Hampton Roads
Revitalize
Educate
Nurture
&
Empower
Women
Sponsor IMAGE MAKEOVER CONTEST SEE DETAILS INSIDE!
3/5/16 at Magnuson Hotel, Newport News
Hosted By: IS YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE?
ASK DR.J
What I Know For
FOR SURE ABOUT HEART AWARENESS
TATRECE SWANN
FEBRUARY 2016
www.renewvamagazine.com
JANICE UNDERWOOD
FEBRUARY 22-28, 2016
Ser...Hacer...Tener
ILLUMINATED
A P.I. IRENE MYSTERY
PT 4
TRACY WAINWRIGHT
Bianca Negr贸n Castro
January 2016 Contents 3 RENEW Women’s Expo 4 Every Way Woman 5 A Crafty Storage Solution 6 Ragtime - The Musical 7 5 Tips To Protect Your Identity 9 Illuminated - A P.I. Irene Mystery Pt.3 10 Ser... Hacer... Tener... 11 What I Know For Sure About Heart Awareness 12 Is Your Life In Balance? 13 Oasis Of Life Dance 14 Ask Dr. J 15 Distribution Locations
RENEW Magazine is a free, full color, glossy publication distributed monthly and designed for and targeted to women residing in the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia. RENEW is an acronym; Revitalize, Educate, Nurture, & Empower Women. RENEW Magazine provides readers with holistic, lifestyle editorial content benefiting women in Hampton Roads. Placement of advertising herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. This publication is distributed and available free of charge at over 300 high traffic locations in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, Virginia. RENEW Magazine is published by Orchard Business Group, LLC. Articles are the opinions of the writers and do not reflect the opinion of the publisher, advertisers, or their agencies. All copy is protected and cannot be reproduced without written permission from Orchard Business Group. Publisher further claims no responsibility for errors or omissions. Orchard Business Group Eneida Orchard Publisher/Editor P.O. Box 593 • Lightfoot, VA 23090-0593 • 757-561-5219 info.renew.va@gmail.com • www.facebook.com/renewmagazine.va • www.renewvamagazine.com Contributing Writers Bianca Negrón Castro • Tatrece Swann • Janice Underwood • Tracy Wainwright • Brad Orchard
Front Cover: Left to Right: Gina Harris, Amber B. Love, Ana Vergara, Yolando Mitchell, Stacy Lewis, Holli Palazzo, Jezlan Moyet. Dresses: Pinup Girl Clothing www.pinupgirlclothing.com Jewelry: Designer Brenda Gomez Empire collection bgjewelry.readz.com/EMPIRE-COLLECTION Photographer Julian Barrios
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Photo Courtesy of VHHA
FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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#RENEWONLOCATION IN CALIFORNIA!!! RENEW recently traveled to California to meet with the Hosts of Every Way Woman TV show. I had the pleasure of interviewing several of the co-hosts of this fabulous TV show which can be seen on Cox11 Monday afternoons, check your local listings. Every Way Woman TV is dedicated to celebrating and inspiring the person you were born to be! Every Way Woman TV provides a forum focused on uplifting, celebrating, informing and supporting the everyday people who are making a difference in our communities. The show provides a platform for them to discuss the issues that matter in their lives. Every Way Woman TV is for people from all walks of life. Every Way Woman TV recently moved to a new studio in Pico Rivera, CA, this is where I caught up with these special ladies and chatted for a bit.
NOW ON
RENEW: I had the opportunity to read your individual stories online but I would like to know, “Why did you audition to be on Every Way Woman TV Show? Amber B. Love: I am a mom of two kids and when I first auditioned for the show it was about empowering women. That is whole thing wellness and spiritual aspect of women. And also to bring a light kinda funny person into it. I have some good knock-knock jokes I can share with you later. Amber once shared the stage with Eartha Kitt and has worked as a producer on local and national radio shows such as the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Co-Host Amber B. Love/
Ana Vergara: The day I auditioned, my boyfriend passed away but I did it in his honor. I had to tell my story to help other people that are grieving. Ana donates countless hours to performing makeovers for women in need of a self-esteem boost. In 2013, Ana was selected as Hispanic Lifestyle’s Latina of Influence Award for giving back to the community through Woman Helping Woman and other organizations. Jezlen Moyet: Help as many women. Honored to be a part of the show. In 2013 Ana Ver gara/Co-H a devastating blow to her modeling career as a fall almost caused Jezlen to almost loose ost her left hand. Jezlen had to relearn even the simplest tasks like combing her hair and driving a car. Through this ordeal, Jezlan has learned the importance of finding the beauty in ugly situations. Stacey B. Lewis: I am the matriach by age and longevity. To encourage women. Stacey, a wife & mother of three, has shared her advice and parenting tips as a guest host of Broad Topics. She has also been featured on The Rachel Ray Show as well as websites and publications. RENEW: What are your goals? Amber B. Love: One goal was achieved, college. That my kids can see my achievements. Become a well known actress.
