May - June 2015

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Karamu House Alum Soars in Hollywood $ 3.75 USD

MAY-JUNE 2015

RENEE T. RICHARD Counseling from the Courtroom to the Classroom

BARBARA WILLIAMS Inspiring Women in Aviation and Engineering

WISER PROGRAM Advancing Women & Girls at Case Western Reserve University

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From the Editor:

Shelley M. Shockley

Celebrating Transitions Spring and summer are ripe with celebrations from graduations to weddings and new additions to the family. The days are longer, the sun is warm on your face and your spirits just ring a little brighter.

This edition of Phenomenal Woman is our annual Salute to Education, where we showcase the brilliant women working to lay the foundation of learning in the generations coming after them, and planting seeds of hope and success within our youth.

This is a time that we also like to introduce some of the bright scholars in our colleges, and share their experiences with the hope that you will pass this information on to young women who will soon begin their own journey.

Additionally, this is a time when I like to encourage each of our readers to focus on what you have learned recently. Why, you may ask? My reasoning is that I take stock in believing that education is a life-long experience. We have broken it down into cycles – K-8, 9-12 and then we graduate from high school having completed the required coursework. From there we may head to a Junior/Community College like Cuyahoga Community College for two years and receive an Associate's Degree, or transfer those courses to a four year college or university.

Graduation from college can be followed by graduate schools where we continue to hone the skills achieved in undergraduate colleges and universities.

Not to be forgotten there are a number of technical and skilled trainings offered that prepare us for a particular job.

These are all wonderful tracts to have to choose from, but I challenge us all to learn something daily. Think of life as your chalkboard and write out a lesson plan daily. Do you know what this world would be like if everyone cherished the fact that we are not all-knowing and that there is something new to explore and learn daily?

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Founder / Publisher Shelley M. Shockley

Managing Editor Writers Shelley M. Shockley Ruby Lee Gamble A. Michele Garrett Kim Brown

Creative Bele’ Wondwossen

Cover Story: Michelle Phillips Fay Photo: Lisa Sullivan

Contributors Marjorie Clark Michelle Phillips Fay Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew Stephanie Phelps Deborah Prince Kimberly Smith-Woodford

Advertising Sales ads@phenomenalwoman.me 216.702.0845 Phenomenal Woman Magazine A subsidiary of Atlantic Creative Productions 5247 Wilson Mills Road #141 Cleveland, OH 44143

As Karamu House celebrates its Centennial Anniversary this month, we have also showcased an alumna of that historic theatre – Debra Byrd. Byrd is a vocal coach to the stars and has worked with everyone from Tonny Bennett and Stevie Wonder to Jennifer Hudson and Bono.

© 2015 Phenomenal Woman Magazine. All rights reserved

Then there is Renee Tramble Richard, Vice President and General Counsel of Cuyahoga Community College (CCC). In this issue, she provides valuable advice for young women considering a career in law, and really for young women in general. She also hopes to start a program mentoring millennials, a segment of our population feeling a great deal of pressure to succeed.

ISSN 2330-2534 (Print) ISSN 2330-2550 (Online)

These women and more are featured within this edition and it is our hope at Phenomenal Woman that you take away something of value from the stories each of these women have shared.

Until we meet again, 4 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

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Beletu (Bele') Wondwossen

By picking up this magazine, I hope that you will learn something that you didn't know. What are some of the things you might learn? Well for one, you will meet Barbara Williams, executive director of the International Women's Air & Space Museum. Williams was the first minority female hired by the Federal Aviation Administration in Ohio. Did you know that?

You will also learn about the WISER program at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), a program aiding young women as they navigate their collegiate experience.

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Material may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form of this publication without prior permission from the publisher. Produced and printed in OHIO, USA.

on the

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CONTENTS SIMPLY STEPHANIE: LIVING IN DESTINY The Sensibilities of Women

RENEE TRAMBLE RICHARD

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Tri-C Counseling from Courtroom to the Classroom

Aqadas Holistic Healing & Wellness

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There’s More to Discover at

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Inspiring Women in Aviation and Engineering

WISER PROGRAM

at Case Western Reserve University

Karamu House Alum Soars in Hollywood

Delicious Recipes

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KENT STATE UNIVERSITY!

BARBARA WILLIAMS

DEBRA BYRD

Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew

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Investing in your Passion with Purpose

Ashley Aquilla Wheadon

Directing Dr. Mary Weems's Purses

Movie Reviews

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 5

FINANCE

Office of Women's Business Ownership | Resources

InnovateHER is a cross-cutting women's business challenge to unearth innovative products and services that help impact and empower the lives of women and families.

We know that our workforce looks very different from 50 years ago. Women now make up nearly half of the labor force and play a critical role in our nation's economic prosperity. Most children live in households where all parents work. And as our population ages, families are increasingly caring for aging parents while balancing the needs of work and home. As demands on women and families grow, the need for products and services that address unique challenges increases. This Challenge will provide that platform.

Congratulations to the 2015 InnovateHER Winners!

Administrator Contreras-Sweet and the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership are pleased to announce the Top Three Winners of the 2015 InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business Challenge. An executive committee of SBA officials reviewed nearly 75 semi-finalists' nomination packages and selected 15 finalists whose products and services best met the competition criteria and presented the greatest potential for success. Those 15 finalists were invited to travel to Washington, D.C. for a live pitch competition on May 8, 2015 before a panel of expert judges, where they competed for the Top Three spots and prize money totaling $30,000 provided by Microsoft.

1st place – Bethany Edwards, Pregnancy Test, Philadelphia, Pa. LIA Diagnostics has designed a pregnancy test to provide a better experience for women at a stressful moment in their lives. The LIA test is discreet, easy to use and is environmentally friendly. Unlike current tests, LIA is flushable, ergonomically designed for women to hold and use, and displays a result that is easy to understand.

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2nd place – Lisa Crites, The Shower Shirt, Cocoa Beach, Fla. The SHOWER SHIRT™ is a post-surgical, patented, waterresistant garment designed to prevent post-surgical mastectomy drain sites from coming into contact with water while showering. With the creation of The SHOWER SHIRT, women now have the option to shower safely, while also reducing their risk of post-surgical infections.

3rd place – Sophia Berman, Trusst Lingerie, Pittsburgh, Pa. Trusst Lingerie has developed effective and attractive products aimed at eliminating the pain and discomforts experienced by the underserved U.S. market of larger busted woman with cup size DDD+.

Current bra technology supports larger breasts from the shoulder straps. Trusst's cantilevered system places the majority of the support from underneath the bust, encompassing up to 80 percent of breast weight.

Challenge Criteria InnovateHER provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase products or services that have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families (30%), have the potential for commercialization (40%), and fill a need in the marketplace (30%).

Participants must be at least 18 years of age, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and meet other requirements as defined in the Competition Rules . Please visit SBA.GOV for more information.

Financial Fibs: 5 lies to stop telling yourself On the path to credit damage are various fibs people tell themselves to avoid dealing with the hard truth: humans don't like change. There's no shame in the occasional flub, but continuing bad financial behavior only leads to bigger problems in the future.

Don't borrow against yourself. Having an established savings plan is very important in every stage of life. If a circumstance comes up that demands you pull funds from your savings plan, make sure to get back on the savings train as quickly as possible.

Americans have become accustomed to living a lifestyle accompanied by debt. The negative side effects of debt have been minimized to a mere inconvenience, something to be dealt with at a later time. In fact, according to figures from the Federal Reserve, the total U.S. outstanding consumer debt was $3.33 trillion as of January 2015. This figure includes car loans, student loans and revolving debt, but not mortgages.

