Table of Contents Utilizing the power of positive media.
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33
Cover Exclusive SOREAL interview with Hollywood actress, Sanaa Lathan with publisher Michael Durant
Sections Lifestyle 13 Latest happenings in food, style and living day to day. 13. Warm, warn and weather. Easy winter casual. 16. Healthy ethnic food trends for the coming year. 19. Fit and fun in 2012. 20. Find your focus. Resolutions, relaxation and repeat.
Culture 23 Conversations on race, education, religion and politics. 23. Is Black history a thing of the past? 27. Fair trade certified. Why we need to take a closer look. 30. The depiction of father’s roles in today’s society.
Arts & Entertainment 41 Provides insight on musicians, actors, artists and authors. 33. Publisher’s artists picks. 34. Time to shine. Breakout novelists to watch.
36. Sanaa Lathan comes clean on her current state of mind. 45. Keepin’ it real. The positive influence of hip-hop and R&B music on today’s youth.
Success & Inspirations 49 Insights on business along with answers to financial questions and preeminent ways to reach career aspirations.
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48
48. Five visionaries who changed the world. 55. Visionary Steve Stoute 57. The changing nature of incentives. Rethinking employee rewards in real time. 59. Tech Savvy. Malcolm Shaw’s latest picks. 61. Today’s instant entrepreneur
Uniquley 65 Places to see, things to do and people to meet in this unique city.
t Cause Campaigns 57 65. Smaller homes: the bigger picture.
Issues that affect everyone on a global level. 67. Real love=FFAWN. Foundation for the advancement of women now gives back in real time. 70. Vandalism or art? Street grafitti explored.
In Every Issue 6. Publisher Note 8. Editor Letter Your Voice. You talk. We listen.
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If you have comments or questions for us, please send them to publisher@soreallife.com or editorinchief@soreallife.com
ISSUE
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New.H
message from the editor in chief
BE
Happy New Year! It’s that time of year again for new beginnings, starting fresh, and making some new goals. I don’t know about you, but sometimes the hustle and bustle of the holidays can sometimes take away from the joy of the holidays. So, by the time New Year celebrations begin, I find myself waiting with baited breath for the metaphoric ball to drop and calmly bring January to fruition. But, as a Mom to a 1-year-old, the New Year seems to hold more promise than parties and unresolved resolutions, I find myself wanting to accomplish more because of my growing family. So naturally, articles like Alptamis’s 5 Steps (page 8) help push people like me in a direction that is more of a shift in thinking than a radical revolution doomed for a short shelf life. Personally, I have always been a big believer in the idea behind slow and steady wins the race. On that same note, Brjden Crewe’s article (page 61) about the American Entrepreneur looks long and hard at the ever-changing nature of the American dream and how things on top are still windy but misunderstood by many. If the American Dream takes intellect and staying power, applying those principals in Hollywood could be a bit like creating an artistic masterpiece in a moving subway. Just ask Sanna Lathan, this issue cover story (page 36) about working in different mediums, taking on challenges and keeping the right attitude.
(photo credit: Jennifer Gardner)
February marks Black History month, as an Editor for a metropolitan publication I always find myself in a series of gray zones. We make a conscious effort to offer a healthy blend of pieces from all perspectives with the idea that our audience is just as diverse as our content. That said, as a mother of a mixed race child I find myself looking for a happy medium between honoring her Korean heritage and understanding what it means to be a African American woman in 2012. Crewe’s article about Black History Month (page 23) dives deep into the changing nature of African American history within the current generation and what implication it may have for my daughter in the future. Again, SOREAL is not the voice of a single person, but of our community. Please let us know what you think of our issue and what else you would like to see from us at editorinchief@soreallife.com. We love hearing from you and want to share your stories. Wishing you much love and light for 2012, Karen Kunz kkunz@soreallife.com Friend us on Facebook @ Soreal Life and follow us on Twitter @sorealnetwork
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SOREALLIFE.
ONE
2012
VOICE. ONE
PLATFORM.
