot to collect the most juice.

Dennis Miller and Steve Smith

The stomp was hosted by Buzz Brainard of The Highway SiriusXM Channel 59 and Radio Disney. Wine and food were provided by the Robledo Family Winery from Sonoma, CA , Four Roses Bourbon from Lawrenceburg, Ky. and Cougar Juice Vodka from Calistoga, Ca.. Food was provided by Drake’s and Papa Boudreaux’s. A Vintage Affair hosts several events throughout the year to provide a significant financial contribution to a nonprofit organization whose services benefit the community at large without prejudice as to race, color, creed, national origin or religious affiliation. All funds contributed to the nonprofit organization are designated for programs to support the well being of women and children of need in Williamson County.

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Evan Rodtke, Patton Fugate, Zach Trimble, Chelsea Wood & Sara Preston

Tom Conrad, Linda Conrad, Lois Coles & Randy Long

Franklin Firemen

Danielle McMorran, Elizabeth Jewell, Lisa Carsen & Marianne Schroer

Haley Haze, Rachel Goode & Laura Hughes

Ralph Drury & Ashley Roberts

Reid Anderson, Amy Krechel, Courtney Krechel, Angela Krechel & Mary Alden Mills

Lindsey Doster & Steven Shoup

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OPERATION STAND DOWN’S

Photography: Lawrence Taylor, ChiCagraphy Images

Guest speaker, Tony Mendez, retired CIA Operative and author of the book Master of Disguise, described how he led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. The Oscar winning Best Picture ‘ARGO’ is based on Tony’s book. The breakfast event was filled with the intrigue and suspense of the CIA. About 500 guests walked the red carpet escorted by Navy Chiefs dressed in whites to the Mission Impossible theme song. Tables were decorated with brightly colored fresh flowers with American Flags and movie clapboards, and each table received a confidential folder with a mission. Country music singer and songwriter, Ronnie McDowell sang the National Anthem and Joe Elmore, host of Tennessee Crossroads was master of ceremony. Jonna and Antonio Mendez, Keynote Speakers

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Phyllis Cain, Edwina Watkins & Bert Watkins

Emily Beard, Jacob Weiss & Genma Holmes

Keith Letta & Kim Owen

Genma Holmes & Antonio Mendez

Shawn Poston, Matt Sumrack & Tim Coop

Jamie Maxwell, Natalie Emery & Collin Helm

Kelly & Jim Inzeo

Jeanne Nicholson, Eric Forrest & Dave Elleman

John Ford & Harold Turks

Bob Tuke (MC)

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(Lt. to Rt.) Mark McCann. Jr., Mark McCann. Sr., Mary Ross, Ambassador Theodore Britton, Wendell Cheek

WARRIOR CENTRIC Healthcare Training Luncheon Photography: Lawrence Taylor, ChiCagraphy Images

After a decade of war and an unprecedented number of combat deployments, our service members, veterans and their families are faced with the consequences of warâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invisible wounds. Representing roughly 25 percent of the U.S. population, this group has experienced clinically significant episodes related to post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and other mental and behavioral health conditions. The Steptoe Group facilitated a panel discussion with various military veterans concerning mental health issues. Attendees were also afforded the pleasure of listening to keynote speaker Ambassador Theodore R. Britton. At almost 90 years old, Ambassador Brittonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to recall and tell stories of the past was remarkable.

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Ambassador Theodore Britton and Mark McCann. Sr.

LeRoy Mack Ambassador Theodore Britton and LeRoy Mack

Terry Smith

Wendell Cheek and Kirk Davis

Bob Tuke, Thelma Harper, Ambassador Theodore Britton, Wendell Cheek

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(Lt. to Rt.) Joe Turner, Carolyn Waller, Rhea Kinnard, Dr. Glenda Glover, Jenean Davis, Joe Clayton, Diedre Thomas, Ernest Howard, Davita Taylor, Barbara Robinson

The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce hosted the 7th annual NBCC Luncheon and Black Business Awards featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, President of Tennessee State University at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza. The theme for this year’s event was, “Moving Forward: Advancing Diversity and Inclusion”. Dr. Glover, who is in her first year as President at TSU, presented a five-point vision for the university that includes: (1) academic progress and customer service, (2) fund raising and partnerships, (3) diversity and inclusion, (4) shared governance, and (5) business outreach.

