New York Trend NYC: December 5-11, 2019 by Teresa WIlliams

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M E N TA L H E A LT H S U P P O R T S E R V I C E S The Black Stars News 2015 Annual O f fwille honor r e dMayor At N YC P u b l i c L i b r a r i e s Awards Dinner

David Dinkins, Rep. and Charles The Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC First Lady Chirlane McCray, joined by Rangel, Rep. Yvette Clarke, The New York Public Library (NYPL) have NYPL President and CEO Anthony Marx R. Donahue Barbara and Susan Herman, Director of the announced “Spaces to Peebles, Thrive,” a new partnership to promote mental healthSabrina across Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC, announced Arnwine, Inez Barron, the city Lamb, and connect Library visitors to Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen the program today at New York Public mental health support. Byrd, Alia Jones, and the CentralLibrary’s Bronx Library Center. The event also featured author John Wray, who read “We created ThriveNYC to help reach people Parkhealth Fiveservices survivors of gross from Lowboy, one of the books included in with mental wherever theyinjustice December 18 from 6:00pm – the partnership. are, andon today, we’re serving New Yorkers 10:00pm at MIST Harlem, in schools, senior centers, shelters, and 46 West “The Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC exists police precincts,” said First Lady Chirlane to fill critical gaps in our mental health 116th Street. McCray. “Libraries are in the heart of our system, and each of these library branches “Eachand honoree forpartner is in a neighborhood where services may communities, we are chosen honored to with an recognition institution thathas hasdemonstrated provided New still be too hard to come by. That’s why Yorkers exceptional with free, accessible programming leadership and vision inwe’re here, putting books and programs in for 100her years. partnership will David Dinkins where they’ll make a real orThis his new respective profession or neighborhoods allow us to reach even more people in our in mental some significant city withendeavor informationand about health was a member of the New York measure has contributed towards resources and support.”

across the city and make them more accessible to New Yorkers.” “Libraries are welcoming, trusted institutions where New Yorkers can read, learn, and find a myriad of resources. To include dedicated mental health space and services in the long list of resources they offer will help connect more New Yorkers to the care and compassion they need,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chair of the Senate Health Committee. "I’m excited that the launch of this partnership is at the Bronx Library Center, one of the most beautiful spaces in my district.” “Our local librarians and staff are embracing

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system.

Pioneering producers Stephen ByrdThe and Alia Jones,health through their partnership. need for mental servicescompany in New YorkFront City is tremendous and Row Production, far too many New Yorkers areasuffering brought “Cat on Hot TininRoof” silence. By together,Named ThriveNYC and andteaming “A Streetcar Desire” the New York Public Library are promoting with aservices multi-ethnic cast mental health where they aretomost Broadway. In 2016 they bring needed- federally-designated mental health shortage areas. This with partnership fueled “Eclipsed” Oscaris Winner by innovation andNyong compassion, to Broadway. bring Lupita ’O to

information and resources directly to those Honorees, the so-called Central who need them.” Park 5, are collectively and Council Member Keith Powers, Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice said, individually heroes. They are "Mentalsurvivors health services should be more of one of the ugliest Charles Rangel readily available to those in need. By miscarriage of justice in New York’s partnering with the NYPL, ThriveNYC is been railroaded majority. She now leads The bringinghistory; services having into communities that and unjustly convicted forthe a crime Transformative Justice Coalition. City Council, representing the will directly serve New Yorkers. I thank creating a more just society in this th Mayor's office for working with the New York Spaces to Thrive will launch in 13 branches, they did not commit and for which Arnwine was for 26 years executive 40 council district in Brooklyn, country,” says Black News Public Library to benefit our residents." including Mid-Manhattan LibraryStar at 42nd they served long prison sentences director of the Lawyers’ Committee succeeding her mother, Una S. and publisher Milton Street, founder Bronx Library Center, Woodstock Foundation (JED) has partnered from seven years to 13 years for Civil Rights Under the Law. “The Jedranging T. Clarke. In the current 114th Library,Allimadi. Mariners Harbor Library, Francis “Obviously much work with ThriveNYC to emotionally support before being exonerated when the Congress Clarke serves on Martin needs Library, Pelham Bay Library, Inez Barron, honoree, formerly aNew York City students as they ready for to be done here and actual rapist confessed. They are: the Energy and Commerce Soundview Library, Westchester Square State Assembly member, is nowthe transition out of high school to college around the world.” Library, Countee Cullen Library, Kips Bay Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Committee, responsible for a New York City council memberand adulthood. Through the use of videos, Library,The Mulberry Hamilton gala Street starts Library, at 6:00pm with a interactive exercises, small-group Santana Jr.,and Antron McCray, Kevin consumer protection, food and a champion of education for conversation, we are working together Grangecocktail Library, and Harry Belafonte-115th hour to be followed by the Richardson, and Kharey Wise. safety, energy development, public Street Library. Each of these branches is our youth. to ensure students are empowered and dinner and awards ceremonies. There health, communications, the in a federally-designated mental health The Black Star News, focuses emotionally to enter this which next Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is prepared will beand musical entertainment environment, and interstate and shortage area, were chosen with input by phase ofon life,” said Jessica investigative Orenstein, journalism, has a legendary radio talk show host MPH, Senior Manager for High School opera singer Cassandra Douglas from librarians. international commerce. been featured as a result of some if and executive producer, radio DJ,Programming, The Jed Foundation. and from harmonica phenomenon The partnership includes several its news scoops, on CNN, The New R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is poet, songwriter, music recording“Safe Horizon is proud to partner with William Galison. David Dinkins is components: York Daily News, The New York a leading developer and founder of artist and producer, rapper, writerThriveNYC and the New York Public  On-site mental health workshopsAchievement on topics honored for Lifetime The Village The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest and community activist. He beganLibrary Post, to provide New Yorkers Voice, with this and Brill’s such as— suicide prevention, MentalCity’s Healthfirst he was New York Content magazine. resource that raises awareness African American-owned real new programs added Susan Herman, Director to keep with changes First Aid, Social-Emotional Learning, and his career as up a radio DJ in Buffalovaluable African American mayor and alsodifference,” about mental health and the importance of the Mayor’s of ThriveNYC. communities interact with more. These workshops will be conducted estate Office firm with $3.5 billion worth in the way Past Black Star News honorees at York age City 15.Library For over 30 years, welcomed Nelson Mandela to the“Public libraries have always played a key branches by he’s of support mechanisms for those seeking by groups including the New York City of properties under development their New have included:Curtis, Gil Noble been a talk host at WBLS city after his release in 1990. healing,” said Maureen VP of (Like It providing a wide rangeshow of critical services to and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, role in supporting the overall—wellness ofone or management he was Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad everyday New Yorkers, including immigrant WLIB radio in New York City. HeCriminal Justice Programs at Safe Horizon. who will provide support through their our city, offering all New Yorkers free and Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored of the pioneering developerswho “We look forward to sharing our expertise populations and non-English speaking Mental Health First Aid trainings, FloraMind, O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, open access to a wide variety of programs, also has a Friday night radio talk for Lifetime Achievement, in victimization and mental health trauma turnand around andtorevitalize individuals in need of legal advice, access to Safe Horizon, the American Foundation has classes,helped information resources help Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), show on WBAI. to increase support systems within the served in Congress since is grow computers, safe places to read and study, for Suicide Prevention, and the Jed 1971. He them theand once-blighted Anacostia succeed,” said Anthony W. Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel and nowHonoree with drop-in centers for mentalfoundercommunity.” Foundation. Sabrina Lamb, a recipient of The Bronze medal for Marx, President of The New York Public neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr.Thrive William health resources,” said Assemblymember  A dedicated ThriveNYC bookshelf featuring “FloraMind is thrilled to partner with partnership with ThriveNYC of World of Money, is a champion helping save soldiers behind enemyLibrary. “This A champion of African-American Pollard (Medgar Evers College), Deborah J. Glick. “I applaud the Mayor’s books on mental health that were jointly is just the latest example of how we can of financial literacy for youth-- sheNYC and the NYPL on this critical initiative line during the Korean War. economic empowerment is Office and ThriveNYC for taking on this selected by ThriveNYC and NYPL, and Herm (NY Jets), Nayaba providing moreEdwards access to mental health bring reliable, important information toPeebles’ our teaches knowledge about contemplating a possible runinfor NYC initiative. I look forward to informing myhandlingservicesArinde information free ThriveNYC where they are needed News), the most.La-Verna communities, and work with our partners Rep.about Yvette Clarke isservices. a Democratic (Amsterdam money, budgeting andways planning. constituency about the innovative our These include bothof fiction We are proud to be(Columbia offering mental health mayor in 2017. government to support and strengthen the member the and US non-fiction House of Fountain University), libraries are serving federally-designated books about living with mental health education workshops to NYPL branches people of New York City.” Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of Representatives from New Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil mental health shortage areas, at a time challenges, and will be available in multiple across all 3 boroughs covering topics “Mental Health First Aid can save lives,” th the nation’s leading educators. He’s York whose 9 district covers (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local when these supports are needed most.” rights lawyer, is aDr. champion of languages whenever possible. like Social Media and Mental Health, said Health Commissioner Oxiris much of central Brooklyn.  A public education campaign to raise Before Barbot.protecting 237),and Rev.Stress Al Sharpton (National of Medgar Evers College Mindfulness, Management,” Councilpresident Member Fernando Cabrera, rights of ethnic “The Spacesvoting to Thrive initiative will awareness of theseCongress mental health resources. said Mahmoud Kedr, CEO of FloraMind. Chair of the Committee on Government entering in 2007, she bring these Action Network), and many others. free trainings communities of The City University of New minority groupsto— the emerging Operations said, “This is a great