Host oyet/CoJezlen M
Ana Vergara: New found purpose, find happiness. To be a voice for other hurting people. Jezlen Moyet: Ultimate goal is to be happy, healthy lifestyle. living legacy to women. Stacey B. Lewis: Become financially independent. Help underprivileged people.
Stacey B. Lewis/C o-Host
Every Way Woman TV is produced by Yolando Mitchell Brown, LLC. and can be reached at contact@everywaywoman.com or www.everywaywoman.com. Every Way Woman TV will be hosting the RENEW Women’s Expo Saturday March 5, 2016 at the Magnuson Hotel & Conference in Newport News, VA. Join us for a one day, fun filled lifestyle celebration event with informative exhibits, interactive booths, motivating speakers: Shelley Smith of Premier Rapport, Bianca Negron, Tracy Wainwright, Ask Dr. J - Janice Underwood, Cooking Demo by Chef K, Dance Demo by Peninsula Dance Party, Fashion Show by Wright Talent & Model Agency, all to celebrate International Women’s Month and create awareness for women and heart disease - Go Red for Women. For more information on the RENEW Women’s Expo, please contact us at 757-561-5219 or visit www.renewvamagazine.com. 4 RENEW
FEBRUARY 2016
A CRAFTY STORAGE SOLUTION
A
desk or workspace is one of the most difficult spaces to organize. Between the things you need to keep within reach and the mementos and treasures you want close by, chasing away clutter may feel like a losing battle. Especially when surface space is at a premium, try turning to your walls for creative storage solutions.
Serving Hampton Roads for 35 years!
This whimsical organization board, a project designed by the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, lets you create a fully customized storage center to stash whatever you need. This design allows for everything from jewelry and charging cable storage to paper filing and photo displays to functional tools such as a clock or mirror. Choose fabrics and paint to fit your space; there’s plenty of room to go bold with bright patterns and colors or tone it down for a more subtle look.
(Family Features)
Find more ideas for creating storage with crafts at joann.com. Lay out cork board, dry erase boards and canvas, leaving some space between each piece for pops of color with fabric. Once composition and total project size has been determined, measure empty spaces to make fabriccovered boards. To create a fabric covered board, cut foamcore board to proper measurement. Cut batting 2-3 inches larger than board all the way around. Place batting on front of board and wrap around to back. Fold corners so they are neat and not bulky. Adhere with craft glue, using straight pins to hold in place until dry. Iron fabric. Once each piece is finished, place back into layout to make sure everything is still properly lined up and measurements are correct, making adjustments as needed. Repeat to make as many fabric boards as needed to fill the open spaces. Leave fabric covered boards as is or add some storage. Hang ribbon and grommets for cable organization. Stretch cording as clothesline and use clothespins for displaying pictures. Add diagonal fabric pocket for papers. Paint canvas pieces in solid colors or patterns to coordinate with fabric. The stretched canvas can also provide interesting storage options. Hang it backward for a quick shelf. Add pegs for hanging storage. Turn it into a clock with a simple 3-piece kit or add a mirror. Double it up with another canvas for extra dimension.