3. Investing is too complicated and besides, only the rich get richer.

"Sound and responsible financial management starts with facing the realities of our individual financial circumstances," said Scott Smith, personal finance expert and president of CreditRepair.com. "Truthfully evaluating our income level, debt obligations, spending habits, savings habits and future financial goals will get you started on the right path to living a responsible financial life."

Smith recommends deceivers:

avoiding

the

following

self-

1. I don't know what my credit score is, but that's okay.

I'll only need it when I decide to buy my next car or finally purchase a new home.

It's very important to know your credit score and responsibly manage it. Credit scores are not only used for securing a loan, but also for insurance pricing, job applications and rental agreements.

2. I'll just take a little from my savings account, but I'll pay it back next month.

Most of the time the “rich get richer� because of their discipline. Investing and saving is important for everyone, regardless of their current financial situation.

4. Maybe if I turn my voicemail off the debt collectors will stop calling.

Dealing with debt collectors can be very frustrating and sometimes even intimidating, but consumers do have rights protecting them and debt collectors have laws that govern their ability to pester you.

5. I deserve a break. I'll just charge my vacation and pay it back later.

Although circumstances sometimes arise that require the use of credit to cover unexpected expenses, those situations should be minimized as much as possible. If credit card debt is incurred, pay it off as soon as possible. The interest charged is a serious penalty and is not worth the instant gratification that a vacation or expensive pair of shoes may bring.

The bottom line: self-improvement is a tall order, but making excuses for poor financial judgment will do nothing to improve your life. Focus on ways to enhance your financial situation now. Your future self will thank you.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â–’ 7

Simply Stephanie

Living in Destiny©

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For new lessons and solutions look to the sensibilities of women As I write this column my mind is on the unrest in Baltimore, Maryland, in relation to a 25-yearold named Freddie Gray and his encounter with police. In the end, according to officials, he died as the result of a spinal cord injury. Freddie's untimely death, the associated protests, the burning, looting, property damage, state of hopelessness and poverty so many experience every single day leaves me reeling and looking

By Stephanie Phelps for answers. There's a disturbing déjà vu, an PWM Contributing Writer ongoing nightmare that the complacent refuse to wake-up from. I remember only learning about the killing of Emmet Till in my high school history class. Yet as a mother, I've watched on television the killing of a defenseless Trayvon Martin, by an overzealous neighborhood watchman who assumed Trayvon “was up to no good,” simply because of the color of his skin. Surely Trayvon didn't belong in his neighborhood the watchman had to have been thinking. In the end an unarmed 17-year-old was dead. The self-appointed watchman was found not guilty.

The trial, the heartbreak, the unadulterated tragedy culminating in the lost lives of what now seems to be countless boys, men, and some women, following police and police like encounters – even since Trayvon – has left me in utter shock, confusion, and disbelief. No wonder there are those who'd rather endure the nightmare of inhumanity, rather than become fully awake. The body count is gruesome and unfathomable. My thoughts leave me wondering what we're learning, after such tragic loss of life.

What are the lessons; what are we to take-away? Are we really asking questions or just rehashing the same issues without any real expectation or desire for solutions? We need to look at who's educating us and the reasons we just can't or won't wake-up. At best we hit the snooze button and roll over to return to our nightmare.

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Recently, it dawned on me, while watching a television interview with Trayvon Martin's mom, Sabrina Fulton, and the mother of Sean Bell – he too was unarmed and killed by police – that enlightened, informed and compassionate women are the answer. These kinds of women possess the awareness, responsiveness, and fearlessness to make a deep and lasting impact, with little to no violence as a remedy. The women I speak of possess all that's needed to help awaken us from our contentment. Take for example the mother who saw her son rioting in Baltimore. She confronted him with pure loving intention, as only a mother can, sent him home with a few smacks up-side his head, and a lot wiser. In her more awakened state she was unafraid and determined to do whatever necessary to remove her child from a potentially deadly situation. Any negative ramifications were of little consequence to her.

Without question, the voice of women must play an essential and increasingly active role in our problem solving if we are to rid ourselves of the unfathomable death toll resultant of excessive police force and a myriad of other societal ills. No longer can we rely on predominantly male voices. An equal feminine voice is required. Surely, continued and heightened policing is not the answer. Inherently women simply know better.

Simply,Stephanie 8 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

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2015 Women of Distinction

&

Advancing Women Awards

September

25,

2015

The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Women of Distinction and Advancing Women Awards celebration links the leaders of today with our future women leaders we are developing through Girl Scouting, while raising funds to support scholarships for local Girl Scouts.

The Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Award will be presented to three Girl Scouts who demonstrate high scholastic achievement, creativity, initiative and community outreach, and who embody the Girl Scout’s belief that young women with promise today will become tomorrow's leaders. *Finalists will be selected by an independent committee. To become a selection committee member, contact Kim Graves at 330-983-0376 or kgraves@gsneo.org.

Categories include: Women of Distinction (Women 18 years and older) Leaders of Tomorrow (Girl Scouts) Advancing Women (Company/Organization)

Nominations now open through July 10, 2015 For criteria, please visit: gsneo.org/wod Brandstetter Carroll Inc. We E nh an ce C om m un i ty an d Q ua l i ty of Lif e

Sponsors: Vice President Senior Investment Consultant

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio One Girl Scout Way Macedonia, OH 44056

gsneo.org www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â–’ 9

women in leadership

Renee Tramble Richard Vice President and General Counsel Cuyahoga Community College

By Shelley Shockley PWM Managing Editor

S

erving as the Vice President and General Counsel of Cuyahoga Community College may sound mundane, but Renee Tramble Richard would discount those claims noting that her post is anything but, routine. As we sat down after hours to discuss her position she said, “Very seldom are two days the same.”

As the chief legal officer of the college and overseeing a staff of five, the work load is fluid and could include contract negotiations, labor arbitrations, real estate transactions; student issues – student to student or Title IX as well as employee grievances and terminations.

A Cleveland native, Richard has served as VP and General Counsel since December 2012 after a successful career as a public finance attorney with a number of local firms including Roetzel & Andress, Squire Sanders, Calfee Halter and Benesch Friedlander.

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Law was not her first choice for a career. After college, she was an accountant with Watson Rice Certified Accountants and Advisors; a choice she says was influenced by her mother's work as a bookkeeper, and she felt as an accountant she would always have a job.

After working for a number of years she began to have thoughts of going to law school, and despite not knowing what her concentration would be, Richard enrolled taking evening courses while continuing to work full time. Richard says that growing up she did hear about lawyers and see them on television, but she knew that she couldn't be a litigator in court because she was a shy teenager. Now that she had enrolled, she decided she would combine her work as an accountant and become a Tax Attorney.

Early in her legal career she was invited to attend the closing of a public finance deal where she received her first taste of this career path and has never looked back. Her experience and the work she performed for the College as its public finance attorney led to her current position. She said, “They liked the way we worked together and when this opening came about, I was encouraged to apply.”

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I would like to start an informal program mentoring millenials, particularly minorities because this group of youth seem to have more pressure to be successful than I did.

During her tenure with the College she says the most rewarding and challenging experience has been solidifying the accreditation for the Nursing program.

“There was a lot of round the clock work with a robust team to defend accreditation. There was no room for failure.” In the end they were successful and received first a probationary accreditation that has since been extended to a full eight year term.

With the vast legal work a college has, she says there is not always that opportunity to truly interact with students despite their goal of “providing our students a successful and safe experience.” To aid in that experience she and her staff established mini legal clinics to help students with issues that might be impeding their collegiate careers. Although the inaugural clinic was not overflowing, Richard plans to offer them again in the fall.

