May/June 2016 Issue (Preview)

Sista’s Keeper

I AM my Sista’s Keeper

May/June 2016 Vol. 4, Issue 5

DOUBLE COVER Confidence Issue

2016 Delta Debutantes Mother Daughter Relationships Prom 2016 BIG Dreamz Inc.

Spotlight: 2016 Black Girls Rock M.A.D. Girls Plus: Confidence = Happiness How To Be Confident I Show My Confidence By...

Confidence Checklist

Aliah Parker Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2015

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Spotlight

2016 Black Girls Rock!

M.A.D. Girls These sistas are really M.A.D. (making a difference)

Marley Dias

@iammarleydias

Marley Dias’ main goal is to help kids like her discover books, so she started the #1000BlackGirlBooks book drive. She loves reading and wants other Black girls to love it just as much.

She also wants to ensure that the characters are relatable. She works with GrassROOTS Community Foundation, with whom she collected more than 1,000 books to donate to children.

Maya Penn Maya Penn is a young philanthropist, environmental activist, author, inspirational speaker, eco-designer and much more.

Since a young age, Maya has taken her passion for the environment and used it to build Maya Ideas, an ecofriendly clothing and accessories business.

@mayasideas @mayasideasshop

Haile Thomas

@hailethomas @chefhaliethomas

Haile Thomas is the youngest student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is currently training to become a certified health coach.

She is most known for being the founder and executive director of the HAPPY Organization, a fun opportunity for kids to engage in affordable nutrition education and cooking classes.

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January 2016

All

Hail

Aliah Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2015 Aliah Parker just completed an exciting and eventful freshman year at East Carolina University

A

liah Parker teaches dance classes on Mondays and Thursdays for girls age 6 to 17 at a dance studio in Windsor, NC. Her students learn ballet, jazz, and hip hop from the dancer and pageant queen. She takes the time to talk to us after she completes one of her classes.

Parker loves working with kids and wants to become a pediatric surgeon. “I was in a car accident in 2010 where glass ripped through my face so I had to have emergency plastic surgery,” she says. “The doctors and nurses took such great care of me at the hospital so I want to do the same for someone else and other kids.”

embarrassing but I guess it pulled me through because I won!”

North Carolina Legacy

Parker is the fourth winner in the past five years to win the Miss Black USA Talented Teen title representing the state of North Carolina.

Dancing Queen The other winners have been Jasmin Sessoms, Naya Coard and Jocelien Whitehead.

Parker has been dancing for 11 years at her She says that it feels awesome to carry on the mom’s dance studio in Clinton, NC. It was legacy of winners from North Carolina. there where her passion for dance grew and “I decided to do it because my mom was her routine for the talent portion of the national actually Miss Black NC Talented Teen 1989.

Miss Black USA Talented Teen competition After I won that, it was all about keeping the was choreographed. legacy going and she wanted me to do better Her platform for the pageant, “Not Just than she did in the national competition.”

A Pretty Face”, promotes confidence and Parker did in fact exceed her mother’s fourth knowing your worth. “It’s about knowing that runner-up finish by winning the title. “It was your inner beauty outshines your outer beauty great to not only represent my state but my and that you are beautiful no matter what family as well. I was glad to be able to bring people say about you.” the title back to NC.” Parker describes her pageant experience as “indescribable”. Before arriving at the Pirate Pride pageant, she had strep throat and was sick during the entire pageant.

Parker is a rising sophomore majoring in “Before I went on stage, my mom just told Biology at East Carolina University and wants me to do my best and that it would be okay,” to become a pediatric surgeon. She had an she says. “I wasn’t really expecting to win exciting and eventful freshman year. because I wasn’t feeling well but I went up on “My first year of college was really great stage anyway.” and fun. I auditioned for the ECU club dance During her dance, she has a wardrobe team last September & I made it,” she says. malfunction where her top began to come off.

“It was fun going to different competitions “As I was dancing, I had to decide whether throughout the year with the team. I also got to just go off the stage or keep dancing. I just involved in school and now I’m preparing for continued the dance because I didn’t want my sophomore year.” to stop. I had to hold up my top while I was dancing and basically one-armed the rest of it.”