2012 January/February Issue President & Publisher Michael Durant Editor-In-Chief Karen Kunz EDITORIAL Associate Editor Libby Hartman Copy Editor Susan Njoroge CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brjden Crewe, Emily Deutsch, Alptamise Haynes, May Long, Debbi DiFonzo McCulloch, Corrie Pelc,Malcolm Shaw CREATIVE Creative Director Olivia Jaxson Visual Arts Director Lucky Chin SL360 (BUSINESS DEVELOMENT) Cheif Business Develoment Officer Joe Sanchez Sales Manager Frantwan Le Blanc EXECUTIVE TEAM Director of Operations Shawaynea Durant Accounting Nathnea Gibson Executive Assistant Jennifer Logan Exective Advisors Hui-Lim, Cliffton Anderson, Dr. Julie vanPutten PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROMOTIONS PR Consultant Heather Turk Social Media Director Najela Shamah Events and Promotions Latasha Stoudamira For any information contact SOREAL magazine 855-SOREALLIFE (855-767-3255) advertising (702) 716-7526 sales@soreallife.com SOREAL magazine is a subsidiary of Imagine Global Media To subscribe to SOREAL digital magazine or read and listen to online exclusives,log on to SorealLife.com. For general inquires – call 855-SOREALLIFE (855-767-3255) or e-mail soreal@soreallife.com For editorial inquires - e-mail editorinchief@soreallife.com For sales inquires - call (702) 716-7526 or e-mail sales@soreallife.com SOREAL magazine, 800 North Rainbow, Suite 170, Las Vegas, NV 89107 SOREAL magazine is published quarterly by Imagine Global Media. All prices, products and availability are subject to change without notice. SOREAL magazine believes our sources are reliable and verifies as much information as possible. Mistakes do occur from time to time and we would like to express our advertisers and SOREAL magazine are not responsible for errors in the text, graphics, or accuracy of information contained within the publication. SOREAL magazine makes content available purely for reading enjoyment. Statements, opinions, photographs and points of view expressed by journalists and/ or advertisers do not represent those of the publisher. SOREAL Life Copyright Š2010, 2011. All photographs, artwork, editorial content and advertising designs printed in SOREAL magazine are the sole property of the Imagine Global Media unless otherwise indicated before publication or noted in the publication. Photographs, artwork, designs and text may not be duplicated or reprinted without the expressed written permission of the Imagine Global Media . In no event will SOREAL magazine and the Imagine Global Media be liable for any loss or damage of unsolicited written material. SOREAL magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising that does not meet our creative guidelines for the publication. All rights reserved. Periodical postage pending. Postmaster: Send address changes to SOREAL magazine, 800 North Rainbow, Suite 170, Las Vegas, NV 89107. Allow 4-6 weeks for change of address.
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5
Steps To A
CLEAN SLATE
POSITIVE
making or breaking a behavior to benefit you in the New Year get all the ammo you need to keep your mind in the game. Consider for a
When
moment the concept of starting new. Since I will avoid the word
resolution,
for obvious reasons, substituting it for a thought process more acceptable like, Starting
1
Fresh, you may be able to digest what I am prepared to share with you. Let me offer some
outstanding tips that have help many, including me, maintain Success.
Pros and Cons- Review the benefits of what you are doing as well as the hang ups.
Sometimes we forget why we are doing something and give up just because we saw no benefit through the obstacle. There are other reasons that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Find the
(photo credit: Jennifer Gardner)
overwhelming cons could help you find a different direction; while locating the pros can lead
HIP
you, motivate you, and if you are like me, will be the constant chatter in your head becoming the song that leads you to the successes you want without even realizing it.
2
Motivation and Support- What inspired you to make a Difference in your life? And why are you waiting for the New Year to begin? If you were encouraged by a friend to
3
start something new keep that friend close for support. They can also act as a constant reminder that motivates you to cross the finish line. If you don’t have this, find a song or something that keeps you happy and your adrenaline pumping around this NEW thing you are doing.
Visualize-
Visualizing your results is another awesome way to keep your head on
4
straight. Finding pictures, an outfit and even creating a daily mental video of what it will be like when you SUCCEED is key. This will keep a smile on your face and possibly give you deeper reasons to push through.