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N AT ION AL PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY:

NEXT STEPS

Now that the House Intelligence Committee has concluded its public hearings into possibly impeaching President Donald Trump, the inquiry enters a new phase. The Intelligence Committee will send a report to the House Judiciary Committee summarizing its findings.

and is subject to a number of variables, insiders say that House Leadership wants the hearings and final vote by the full U.S. House to be completed by the end of 2019. If the full House ultimately votes in favor of impeachment, it does not mean that President Trump is removed from office.

On December 4, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee will begin its public hearings , which may or may not result in a resolution impeaching President Trump to go before the full House of Representatives.

The evidence which led to the President’s impeachment is then sent to the full U.S. Senate, which is then Constitutionally obliged to hold a public trial. It is during this trial that key Members of the U.S. House serve as “managers,” presenting their case and President Trump is allowed to defend himself.

While the exact timing of the Judiciary Committee’s hearings remain in flux

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice John Roberts, oversees the trial, at the conclusion of which a final vote is taken by all U.S. Senators, who serve as the jury. If 2/3 of the Senators (or 66 out of 100) vote to impeach, then the President is removed from office. If fewer than 2/3 vote to impeach, President Trump remains in his current position.

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REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WAYS F O R WA R D FROM P O V E RT Y In a new report, the NAACP analyzes the economic conditions of African Americans in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. It examines the impact of historical racism and residential segregation in the Twin Cities and provides recommendations for eliminating the entrenched poverty. Based upon the research presented, it is clear that the combination of racial disparities in education, poverty and unemployment, median household income, and homeownership rates within the Twin Cities have had devastating repercussions for Black residents of the area.

The Twin Cities EIP will be a resource for elected officials, community residents and stakeholders to alleviate systematic, government-sanctioned racial discrimination with beneficial economic policy and programmatic solutions.

On Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 10:15 am, the Minnesota/Dakotas NAACP will host a press conference at the Golden Thyme Restaurant and Café, 934 Shelby Avenue, St. Paul, MN, in which the civil rights organization will announce details and findings from its Twin Cities Economic Inclusion Plan (EIP) for Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

state conference who contributed to this important work, and we are faithful in the fight for economic justice.”

Participants include:  W.C. Jordan, NAACP President Minnesota/Dakotas Area State Conference  Marvin Owens, Jr. National NAACP Deputy Chief Development Officer  Leslie Redmond, President of the Minneapolis NAACP  Farhio Khalif, President of the St. Paul NAACP “Minneapolis has long been riddled with economic inequality and civil unrest,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “From employment to criminal justice, the city’s racial disparities are among the worst in the nation. With our Twin Cities Economic Inclusion Plan, we’re providing federal, state and local government officials concrete recommendations on how to resolve issues pertaining to housing, jobs and education in these Black communities.”