Balancing Act Parker couldn’t believe it happened but her confidence and composure under pressure Parker was able to balance her coursework, earned her a standing ovation. “It was so being on the ECU club dance team and being

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About Aliah

Connect w/ Aliah

Full Name: Aliah Charea Parker Age: 19 Hometown: Clinton, NC

@acp_015

Favorite Food: Mashed potatoes & gravy Favorite Color: Yellow Hobbies: Dance, cheerleading, basketball What’s on your iPod? Pop & R&B Beyonce’

Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2015. “It was really hard sometimes having to travel to different pageants that people asked me to judge,” she says.

“Also, I had to really focus on keeping my grades up because I am a Biology major. It’s very stressful having to memorize all these different formulas but I think I did pretty well.” Parker finished her freshman year with a 3.5 GPA. Inner Confidence

and trying to make sure that whatever I’m doing I’m giving 100 percent.”

Parker says that knowing your self-worth is important in being confident. “For a long time, I didn’t realize my self-worth because of my scar and didn’t feel pretty enough to keep doing pageants. Knowing that you’re beautiful on the inside and out and knowing who you are as a person is all that matters.”

Being Her Sista’s Keeper

Parker keeps in touch with her fellow contestants from the pageant as well as her Parker was bullied when she was in middle successor in the NC teen title and her junior school but says that she gets confidence from queen who she mentors. being a dancer and pageant queen.

She says that being her sista’s keeper means “People were bullying me because of the scar on my face from the accident. For a while, not only being a role model but a support I wasn’t really confident but I stood up for system for each other. “If I know that someone myself.” She says that she stood up to the girl is watching me or looking up to me, I want to who was bullying her & told her that what she be able to show her how to do things,” Parker says. was doing was not right. They are actually “It is someone who makes sure to talk to now friends. their sister if she’s doing something wrong and “To me, confidence is making sure I’m speaking up, knowing that I’m doing my best holding each other accountable.”

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Belles

Of The Ball

T

Presenting the 2016 Debutantes from the Charlotte Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

wenty-four young ladies, all high school seniors with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, participated in various workshops and awareness sessions. In addition, participants are introduced to their communities, which provides exposure and a foundation that will assist in making them productive citizens. These debutantes are presented to the community at an annual ball each spring.

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Taylor

Adams Plans for College: UNC Greensboro Honors: National Society of High School Scholars Activities: Hickory Ridge golf team, Student Council, Leadership team, HOSA, DECA, Spanish Club, Multicultural Club, competitive team dancer, Leadership Ambassador, dance teacher, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church youth leader, Girl Scouts of America, Novant Health volunteer, Susan G. Komen volunteer, Boys and Girls Club volunteer, Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer, Salvation Army Christmas Dinner volunteer

Ajia

Caldwell

Intended Major: Pre-med Honors: Chinese National Honors Society, Dance NHS, Honor Heroes Student for Areas Health Education Center, 3D Dance Honor Award at Precision Dance Center Activities: Rigorous academic course load; dancer for a national-winning competitive dance team; co-founder of a non-profit organization that empowers black girls, volunteer at the hospital as patient transporter; assistant teacher for Precision Dance Center, Diversity Council President; editorial assistant for Sista’s Keeper magazine; tutor/babysitter

Syndney

Anthony

Plans for College: Winston-Salem State University Intended Major: Psychology Honors: honors classes Activities: Praise dance

Syndee

Callender

Plans for College: N.C. State University Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering Honors: AB Honor Roll, National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society Activities: Robotics Club, Lenovo Scholars, Novant Orthopedic Hospital volunteer

Tori

Brown

Plans for College: Campbell University Intended Major: Pre-physical therapy Honors: AB honor roll, DECA proficiency Activities: Senior Mentor, Senior Ambassador, Student Government Association Representative, National Honors Society, Cardinal Biddies Volunteer, Sow Much Good Volunteer

Rikki Carr

Plans for College: Gardner Webb University Intended Major: Athletic Training Honors: Outstanding LET 1 award JROTC Activities: Delta GEMS, Senior Board representative, teen mentoring at ImaginOn