Working on a college campus and being a mother has Richard thinking about millenials and more importantly about mentoring them. As she speaks of a future project near and dear to her the maternal voice surfaces. “I would like to start an informal program mentoring millenials,” particularly minorities because she believes this group of youth seem to “have more pressure to be successful than I did.” All parents pray their children will experience more success than they did, but she says this group doesn't have the answers on how to navigate the business world. They may have the knowledge, but they don't know how to get there.

Renee Tramble Richard with Administrative Assistant Dannita McDonald. (Photo: S. Shockley)

She also offered advice to young women considering a career in law, “Think broadly. Have wide and broad experiences over the course of your career. Seasoning and some experience. A lot of your success is not going to be what you learned in a book, but will be legal instinct.”

Away from the office, Richard enjoys spending time with her family and is an active member of Lee Road Baptist Church, Jack and Jill of America, and The Links, Inc. <

Part of the problem is the less than stellar reputation these students have, Richard said “They are said to be selfabsorbed, the 'me, me' generation. After speaking with a small group that's not how they see themselves.” Some of the issues she would like to be able to help them resolve is truly understanding that when you are confronted with problems, it is not always associated with race.

She explained they would, “Discuss what is common in the workplace and understanding that it is not happening just because you're black.” www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 11

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Aqadas Holistic Healing & Wellness offers whole body wellness

By Shelley M. Shockley

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or more than fifteen years Sadaqa Calhoun-Redus has been working to bring out the healthy you – both physically and spiritually as a licensed physical fitness trainer and minister. Recently she has added to this with a Bachelors Degree in Holistic Wellness and the launching of Aqadas Holistic Healing & Wellness.

The goal of Aqadas Holistic Healing & Wellness is to provide holistic services with the highest level of customer satisfaction. One of the key features of their services is to bring balance to your energy system through Touched by Sadaqa.

To understand energy and how it can work to alleviate pain you can go back to your high school physics class where you were introduced to Albert Einstein and E=MC2 also known as energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. This tells us that Mass and Energy are interchangeable, and that both space and time are not absolute. The most important consequence of this is that Mass is nothing but a form of Energy. So, everything is a form of Energy, objects at rest have stored Energy. Trees, 12 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

Rocks, Dogs, Water and People are all made up of Energy, in one form or another.

In an article on healing.about.com Carol Powell Smith puts the theory of energy and your body into context when she writes, “Everyday our bodies are being hit with these Energies from many different sources. We don't see it but we know it is there.

When we speak, our voice saying words has released sound waves of Energy causing ripples in the air around us. When we think, our brains release wavelengths of Energy.”

Utilizing this explanation, the idea of negative energy impacting our bodies becomes clearer and this is the work that Calhoun-Redus performs. She explains, “With energy work, we get to the root of the problem. A lot of times it is something in the energy field causing our pain. It can be something that we are holding on from birth, a trauma that we experienced that manifests to the physical.” Through the energy work, she says she is trying to clear up that blocked energy that is causing the illness.

The energy field refers to the energy storage centers and patterns within the body also known as Chakras. These energy openings allow life energy to flow into and out of our aura. They function to vitalize the physical body and to bring about the development of the self-consciousness.

Without being overly scientific or Zen it is about bringing balance to the body, which can serve as the root cause of illness. Calhoun-Redus recounted the story of a client suffering from pain consistently for three years due to Lupus. The woman was prescribed various medications to alleviate the pain, but to no avail. After coming to Touched

by Sadaqa she wrote, “As the energy was moving I just laid there and prayed and I could feel the pain leaving out of my body in different areas.” She further explains that for the first time in a very long time she felt pain free and she had a higher level of clarity.

Calhoun-Redus believes that this is the work she was placed on this earth to do, “I always knew I wanted to help people and I thought it would be through nursing, which I did for a number of years before quitting because I couldn't handle losing patients.” This led her into a career

as a physical training believing “I want to help people get healthy before they need long term health assistance.”

Despite a very successful following with Kim'B Fitness she still felt a pull back to massage as she remembered her last patient as a nurse. This patient had late stage cancer and only wanted massages, “All she wanted me to do was put some oil on her and rub her. I did this for weeks until the day I received the call that she had died,” recalls Calhoun-Redus. Knowing the relief that she offered that patient propelled her back into massage, but she stopped short when her mom passed away.

The yearning or pull was still there so she completed her degree and launched Aqadas Holistic Health & Wellness because, “there are too many of us hurting – physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

To learn more about Aqadas Holistic Health & Wellness visit touchedbysadaqa.com and to schedule your own energy session call 216-440-2317. <

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Photo by Lisa Sullivan

COVER STORY: DEBRA BYRD

Debra Byrd

Karamu House Alum Soars in Hollywood 14 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

By Michelle Phillips Fay Contributing Writer, Phenomenal Woman Magazine

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this article writes itself with just a quick glance of Debra Byrd's official website photo gallery.

There you will see the famed vocal coach from The Voice and American Idol depicted with a galaxy of stars. It is a veritable Who's Who in the music industry, ranging from the legendary – Burt Bacharach, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder and Clive Davis – to some of today's hottest and brightest stars – Bono, Jennifer Hudson, India.Arie and Carly Rae Jepsen. To many this might feel like flying too close to the sun, but not for this Byrd. Even before shooting to fame as the vocal coach for American Idol and The Voice, Byrd was already a star in her own right.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Byrd exhibited signs of being a musical prodigy by age 12. She was studying opera and piano, and learning to sing in four languages. In her teens, she co-founded and performed in church choirs, and sang in a local band. While others contended with the challenges of puberty, Byrd was taking on the challenge of narrating children's concerts in conjunction with the city's renowned symphony orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra.

While in Ohio, she pursued the study of music at Kent State University, and acquired theatrical training at both Dobama Theater and Karamu House in Cleveland.

Byrd with student at Berklee College of Music where she is an Artist-In-Residence

Widely known for her role as vocal coach to the stars, it is less well known that Byrd got her own start in much the same way as the show's contestants – the all-important audition. Hers took place at the historic Karamu House, which will celebrate its 100th year as America's first black theatre company in June 2015. As the story goes, Byrd's mother read an advertisement in The Plain Dealer, announcing auditions for Langston Hughes' black gospel musical play Tambourines to Glory, and she urged her daughter to audition. On a lark, Byrd did just that, and she was hired and cast in the production. Winning a role at Karamu House in her first-ever audition proved to be a lifechanging moment, Byrd shared. Instantly, she knew that she “needed to be a part of it [Karamu House].” And so Byrd became a part of it, almost literally. In her own words: “I loved every second of it. And I was just there. I became a fixture.”

Inside the venerable walls of Karamu (which in Swahili means “a place of joyful gathering”), Byrd honed her craft.

“I found a musical family within that building,” she said.

Following the Langston Hughes musical, Byrd enrolled in improvisation classes. After that, she took to learning everything there was to learn, “so that [she] could still be in the building,” Byrd confessed.

And this included everything from being on stage (acting, dancing, and singing) to working behind the stage (music director, lighting, stage management) to constructing the actual stage (set building). “Being under that roof was so thrilling, educational and wonderful for me,” Byrd remembered. From the rise in her voice's octave as she

recounted her time there, it is clear that Byrd still truly appreciates having “resided” at Karamu House. And not only for the joy it gave her, but also for the many ways in which it educated, developed and nurtured her talent as an artist.

“My favorite aspect is when I see a singer 'get it,' ...”

Today, Byrd places a premium on her own strengths in the area of artist development. And so do the savvy within her industry. After two decades, she is highly sought after by agents, managers and record producers to help develop their artists. “I enjoy when they submit their artists to me to be developed,” she emphasized. In fact, after a tenure of “10 plus years” on American Idol, overlapping with another “five years” on Canadian Idol, and the last “four years” on The Voice, her name has become synonymous with star making.