For any room in the house! Inner Space Systems has over 35 years of experience in providing and installing quality products for your home. Visit our showroom or visit our website for a glimpse at what we can do for you! • Custom storage solutions: closets, pantries, home offices and more • Custom glass shower and tub enclosures
Once all pieces are finished, hang together on wall. Room Organization Board Crafting time: Varies Skill Level: Some experience necessary Supplies and Tools: Cork board Dry erase board Stretched canvas in multiple sizes Cork roll Foamcore board Batting 2-3 coordinating fabrics Craft glue Straight pins Paint (coordinate colors to fabric)
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• Custom mirrors • Bath hardware (including ADA compliant hardware) • Garage Organizational Systems
Ribbon Drapery grommets Cording Clothespins (large and small) Wooden pegs 3-piece clock kit Mirror
757.487.1101 3535 Elmhurst Lane Portsmouth, VA 23701 www.issvip.com *Valid on purchases over $500. Mention promotion code RM012016 when calling! FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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Ragtime – The Musical: The North American Tour is a striking, all-new touring production set in turn-of-the-century New York involving a daring young Harlem musician (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), an upper-class wife (Mother) in New Rochelle, New York, and a determined Jewish immigrant from Latvia (Tatch). All three are fighting for a brighter tomorrow. With its timeless topics of equality, acceptance and prejudice for African Americans, women and immigrants, the story is as relevant today as the times that it portrays, that of early 1900’s America. The play is peppered with many historical figures of the day such as Booker T. Washington, Emma Goldman, Admiral Peary, Harry Houdini, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford just to name a few who add to the historical narrative of this turn of the 20th century story. Ragtime – The Musical has received thirteen Tony Award nominations and is a winner of two Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score – by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The Associated Press says, “Surely there are not many opening numbers than the intoxicating first moments of Ragtime.” Hollywood Reporter calls it “One of the best musicals in recent decades.” In addition, Bloomburg News proclaims, “Explosive and Thrilling. Ragtime is nothing short of a masterpiece.” I recently spoke with Leslie Jackson, who plays Sarah, the young African American girl from Harlem and the love interest of Coalhouse Walker Jr., the young Harlem musician. Yiorgo: Where were you born and can you share your road to finding your career in music and musical theatre? Leslie Jackson: I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and I always liked music and singing. I was in a little children’s choir in elementary school, I joined the children’s choir at church and started taking private voice lessons. In high school I got into musical theatre and classical music, and in college I pursued a bachelor’s degree of music in Opera Performance and a certificate in Music Theatre. Yiorgo: What is your favorite part of your chosen career and the worst part? Leslie Jackson: Performing! When you put all your hard work into a show and then to see how people react to it is amazing! With music you make beautiful sounds and touch people in ways you’re normally not able to. Not that it’s worst, but audition season can be tiring because there are so many of them usually in the winter and you have to go out in the snow, then you have about a minute or so to stand out from the rest. Waiting for callbacks can get a little tiring, but definitely worth it when you get that call. Yiorgo: What was the audition process like for this role? Leslie Jackson: For this show it was a nationwide open call and a lot of us in the cast went to the live audition in New York, and we were in the room with the casting directors and assistant directors. There were also a ton of submissions on line through you-tube, and they were watching all of those as well. Then you have the callbacks, and for those that could not come back, they did video callbacks. So, after a couple of weeks, my agent called and I had gotten the part. It was very exciting, because this is a dream role. Yiorgo: Have you had any wow moments with your job, met an actor you admire or someone you respect seeing and commenting on your work? Leslie Jackson: Yes. Towards the tail end of our rehearsal in New York, we had the honor of getting to perform some of the numbers of our show for Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. They wrote the musical score. They came and watched it and gave us some feedback. They loved the show and our take of it. It was amazing to get that kind of feedback from the people who actually made the show. It was very special for us to have them be so receptive of our show after seeing so many of them. Yiorgo: What advice would you give to aspiring actresses this day and age? Leslie Jackson: Go to live auditions because you can make a better impression and they can interact with you and give you better direction or do it over again in a variety of ways. Overall advice – like everything in life, you have to be willing to put in the work. Go to dance and acting classes, voice lessons, if you sing – treat your voice instrument or dance, and keep your body in shape, in order to perform every night. Yiorgo: Why should people see this play and what is the message that you would like the people seeing it to leave with? Leslie Jackson: Even though the play is about the struggles three Photos are Courtesy of broadwayworld.com groups of people in the early 1900s go through, it is also something that is very relevant to today, with our immigration and racial issues. I learned so much about our history from this play and the audience will do the same. They will leave fulfilled and with a new appreciation of how our past and present go hand in hand. Also, our show-stopping numbers and award-winning musical score, combined with our amazing cast, is a show for the whole family. Yiorgo: Thank you for your time. Leslie Jackson:. It was my pleasure.
Ragtime – The Musical:
The North American Tour
Yiorgo is Hampton Road’s Arts and Entertainment, and Sports journalist. A stage, TV and movie actor in his own right, he is also an educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller, columnist, and is also involved in the colorful world of professional wrestling.