Plan- If you get the feeling that you’ll be back at the ‘Drive Thru’ before the end of January, for example, then maybe there are things you have NOT thought through. Making a game plan is the ONLY way to fly, my friends. If you don’t even have an inkling of how you will make
INTELLIGENT
‘THE CHANGE’ how can you conceivably incorporate this NEW habit or activity into your life. Make things easy on yourself. Many people give up at the first sign of difficulty.Those who try harder may go the extra mile but end up forgetting about it when life takes over or gets chaotic. Think about your schedule, pack what you need and writing it down is always helpful. You can go back and see where you can improve or move something unproductive out.
Do or Do NOT-
5
TALK, Talk and more talk. My favorite line ever, “Do or Do
NOT, there is NO TRY.” The only thing holding us back most times is our mind. Stop talking about what you are going to do and do it. As a movie buff, there is nothing more annoying than listening to the Bad Guy describes what he is going to do; meanwhile, you are already imagining how he will be foiled in his endeavors. I know that YOU know what I mean. And never say, “I can’t do that!” that is the kiss of death. Once you have stated, out loud no less, that you plan to fail, you get to prove yourself right be failing.
RELEVANT
Starting Fresh can be successful if you do the research. Instead of letting your ‘FED UP’ passions run wild, rashly and throwing in the towel, process it, try it on for size. And Good LUCK! Alptamise Hailey-Hinds Host of ‘Food Peace with Alptamise’
Window shopping
AT TIVOLI
STORES NOW OPEN BLUNOIR
•
BOTTLES & BURGERS • PANDORA
BRASADO CHOCOLATES & SPECIALTIES
OPENING SOON KABUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT • DAVIDBARTONGYM • THE STRAND
www.tivolivillagelv.com
Summerlin Parkway at Rampart
*
Lifestyle
Warm
2.
WORN AND WEATHER Easy Winter Casual by Libby Hartman
3.
1.
4.
7. 5. 6.
1. Michael Stars Long Sleeve Surplice Top - Drapey neckline with long sleeves. One Size. Cotton/Nylon blend. $76.00 www.piperlime.com 2. Dara Ettinger Daisy Necklace - Raw turquoise long 35 inches gold chain necklace with no clasp $120.00 www.maxandchloe.com. 3. Baroni Interlaced Circle and Smoky Quartz Dangle Earrings - Sterling silver and smoky quartz, 2 1/4”. $80.00 www.maxandchloe.com 4. Diesel Tim Crossbody Bag - Buckle closure, adjustable shoulder straps. Synthetic. Endless possibilities. $180.00 www.diesel.com 5. Lauren G. Adams Gold Enamel Star Burst Bracelet - Gold plated enamel bracelet embellished cubic zirconia. Hot Pink or White. $163.00 www.maxandchloe.com 6. Sam Edelman Women’s Roza Platform Pump in Black Suede - Leather upper and sole. Heel 4.25”.Platform 0.75”. MEOW! $224.95 www.endless.com 7. Charles Albert Mystic Quartz Cushion Cut Adjustable Ring – Mystic quartz atop sterling silver. Adjustable. Multi-color. $198.00 www.maxandchloe.com CONTINUE ON PAGE 14
Lifestyle
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8. J.Crew Cashmere Henley Hoodie - 12-gauge knit. Impeccably designed with real South American Corozo nut buttons. $298.00. Import. Dry clean. www. jcrew.com and in select stores. 9. Levi 505® Straight Jeans - Modern straight fit zip-fly handmade denim by Levi. Available in 15 washes, featured here in Raw Selvedge. Cotton. $178.00 www.levi.com 10. Sperry Top-Sider Men’s Chukka by Band of Outsiders - Hand-Sewn Tru-Moc Construction with rust proof eyelets. Razor-Cut Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Dry / Wet Traction. Cordoroy, $200.00 www.sperrytopsider.com 11. Sperry Top-Sider Men’s Striper Laceless CVO - Padded Tongue and Collar for Added Comfort Rubber Outsole with Razor Cut Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Dry / Wet Traction. Gray Wool, $55.00 www. sperrytopsider.com 12. Ray-Ban RB3025 58 Aviator – The original with gold and brown gradient lenses. $139.95. www.sunglasshut.com 13. EMU Australia Myrtleford Beanie in Tan Marble – Merino wool cable knit beanie. One Size. Import. $59.00 www.emuaustralia.com 14. Diesel MEN’s Bookin Service Cuff Bracelet - Snap button closure, Metallic inserted details, logo embossed. 100% Leather. $70.00 www.diesel.com