Her Twitter handle and Instagram account are aptly named “ByrdStarSchool,” because, as Byrd said, “they basically are in star school.”

Continued on next page www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 15

COVER STORY: DEBRA BYRD

It was recently announced that American Idol is ending its 15-year run after next season. Waxing nostalgic, I asked if she had a favorite season. And that prompted Byrd's first pregnant pause of the interview. She responded: “It's going to sound so generic . . . because, yes, they really have been all my favorites because they're all uniquely different. And the talent is different.” Spoken like the mother who is asked to identify her favorite child. What mother could honestly choose between the talents of Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks, Fantasia or the countless others?

Asked to identify her favorite aspect of her work, Byrd, the seasoned industry-veteran, answered: “My favorite aspect is when I see a singer 'get it,' no matter what 'it' is – whether it's how to perform, or a vocal technique, or how to learn a song. It's when they get it. And it is something that they hadn't gotten before . . . It's all in the eyes and in their hearts.” For Byrd, the eyes play an important role in coaching competitors. She uses their eyes as her tool, explaining that she will “wait to see when 'the fight' kicks

PHENOMENAL “PHACTS”

n She is presently a vocal coach on NBC's highly-rated show The Voice.

n She is the Chair of the Vocal Department at Musicians Institute, College of Contemporary Music, which is located in Los Angeles, CA.

n She was named “America's Top Coach for Best Vocal Advice” by Oprah Winfrey.

n She has

coached vocally hundreds from The Voice, American Idol, Canadian Idol, The Next, High School Musical, the Grammy Awards, and Operation Rising Star.

n She has coached, judged and mentored

for ABC, NBC, FOX, MTV, CW, Disney, The Hub Network, ITV (United Kingdom), CTV (Canadian Television) and the Pentagon Channel.

PERFORMANCE “PHEATS”

n Byrd was signed as part of a girl group called “Lady Flash” by RSO/Polydor Records.

16 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

in.” What exactly is “the fight”? Byrd described that moment of dawning as follows: “Because they are in a competition. And they realize, at some point, I want to win. It's just that simple – I want to win.” According to Byrd, she can discern the look of defeat or victory, “and it's in their eyes.”

Byrd herself is “still performing, producing and recording.” Earlier this year, she turned in one of her more noteworthy performances as a singer at the 87th Academy Awards. That night she sang on three songs, including the on-stage chorus for the Academy Award-winning Glory performed by writers John Legend and Common and The Sound of Music medley as performed by Lady Gaga, and lastly The Lego Movie medley on which she sang off-camera. Once more, Byrd was surrounded by the brightest and hottest stars, which seems to be her natural element. So if you're an aspiring singer who is looking for a similarly-bright future, keep looking up. But contrary to the refrain made popular by Timbuk3, if ever in Byrd's presence, it is probably best not to wear shades.

Remember: The eyes have it! < ~~~~~~~~ Michelle Phillips Fay is a regular contributor to this magazine, as well as a lover of U.S. history. She is delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Ms. Byrd at this time given her personal Karamu House connection. This is an historic moment for our nation, a happy time in Cleveland, and a joyful time at Karamu. Ms. Fay thanks Ms. Byrd for making it a special time in her life, too. Happy 100th Anniversary, Karamu House! Here's to 100 more years and counting!

n Byrd has

recorded and performed duets with the legendary Bob Dylan and Barry Manilow, and toured around the world in concert with Kelly C l a r k s o n , T h e Eurythmics, UB40, Lyle Lovett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin and Bob Geldof , among others

n Byrd received critical acclaim for her lead role in the national touring company of Broadway's Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk.

n Byrd was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Could It Be Magic at the 2001 Black Theatre Alliance Awards.

n Byrd has appeared in films produced by Paramount, Disney, NBC Universal , Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Miramax studios, as well as on soundtracks for Lion King 2 ½ and Sister Act II.

Photo by Debbie Kruse

According to her website, Byrd's goal is “to help you sing better, deliver more powerful vocal presentations and help ensure that you can access your money voice every time.”

Has she met that goal? The answer is a resounding yes!

Her social media and website pages are filled with unqualified praise for her coaching and artist-development talents from vocal-competition contestants, as well as established recording artists. One American Idol winner, David Cook, who was signed by RCA Records, put it this way: “If you don't listen to Byrd, you're dumb . . . dumb as hell!” There you have it – unqualified and unfiltered.

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www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 17

YOU BELONG HERE

K

ent State University is Northeast Ohio's premier and number one public research university. With eight campuses across Northeast Ohio, Kent State has one of the largest regional university systems in the nation. Students can attend the large residential campus in the city of Kent or one of seven smaller, demographically diverse regional campuses located in Northeast Ohio.

Kent State is home to over 41,000 students who hail from all 50 states and over 100 countries. The university serves students by creating an intellectual and cultural atmosphere and making Northeast Ohio a more interesting and attractive place to live. Kent State offers over 300 degree programs--baccalaureate, associate's, masters, doctoral programs of study, which include such notable programs as nursing, business, aeronautics, digital science, fashion, architecture, journalism, theatre and arts, among others. As one of the world's great universities, Kent State has international campuses in Florence, Italy; Beijing, China and Geneva, Switzerland and study abroad programs to over 20 countries.

18 â&#x2013;&#x2019; MAY-JUNE 2015

A Great College Town At the Kent campus, Kent Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 28,000 students enjoy a revitalized, vibrant downtown Kent. As a classic Midwest community, the city of Kent is brimming with small-town charm and has an ever-growing list of attractions that have made it Ohio's rising college town. Kent has all the qualities of America's other outstanding college towns including art, entertainment, small-town charm, proximity to large cities, dining, shopping, things to do, local culture and outdoor activities.

College students and visitors alike enjoy the large pedestrian-oriented spaces. The Esplanade, a brick pedestrian walkway running through the heart of the campus to downtown Kent, creates a pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-friendly environment. The Esplanade creates a two-way physical connection between the campus and downtown Kent, providing an easily traversed pathway for students to visit, enjoy and shop.

EDUCATION

So what makes a great college town?

MUSIC:

Live music abounds in Kent with local venues offering regularly scheduled music through the week and on weekends. Annual outdoor festivals include jazz, blues, rock and folk and attract musicians and fans from all over the world. On campus, there are regular recitals by students and faculty, as well as musical productions and performances at the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance.

ART:

Art flourishes on campus and in downtown Kent with galleries and outdoor public art and sculpture exhibits. The university offers a self-guided tour on campus of the May 4 Visitors Center as well as sculpture tours. The annual Masterpieces on Main Art and Wine festival, held on the streets of Kent, is attended by artists from all over the country.

RESTAURANTS:

From white tablecloths to outdoor cafes, downtown Kent features an eclectic mix of locally based, casual and fine dining restaurants. There are choices of cuisine from around the world and live music can be found at many establishments.

EVENTS:

During the summer months, live music can regularly be heard on the streets of downtown Kent.

Plus, the city hosts several major annual festivals celebrating art and music. The Kent Blues Festival and Kent Heritage Festival both feature live bands in venues throughout the city. The annual Black Squirrel Festival features free live music; food and black squirrel spirit and introduces students to everything the city of Kent has to offer.

GREAT OUTDOORS:

For those who love the great outdoors, the Park District's Portage Hike and Bike Trail serves as a link between Kent, Ravenna and the 32-mile Summit County Metro Parks Hike and Bike Trail.

The university-sponsored Crooked River Adventures offers trips along the Cuyahoga River by canoe, kayak and tubing to three destinations, all with easy-to-navigate routes and beautiful views. Kent is also a stone's throw away from two of the country's best park systemsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Cleveland and Akron metroparks, as well as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â&#x2013;&#x2019; 19

women in science

Pictured from left to right are Executive Director Barbara Williams and Education Specialist/Collections Assistant Rebecca Dickinson greet guests during the Museum's Annual Family Day held in the spring.