Chandler

Colclough Plans for College: Fashion Merchandise Management at North Carolina State University or Family Consumer Science at North Carolina A&T State University Honors: National Society of High School Scholars, A/B Honor Roll, CMS Honors dance recipient Activities: secretary of Show Choir, yearbook editor-in-chief, Dance Team captain, Senior Board, Student Council, Church Youth/ Young Adult Choir, youth usher board, Wise Hearts (Empowerment group), homecoming queen, Center Stage Dance Academy Elite Company dancer

Anitra Harris

Plans for College: UNC Greensboro, Intended Major: Political Science Honors: National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Student of the Year, Honor Roll Activities: Generation Nation Youth Council, Girl Scouts Ambassador, Cardinal Ambassador, Spanish Club, Now Generation Youth Ministry (Secretary), Hospitality Board, Junior Usher Board, Young Ladies of Excellence Youth Ministry (Founder), Community Advocates (Event Coordinator)

Faith Ford

Plans for College: Fayetteville State University Intended Major: Psychology or early childhood education Honors: A/B Honor Roll Activities: DECA, Principal Advisory Board

Rachel Harris

Plans for College: Univ. of So. California, Fordham Univ., Pace Univ., or Columbia Univ.

Intended Major: Engineering/Dance Honors: Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society, Nat. English HS, NHS for Dance Arts, Nat. French HS, Teen Miss Dance of NC Activities: Prodigy Dancer, assistant/ instructor (Dance Productions), Cofounder (Beautiful Empowered Young Queens Inc.), active member/tutor of Cannon School Peer Support Group and Spectrum, Liturgical Dance Director/ choreographer (First Baptist Church West)

Jewel Ham

Plans for College: Howard University Intended Major: Fine Arts Honors: AP Scholar, The Scholastic Art and Writing Award Silver Key Winner for Art, 2016 runner up for the CMS MLK Art Contest Activities: Volunteer Art Teacher, Reading And Math Tutor, National Honor Society, Deca And National Art Honor Society

Domonique Hill

Plans for College: N.C. State University, Lenoir–Rhyne or Winston-Salem State University Intended Major: Athletic training Honors: Student Of The Week for National Association For Black Accountants (NABA), Senior Council tresurer, Head Athletic Trainer for Rocky River High School, Academic Honor Roll Activities: Senior council, athletic trainer, lead praise dancer at New Beginnings Community Church, volunteer in the book store, Geek Squad (computer programming)

Cameron

Hinson-Potts

Plans for College: Hampton University Honors: Duke University WRITE for College, CMS District Wide MLK Art 2nd Place Activities: National Association of Black Journalists, Key Club, High Schoolers in Christ, Global Missions, Divine Gifts and Graces (Music and Dance)

Katelyn

Mitchell Plans for College: Harvard Intended Major: Electrical Engineering Honors: AP Scholar with Distinction, NC VEX Robotics State Champion Activities: Technology Student Association, National Honors Society, Spanish HS, Nat. Technical HS, Mu Alpha Theta, Science Olympiad, Science NHS, Nat. History Scholars Society, VEX Robotics, Tri-M Music HS, Interact Club, St. Paul Baptist Church Visitation Ministry/Broadcast Ministry

Naomi Issac

Plans for College: Winston-Salem State University, Intended Major: Forensics, clinical laboratory sciences Activities: New Bethel Church of God In Christ, Delta Academy, Delta Gems, Girl Talk Foundation, Jewels, Health Occupation Students of America

Kelsey

Mitchell Plans for College: North Carolina State University, Cornell University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Intended Major: Architecture Honors: Valedictorian Activities: Science National Honor Society, MCHS Interact Club, MCHS VEX Robotics, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Science Olympiad, National Technical Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Spanish Honors Society, Technology Student Association, Academy of Engineering

Elisia

McKnight Plans for College: Wake Forest Univ.