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5 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY AND CELEBRATE REFUND SEASON
T
he holidays may be over, but refund season is just beginning, and there’s a lot to celebrate. This tax season, while consumers are eagerly awaiting their refund, tax preparation companies, tax officials and the IRS are working together to combat one of the fastest growing threats for tax season 2016 - tax identity fraud. Based on IRS data, nearly 3 million people have been victims of tax identity theft since 2010. Every year, criminals use increasingly advanced tactics - particularly geared toward taxpayers filing online - to steal taxpayers’ personal information, file fraudulent tax returns in their names and steal their refunds. After fraud occurs, it can take months and multiple steps by the victim to access a stolen refund and regain an identity with the IRS. Protect your identity - and your refund - with these five tax tips from H&R Block: (BPT)
1. File early and be cautious. Filing your taxes early will allow you to claim your refund before a criminal can. Before you file, protect your personal information by
installing a security software with anti-virus and firewall protections. 2. Keep your paper records safe. Shred records you are no longer using and keep your social security card and any sensitive documents under lock and key. 3. Do not respond to individuals posing as a tax agency. The IRS does not demand immediate payment without sending a bill in the mail first. If you receive a phone call or an email with an external link, do not click on the link or share personal or financial information unless you personally know the person on the other end. 4. Change your password. The 2015 tax season saw a significant increase of tax fraud in the do-it-yourself (DIY) space. When using at-home tax software, such as H&R Block’s DIY products, create a strong password with capitalization, numbers, and symbols or avoid the risk by visiting a tax preparer. 5. Use tax identity protection services. Visit the IRS website to learn more about how to protect your identity. Additionally, H&R Block’s Tax Identity Shield provides clients with tools to reduce the risk of tax identity theft and resolution services, if a client becomes a victim of tax identity theft. This tax season, take away the stress and put the “fun” back in “refund” by filing early. Plus, this year, you’ll have a chance to boost your refund - as an extra incentive, H&R Block is celebrating refund season by awarding $1,000 a day to 1,000 people. The first drawing for this limited time offer is Jan. 16. Visit hrblock.com/grand for rules and an alternate method of entry. Enter early to protect your refund and for more chances to win.
FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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8 RENEW FEBRUARY 2016
Part 4 Hazel knocked on the stout green door. She ignored both the brass doorknocker and the button for the bell. A dog began barking, loudly. If she didn’t know the mutt, she might be intimidated. His bark was enough to scare a stranger, but she knew the worst he’d do was leave a trail of slobber on her from his exuberant greeting. A full minute later, Eddie opened the door. His gray hair was disheveled, as if she’d woken him from a nap. Murphy darted past him and circled her legs. She leaned down to stroke
his fur and was rewarded with a series of licks. “Sorry to disturb your afternoon siesta. I have something for you to look at.” He ran his arthritic-ridden fingers through his hair and stepped back. “No problem. I needed to get up anyway.” “Oh yeah?” She stepped in and closed the door behind her. The dog continued to corral them as they moved down the hall. “Hot date?” He laughed. “MaryEllen’s sisters are coming over for dinner. She wants me to set up the Bunko table and sweep the front porch.” “Always a list of chores.” He led her into the den and sat in his brown recliner. Murphy settled at his feet, watching Hazel with bright, brown eyes. “It’s not so bad. A whole lot easier than chasing crooks.” She sat on the matching sofa. “Yes, well, I was hoping you might at least advise on a case.” She explained the situation of the missing Tiffany lamp at Nancy’s. “Interesting,” he responded when she finished. “Has she reported the theft to the police?” “I encouraged her to, but don’t think she has. You know Nancy, she doesn’t think it’s a big deal. She wouldn’t want to take some officer from a real case.” He shook his head. “Robbery sounds like a real case to me.” He leaned forward. “I think the sweeping can wait a bit. What do you have so far?” She pulled her notebook out of her purse, flipped to the right page, and handed it to him. “This is the list of everyone who had access to