History maker Barbara Williams promoting careers in Aviation and Engineering

Controller training program in 1970 after seeing an advertisement which read, “Wanted Black Air Traffic Controllers”.

“My first question was, 'what is an air traffic controller,' “recalled Williams as we sat down at the airport to discuss her career and the work she does today at the museum.

Still unsure of what the position was, Williams who worked as a file clerk at the Veteran's Administration looked into the pay structure and her curiosity was further piqued into action. With a little research, she learned that a gentleman in Oberlin was recruiting minorities so she contacted him and he suggested she come out and take the test.

L

A woman up for a challenge, the first step was to get to the location because she had never traveled to the western suburb and the next was to tackle the test. Of the test she says, “It was the most confusing test I had ever seen in my life,” and although Williams had never failed a test she was certain this was the first. Determined to succeed, she visited the local library and picked up study guides and took practice tests until she felt comfortable retaking the test.

It is only fitting that the woman in charge of the day to day operations of this free museum is a history maker herself.

Barbara Williams, a native Clevelander, became the first minority female hired into the Federal Aviation's Air Traffic

When she spoke with Twymon again she explained that she had taken the test a second time and he informed her she passed the first time, but he would check out the score of the latest test and use the highest score for her entrance into the program. Despite a few obstacles that prevented her from entering the program immediately, Williams would officially enter the program in November, 1970.

By Shelley Shockley PWM Managing Editor

ocated inside Cleveland's historic Burke Lakefront Airport are the offices of the Women's Air & Space Museum where preserving the history of women in aviation and space is at the heart of their mission. The Museum is also tasked with documenting the continuing contributions women in this industry are making today and in the future.

20 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

Williams' history making was not well received by others in the program but she was not deterred and says, “The FAA taught me that's the way the world was and you always have to pay attention and watch your back.” She also noted that she was not only unwanted by Caucasian employees but blacks as well.

After a stellar career that included serving as Interim Air Traffic Manager at Cleveland Hopkins Airport (first minority female) and Operations Manager at Cleveland Air Route Control Center, Williams retired in 2006 after thirty-six years of service.

Her experience with The FAA and her early lack of knowledge about this career path are key to her role today as a mentor to young women in aviation and STEM careers. Williams is currently promoting the work she does with Kent State University and the Nikki Kukwa Memorial Aviation Camp. The camp is free and introduces young girls to the possibility of a career in aviation.

“The beautiful thing about this camp is that we try to specifically recruit minorities,” and once the camp is running she said, “I love watching the interaction, the blending of participants – Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Caucasian.”

Additionally, the Museum is once again partnering with Ohio University for a free Engineering Exploration Camp to expose them to careers in engineering and technology.

To learn more about these free camps and the other programs offered by the Museum, visit their website at www.iwasm.org. < (Photos: Shelley Shockley)

Executive Director Barbara Williams with one of the vintage aircraft on display at the museum.

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WOMEN IN SCIENCE

2014-15 WISER OFFICERS

CWRU Students/WISER Officers - Pictured (Top, L to R) Makela Hayford, Chinweoke Osigwe, Salina Zhang, Beth Hodges, Lyndlea Blum, Chakira Smith. (Bottom, L to R) Kimberly Yacoub, Catherine Passmore, Jinjing Lee, Sarah Cate Pfister. (Not pictured Madeline Gelb.)

Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable:

Helping Case undergrads navigate the collegiate experience

D

uring the mid-1990s faculty members at Case Western Reserve University examined the undergraduate experience for female students, and found barriers to the students success that included lack of confidence; gender-related doubts about their abilities and a feeling of isolation as minorities.

This information led to the formation of The Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable (WISER), a vehicle to help women students succeed in the fields of science and engineering. The faculty members dedicated to this effort were Heather Morrison, professor of Astronomy; Beverly Saylor, associate professor of Geology; and Kath Bogie, senior research associate, orthopedics.

The project was curtailed in the fall of 2006 as faculty members were unable to continue in the face of research and other university demands. Realizing the void the loss of this program would have, the Deputy Provost of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, re-inaugurated WISER and hired graduate student, Elizabeth Leirman, as WISER's program coordinator. By 2009, the Center for Women created a full-time professional staff position to oversee program development and leadership as well as advising the students.

In addition to being a program under the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, WISER is also an organization under Undergraduate Student Government, and is the 3rd

22 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

largest undergraduate student organization. WISER's mission has recently been changed to “promote the inclusion and success of all women at Case Western Reserve University through leadership, mentorship, and outreach.” The executive board, which is voted on by WISER members, consists of 10 leadership positions- The 2014-2015 Executive Board members included Kimberly Yacoub (president), Jinjing Lee (vice president), Elizabeth Hodges (VP of internal affairs), Salina Zhang (VP of finance), Chakira Smith(VP of outreach), Lyndlea Blum(VP of public relations), Chinweoke Osigwe (SEVA coordinator), Madeline Gelb and Sarah Cate Pfister (Engineers week coordinators), Catherine Passmore(Carrier development coordinator), and Makela Hayford(WISER- General Electric Lighting Liaison.)

The largest program under the WISER umbrellas is the Mentor Program, which consists of a peer and professional component. Under both programs the mentor and mentee are encouraged to meet and communicate actively with one another as well as the graduate mentoring coordinator, Alison Brooks.

This year 162 students participated in the Peer Mentor Program which pairs freshmen with upperclassmen in a similar major or field of study. In the Professional Mentor Program, juniors and seniors are paired with women in industry, research or academia.

Professional mentors for this year included CWRU faculty, PPG, St. Jude Medical, Lubrizol, Albert M. Higley Company and alumnae from CWRU. WISER's outreach doesn't end on the college campus. Over the last couple of years the group has engaged local middle school students with visits to Monticello Middle School and Citizen's Leadership Academy as well as organizing the “Introduce a Girl to Science and Engineering Days” on campus.

These efforts resulted in a thirty percent increase in interest in STEM education among the students who represented fifteen local middle schools.

Kim Yacoub WISER President and Leadership Coordinator Native Clevelander Kimberly Yacoub is the outgoing president of WISER and will graduate this spring with a degree in Chemistry, the culmination of a life-long dream.

Recognizing the promise in their daughter, Yacoub's parents placed her in the Gifted and Talented Program at a young age. As a member of this program, Kim was challenged in all of her classes, especially the sciences. She excelled in the sciences because of her involvement in Saturday School where she first learned about space. In the eighth grade, her teacher prodded her to engage in the classroom setting and ask questions. This engagement coupled with her love for science led her to take high school Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry.

Big Brothers Big Sisters WISER Outreach Additionally, this year, WISER and General Electric Lighting partnered for a Girl's in STEM Kick-Off event where one hundred sixty one sixth grade girls from schools in the greater Cleveland area attended the event and participated in CWRU professor-led experiments and confidence-building activities. They were introduced to Project-in-a-Box: a year-long event where they will participate in and help solve a mystery by performing hands-on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine activities. WISER volunteers also reach out to the Big Brothers Big Sisters CWRU, Great Lakes Science Center and the Boys and Girls Club.

The tentacles of WISER extend far beyond greater Cleveland and are not limited to demonstration experiments. In the spring semester of 2010, the group adopted an underprivileged public school in Bangalore, India through the non-profit Soujanya Sevashrama (SEVA). SEVA has an international outreach program called 'Nurture a School Annually' (NASA). Every year, WISER members sell samosas and chai tea, and host a benefit dinner to donate to the school.