Frank May, Joe Turner, Phyllis Q. Brooks

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John Mark McKenzie, Tammy Johnston, Laura Roberts, Latrisha Jemison

Donna Kumar, Lisa Davis, Tony Heard

Sharon Hurt, Dennie Marshall, Stephanie Harris

Shelena Walden, Vanita Sanders, Calvin Patton, Isaiah Dalton

Robert Jobe, Aaron McGee, Brian Winfrey

Lauren Waller, Dr. Glenda Glover, Carolyn Waller, Alexis Waller

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students, there is also a licensed Meharry physician on-site who works with each student to ensure first-rate care for every patient. Many of the students who work at the clinic will be going into family medicine. They are not compensated for their work, nor do they receive academic credit. by Gayle Starling-Melvin

Meharry 12 South Community Clinic opens to provide Meharry students the opportunity to gain real-life experiences while serving the underserved and underrepresented.

ith the launch of the Meharry 12 South Community Clinic, Meharry Medical College students now have the ability to run a weekly, free clinic. The medical students are getting real-life experience before graduation in applying their training, knowledge, and dedication to the College’s mission of serving the underserved and underrepresented as they administer medical care to all—and even uninsured—patients in need. The clinic was established in partnership with the United Neighborhood Health

Services clinic network and made possible by committed Meharry students and faculty, other institutional support and donors. Nicholas Michael Kramer, a second-year medical student at Meharry, and co-executive director of the clinic, said its purpose is to “address health care disparities within our community by providing free, high quality care to Nashville’s underserved populations and to serve as a clinical skills training ground for students, inspiring the next generation of primary care specialists.” Manned with first-through-fourth-year

“Serving at the Meharry 12 South Community Clinic has really been a life changing experience,” said Veronica Ralls, a second-year Meharry medical student and also co-executive director of the clinic. “I am overjoyed with the number of patients we have been able to help and the impact we have had on the community.” She goes on to say that the clinic provides access to much needed health care for the underserved. “My fervent hope is that with time, our presence will result in a decline in health disparities in Nashville,” said Ralls.

“Serving at the Meharry 12 South Community Clinic has really been a life changing experience,” said Veronica Ralls. Since its opening in September 2012, the clinic has seen 158 patients with some returning for follow-up visits or treatment. In January 2014, Meharry’s School of Dentistry plans to join the initiative adding weekly dental services that will include oral cancer screenings, x-rays, and eventually full cleanings. Meharry 12 South Community Clinic is located in the Waverly –Belmont Family Health Center Building at 1501 12th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee and is open every Thursday night from 6 – 9 p.m.

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EXPANDING the REACH

Meharry opens a new dental clinic in Columbia, TN.

Meharry Medical College’s School of Dentistry, in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), is offering dental care for children and targeted populations of uninsured adults at the Maury County Health Department Dental Clinic in Columbia, Tennessee. The partnership was celebrated with an open house at the Columbia facility on October 22, 2013 with Tennessee Health Commissioner, John Dreyzehner, M.D., MPH, FACOEM, representatives from Meharry and state and local officials in attendance. Dreyzehner acknowledges that treating oral diseases from the onset is a positive, proactive approach to improving overall health. “We are delighted to expand this innovative partnership with Meharry School of Dentistry to help protect and improve health and offer more great training experiences for dental students,” he said. “We hope it can serve as a model for service, training and even job creation in other parts of Tennessee.” The dental clinic is a modern facility staffed by a full time dentist and a dental assistant.