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

“This Economic Inclusion Plan provides in-depth research on the current economic conditions and the policies that foster these conditions, and then makes recommended policy changes necessary in the twin cities,” said Lisa Bland Malone, NAACP Economic Programs Manager. “We are grateful for the leadership of our local branches and

The Twin Cities report found that the Black poverty rate is five times higher than the white poverty rate for residents of the Twin Cities. The disparity in child poverty is even greater: within the Twin Cities, African-American children are 8.5 times higher than the rate for the cities young white residents at 3.9 percent. The Black unemployment rate within the Twin Cities averaged 7.8 percent in 2017, more than 2.5 times higher than the rate for white residents. The report makes extensive policy prescriptions for improving the economic wellbeing of African Americans in the Twin Cities and advancing an agenda that promotes affordable housing, combats homelessness, addresses barriers to quality education, and opposes all legislation that supports racial discrimination and perpetuates poverty. The NAACP’s release of this EIP is part of the NAACP’s ongoing commitment to understanding the challenges facing communities of color and providing actionable support for their growth.

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NEWS N A A C P P A R T N E R S W I T H B E T t o H O S T I M AG E AWA R D S Th e NA ACP a n d B E T N e t works

announced a broadcast partnership to air the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The telecast will take place from Pasadena, California and will air on BET Networks for the first time ever. The announcement was made today by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, President of BET Networks Scott Mills and Executive Vice-President, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy Connie Orlando. The NAACP

Image Awards is the preeminent event celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. “We’re proud to partner with BET Networks to showcase the incredible breadth of Black excellence in television, film, music, and literature, and to bring awareness to the social justice and economic empowerment

work of the NAACP,” said Johnson. “Through its diverse platforms, BET delivers culturally enriching and entertaining content to a wide and multigenerational audience. As we head into a critical 2020 election and Census, the collaboration with BET will be critical to reaching our shared communities.” “The NAACP is vitally important, and BET Networks shares the organization’s commitment to our community and social impact,” added Mills. “With the NAACP’s half-

century of history acknowledging the achievements of African Americans across entertainment and activism, this partnership allows BET to further our mission to entertain, engage and empower our viewers by delivering this cultural pillar to the communities we serve. We’re thrilled to welcome the NAACP Image Awards home to BET.” Karen Boykin-Towns, NAACP National Board of Directors Vice-Chairman is the newly appointed Chairman of the NAACP Image Awards Planning

Committee and will provide strategic guidance and leadership. Eris Sims, Chief of Staff will oversee all NAACP Image Awards events and activities. “We are excited that two storied organizations, NAACP and BET, are partnering to cultivate innovative approaches to our work and to deliver a transformative experience that inspires and empowers the Black community. This is a natural partnership and one which aligns with our strategic focus,” said BoykinTowns. “We are confident that the

Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Terry Crews, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, Chadwick Boseman, and many more.

NAACP Image Awards will continue to grow in both impact and legacy.”

the most influential Award Shows in the black community,” said Orlando.

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws a crowd of the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years attendees include Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Harvey, Audra

“We will celebrate and acknowledge the excellence and achievements of African-Americans in television, music, arts and give special recognition to the artists that have thrilled us and shaped the past the year in black culture. As we head into our 40th anniversary, it is only right to start off 2020 with this monumental partnership and bring the legacy of NAACP Image Awards to BET.”

“It is our honor to partner with the NAACP as the exclusive broadcast partner of the Image Awards, one of

NEW YORK STATEWIDE TOY DRIVE Runs Through DECEMBER 13 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a statewide holiday drive to benefit families in need across New York. Donations of new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies are being sought to assist communitybased organizations during the holiday giving season. "Helping those in need is a long-standing tradition in New York, and this holiday season is no different," Governor Cuomo said. "We want to help ensure the holidays are a

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joyous time for everyone so I encourage all New Yorkers to open their hearts and donate an unwrapped coat or toy or school supplies to assist those who are less fortunate." The Office of General Services has set up drop-off locations across the state for businesses and individuals to bring the new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies, which will be distributed to families in underserved communities throughout New York. The drop-off

locations will be collecting donations from Monday, November 25 through Friday, December 13. The drop-off locations are as follows:  Alfred E. Smith Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany  New York State Capitol, Washington Avenue, Albany  Empire State Plaza Main Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany  Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany  Agency Buildings 1,2,3,4 - Empire State Plaza, Albany  Legislative Office Building Empire State Plaza, Albany  Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice Empire State Plaza, Albany  Swan Street Building, Core 2 and Core 3, Empire State Plaza, Albany  Harriman Campus Buildings 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 12 Harriman Campus, 1220 Washington Ave., Albany  Ten Eyck Building, 40 North Pearl St., Albany  50 Wolf Road, Albany  625 Broadway, Albany  Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State St., Albany

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

 44 Holland Ave., Albany  328 State St., Schenectady  Senator John J. Hughes State Office Building, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse  Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown  Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee St., Utica  Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building, 4 Burnett Blvd., Poughkeepsie  Henderson-Smith State Office Building, 107 Broadway, Hornell  Binghamton State Office Building, 44 Hawley St., Binghamton  NYS State Police, 1155 Scottsville Rd. Rochester  Homer Folks Facility, 28 Hill Street Oneonta  Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building, 65 Court St., Buffalo  Perry B. Duryea State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge  Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th St., New York City  Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn

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H E A LT H DOES YOUR

D O C T O R ’ S R A C E M AT T E R ? By Dr. Dina D. Strachan, MD FindaBlackDoctor.com is a free internet service that allows the public to locate U.S. based African-American physicians, as well as dentists, podiatrists, clinical psychologists, and other health care providers. It originally launched in 2005 to much acclaim as it was one of the first such directories. The website has been on hiatus since 2008. The demand for this reliable and userfriendly service has been expressed by many African Americans. Having built a popular, independent dermatology practice in the competitive New York City market Dr. Dina Strachan, the founder of the service, states little has changed since the initial launch in 2005 despite the increased popularity of doctor directories on the internet. She explains, “It seems like every day a new patient or someone on the phone expresses that they had been frustrated in not being able to find an African American doctor.” Dr. Strachan adds, “Research shows that MOST people don’t care if their doctor is the same race as they are. As many as 30%, however, have been reported to prefer, for a variety of reasons, that same-race doctors just like women often prefer female gynecologists.” Recent studies show that Black men particularly have better

health outcomes when their doctor is of the same race. Dr. Strachan felt it was time to bring the website back as the internet had gotten more sophisticated and she saw the continued need. “Despite the increasing ethnic diversity in the U.S., minority physicians, who are more likely to serve minority populations, are still under-represented in the healthcare work force. This can make them harder to find despite the internet,” she notes. “Patients also have an increased expectation of cultural competence.” Branding itself as a more exclusive site FindaBlackDoctor.com will only list licensed doctors and dentists practicing within the scope of their professional training. “The goal is not to necessarily have the biggest list but the most-high quality and accurate list. Visitors to the site shouldn’t have to sort through stale information such as incorrect addresses,” says Dr. Strachan. In addition to the traditional practice listing with the office contact information, there will be features not relevant in the past, such as social media links, credential links and more. The Docpedia page is a glossary of terms helpful in understanding healthcare. “We are very

proud of this new and improved version of a concept that was one of the first to market.” Dina D. Strachan, M.D. is an internationally recognized, Harvard and Yale educated, board-certified dermatologist, consultant, author and speaker who directs Aglow Dermatology, a private practice she founded using her personal credit cards. She has been listed on the “Top Doctors” list in The Network Journal and named a “Super Doctor” in The New York Times. Dr. Strachan is the author of the best seller Moxie Mindset: Secrets of Profitable, Independent Physicians Practice in a Competitive Market available on Amazon. Dr. Strachan is a popular source for the local and national media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post,