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15. Crystalyn Kae Foxtrot Medium Hobo Bag in Green - Vegan friendly, water resistant versatile hobo with adjustable strap. $140.00 www. crystalynkae.com 16. Fossil Stella Plated Stainless Steel Watch – Rose plated “men’s style” multi-function watch for women. 11 year warranty perfect for everyday use. $115.00 www. fossil.com. 17. Betsey Johnson Flower Crystl Spike Stud Earrings in Blue - Tzarina Princess Collection. Metal/Glass. $30.00 www.betseyjohnson.com 18. Steven by Steve Madden Women’s Pembrook Ankle Boot - Leather upper and lining. Heel measures 2.5”. Pictured here in Taupe Suede. $89.99 www.endless.com 19. Diesel Eyewear – DM0001. Brightly colored with wraparound lenses. Logo embossed detailing. 100% Plastic. $120.00 www.diesel.com 20. Blu Bijoux Purple Bubbles Cocktail Ring - Gunmetal plated with Austrian crystal and adjustable sizing.$26.00 www.maxandchloe.com. 21. Nicki Minaj OPI Nail Lacquer Collection - $8.50. ULTA and ULTA.com 22. J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Leopard – Classic tailored feminine silhouette. Cotton. Long sleeves. Import. Machine wash. $78.00 www.jcrew.com 23. ROXY Cozy Down Sweater – Wrap style sweater layered in color. 100% acrylic. $59.50 www.roxy.com 24. Fossil Cassidy Jacket – Tuxedo inspired single-breasted jacket with satin trim. Fully lined. Polyester blend. $118.00 www.fossil.com.
Lifestyle
Healthy Ethnic Food Trends
For The Coming Year by Alptamise Hailey-Hinds
ETHNIC AND SPECIALTY FOODS HAVE BECOME A MAJOR growing trend. With the sudden
nuances in healthy foods many people are researching the most common attributes of specific styles of ethnic cuisine. Many people have reported that even though they may have been raised to a certain eating style, trying a different genre of dietary interest improved their overall health. There are many benefits to eating a particular ethnic food depending on what your goals may be with your body. Trying something new for a while can give you an energy boost, help you drop a little weight and even improve a medical condition.
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For instance, many people believe that products, like olive oil or the fat of an avocado is fattening, these are healthy fats. We forget that our bodies need fat. If your body is deprived of healthy fats for too long it will compensate. You will find that Thai food being one of the most soulfully aromatic of ethnic foods is actually very healthy. Using mostly vegetables, lean meats and fruits many Thai dishes get its flavor by blending unique herbs such as ginger, galangal, tamarind, turmeric, garlic, soy beans, shallots, white and black peppercorn, lime and, of course, chilies. These common Thai spices have feel-good benefits that, even though spicy and hot, aids in
In fact, according to a study done at
HARVARD
University the traditional Mediterranean-style diet can
reduce risk
of death from heart disease and cancer by 25 percent. digestion, reduces inflammation, and help treat colds and ease tummy troubles. According to many cooking experts many popular dishes eaten in Thailand were originally Chinese dishes which were introduced to Thailand mainly by the Teochew people who make up the majority of the Thai Chinese. Sashimi and sushi are definitely healthy choices when choosing a Japanese style of eating. Ask for Yakiniku, (pronounced; ‘YAH-kin-EE-coo’) meaning grilled meat when ordering your healthy Japanese foods. My favorite is Bulgogi, which means “fire meat” in Korean. “Fire Meat” refers to the cooking technique, not the spiciness. Cooked over an open flame, bulgogi is often seasoned or marinated and wrapped. The term is also applied to variations such as dak bulgogi (made with chicken) or dwaeji bulgogi (made with pork), although the seasonings are different. If you are trying to slim down but you want to get more out of your Asian style food look for Japanese entrees that contain antioxidant-rich yams and green tea; cruciferous, calcium-rich veggies like bok-choy; iodine-rich seaweed (good for your thyroid). You also find many fish dishes or soups that include
omega-3-rich seafood; shiitake mushrooms (a source of iron, potassium, zinc, copper, and folate). Authentic Mexican cuisine can be heart-healthy and even slimming due to the high fiber content. In fact, a study from the University of Utah found that a Mexican diet of beans, soups, and tomato-based sauces helped lower women’s risk of breast cancer. The Spanish eat a variety of fresh seafood dishes, which stem from differences in geography. Many people consider most Spanish entrees as a Mediterranean Style of cooking. They normally eat tons of vegetables cooked with olive oil; and gazpacho (full of disease-fighting lycopene and antioxidants) and paella (rich in fresh seafood, rice, and veggies). Studies have shown that the lycopene in tomatoes may help protect women from breast cancer. Speaking of tomatoes, the Italian tradition of enjoying a leisurely meal is also good for a good dose of lycopene, as well as, olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, and basil; which are great for building up your immune system and aid in digestion. Many aromatic spices such as turmeric, ginger, red chilies, and garam masala (a mixture of cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, and other spices), can be found in most common Indian foods. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism. However, you will find that many entrees become diverse due to the variation in local cultures, and geographical locations. There’s a good reason the Mediterranean diet has become the most trendy. Traditional Greek foods like dark leafy veggies, fresh fruit, high-fiber beans, grains, and omega-3rich fish deliver lots of immune-boosting and cancer-fighting ingredients that cut your risks of heart disease, diabetes, and other diet-related ailments. In fact, according to a study done at Harvard University the Traditional Mediterranean-style diet can reduce risk of death from heart disease and cancer by 25 percent. You can also lose more weight and feel more satisfied on this type of diet, which is rich in healthy fats, fiber and veggies, than on a traditional low-fat diet. Ethnic Foods have so many benefits that are often overlooked. A little advice before you hit the next local spot; watch your portions. Also take into account that if you were traveling to the distant places or the previous food origins you would not be getting the same serving size as you would in America. Take my advice. Next time you dine out, share with your sweetie. You’ll get more bang for your buck, and need less fabric in your wardrobe.
Lifestyle
2012
Fit and Fun in
by Debbi DiFonzo McCulloch
Once again, fun is the key to fitness in the upcoming year. Gone are the days of endless walking on a treadmill to nowhere. No more hopping from one stinky, sweaty piece of workout equipment to the other. And, if you’d like, no more co-ed workouts with muscle-bound men ogling you through the glass windows of the exercise room.
the original “Fitness-Party,” and party you will! The creation of Zumba was actually a “happy accident” when Alberto “Beto” Perez was on his way to teach an aerobics class and realized he had forgotten his regular music. Lucky for him, and all of us, he had his own salsa and merengue mix in his bag and a party was born!
2012 is all about making exercise enjoyable.
Zumba classes taught by highly trained official Zumba instructors can be found all over the US by visiting www.zumba.com. If group classes aren’t your thing, you can get your groove on in the comfort of your own home with the Zumba DVD’s.
Whether it’s bringing the party to your workout, or finding your center, there is truly something for everyone.
Piloxing:
Fun and Feminine Piloxing, a crazy-cool new fitness regime created by Viveca Jensen, combines the energy of dance, the sculpting and flexibility of Pilates and power and agility of boxing into one high-energy workout that will surely leave you looking and feeling amazing. According to Viveca, who trains the most famous celebrities in Piloxing, you can feel confident, strong and feminine all at the same time with these very creative workouts!
Zumba:
It’s a Party Up In Here! Zumba’s catch phrase “Fitness-Party” couldn’t be more truthful. With incredible beats and hot moves, Zumba has fast become the sexy single and hot momma workout du jour! I don’t know about you, but going out dancing to your favorite Latin club tunes sounds a lot more fun than spending the evening walking on a treadmill in a stinky, sweaty neighborhood gym. Zumba combines a healthy dose of Latin inspired dance and aerobic moves with sexy, sexy dance grooves. As the Zumba website touts, it’s
Lap Dance Workouts and Pole Dance Workouts
Have you ever wondered how exotic dancers keep their sexy shape? Wonder no more, one-hour in a lap dance or pole dance class will answer any questions. These workouts are a blessing two-fold, not only do they work every muscle in your body, but they do a heck of a lot for your self-esteem as well. While some women might shy away from this type of exercise, claiming to be self-conscious of their bodies, sensual movement exercises can actually help you increase your confidence and encourage you reclaim the inner diva hiding inside you. According to Kristin French-Hubbard of Tease Dance and Fitness in Naperville, IL, exotic dance workouts allow you to “Turn off your mind as the music sweeps over your body and turns you into the powerful, sexy force of nature that you are!” With all signs pointing to fun, flirty fitness styles in 2012, there is no stopping you from accomplishing your New Year’s resolution. Let’s make 2012 the sexiest, sassiest, and yes, healthiest year yet!