her house over the last week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of them, but there was no sign of forced entry.” Cocking his head to the side, he met her gaze. “Does Nancy lock her doors?” She grinned. “Of course not. Who’d need to in the country?” “Her, apparently.” “Maybe she’ll start now, but I doubt it. Still, whoever came in had to have been in the house before. If it was random or an unplanned burglary, they’d have taken more than just the lamp. You won’t believe the valuable stuff lying all around her house.” “Oh, yes I would. I’ve known her about as long as you have.” “So you see why this is such a mystery. It makes sense for someone to steal the lamp, but why just the lamp?” He stroked his chin. “Interesting, for sure. Okay, I’ll copy this list and ask around. None of the names stand out, but maybe someone still active on the force will know more.” by Tracy Wainwright, Home Manager, Writer, Speaker, Conference Director
FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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Ser...Hacer...Tener... Bianca Negrón Castro
Bianca Negrón Castro, Coach Certificada y Profesional en Recursos Humanos Haciendo la Diferencia…Generando Valor en tu Vida, Carrera y Empresa
La clave del éxito es conectar con nuestro SER. ¿Cómo puedes lograr alcanzar cosas estupendas en tu vida? Bueno, hay tres sencillas palabras que pueden convertirse en tres simples pasos que te pueden apoyar a lograr maravillas en tu vida. Estas tres palabras son: 1- SERSER Cuando logras conectar contigo, logras conectar con tu SER. SER Para lograr esta conexión debes conocerte. Estas preguntas te pueden apoyar a reflexionar y conectar contigo: ¿Quién eres? ¿Qué te define? ¿Qué te hace feliz? ¿Qué deseas lograr? ¿Cómo puedes vivir en armonía y conexión contigo y los demás? 2- HACER- Cuando logramos conectar con nuestro SER, SER logramos poder HACER muchas cosas maravillosas. La conexión que desarrollamos con nosotros mismos es la que nos permite HACER cosas extraordinarias ya que logramos tener mayor confianza. El HACER cosas maravillosas en nuestra vida depende de nosotros y conocernos nos apoya a vivir en abundancia y armonía. 3TENERTENER Todos queremos TENER resultados exitosos pero necesitamos poder conectar con nosotros mismos para entonces poder HACER que las cosas sucedan. Muchas veces queremos TENER éxito pero no estamos dispuestos a HACER que las cosas sucedan. Al conectar con nuestro SER, SER logramos HACER cosas espectaculares que nos permitirán TENER lo que tanto deseamos y merecemos. La vida es un regalo y cuando reconocemos que somos un grandioso SER con grandes posibilidades de HACER podemos TENER resultados maravillosos . ¡ Haz la Diferencia y comienza por reconocer tu SER ! 10 RENEW FEBRUARY 2016
T
he heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, and its purpose is to pump blood through our arteries and veins which together all make up the cardiovascular system. It’s a major contributor to our normal life functions, and anything that blocks the flow of oxygen and blood to the heart can cause significant if not fatal consequences. That’s the heart from a medical perspective, but I’d to look at the heart from a different perspective which can often go undetected and untreated. There’s a question to ask yourselves often: What’s feeding you? I ask that question because you can’t be any better than what you eat…in the physical sense, your health won’t be any better than what you eat. If you understand that in the physical sense, then in the spiritual sense, you have to understand that when people talk to you, they feed you, and what feeds you, effects you. Matthew 12:34 says that….For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks….what that simply means is that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of; your conversation will reveal what’s really in your heart.
Tatrece Dunlap Swann
As parents it’s important to be mindful of what we speak over our kids because we feed them. Many adult behaviors that we see today are a direct result of what was fed to them as children; it has affected their heart. It’s difficult to love or receive love when there is no love in the heart, so be mindful of whom or what feeds you.
February is not only Heart Awareness Month, but it is also the month we traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Day, the month we declare or affirm our love to the important people in our lives. Love is one of the most important words in the English language, but incorrectly interpreted. It’s not the media’s interpretation of the commercialized warm and fuzzy picture that’s depicted; it grows from the depths of the heart’s desire to meet a person’s emotional needs. Love has to grow from a heart that’s been well fed and nurtured, and no matter your background, educational accomplishments, or income level, love is something we ALL want to feel. It’s difficult to grow fruit when vegetables have been planted. That’s an illustrative way to say, you can’t produce what you don’t plant. Decide to practice better heart awareness this month, physically and spiritually. Exercise better cardio habits to build that heart muscle and ensure it’s in excellent condition, but also exercise better spiritual habits to ensure you’re taking in healthy ‘good food’ to ensure your hearts in the right place to show love! First things first….Who’s feeding you?
FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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IS YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE?