The success of WISER is the result of many groups on the Case campus including the Case Alumni Association (CAA) and the Career Center in addition to the Center for Women.

Her love for science did not result in her skating through the course, but the encouragement and guidance offered by her teacher helped her succeed. When she took the AP exam, she was extremely pleased to find that she scored higher than she expected. This accomplishment confirmed her decision to major in chemistry.

While science is Kim's first love, she has a passion for serving and giving back to others. As a freshman she became active in a number of organizations including WISER. As a Civic Engagement Scholar, she completed fifty hours of outreach along with serving as secretary and president of the Middle Eastern Cultural Association.

Before serving as president of WISER, she has held the positions of executive board member and vice president. As a volunteer with the mentoring program, she was awarded the WISER Volunteer of the Year recognition.

Participation in WISER has given Yacoub insight into the adversities facing women in STEMM and the confidence she needs to excel as a woman in STEMM. An example of this she said was the appearance on campus of Sara Laschever, co-author of Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide. After listening to Laschever, Kim was taken aback by the many scenarios of women who didn't negotiate and she says, “I asked why.” Her involvement in WISER she says “gave me more confidence in the classroom, I raised my hand more and I'm not afraid if I'm wrong.”

Upon graduation, Kim plans on finding a career related to Chemistry or forensic science, where she hopes to continue her leadership and confidence as a woman in STEMM.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 23

STUDENTS CORNER

C

hakira Smith, WISER President-elect, was born to go-getter parents and grew up in Howell, New Jersey. Being a premature baby and having a nurse for a mother helped to shape her early interest in medicine and the desire to assist babies who need special attention.

Smith entered her freshman year at Case planning to major in Biology, but soon found she had a strong interest in the social sciences which led her to alter her major to pursue a double major in medical anthropology and health and aging sociology. Additionally, Chakira plans to obtain a masters degree in public health integrated graduate program.

Chakira stresses “As a woman pursuing a career in STEMM, I always have to ensure that I stand up for myself and do not let anyone tell me that I cannot accomplish something just because I am woman.” She continued “there are many instances in which professors will give preferential treatment to the males in the class, but instead of letting this discourage me, I just seek the support of the women in WISER.” During her freshman year, Chakira was overwhelmed with the large number of clubs and other extracurricular activities that she could join on campus at CWRU. She knew that she loved volunteering but also wanted to find a group of supportive individuals to help her be the best Chakira she could be. During an Activities Fair, Smith and her roommate left their email addresses with the WISER representatives and began to attend their events regularly.

Chakira was comfortable as long as she had her roommate, but one day she had to attend an event alone. Initially she was afraid, but she soon warmed up to the other members and has become an active participant.

Following her frequent interaction with other members, Chakira showed interest in running for executive positions, managing to secure the position of Girls RISEnet coordinator on the executive board and serves as VP of Outreach, WISER. Her extraordinary effort coupled with the support of other women has also enabled her to secure the position of President, WISER for the 2015-2016 school year.

Chakira Smith Vice President of Outreach - WISER

Pursuing a double major in medical anthropology and health and aging sociology at CWRU

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adeline Gelb grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Oakland Public Schools for K-12. At an early age, her parents encouraged her to attend STEMM camps and after school programs including a girls-only after school programs. This early exposure increased Madeline’s curiosity and interest in learning, thinking, and solving science problems as an engineer. Her background in the sciences and dedication to hard work led Madeline to enter CWRU and study polymer science and engineering.

Excited about her field of study, Madeline states “I enjoy it because of how it involves many subjects and includes materials with very different properties and functions; polymer materials vary widely from plastics like water bottles, coatings like paints, to the research in the lab I work in focuses on incorporating polymers into drug delivery systems.”

Madeline Gelb Co-Engineering Week (E-Week) Coordinator - WISER

Studying polymer science and engineering, a type of materials engineering focused on organic materials at CWRU 24 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

In search of mentors and in hopes of meeting women navigating STEMM careers, Madeline joined CWRU's uniquely designed, WISER program.

Madeline says “As a woman pursuing a carrier in STEMM, I find myself experiencing not only a lack of female mentors, but also some unconscious biases like a male classmate questioning my judgment or a manager questioning my own use of “we” when I mean “I”. Volunteering and encouraging others to consider STEMM has played an important role in Madeline's collegiate career. Madeline has served as President of Case Engineers Council, VP of Retention and Engineers Week Coordinator and volunteered at the university and in Cleveland communities.

Madeline praises WISER for the support she has received along with the opportunities to learn from others' experiences and shape her career. After graduation, Madeline plans to pursue her studies in a PhD program and to later obtain meaningful research-oriented employment based in life-long learning.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 25

DELICIOUS RECIPES

Raspberry Milk Pops Prep time: 5 minutes Freeze time: 4 hours Servings: 8 1 1/2 cups DairyPure Whole milk or DairyPure 2% Reduced Fat milk 1 (12-ounce) package frozen raspberries 1/4 cup honey In blender or food processor, combine milk, frozen raspberries and honey; blend until smooth.

Pour mixture into eight 4-ounce ice pop molds or plastic drinking cups.

Add ice pop sticks. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.

Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 6 2 1

cups small shell-shaped pasta small head cauliflower, cut into florets, about 6 cups 2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, minced 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 1/2 cups DairyPure Whole milk or DairyPure 2% Reduced Fat milk 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon olive oil In large saucepot, heat 10 cups salted water to boiling. Add shell pasta and cauliflower. Heat to boiling; simmer uncovered, 6 minutes. Drain immediately.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter; add onion. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended; cook 1 minute. Gradually stir in milk and mustard; cook until mixture thickens and is 26 â&#x2013;&#x2019; MAY-JUNE 2015

smooth, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in cheese until melted and smooth.

Heat oven to 400°F. Toss breadcrumbs with olive oil.

Grease 2-quart baking dish or casserole. In large bowl, toss pasta and cauliflower mixture with cheese sauce to mix well. Sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly.

For more recipes visit www.DairyPure.com

Cedar Plank Grilled Egg in Toast Makes 4 servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes 2 cedar planks (about 12x6 inches each) 4 slices bread, such as brioche or challah (3/4-inch thick slices) 7 eggs, divided, 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub, divided ½ cup grated smoked Cheddar cheese Soak cedar planks in water for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Drain and pat dry.

Remove centers of each slice of bread with 3-inch round cookie cutter. Beat 3 eggs with milk and 2 tablespoons of the Applewood Rub in medium bowl until well blended.

Lightly oil 1 side of each of planks. Place planks, oil side up, on preheated grill over medium heat. Dip bread in egg mixture. Place on planks. Break an egg into each of holes.

Sprinkle eggs with remaining 1/2 teaspoon Applewood Rub. Cover grill.

Grill 10 minutes. Sprinkle eggs with cheese and additional Applewood Rub, if desired. Grill, covered, 10 minutes longer.

Easy Chipotle Cheeseburgers McCormick® Chipotle Chili Pepper adds smoky flavor with a kick to burgers.

Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese divided 1 teaspoon Chipotle Chili Pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 hamburger rolls Mix ground beef, 1/2 cup of the cheese, chipotle chili pepper and salt in medium bowl until well blended. Shape into 4 patties.

1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup plain low fat Greek-style yogurt Substitutions 2 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Perfect Pinch® Lemon & Pepper Seasoning , divided 1 pound ground chicken, 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion 1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder 1 teaspoon McCormick® Oregano Leaves 4 whole wheat hamburger rolls, toasted 4 leaves green leaf lettuce, 1 medium tomato, sliced 8 thin slices cucumber

(FAMILY FEATURES)

Greek Chicken Burgers with Lemon Pepper Yogurt Sauce

Pan-fry, broil or grill over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F). Top burgers with remaining 1/2 cup cheese 1 minute before cooking is completed.