Intended Major: Mass Communications Honors: National Society of HS Scholars, National Honor Society, WFU Leadership Award, 4-year Student-Athlete, NCCASA Award, Perfect Attendance (K-12) Activities: Volunteer (Westover Hills, The Learning Collaborative, Urban League of Central Carolinas, Eastover ES, Komen Race for the Cure, Dilworth Youth Sports Association, Univ. Memorial Baptist Church, Steele Creek AME Zion); Harding HS Executive Council VP, Marching Band of Gold dancer

Kennedy

Mitchell Plans for College: University of Virginia, Intended Major: Biochemistry Honors: N.C. AP Scholar, Accepted into Honors College at Chapel Hill, Park Scholar nominee, Jefferson Scholar nominee, Bronze Award recipient Activities: Science National Honor Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, History Honor Society, HOSA, Debate Club, Broadcast Ministry, Visitation Ministry, Science Olympiad

Alycia

Stanton-Glenn

Stanton

Springs

Plans for College: University of South Carolina, Intended Major: Pre-pharmacy Honors: National Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society Activities: Executive Class Council, student athletic trainer, track and field athlete, throwing shot put, and discus, varsity basketball cheerleader

Plans for College: Hampton University or North Carolina A&T State University

Plans for College: Wake Forest University Intended Major: Biology

Intended Major: Biochemistry

Activities: 4.4 GPA; cheerleader (JV and varsity); member of HOSA, Beta, and Spanish clubs; middle school mentor; member of the student council; National Honors Society; volunteer (Wheels for Forest, Hands On Charlotte); member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church (Children’s Choir, Dancing for Christ Youth Group, Junior Usher Board); Bright Hopes Inc. teacher’s assistant

Honors: National Art Honor Society, Lausanne Collegiate School Ambassador, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honors Society, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, Science Honor Society Activities: Ardrey Kell Tennis Team, Ardrey Kell Might Knight Marching Band

Destiny

Bresha

Alicia

Truesdale

Trotter

Plans for College: Psychology

Varsity basketball, volleyball

Tucker

Plans for College: Central Piedmont Community College

Honors: A-B Honor Roll Activities:

Caela

Alexandri

Varsity

Intended Major: Culinary arts cosmetology

&

Activities: praise dance, singing, acting

Plans for College: Nursing Honors: A Honor Roll, one of Charlotte’s Top African-American Seniors Activities: DECA, Senior Class Council, yearbook staff, student athletic training, HOSA, National Honors Society, National Technical HS, Quill & Scroll HS

For more information on the Charlotte Alumnae Debutante cotillion program, visit: http://www.charlottealumdebs.com/

Diamond (@_dphil) designed her dress herself!

K’sja (@k.dolla.signn) attended 2 proms this year!

Aundrese (@imaundrese__): “Another day, another slay!”

Te’ya (@teytoowavy): “Getting to be with my closest friends was a great memory.”

Morgan (@morgs.cam) wasn’t sure she was going to prom until she saw this classy & elegant dress

Ashia (@itsonly_rightt) accidently ordered the wrong size & had to get her dress altered in just 2 days!

#SKProm2016

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Janelle

(@janelledash)

needed no alteractions to this last minute dress after her first one got messed up.

Tanisha

(@kvngnishaa_) didn’t like this dress at first but grew to love it when she couldn’t find anything else.

JaBria (@jabriaa) ordered her dress online & was scared it wouldn’t fit but it was perfect!

Michelle

(@ohyoufancy_) fell

in love with this second dress 3 days before prom!

Sistas shared fun facts about their prom experience & their dresses on Instagram

Cyndiana

(@_its_a_mental_ thing_) was able to

help put together an amazing prom while on her school’s prom committee.

Nadia

(@prettygirlwbows)

had her dress custom made by an area seamstress.

Briana

(@itsbri.nichelle) had

a photographer to capture her & her date.

May/June 2016

Tayja (@tayjajones) looked beautiful on the inside and out.

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Sista’s Keeper

I AM my Sista’s Keeper

DOUBLE COVER

May/June 2016 Vol. 4, Issue 5

Aliah Parker Mother Daughter Relationships Prom 2016 BIG Dreamz Inc.

Confidence Issue

Spotlight: 2016 Black Girls Rock M.A.D. Girls Plus: Confidence = Happiness How To Be Confident I Show My Confidence By...

Confidence Checklist

2016 Debutantes Presented to society in annual ball