HEALTHY HABITS TO TRY IN 2016
Here are some thoughtful habits to consider incorporating into your day in the coming year. Find Time to Decompress • If you’re a morning person, get out of bed 30 minutes earlier than normal to wake up with your favorite coffee or tea and think about what you need to accomplish for the day. • More of a night owl? Spend at least 30 minutes before going to sleep to unplug from technology and relax with a new book you’ve had on your list to read.
(StatePoint)
• Schedule time for exercise to reduce stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Planning workouts ahead of time will make you more likely to stick to them. Write Everything Down • Handwritten notes and to-do lists will reinforce your memory of the tasks you need to conquer. They also give you the option to look at what you need to do for the day and prioritize the list. Consider a personal planner, such as those from the popular AT-A-GLANCE collection, which includes a variety of styles that reflect your personality and organizational needs. • Documenting your day not only keeps you organized, but also provides you with an opportunity to look back and reflect on your life’s accomplishments, memories and milestones from the year. Balanced Diet, Balanced Life • Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet will help you feel great, and can increase your focus, energy levels and productivity. • Plan out your meals ahead of time before going shopping by marking them in a calendar. This will give you more time during the week to cook and prepare meals, without having to make frequent trips to the store or feel tempted to grab take-out. You’ll be more likely to stick with the habit if you love the calendar you use, so consider something easy on the eyes, such as an AT-A-GLANCE fashion planner. • Cooking your own fresh meals can help keep your bank account balanced, and is often much healthier than food from a restaurant. And spending time in the kitchen is also a stress reliever for some people. Make a fresh start -- the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to make positive changes to how you schedule and organize your time. 12 RENEW FEBRUARY 2016
OASIS OF LIFE DANCE
O
asis of Life Dance began several years ago as part of the vision of our mentors Pastor Saurissha Maldonado and Pastor Esther Torres. We began with a small but passionate group of girls just yearning to bring a new and extravagant worship to the Lord. The fire in our group was contagious, our congregation began to be impacted by our worship and to the glory and honor of God, our group grew in numbers way beyond our expectation. Three of the original group members, Lumar Badillo-Burgos and Ministers Shaimalys Soto and Lenny Vasquez, now serve as team leaders under the covering of the Director of Dance, Pastor Esther Torres. One of our team’s most distinguishable feature is the use of tambourines as the core instrument in our Director of Dance: Pastor Esther Torreswe utilize several other dance. Although
Photos Courtesy of Oasis of Life Dance Team
instruments--streamers and silk fans among the favorites--the tambourine has always had a special place in our worship, going on to become our de facto weapon of choice. I say ‘weapon’ because as worship dancers our instruments are also weapons of war, especially designed to stir up the atmosphere, to confuse the enemy and bring breakthrough with every move. At the core of our ministry is the understanding that we live to worship, and we worship to live. We seek first and foremost to have hearts surrendered before His presence so that He may manifest in everything that we do for His glory, but also understand that without Him, we are nothing. Our lives hang on our relationship and intimate connection to the Father, and that’s what keeps us going--a Ministers Shaimalys Soto and Lenny Vasquez desire to live in His presence and bring others into that place of worship.
Part of the Oasis of Life Dance Team
Dance Ministry is ready to embark on what promises to be a year of expansion alongside our mother church, Oasis of Life Christian Church.
Lumar Badillo Burgos
God has been nothing short of amazing to our team! In the years that Oasis of Life Dance has been active, we have had the honor of ministering in many congregations in Virginia, particularly in Charlottesville and the Hampton Roads area, as well as participating in events in Florida, North Carolina and New York. We also held our first Dance Workshop, in collaboration with other dance ministers in our city, to instruct worshippers in tambourine routines, dance technique and the fundamentals of worship dance. We can truly say that we have seen the hand of God over our individual lives and the collective of our team as He continues to make good on the promise that He made to us: that we would multiply and reach the nations with a dance of breakthrough, revival and restoration. Under Pastora Esther’s leadership, the ODV
Oasis of Life Church
Oasis of Life YouTube
FEBRUARY 2016 RENEW
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2016 is here and RENEW readers are asking some great questions to kick the New Year off in the right direction. Let’s jump in!