The Dr. Oz Show, Crain’s New York Business, Essence, Ebony, Redbook, Rolling Stone, and Good Morning America. Dr. Strachan was one of the featured physicians in the BBC America promotion, “Female Doctors Are Heroes,” celebrating the casting of the first female actor in the cult series Dr. Who. Dr. Strachan holds a voluntary faculty position in the Department of Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. She volunteers weekly at Bellevue Hospital where she teaches the next generation of dermatologists. Follow her on social media @drdinamd (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and Twitter). Follow Aglow Dermatology on Facebook @DinaStrachanMD

M i n o r i t y a n d P r o g r e s s i v e G r o u p s A d v o c at e f o r H e a lt h E q u i t y

By: Kevin B. Kimble, Esq.

A coalition of civil rights and community service organizations have sent a letter aimed at sending a clear message to Congress on the importance of health equity in all communities in the U.S. Led by Southern Christian Leadership Conference, this effort features 21 signatories from national civil rights/ multicultural/progressive groups including NAACP, National Medical

Association, National Grange, MANA, and The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce coming together for the first time. The letter is based on a set of unifying guidelines for Congress to

address and eliminate health disparities for diverse populations and minorities.

“It is important that all communities participate equally in advances and improvements to our national health care system.” - Brady Buckner

“It is important that all communities participate equally in advances and

improvements to our national health care system” said Brady Buckner, CoFounder and Director of the Partnership for Innovation and Empowerment (PIE). Because minority and disadvantage communities are less likely to receive quality healthcare and more likely to face poorer health outcomes, congress must work harder to ensure their voices are heard when forming healthcare policy.

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There is no better time like the holidays to enjoy decadent desserts and other delicious baked goods as family and friends come together for memorable meals bidding the past year adieu and welcoming the next. Here’s a quick list of some of the blackowned businesses to put on our radar to turn to for that festive cake order, dessert bar or other inviting creations. The signature sugar cookies here are filled with specialty made jams and turned into sandwiches with flavors such as peach cobbler and almond amaretto. The store also serves pies, cakes and muffins. In addition, specialty holiday cookies include almond shorties and pecan melts. CEO and founder Dana N. Dumas is a self-taught baker and cook that hails from New York and New Jersey but now resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. Fresh and moist sweet potato pound cakes are the signature delicacy at Victoria Franklin’s home-based business in the D.C. area, where she also offers her signature butter sauce, pound cake minis and pound cake drops. Her recipe’s secret lies in the proprietary spices she uses and if you are local, then she even has the cakes handdelivered for a special touch. Cake shooters, pops, chocolate covered pretzels and pie tartlets are just some of the many sugary delicacies that third generation baker Taren Kinebrew creates as the CEO of this Cincinnati, Ohio operation. One look at her cakes decorated with edible seasonal flowers and you might just want to order it for your next dinner party. She also has a Junior Baking Series for youngsters should you want to gain insight into some of her handiwork.

Single working mother Janel Prator is the founder and flavor creator of the Los Angeles-based business which serves over 21 different flavors with new items added to the menu almost every month. Five new flavors have been released just in time for the holidays, including two adult flavors – naughty and nice Baileys, no tricks all treat, nana nog, ginger snap ya fingas and jus peachy nana. Donuts, king cakes and drops are offered at this New Orleans, La. business celebrating a decade. Despite hurricane Katrina causing a small detour in operations, the owners persisted, perfecting their recipe for a new twist to an old favorite pastry and opening doors in the historical neighborhood of Treme in 2008. They are known for their classic baked goods but especially their buttermilk drop, sold by the dozen online. An indie bakery specializing in handmade pies and pastries in Somerville, Mass. since 2003, the sweet treats here are a result of founder Renee “Petsi” McLeod growing up baking pies in her grandmother’s kitchen. Some of their famed flavors include bourbon chocolate pecan and coconut cream in their sweet pies, chicken pot pies and vegetarian savory pies as well as scones, muffins and other pastry offerings. From cakes and pies to cookies and bars, as well as specialty and gluten-free cupcakes, Danielle’s Desserts elevates American Southern-style homemade baking by offering more than 57 flavors across all baked goodies. Founded by Danielle Poux in April 2010 in McLean, Va., each of the recipes found here are her own. Choose from blondies, caramel Bundt cakes, coconut

C U LT U R A L A R T S F O U N D AT I O N Brooklyn historic house museum Weeksville Heritage Center will partner with local performing arts organization Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation to present a celebration of Kwanzaa—the AfricanAmerican festival of "first fruits of the harvest"—on Saturday, December 14, the first time that the institution has done so since 1974. 2019 marks 400 years since the first captive Africans were brought to America, as well as Ghana's Year of Return to Africa, Weeksville commemorates the Pan-African heritage of resistance and transformation in the Diaspora with a full day of activities from noon-8:00pm. There is a $10 suggested donation, but all events are free and open to the public, except for the Paint and Sip sessions, which cost $15. Brooklyn Brewery is kindly supporting this event.

macaroons and more for your holiday party. For organic, gourmet, vegan and homemade baked goods, turn to this bakery in Detroit owned by pastry chef April Anderson, who offers pound, custom, layer and birthday cakes in flavors ranging from 7UP pound cake, lemon gooey butter cake, and pineapple upside-down. Cupcakes, breakfast breads and muffins, brownies and cookies are a few other options on the menu. An award-winning youth-run business selling vegetable-based desserts to the Minneapolis community, this enterprise comprises a group of young entrepreneurs from Heritage Park who are driven by a passion to change the world one healthy and delicious baked good at a time. Vegetables used are grown in the community garden, baked into healthy vegetable-based desserts, and proceeds