Fourth-year Meharry dental students see patients in two-week rotations as part of their training and curriculum. Dr. Cherae Farmer-Dixon, D.D.S., M.S.P.H., dean of Meharry’s School of Dentistry, said the TDH-Meharry venture continues to honor Meharry’s vision of ensuring access to health care services for all. “Fourth-year Meharry students have been well trained to deliver optimal oral health care regardless of a patient’s income or insurance status,” said Farmer-Dixon. “This partnership expands training opportunities for students and, more importantly, it provides an opportunity for us to work together in addressing oral health disease in communities across Tennessee.” The Maury County Health Department Dental Clinic is located at 1909 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, Tennessee. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment or receive more information, call 931.388.5757.

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by Carmen April

Alaskan crab legs, Shrimp and Broccoli Plate

When you think of traditional Nashville style cuisine, one typically thinks of soul food and southern comfort, not seafood. Since 2011, Seafood Sensation has broken this southerncomfort-shaped mold by delivering superb seafood to Nashville residents. 46 MOCHA MARKET

wner Darren Morgan was born and raised in North Philadelphia. Prior to moving to Nashville he was involved in a partnership with 5 other guys who started a similar restaurant in Philly. Darren’s cousin, who already had several seafood restaurants in Philly and New Jersey, came up with the original concept. One day, Nashville couple Dr. Alvin and Mrs. Barbara Singh were visiting Philly and stopped by the restaurant. Mrs. Singh loved the food and talked to Morgan and his partners about expanding to Nashville because she thought the concept would go swimmingly in land-locked Nashville. Morgan took their word for it, and the Singh’s became Seafood Sensation’s initial investors. Since then, Morgan’s family and the Singh’s have become great friends. For a couple of years after initially meeting the Singh’s, Morgan came down to Nashville often to scout locations for his new restaurant. He finally settled on the space which once housed Steve McNair’s restaurant and grill. Using personal money along with the Singh’s investment, Morgan set up shop in North Nashville bringing a totally new seafood concept to the area. Morgan didn’t know how long they would survive in a new city or how Nashville would accept their restaurant. However, Morgan says that he has been “truly blessed” by the favorable response the restaurant has received. While Morgan is tight-lipped on revealing any secrets regarding that characteristic garlic sauce that tops all of his seafood dishes, it is one of the

can also get your hands on an authentic Philly Cheesesteak! You can dine in or take out at both locations- either way you will always leave full. With the success it’s garnered in the past two years, Seafood Sensation is now expanding from its original Jefferson Street location and is serving up seafood in the Global Mall at the Crossings, formally known as Hickory Hollow Mall. You can visit Seafood Sensation at their Jefferson

...they encouraged everyone who patronized the restaurant to take a picture of their plate and share it via social media.

visual elements that makes their seafood so recognizable to the public. When the restaurant first opened in 2011, they encouraged everyone who patroned the restaurant to take a picture of their plate and share it to social media. Soon, pictures of the Alaskan crab legs, fresh corn on the cob and broccoli were showing up all over Facebook and Twitter, driving business to the restaurant.

St. location - 2719 Jefferson St., Suite E or at their newest location, the food court in the Global Mall at the Crossings. And when you dive into Seafood Sensation, don’t forget to post your picture to Facebook or Instagram to help spread the word about one of Nashville’s fastest up-and-coming restaurants!

Morgan says the corn on the cob, potatoes and broccoli is a great combination that’s different from typical seafood side items such as french fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. You can try everything from jumbo shrimp and Alaskan crab legs to fish sandwiches. For a little Philly flavor, you MOCHA MARKET 47

Nashville is astonishingly fortunate to be so positively and profoundly touched by volunteers who, unfortunately and too often, never garner the attention they deserve. The Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteer of the Month program is dedicated to changing that. Winners of Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteer of the Month gain this honor by drawing from their personal experiences and strengths in order to answer a question from Doing Good that artfully exposes their heart, along with their ability to see needs to be met in the community. This is the question of why they volunteer.