ASK
Vanessa: Dr. J, currently my family (my husband, and three children) and I live in [a particular coastal Hampton Roads City] and we are contemplating moving away to a more affluent city within the local area, which I believe better meets the needs of our middle class family. I love the elementary school for the arts they go to now, but I realize the same level of attention and excellence I have grown accustomed to at their elementary school is not demonstrated in the upper grades…so after elementary school, we really have no where to go…other than go to JANICE private school. My children are well-rounded and high achieving and I feel they will get lost in the craziness of the UNDERWOOD middle and high school we are currently zoned for. So, do we stay in our community and have my children go to less than average schools, or do I move so that my children can have the benefit of a better education? Let me add, I am also a teacher in the school division my children attend (for the past 13 years) and I also want to leave the school system to pursue my career in a school district that will hopefully appreciate me more. I feel so guilty that I am choosing my children over so many others.
DR. J
Dr. J: Vanessa, I totally understand this dilemma and so do thousands of other parents who are facing some of the same circumstances. So, allow me to answer your question by first suggesting that you should in no way feel guilty for only wanting the best for your children and yourself. Any good educator pours their expertise and nurturance into other people’s children all day and it is only natural for that educator to want the same for his or her children. I know I did when I was a classroom teacher. So, hold your head up and celebrate the fact that you have for 13 years invested in lives of children, who will undoubtedly remember you and your efforts fondly. Beyond this, you must realize that you have to make the decision that is best for you and your family. It is not your fault that your current city or school system does not have the necessary infrastructure to meet you and your family’s needs. In fact, this should be a wake up call to city and school officials because they need realize that many of their constituents have a choice where to live, work, and play. I am sure they do not want to lose your tax dollars or high achieving children. The problem is that many of these officials are not thinking like this; so, instead, they focus their attention on misguided efforts like standardized test scores, pay raises for only the elite, re-election for some of them, and of course reactively addressing the next crisis that hits the local newspaper. Additionally, as a seasoned teacher, you want to work somewhere where you are not only appreciated, but in a place that values your expertise and input. So, my suggestion to you is to make a list and compare all the pros and cons of both leaving and staying. And in doing so, do things to proactively help you to prepare to make the list realistic. For example, consult a realtor to explore your options of moving into the new area of your choice and how viable it is to sell your current home, if you have one (because depending on where you live, it is very difficult to sell a home in this current market), visit the new schools to see if they are actually better as you perceive they are, and talk to people who work in other Hampton Roads school districts to discover if the grass is really greener on the other side. But keep in mind, the grass is the greenest where it is watered, which means it will take dedication and work to see the fruits of your efforts where ever you are. And Vanessa, what ever you and your husband decide, do it with a clear conscious because your number one priority is you and your children.
u Sarah: I would like your opinion about something. I work in a school with a student population that is mostly Black and Latino/a. We are the only high school in our school division with an English as a second language program. Unfortunately, the teachers who work in my school (including me) are mostly White and do not speak another language other than English. What do you think about this? Dr. J: Sarah, the demographics of the teacher and student populations at your school are quite similar to the national demographics across the US. What we know is that the student population across the nations’ schools is increasingly diverse and yet the teaching workforce remains largely White and female. So, what to do about this? I think the answer is rests in a combination of solutions. First, the teaching staff must gain the skills to engage diverse students, which is not only so that we simply make diverse students feel comfortable in the culture of a middle class classroom/school setting, but so that academic achievement increases. For example, we know that increased discipline referrals and recommendations for special education services are in epidemic proportions by Caucasian American staff who have African and Latino/a American students, which means these students are spending more time out of the classroom for often times cultural misunderstandings than inside the classroom learning. Accordingly, school systems must invest in addressing this cultural mismatch between students and teachers, and if done authentically and genuinely will translate into higher academic gains for the students. Additionally, we need to reform the English as a second language philosophy in our country because we want English language learners to spend their time learning math, science, art, technology, and social studies…and not just English. However, the way things are now, most of these students are forced to spend the first couple of years only learning to speak English as opposed to accommodating the curriculum and the standardized tests to reflect their language. Secondly, we need as a society to shift our admiration away from sport figures and celebrities and toward educators. There needs to be the same level of perceived professionalism and economic status for a teacher as there is for a doctor, lawyer, judge, entrepreneur, or politician. As a result, the education profession will be able to attract and retain only the best and brightest, which must include all ethnicities and language abilities.
u Thank you to everyone who submitted a question in 2015. If you would like to start 2016 by asking a question you can email me directly and confidentially at janicebellunderwood@gmail.com and your question could be featured in an upcoming issue of RENEW Magazine. I can’t wait to hear from you! Dr. Janice Underwood teaches in the science education program at Old Dominion University, where she trains preservice teachers to engage diverse learners in K-12 science classrooms.
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