Pictured and Photo credit: Dana N. Dumas, SugarJam Cookies

Presents

Weeksville's President & Executive Director. "From the success of our crowdfunding campaign when the community helped us keep our doors open to the incredible support from our elected officials who made it possible for us to be the first cultural

E a r ly K w a n z a a C e l e b r at i o n

institution in over 20 years to be on the path to getting a permanent line item in the NYC budget. Weeksville's future feels particularly bright." "Our commitment to community mirrors

that of Weeksville's," says K. Osei Williams, Executive Director of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. "We're thrilled to partner with Weeksville to present an intergenerational and Pan-African celebration that families across Brooklyn can enjoy." Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday created in the late 1960s by Dr. Maulana Karenga and is typically celebrated from December 26-January 1. It is defined by seven community-focused principles that are also reflected in much of Weeksville's history and efforts to advance the position of black people here in Brooklyn and across the country through collective action. A B O U T A S A S E Y A A C U LT U R A L A R T S F O U N D AT I O N Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to Enriching, Educating, and Entertaining while promoting the importance of cultural performing arts to youth and adults in our community. We empower and strengthen our youth by offering them an opportunity to learn, study and experience the history, movement and beauty of African Diasporic dance, music and culture at its highest level. Our goal is to inspire them to become strong leaders capable of preserving and elevating our culture and communities in the future. www.asaseyaaent.org

The community is encouraged to get out its special cloth, dress its best & bring the entire family for food from local vendors and support its local artisans at The Marketplace at Weeksville to pick up gifts for the holiday season. In addition, there will be calypso dancing & djembe drumming; a Kwanzaa presentation; Paint & Sip sessions for adults; storytelling and face painting for kids, films; and much more. The day will include live performances by the Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble; tenor saxophonist Antoine Roney and his 15-year-old son, drum prodigy Kojo Roney; Esota, directed by dancer and filmmaker Kerri Edge; intergenerational music ensemble Nubian Messengers; and all-day vibes curated by DJ Hard Hittin' Harry.

Weeksville Heritage Center is an historic house museum and cultural center in Brooklyn, whose mission is to keep the history of one of the largest free black communities of pre-Civil War America relevant for contemporary audiences, and we achieve this through preservation, education, arts and civic engagement programs.

"The Board, staff and I have much to be thankful for this year," notes Rob Fields,

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head back to the community. At Q’s Cakes and Sweets Boutique in Albuquerque, NM, from scratch custom cakes, desserts, sweets and more by owner and U.S. Air Force veteran Queneesha Meyers are on the menu. A quick glance at her gallery of decadent creations will keep you scrolling through the page at each beautifully constructed piece of work. From chocolate covered Oreos, to brownies and bars, she has a variety of flavor options to choose from. So go ahead and take your pick. This list is by no means comprehensive and only a quick glance at some of the businesses you can go on to support during the holidays while also enjoying the unique creations by their owners. Here’s to some sweet tooth satisfaction!

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

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ENTER TAINMENT PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION’S 2019 New York Dinner at Restaurant Daniel FEATURING A SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY JAMIE FOXX

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) hosted their 2019 New York Dinner at the Restaurant Daniel at 60 East 65th Street in New York City. Dinner at Daniel was an exquisite culinary experience with a special guest performance by Academy Award Winning Artist Jamie Foxx to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and raised over $5 million. Master Mentalist, Lior Suchard performed mystifying tricks for the guests.

trivia questions. Milken spoke about a few topics including PCF’s partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the advances researchers and scientists have made so far. Master Mentalist, Lior Suchard performed several illusions that stunned the crowd. The evening ended with a stellar performance from Academy

Award Winning Artist Jamie Foxx that had guests dancing on their chairs. The charitable organization founded by Michael Milken is dedicated to identifying and funding groundbreaking cancer research programs. The memorable evening welcomed leaders in medicine, top research scientists

and distinguished New York City socialites to explore refined European cuisines, world-class wines and gracious hospitality at Restaurant Daniel. PCF’s Board of Directors includes business leaders such as Michael Milken, Lori Milken, Andrew J. Astrachan.

Notable attendees included: Michael Milken, Jamie Foxx, Lior Suchard, David Geffen, Katharine McPhee, David Foster, John Paulson, Christine Jones, Dr. Jonathan and Plum Simons, Mitchell Modell, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Seth Bernstein, Ernesto Rivera, Larry Leeds, Anne Marie Alexander, Lynn Merritt, Jan Haber, David and Sybil Yurman, Ambassador Earle Mack, Steven Cohen, Michael and Iris Smith, Omeed Malik and Caroline Morgan. The evening started with a splendid cocktail hour before guests were escorted to the main dining room for the dinner and entertainment. Michael Milken welcomed guests and started the main portion of the evening with

Pictured: Jamie Foxx, Katharine McPhee, Michael Milken, David Foster ©BFA

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ENTER THE ARTAINMENT TS NATIONAL MUSEUM of AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC Seeks Submissions When the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) opens its doors to the public in the summer of 2020, the first-of-its-kind institution located in the heart of downtown Nashville will be home to more than 1,500 historical artifacts that reflects the development, influence, and impact of African Americans on

more than 50 genres and sub-genres including country, jazz, blues, gospel, R&B and hip hop. With construction of the museum currently underway and the layouts of the five primary galleries completed, the NMAAM curatorial team is now looking at ways to fill some of the additional open spaces in the museum with relevant and engaging original public artwork.