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eroy Jones, Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month for September, volunteers because he, through experience, has recognized that teenagers in the Nashville community need a ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’ Jones shines this light by sharing his own story of how he, too, was once also stuck in this tunnel, “I volunteer because I know how desperately that need is to be connected to someone when you are a ‘lost’ teenager, trapped in your own confusion, ignorance and misguided actions. I volunteer so that those kids who are in the ‘thick of it’ will know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” For Jones, this tunnel included jail time. He speaks on “the realities of prison, zero tolerance, the educational system, gang life and hope.” Jones volunteers through organizations like Children’s Defense Fund, Reconciliation Inc., F.L.I.P/FiftyForward (Friends Learning In Pairs), Woodland Hills Youth Development, the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt University, Project Return, Inc., The City of Refuge and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Mickey Milam, Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month for October, volunteers because, like Jones, from experience he understands how deeply his particular need needs to be filled in Nashville. Milam fills this need through Help the Good Guys, an organization, founded by Milam, dedicated to providing assistance for First Responders who have been injured on the job and their families. Having been injured in the line of duty as a Metro Nashville police officer, Mickey well understands the difficulties fellow responders face and understands their needs in ways others can’t. Help the Good Guys financially supports severely injured Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers and EMT’s in their time of need. When asked why he volunteers, he answers that it has been part of his life since childhood. He says, “I grew up in a small West Tennessee farming town and was taught from an early age to help others. My parents made sure my brother and I never missed a church service. Our church concentrated on helping the older people and the poor families in our local community. Our family raised two acre gardens and gave food to people in our community. I remember many times people coming to my father and asking for money or food for their families. To my knowledge he never refused to help anyone.”

Felicia Figlarz Anchor, a pillar in Nashville’s volunteering community, is Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month for November. The daughter of two Holocaust survivors, Felicia recognizes “We live in a world where the random circumstances of our birth, location or class may have significant influence on the outcome of our lives. . . . I have worked for the development of communities that are supportive and pro-active in pursuit of resources to help people to help themselves. . . . I am honored to have been able to act as a catalyst in seeking ways to create a better life for all of us. It is easy to not speak up, easy to make excuses and tolerate different standards for ourselves and others. Everyone deserves justice and dignity and that has been my goal ever since I can remember.” Felicia’s volunteer experience is expansive, blanketing both a local and national stage. In addition to being a founding member of CASA Nashville and co-creator of the “Children’s First” state license plate for child abuse prevention, Anchor’s local volunteer work includes serving as the President of the Nashville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, Crittenton Services, and Jewish Family Services and Chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission, the Tennessee Holocaust Commission and the Anne Frank in the World Exhibit. Nationally, Anchor has served on the Boards of United Way, National Conference of Community and Justice, Tennessee Women’s Economic Council Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Nashville. Toby Lemley, a WorldVentures representative, is Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month for December. Of his volunteer work, Toby says, “I volunteer because it’s very rewarding and fulfilling. I’ve learned that (being a) volunteer is needed and is a must for nonprofits. Without volunteers things wouldn’t get done.” Toby has volunteered for Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hands On Nashville, and most recently with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee on the DreamCourt project. The DreamCourt is a stateof-the-art sports facility that benefits inner city children, allowing both neighborhood kids and the 650 kids involved with the Andrew Jackson Boys & Girls Club to “develop their basketball, tennis and volleyball skills and learn new ways to keep active and healthy,” says John D. Winnett, chief development & external affairs officer with Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.

Written by: Jaylyn Bergner, a volunteer with Doing Good which promotes volunteerism. The website is www.DoingGood.tv. Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month is a free program which educates and inspires others to volunteer by sharing stories of local volunteers through partnering media. MOCHA MARKET 49

WELCOME SOLDIER! BACK

TN National Guardsmen returning home.

Photographs courtesy of Melissa M. Wood

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diversity, inclusion, & cultural competence influences our leadership, business practices, and, most importantly, directly impacts the care we provide our patients. Be a part of this exceptional team of employees, physicians, and partners.

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