Lifestyle
Find your Focus
Resolutions, Relaxation and Repeat by Libby Hartman
If the holiday season has left you wanting more than just a break from early sunsets, chilly weather and the overwhelming desire to cross off the days until Memorial Day weekend, perhaps you’re due for a holiday yourself. If you are seriously considering hopping a puddle jumper to the nearest island that will all but
guarantee hammock heaven and provide a safe place
to focus on your new years resolutions, your answer may not be too far from home. If these hot spots don’t fit the bill for your budget don’t fret, check out some of these travel websites and sign up for their weekly emails to get the skinny on discount vacations packages; vacationstogo.com, Travelzoo.com, Kayak.com, Expedia.com and Travelocity.com. *
The Bahamas Andros Island Bahamas
Do you literally want to stay off the beaten path and have a viable excuse for poor mobile reception? Small Hope Bay Lodge may offer more than just the tiniest glimpse of what it means to be relaxed and explore new activities at your own pace. Nestled peacefully in the Bahamas and just a one hour flight from Ft. Lauderdale is this tropical beauty’s largest island of Andros, featuring the third largest Barrier Reef in the world and the informal but lovely Small Hope Bay Lodge. This lush backdrop is a key destination for seasoned scuba divers but has a variety of activities for the simple traveler who wants a casual holiday that doesn’t have a dress code. Double packages begin at $500 per night in a beachfront cottage with all amenities including bar drinks, meals and free kayaks. Learn more about this low-key adventure spot at, www.smallhope.com .
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Belize Pelican Beach South Water Caye This quiet beach resort located just 14 miles from the main island of Dangriga boasts a variety of packages to get in the zone, including a yoga retreat package if you are looking to shed a few extra pounds and find your center that you lost at some point before the holidays began. The Pelican Beach property is entirely wind and solar powered for the eco-savvy traveler and can be easily accessed via the Belize International Airport. Double packages begin at $790 for 4 days /3 nights in a beachfront cottage with unlimited beach snorkeling & complimentary kayak usage. Some fees do apply,visit www. pelicanbeachbelize.com for details.
St. John-
Us Virgin Islands Caneel Bay If you’re looking for eco-conscious luxury, look no further than Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort. A celebrity favorite, this spotless gem is situated on part of the Virgin Islands National Park just under an hour from the St. Thomas International Airport. Stretching 1.5 miles and located on a peninsula, Caneel Bay is not only decadent but posh for the environmentally friendly traveler who has no desire to compromise on comfort. Offering tennis, massage services and art lessons, this beachfront property can help you rediscover how you want to feel all year long. Packages are available, check online for details at www. caneelbay.com. * SoReal wants our readers to have the best vacation possible, so before you book your vacation online make sure you’ve done all your research in advance and read through the terms and conditions offered through travel websites. With great prices come some non-flexible rules. Be smart.
by Brjden Crewe
CONTINUE ON PAGE 24
Culture
Every morning growing up at my elementary school, we stood up inside of our classrooms and pledged our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. A random student would be chosen and called down to the main office to lead the entire school over the intercom system as we placed our hands over our hearts and collectively recited the patriotic words to the pledge. After our pledge, the familiar, pre-recorded piano keys of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson would play over the intercom and the entire school would sing the inspirational song which was filled with brooding words of past atrocities in this country, yet climatic lyrics of inspired hope for African-Americans and future generations of children. Regarded as the “Negro National Anthem,” the song was as common to us as students, as was The Pledge of Allegiance, and was just as important for me to recite each morning. Growing up in Gary, Indiana, which was predominantly AfricanAmerican in population, the school system felt a duty to teach us as students, about our heritage. From our ancestors’ struggles for equality here in America to an even earlier history made up of our African roots, we would learn about historic figures which not only changed the landscape of the United States, but of the entire world. And because teaching us about our history was so important to our school systems, they didn’t wait for February to teach it to us. Our learning about important African-Americans was taught year-round. What was also important, was that our parents made it a point to teach us about our heritage and about important figures who fought for some of the freedoms that we enjoy to this day.