Starting today, NMAAM is issuing a call for submissions to all visual artists to submit original artwork for consideration as permanent installations within the museum. The goal of this request is to include artwork within the 56,000 square-foot facility that will enhance the appearance of three distinct areas within the building that are

not occupied by other artifacts. The addition of original artwork will create a visual experience that aligns with the museum's content and blends well with the overall aesthetic of the accompanying galleries. Submitted artwork will be juried by an internal art selection committee with three selected artists being awarded between $50,000 - $70,000 for the

creation and installation of their work. "The [NMAAM] curatorial team is very excited about the opportunity to review art submissions from all around the world and we encourage artists to send us their best music-inspired work for consideration," said Dr. Dina Bennett, Curatorial Director at NMAAM. "As much as musical artists have their place in celebrating the contributions of African American music to the world, visual artists also play a pivotal role in preserving the legacy and informing the culture. Our hope is that by opening space in the museum to visual artists, we can add some original pieces to our public spaces that will enhance the stories tell as well as share something visually dynamic for our guests to enjoy," said Bennett. The NMAAM call for artwork is open to all emerging artists (18 and older) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or race. No student art will be accepted and work should be professional in nature. Artwork submissions should be connected to the African American experience and musical in context aligning with the museum's mission and vision to provide a transformative, inspirational and educational experience for an international audience of museum guests. Artwork should also be durable, able to sustain various climate conditions, resistant to UV damage and

safe for public interaction. Projected spaces within the museum where artwork will live include; the Grand Foyer which is the main entry point for the museum, the Lower Lobby which is a gathering space for ticket sales and large-scale public events and the Multipurpose Rooms which will be used for a variety of educational classes and community programs. Artists interested in submitting artwork will need to submit a completed application by Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 11:59 P.M. CST to the NMAAM Art Selection Committee via the NMAAM submission page at http:// NMAAM.org/ArtCall. For full details on the materials that should be included in the application packet, as well as complete competition rules, download the Request for Proposal for Public Art on the NMAAM website at www. NMAAM.org. The National Museum of African American Music, set to open in the summer of 2020, will be the only museum dedicated solely to preserving African American music traditions and celebrating the influence African Americans have had on music. Based in Nashville, Tenn., as part of the Fifth + Broadway development, the museum will share the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history and interactive technology to bring musical heroes of the past into the present.

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN HARLEM” Presents Newly Designed Show The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH, Ty

Jones, Producing Artistic Director) presents the second year of its holiday production, A Christmas Carol in Harlem, based on the timeless work by Charles Dickens. This year’s production is directed by Carl Cofield based on an adaptation by Shawn René Graham with new choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher (Artistic Director of Elisa Monte Dance). This season, the show moves into a three-quarter thrust theater, offering audiences a more intimate theater experience and allowing them to share in the spirit of the show. Cofield has re-imagined large portions of the work to fit this new space and to build on the festive themes throughout the play while allowing the drama of Scrooge’s past to unfold. This includes a new set, music pieces, projections, costumes and casting that establishes A Christmas Carol in Harlem as a modern addition to New York City’s annual holiday offerings. Set in present-day Harlem, this holiday treasure is dramatized with CTH’s signature style of infusing classic works with an uptown flair. A Christmas Carol in Harlem places Ebenezer Scrooge as a real estate mogul who has made his fortune at the expense of others. Scrooge foregoes using his wealth to affect positive change within his Harlem community and instead lives a life of miserly solitude. That is, until three

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unexpected visitors arrive on Christmas Eve to show him the value of family and how cooperation can lead to a healthy, thriving and prosperous community. This family-friendly production includes original and classic holiday carols tinged with gospel, hip-hop, pop and R&B influences to celebrate the spirit of the season the Harlem way.

Scrooge and Bennie), Charles Bernard Murray (as Scrooge; The Bacchae), Andrei Pierre (as The Ghost of Christmas Present), Angela Polite (as Clock Shop Lady; MARY SPEAKS, Flambeaux), Jeffrey Rashad (as Bob Cratchit and Young Scrooge), and Kenzie Ross (as Mrs.

opportunity to launch into the next century by complementing the existing holiday programming downtown, with a show that has a unique uptown, New York City aesthetic,” said Ty Jones, Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Producing Artistic Director. “I believe that A Christmas Carol in Harlem will

Cratchit; Blood at the Root, When We Left). The ensemble features dancers from Elisa Monte Dance including Tracy Dunbar, Kat Files, Daniela Funicello, Ashley LaRosa and Sai Rodboon.

become a classic, seasonal offering on par with other beloved, locally based holiday productions. Shawn René Graham has taken Dickens’ classic to show how a community is healed, one family at a time and exemplifies how ordinary people can do extraordinary things to help one another receive the gift of love at Christmas time.”

A Christmas Carol in Harlem touches on the issues that are affecting so many New Yorkers today such as gentrification and social inequality but infuses it with humor, hope and holiday spirit. CTH reinvigorates this timeless tale to remind us that we all should celebrate our shared humanity. Recommended for all ages. The company of “A Christmas Carol in Harlem” includes: Eryn Barnes (as The Ghost of Christmas Past), Reed Harris Butts (as Bennie), Kahlil X Daniel (as The Ghost of Christmas Future), Gabrielle Djenné (as Fan and Belle; The Bacchae), Daniel Echevarria (as Fezz; In The Heights, Something like a Fairytale, The Open Gate), Ure Egbuho (as Sierra Jones; Good Friday, Locked Up Bitches; SCRAPS), Paula Galloway (as Claudette; The Colored Museum, Ain’t Misbehavin’), Steve Greenstein (as Jacob Marley; Flashdance the Musical), Emery Jones (as Tiny Timothia), Kaden Jones (as Child

“We are on the precipice of the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. What a remarkable

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

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THE AR T S PROFILE  is an iconic actress, writer, director, producer, and web series creator. She first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series, Awkward Black Girl. Rae is a graduate of Stanford University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African-American Studies. As a college student, she made music videos, wrote and directed plays, and created a mock reality series entitled Dorm Diaries for fun. At Stanford, Rae met Tracy Oliver, who helped produce Awkward Black Girl and starred on the show as Nina. After college, Rae received a theater fellowship at The Public Theater in New York City. Oliver and Rae started taking classes together at the New York Film Academy. Rae worked odd jobs and at one point was struggling to decide between business school and law school, but eventually abandoned both ideas when Awkward Black Girl started taking off in 2011.

| Actress  Writer  Director Entertainment Weekly’s “Breaking Big” lists, Issa’s hit series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl was the recipient of the coveted Shorty Award for Best Web Show. Issa’s first book, a collection of essays, is a New

York Times Best Seller and her latest project, Insecure, a half-hour comedy show for HBO, premiered in the fall to rave reviews and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Issa has received national attention with major media

outlets including The New York Times, CNN, ELLE, Seventeen, Rolling Stone, BuzzFeed, Fast Company, MSNBC, Essence, Fader, Variety and more. Issa Rae is signed with UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

With her own unique flare and infectious sense of humor, Issa Rae’s content has garnered over 23 million views and over 200,000 YouTube subscribers (and counting). In addition to making Glamour Magazine’s “35 Under 35”, Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and