Mix mayonnaise, yogurt and 1 teaspoon of the Seasoning in small bowl until well blended. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mix ground chicken, feta cheese, onion, garlic powder, oregano and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Seasoning in large bowl until well blended.

Shape into 4 patties.

Grill burgers over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).

Serve burgers on toasted rolls topped with the yogurt sauce, lettuce and tomato and cucumber slices. www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 27

HEALTH

HER Corner

By Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew,MD, MEd, MPPM Edgar B. Jackson Chair for Clinical Excellence and Diversity Associate Professor/Head Global Health Department of Obstetrics & Reproductive Biology University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Spiritual Wellness:

Investing in your Passion with Purpose

O

ur last discussion involved the search for joy in your life. Many of us struggle with the concept of joy as we struggle day after day just to find contentment. Continuing your wellness journey must involve the investment into your spiritual health.

I recently experienced a near tragic event when my husband of thirty seven years suffered a heart attack.

As I held him in my arms during a seizure, I verbally asked God to save him. Miraculously he made it to the hospital, received stents to open his blocked heart vessels and has made a complete recovery. It was the weeks after this event that I found myself having anxiety attacks which prompted loss of sleep for both of us. I would awaken in a panic placing my hand on his chest to make sure his heart was beating and he was continuing to breath. It was my reflection on the loss of my parents and this near loss that prompted a search for a spiritual well-being that I hoped would bring about a more sincere commitment to this life journey.

The frequently used phrase, “Tomorrow is not promised to us” is used to remind us that our time here on earth is limited. It reminds us of the uncertainties of life. It also implies that we have no control over the potential outcome of what we consider a normal day in our lives. This reflection is not to incite doom or gloom into your journey but is a challenge for you to find spiritual grounding that can be the core of your wellness journey. It is our spiritual health that guides our path to reach what Maslow describes as selfactualization. This is the time in our lives that we can move beyond ourselves to make contributions to the lives of others.

28 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

Spiritual health is defined by the National Wellness Institute (1977) as a personal matter involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose for living. It is the belief in a power unheard and unseen that provides us with hope, passion, purpose and peace. The pressure of finding harmony and balance as we care for family, friends and ourselves seems overwhelming at times.

Our response to these sometimes invisible pressures is what fuels us with energy and joyful living. The Wellness institute recommends that we ask ourselves four simple questions:

1) Do I make time for relaxation in my day?

2) Do I make time for meditation and/or prayer?

3) Do my values guide my decisions and actions?

4) Am I accepting of the views of others?

Finding and maintaining spiritual wellness must be a part of our commitment to being the best that we can be. It is the core of our being, our passion, our purpose, our living. <

Toya aka

HAIR + MAKEUP

Cosmetologist/Hairstylist GUAP = Getting U All Pretty

Email: getmadeover216@gmail.com Cell: 216-870-6297 IG: Gettinguallpretty

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Natural Facial Hair Removal Tip Oatmeal Paste:

Peppermint Oil:

Oatmeal is a skin friendly exfoliating agent. With these natural ingredients like honey and lemon juice, you not only prevent the unwanted facial hair but also make your skin soft, hydrated smooth and glowing.

Peppermint oil is very effective in removing facial hair and keeping it off.

Ingredients: · Oat flour – 1 teaspoon · Raw honey – 1 tablespoon · Fresh lemon juice – ½ teaspoon Process: ·

·

·

Stir well and apply on your face evenly but focus more on where you find more unwanted hair.

Leave on for about 20 minutes and then gently rub the face in the circular motion for a couple of minutes.

Rinse off with warm water and follow with cold water. Repeat this for 3 times a week until the unwanted facial hair is gone.

Ingredients: ·

·

1 teaspoon of your regular moisturizing cream (any cold cream will do) 1-2 drops of peppermint oil

Process: Mix together in the palm of your hand and apply to face where unwanted hair is present.

Leave for 10 minutes and wash off with your regular cleanser. Always splash face with cold water to close pores.

Note: This might tingle or make your eyes teary (it has the same sensation as applying Vicks on your nose) The above is not a medical advice; please consult your physician before starting any regimen.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 29

Ashley Aquilla Wheadon Cuts Directing Teeth in Dr. Mary Weems's Purses By, Stephanie Anderson Phelps PWM Contributing Writer Best described as a multifaceted millennial, Ashley Aquilla Wheadon is living in Cleveland and loving it. At 30 years-old, Wheadon was self assured and confident as the Director of Purses, a multigenerational play written by Mary E. Wheems, Ph.D.

Ashley Aquilla Wheadon

Purses, centered on the lives of three women, offers an intimate look at the women individually and collectively. One is perhaps in her late 60's, another in her 40's and a third in her 20's. They meet for Sunday talks at the home of the nurturing older woman where they find encouragement, mutual support and the courage to heal.

The importance of this all essential item – a woman's handbag – is central to the storyline. “Never put your pocketbook on the floor,” Miss Hattie advises over and over again. The purse's contents, their symbolic meaning, and the stories they tell unfold throughout the show. In this production, the purse is almost as much a character as are the actors themselves.

A combination of energy, exuberance and empathy can be felt in Wheadon's direction. Under her guidance the audience is able to fully comprehend the pain women experience time and again in a male dominated society.

When it comes to directing, Wheadon admits the devil is in the detail. The Saint Louis born and Cleveland reared actor, and now director, also happens to be an entrepreneur. She is the owner of Aquilla Care, a home healthcare service. She says she got the acting bug about three years ago, after starting her business.

In Purses, her ability to convey Weems' overall vision by drawing out raw emotion and subtle humor, in dynamic character portrayals is triumphant, and leaves the audience with a gripping rendition of life that touches the heart and soul.

When asked how acting differs from directing, Ashley explains there are few similarities and that the differences are huge, “A lot of times, as actors we're only concerned about what immediately affects us and our performance.”

As an example she says actors sometimes slack off and act

Wheadon, assistant director and cast pray immediately before opening performance of “PURSES”

30 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2015

goofy, but directors don't have much room for that. “The big difference for me is seeing things from every perspective, the audience perspective, the character perspective, even the writing – having to understand the entire flow of the production from beginning to end, and seeing all aspects.”

Wheadon describes herself as a woman who loves God and loves to love people. “Family is very important to me – you know, passing something down. I love acting, I love theatre. I have a deep love and respect for it. If I get a chance to experience something, to learn something, I'm definitely going to take advantage of it. I love my business, I don't have any children so that's my baby right now, and I want to put more time into it.”

In the final analysis Wheadon stresses that she sees a bright future for herself, right here in Northeast Ohio – saying, “I don't have to go to New York, Chicago or L.A. to be a success.”

Follow on Twitter | Stephanie Phelps @livingindestiny

TV 20 WE ARE CLEVELAND! TUNE IN TO CHANNEL 20 ON TIME WARNER! TV20'S OVER-ALL MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE RESIDENTS OF CLEVELAND REGARDING CITY SERVICES, PROGRAM INITIATIVES AND EVENTS BY WAY OF OUR CITY'S GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISION STATION. TV20 HAS A LIVE, 24 HOUR ON-LINE STREAM THAT CAN BE ACCESSED AROUND THE WORLD FROM YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE. WE PROVIDE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE THE MULTITUDE OF SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THOSE PROGRAMS INCLUDE MAYORAL PRESS CONFERENCES, LIVE BROADCASTS OF CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND WEEKLY NEWS WRAP UP SHOWS. OTHER FEATURES REGARD: HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. TV20: WE ARE CLEVELAND!

www.tv20cleveland.com @TV20Cleveland

Kathy Allen General Manager

www.facebook.com/ClevelandTV20 www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 31

GOOD READS

Change Your Mind, Change Your Life From the Publisher: “Most of us want to change the world, but only a few of us are willing to change our own minds!" Yet there is a shift taking place in the world, where more and more people are recognizing that it is our own thoughts and attitudes that determine how we look at the world and, ultimately, what we see. This book is for people of all ages, religions, and cultures who have a desire and a willingness to change the thoughts in their minds.