A R T S F O U N D AT I O N S p o n s o r s S L A M P O E T R Y F E ST I VA L Calling all writers who enjoy cash prizes, a beach party, happy hour, and vendors! Coming up on your calendar, Pompano Beach Arts Foundation will be holding the 4-day poetry slam competition, Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival, with up to $2500 in cash prizes. This event hosts some of the best poets in the country ready to slam! Now you may ask what Slam Poetry is. Slam poetry is a playground. It's an opportunity. It’s freedom to rein your awesomeness and fly any flag you wish to wave without scrutiny. It's the Planet Fitness of the poetry world - judgement free. What that means is slam poetry is open to anyone and everyone who wishes to put some power behind their opinion and voice their thoughts and views. Slam poetry is never "bad". It’s an expression of someone's feelings. Those feelings can't be wrong - they can only be evaluated based on your own opinion. That evaluation is what makes slam poetry enjoyable, exciting and even controversial. Here's the kicker: Slam poetry is about feelings, emotions and stories, but: it’s mixed with personal style and it displays intimate characteristics. That style has to be your own and those characteristics must be innate - and that's what makes poetry slam poetry. Once you nail that concept, you're ready to impart your wonder to the world. Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival is a

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four-day festival founded by spoken word artist and cultural programmer, Sharonda “Eccentrich” Richardson in 2018. Eccentrich, who is a Pompano Beach native, recognized an opportunity to celebrate her love for her craft and her city while creating an opportunity for the spoken word community to soak

facilitated by visiting. After a successful inaugural competition in which, one artist representing the state of California walked away with the grand prize of $2,000 the festival was acquired by the City of Pompano Beach’s Cultural Affairs Department and will benefit from increased financial and physical resources while upholding a commitment to the spoken word tradition.

The Ci t y

The City of Pompano Beach is a a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 census the city’s population was 99,845. The City is located off of Exit 36 on I-95 which was the inspiration for the festival’s name.

up South Florida’s warm climate and experience Florida’s Warmest Welcome in the City of Pompano Beach! In addition to being the only poetry festival in the Southern United States to be held during the winter season, the Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival strives to nurture, support and showcase regional, national and international writers and poets while providing the local community with arts experiences

The City’s Cultural Affairs Department works to support the City’s growth as a cultural arts destination and currently includes four cultural facilities offering a mix of innovative arts programming across all cultural disciplines for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors. The Pompano Beach Cultural Center, adjacent to City Hall is located in revitalized downtown Pompano Beach and headquarters the City’s Cultural Affairs Department. Through this cultural venue, the City offers cultural opportunities in many artistic disciplines

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while providing the public access to world –renowned music, dance, theater performances and art exhibitions. The Historic Ali Cultural Arts Center is the steward for the history of the Northwest district of Pompano Beach and is the nexus for musicians, visual artists, dancers and spoken word poets that have been influenced or inspired by black culture. Located in the heart of Pompano Beach’s new Creative Arts District, Bailey Contemporary Arts (BaCA) houses a dozen art studios and also features large galleries that serve as exhibition and education spaces, and an open social area for artistic dialogue. BaCA offers studio space for visual artists, and is occupied with painters, ceramicists, photographers and interdisciplinary artists. Here we provide the opportunity for residents to explore their creative side with workshops, events, studio visits and monthly exhibitions. The Blanche Ely House celebrates the professional and personal accomplishments of educational pioneers and community activists Blanche and Joseph Ely. The museum offers an abbreviated glimpse into the couple’s extensive collection of photographs, letters and artifacts, through exhibitions and creative and cultural programming.

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MOVIE S & MEDIA STOLEN BY MY MOTHER: THE KAMIYAH MOBLEY STORY Lifetime has released the first trailer for its upcoming Ripped from the Headlines feature, Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, premiering January 18 at 8pm ET/ PT. Executive produced by the award-winning journalist, the film stars Niecy Nash (When They See Us, Claws), Rayven Ferrell (The Hate U Give) and Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), in the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and the family she knew to be hers, wasn’t hers at all. In the summer of 1998, Gloria Williams (Niecy Nash), reeling from a recent miscarriage, drove from her home in South Carolina and walked into a Jacksonville, Florida hospital posing as a nurse and took newborn Kamiyah Mobley (Rayven Ferrell) out of her mother Shanara Mobley's (Ta’Rhonda Jones) arms. By the time police were alerted, Gloria was long gone. Renaming the baby Alexis, Gloria raised her as her own, providing her with unconditional love and nurturing. It wasn’t until years later, when Alexis applied for her first job and couldn’t provide a social security card or a birth certificate, that she realized something was wrong. As questions mounted, Gloria was forced to tell Alexis the truth, that she was really Kamiyah Mobley and abducted as a baby. Despite discovering the mother she knew was really her kidnapper, Alexis kept the secret as long as

she could, until an anonymous tip soon led to Gloria's arrest and their world came tumbling down. From Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions, Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is executive produced by Roberts, Linda Berman, Michele Samit, Richard Kletter and Gary Randall. Jeffrey Byrd directs from a script written by Samit and Kletter. Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story kicks off Lifetime's Winter

2020 Ripped from The Headlines slate, which includes the premieres of Chris Watts: Confessions Of A Killer on January 25, Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story on February 1, The Neighbor In The Window on February 8, and You Can't Take My Daughter on February 15, all at 8pm ET/PT. Celebrating 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning awardwinning movies, high-quality scripted

series and breakout non-fiction series. Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life now in its 25th year, Stop Violence Against Women which relaunched in 2018, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content.

MICHAEL B. JORDAN’S OUTLIER SOCIET Y & WARNER BROS Acquire ‘KINGDOM OF SOULS’ In an exciting deal for a debut author, Michael B. Jordan and Warner Bros. have just acquired Kingdom of Souls, the first installment of a fantasy novel trilogy by Rena Barron, in which a young woman must give up her own life, bit by bit, in a magical bargain to save her village--and the world. Outlier Society's Michael B. Jordan and Alana Mayo are producing with Pouya Shahbazian. Misan Sagay is attached to write the screenplay. Lush worldbuilding and compelling characters garner Kingdom of Souls comparisons to Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone and Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and splashy adaptation deals for these and others suggest a wave of YA fantasy is upon us. Like Adeyemi, Barron spins a darkly magical tale that was blends tales of folk magic, voodoo, and Orisha from her own community. Kingdom of Souls centers on Arrah, a young woman born into a family of powerful witchdoctors and she yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval. When

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children begin disappearing, including a boy she'd befriended, Arrah is desperate to find the culprit. She tries a deadly last resort to cast the spell that will find the children: she trades years of her own life for scraps of magic. But she uncovers something worse. The long-imprisoned Demon King is stirring. And if he rises, his hunger for souls will bring the world to its knees… unless Arrah pays the price for the magic to stop him. Barron grew up in small-town Alabama, where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. Before HarperTeen acquired her young adult epic fantasy, Barron spent 10 years writing across multiple genres and age groups in the pursuit of publication. In 2017, she entered Pitch Wars, a popular and highly sought-after online mentorship program that included an agent showcase round. Barron’s entry (then titled “The Last Witchdoctor”) received more requests than any novel in Pitch Wars history. In addition to the Kingdom of Souls trilogy, Barron also has written a middle grade series. The first book titled Maya and The Rising Dark debuts in May 2020.

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

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ENDNO TE S “ Make Mu s i c W i nt e r ” R e t u r n s t o N Y C Make Music Winter , a free, outdoor

music-making celebration on the winter solstice that brings communities together and warms the spirit, returns this year on Saturday, Dec. 21 with more than 10 participatory musical parades across New York City. The daylong musical celebration on the shortest day of the year brings together New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, musical abilities and styles to sing, play, march and dance their way across streets, parks, plazas and other public spaces. Make Music Winter, which is being held in over 30 cities nationwide, is the cold-weather version of Make Music Day, the annual global celebration of music occurring on June 21, the summer solstice. From ukulele caroling and a percussive Puerto Rican parranda to an Appalachiathemed hootenanny and a choir of medieval singers, Make Music Winter parades have been enchanting audiences since Make Music Winter first launched in 2011 in NYC. Make Music Winter in NYC is presented by The NAMM Foundation and produced by Make Music New York. Highlights of Make Music Winter 2019 will include:  Bell by Bell (Astor Place Plaza and through the East Village) – Artist Tom Peyton will hand out to revelers colorcoded bells that play different notes, give a crash course in hand bell basics, and then lead a musical parade through the East Village neighborhood. The parade will make stops at designated landmarks where a team of conductors will wave colored flags, prompting participants to collectively contribute to soundscapes that intensify as the group learns to play together.  [B] MERRY Music Parade (Brownsville, Brooklyn) – Hosted by the Brownsville Community Justice Center, the parade will engage residents in the local arts and culture with music selections performed by local youth bands and dancers, as well as music from the Sound of Brownsville record label. The parade will connect Brownsville residents from Pitkin Avenue down Rockaway Avenue, parading past historic Belmont Avenue down to Livonia Avenue, stopping at the Marcus Garvey Youth Clubhouse.  Flatfoot Flatbush (Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue) – Dancers, fiddlers and pickers will parade down Flatbush Avenue playing old-time times while flat footing, a form of percussive dancing from Appalachia. Participants will learn the fundamental steps of this rhythmic dance form and have a chance to participate with the Flatfoot Flatbush String Band. The parade will traverse Prospect Heights Brooklyn, along vibrant Flatbush Avenue, with dozens of stops along the way to play, dance and sing. The fun will continue at an after-party featuring music and dance sets by City Stompers and the Flatfoot Flatbush Band. The program is produced by Nick Horner and Theo Boguszewski in association with the North Flatbush Business Improvement District, and made possible with support from M&T Bank and Con Edison.  The Gaits: A High Line Soundwalk (The High Line, Gansevoort Street entrance) – The Gaits is an immersive, site-specific parade featuring commissioned compositions in

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which the wonders of everyday technology transform participants’ movements into musical improvisations. Participants will attach their smart phones to small, wearable speakers and use a free app that captures the GPS coordinates and velocities of their movements to trigger a variety of twinkling metallic sounds, electric guitar chord, dulcimer notes, water splashes, car horns and applause – empowering marchers to effortlessly make music while interacting with their environment and each other. The program is produced in partnership with Friends of the High Line.

route to Santiago de Compostela. Singers of all skills levels are invited to join, from beginners to early music specialists.  Renegade Parade by HONK NYC (St. George neighborhood of Staten Island) – The team behind HONK NYC, which brings street band music and spectacle to audiences citywide, will lead a pop-up parade as it moves from location to location, switching bands, instruments, transportation

methods and vibes along the way. The parade will begin in Queens and end in Staten Island’s St. George neighborhood.  Ukulele Caroling (Washington Square Park/Greenwich Village neighborhood) – Calling all ukes! Players of all skill levels are welcomed to participate in this parade, which will feature classic holiday and repertoire tunes for the ukulele.

 Harmonica Parade (Battery Park City) – Harmonica virtuoso Jia-Yi He, who was featured on “America’s Got Talent,” will lead this parade in performing holiday classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Silent Night,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Ode to Joy,” “Edelweiss” and “Amazing Grace.” Players of all levels are welcome. Bring a harmonica or a small percussive instrument with you if you have one. If not, harmonicas will be distributed on a first-come basis.  The Mobile Hallelujah (multiple Manhattan locations to be announced)– In this participatory program, producer Melissa Gerstein and conductor Douglas Anderson team up again to bring Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” – from his Messiah oratorio, the oldest continuously performed piece of classical music – out of the concert hall and onto the city streets. Prior to Dec. 21, participants can access a free, specially crafted sound file to download (for practice) at MakeMusicNY.org. Then, on the day of the parade, singers will descend on various popular locations across Manhattan and gather into vocal groups (soprano, alto, tenor and bass). Singers and their conductor will then synchronize their performance with the sound file played on a portable speaker, and make their way among the crowds. To the surprise of bystanders, a seemingly spontaneous outburst of the famous choral piece will unfold in their midst, while performers revel in the joy of creating a unique, full-throated version of the choral masterwork.  Melrose Parranda (Melrose section of The Bronx) – The Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC) will hold their annual parranda – the Puerto Rico tradition involving processions of carolers – throughout the Bronx’s historic Melrose neighborhood. Based on the music of plena, and other holiday songs from Puerto Rico, the parade will make stops at different casitas – the little houses that evoke those on the Puerto Rican countryside – and finish at the casita renowned for its musical legacy, Rincón Criollo Centro Cultural, also known as “La Casita de Chema.” The program is produced in partnership with the Bronx Music Heritage Center, We Stay/Nos Quedamos Committee, Inc., Asociación Huerto y Cultura, and the Bronx Culture Collective.  Pilgrimage (Riverside Park, Upper West Side) – Led by conductor James John, artistic director of the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble, headlamp-clad singers will walk a route along Riverside Park making stops along the way to sing medieval melodies once sung on the pilgrimage

December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

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December 5, 2019 - December 11, 2019

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