The Science of Getting Rich Wallace D. Wattles introduced the world to the power of positive thinking. He was a profound influence on Michael Losier and James Arthur Ray. With out Wattles "Science Of" trilogy there never would have been books such as The Secret, The Laws of Attraction, and the Power of Positive Thinking. Now you can go directly to the source with this easy to understand lesson book on using the Laws of Attraction to attract wealth. A Thrifty Book is a well designed, easy to read book.

Finding Heroes The purpose of this book is to help hiring managers learn and hone their skills to interview anyone successfully. It was written to be an easy weekend read and a quick reference guide for use just prior to any interview. With repeated use, the techniques learned from this book will become second nature, enabling the "trained" hiring manager to conduct a successful interview using as few as three well-crafted questions targeted to assess the aspect of greatest importance to the case at hand.

You Can Hear Your Life Louise's key message in this powerful work is: "If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed." Louise explains how limiting beliefs and ideas are often the cause of illness, and how you can change your thinking...and improve the quality of your life!

Packed with powerful information and beautiful fourcolor illustrations-you'll love this gem of a book

The Road Less Traveled Written in a voice that is timeless in its message of understanding, The Road Less Traveled continues to help us explore the very nature of loving relationships and leads us toward a new serenity and fullness of life. It helps us learn how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one’s own true self.

Recognizing that, as in the famous opening line of his book, “Life is difficult” and that the journey to spiritual growth is a long one, Dr. Peck never bullies his readers, but rather guides them gently through the hard and often painful process of change toward a higher level of self-understanding.

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Piper Kerman In her memoir Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison, Piper Kerman recounts the thirteen months she spent in the Danbury Correctional Facility for a crime committed ten years earlier during a very brief and careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking.

Compelling, moving, and often hilarious, the stories of the women she met while in prison raise issues of friendship and family, mental illness, odd cliques and codes of behavior, the role of religion, the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailor and the almost complete lack of guidance for life after prison.

Her memoir was adapted into the award-winning original Netflix series Orange is the New Black. The show has been lauded for its use of the prison setting to create one of TV’s most racially- and sexually-diverse and most complex dramas, examining issues of power and class dynamics inside the prison and the reflections of those same issues in society as a whole.

Piper Kerman serves on the board of the Women’s Prison Association and was recipient of the 2014 Justice Trailblazer Award.

LeVar Burton The multi-talented LeVar Burton is an Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actor, director, producer and author.

His first professional acting audition, at the age of nineteen, earned him the role of Kunta Kinte in Alex Hailey’s acclaimed miniseries Roots. To many fans, he is instantly recognized for his role as Commander Geordie La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Along the way, he has acted in dozens of films and television shows and directed a number of television episodes and specials.

To children and parents over the last 30 years, however, he is instantly recognized and forever loved as the host of the PBS series Reading Rainbow. As a literacy advocate, producer and star of the show, Burton is most proud of Reading Rainbow’s ability to use television to help create human beings who are passionate about literature. In 2012, Burton announced the launch of Reading Rainbow’s mobile app, aimed at fitting the needs of a new generation of children.

Burton is the author of Aftermath (1997) and the children’s book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (2014).

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MOVIE REVIEWS

Beyond the Reach is a Twisted Thriller

Danny Collins is a Simply Beautiful Story R. Lee Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com Readers of my reviews know that I have often said that it is the simple stories that sometimes make the best films. You don't need the 3-D, explosions and tons of sex to make a good movie. You just need a simply good story and that is exactly what you get with Danny Collins.

Academy Award winner Al Pacino stars as an aging rock star who finds out from his manager, Frank Grubman (Christopher Plummer) that John Lennon had written him a letter that he never received. A young Collins did an interview where he said that Lennon was a major influence on his song writing. Fast-forward to the aging rocker, now performing on stage while old ladies sit in the front row eating liquorice sticks yelling for their favorite song - a song which makes Collins cringe every time he sings it.

The letter makes him think about how different his life would have been if he had received it while he was still young. Determined to change, he sets off to find the son he never met and to write the songs he should have written all those years ago. Collins quickly finds out that changing his life isn't going to be easy, but he refuses to give up.

This movie is funny, moving and inspirational. It is never too late to set things right and if it doesn't work out the first time you keep trying. That is the big take away from Danny Collins. The scenes between Pacino and Bobby Cannavale who portrays Collins' son Tom Donnelly are intense, witty and heart-wrenching at moments. But it is the stuff that great acting is made of.

Pacino is perfect as an aging rock-star. He is believable and his singing isn't half-bad. The cast which includes Annette Bening and Jennifer Garner is brilliant. This ensemble presents a story that quickly captures your attention and holds it. The real star of the movie is Giselle Eisenberg who plays Collins granddaughter Hope. That little girl is beautiful, funny and her banter with Pacino is priceless.

She really lights up the screen.

Using John Lennon's music as the soundtrack for the film adds to the magic of the movie. Based on a true story, Danny Collins is a definite must-see. I loved this film and I highly recommend it. If you want to see a movie that is bound to become a classic, then don't miss Danny Collins. It is truly worth the price of the ticket!!!

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If you think that Michael Douglas' new film Beyond the Reach is a story of a man hunting another man, believe me when I tell you that it is way more sadistic than that. This film finds Douglas playing Madec, another Gordon Gekko type, who happens to be rich and a psychopath.

Madec arrives in this small town in his state-of-the-art BMW truck in search of a guide that can take him to hunt a bighorn to add to his trophy case. He hires Ben (Jeremy Irvine) who knows the vast and hostile desert basin, the Reach. In a hurry to make a kill, Madec sees movement on the top of a ridge and fires blindly. In his haste he kills an old prospector who lives in the desert. Afraid that knowledge of this accidental shooting could scuttle a million dollar business deal, Madec tries to bribe Ben into keeping it a secret. When Ben refuses, instead of just killing him too, he forces Ben to walk through the hot desert with no shirt, shoes or socks in hopes that he will die from the heat.

However, Madec underestimates Ben's knowledge of the Reach. Battered, bruised, dehydrated and burnt from the sun, Ben still finds ways to survive. Madec, frustrated, ends up in a battle of wills with Ben who is determined to make it out of the Reach alive. There are scenes that are really twisted in this movie. One such moment finds Ben trapped on a cliff behind rocks. Thinking that he has won, Madec pulls a lawn chair out of his truck, mixes a martini, sits down and begins to sip it as he waits for the inevitable, Ben's death.

Douglas produced this movie as a way to make a statement against gun violence. I don't think that message comes across. If anything, it furthers the stereotype of the rich businessman being cold, heartless and sadistic and the little guys fight for survival.

Irvine's physical deterioration as he tries to make it across the desert was disturbing. The soles of his feet are shredded and boils begin to form all over his forehead.

There are moments that are painful to watch as he struggles to find water and shelter.

This is a true thriller. Once you realize what is happening you will be on the edge of your seat wondering how this is going to end. I don't think the character of Madec was much of stretch for Douglas. We have seen him play this type of character before. That being said, he does embody the role.

Irvine, however, turns in a great performance. It is believable and at times hard to watch. If you are a fan of thrillers, Beyond the Reach is one you don't want to miss.

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NASA Glenn - Facility Tours

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To register, call 216-433-9653, or email sheila.d.reese@nasa.gov. www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 35

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