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A couple of months ago, I asked my 17 year-old cousin if he knew who W.E.B. DuBois was and he hadn’t a clue. I then asked about Marcus Garvey, then Thurgood Marshall, then Sojourner Truth and still got nothing from him. Harriet Tubman struck a tickle in his educational memory, but his facts about her were incorrect and so were his facts about Rosa Parks (though he was much more familiar with the song “Rosa Parks,” which was made famous by the musical group, OutKast over 10 years ago). I disappointingly reached Martin Luther King Jr. after naming about twenty prominent African-American figures to which he had no clue about and when I asked about him, he knew that Martin “had a dream”. After about ten or eleven names of “famous” AfricanAmericans I named while testing my cousin’s knowledge of his history, the conversation went from comedic to concerning. I wasn’t exactly surprised by my cousin’s answers (or lack there of) because as I, myself had gotten older throughout the educational process, black history seemed less and less important in my school curriculum. But what concerned me the most while talking to my cousin, was his disinterest in knowing who many of these people were that I was naming, which spoke volumes about the attitudes of not only African-American students today, but the education systems in our communities as well. Which also raises questions as to whether or not black history is still relevant when educating our children. Is black history a part of a greater whole,
which represents U.S. history in it’s entirety rather than an isolated month used to highlight the underdog story of black struggle in America?
After about ten or eleven names of “famous”
AfricanAmericans
I named while testing my cousin’s knowledge of his history, the
conversation went from comedic to concerning Asking many African-American children (ranging in age from 1418) around my community about some of the same black figures I asked my cousin, I received almost the exact same results given by my cousin. Current president, Barack Obama is known throughout the black community, but many of the historic figures to whom not only Barack Obama, but many successful and educated Americans know about and admire, were lost amongst African-American youth today in my community. But again, this situation raises more questions. Because much of black history is filled with the death, pain, discrimination and suffering paid by our ancestors, would it not be better to have our children grow up without knowledge of those pains in order to grow up with a clear, optimistic view of the opportunities and equalities now available in America today? Would this ignorance be acceptibly blissful?
I remember my seventh grade teacher showing us Alex Haley’s miniTV series, “Roots,” which depicted the early generations of Africans who were brought to this country as slaves and the many generations of captivity shared within a family of early blacks in America. Watching Roots, though educational and captivating, angered me as a young black man. I never knew a slave and I couldn’t imagine the pain suffered by my ancestors, but I knew they were a part of me. They shared my skin color, thus I shared in their pain, however small. Roots was an example of many of the thoughts and feelings I stored within my spirit and mindset growing up as an African-American man in the 1990’s. Much of the music, entertainment, and education about black history in the 90’s shared a message of pride, yet also shared a message of anger and distrust for Caucasian-Americans which wasn’t always apparent, yet justified by much of the discrimination still visible in our society. But today’s youth and today’s America is very different. Joining our first African-American president in our country today, is an America not as “hot button” about race as generations passed were. I believe much of this peace amongst race relations between Americans is due to the lack of education about our history as Americans. If we don’t remember, how can we be angered by it? Are we as blacks better for it as Americans moving forward? Are we worse off unknowing about our history as African-Americans moving forward? Much of the curriculum in today’s American educational system lacks the black history studies that past systems once provided because many educators (and citizens) today believe that American history includes black history, thus deeming it unnecessary to highlight it. Growing up in a predominantly African-American school system, Black History Month was celebrated with special school programs, history lessons, and learning assignments used to not only teach, but to instill pride in our heritage - even just for one month. Many believe that an isolated month which highlights and celebrates black history only adds to the segregation once shared by the laws and by many citizens in America, thus deeming February’s Black History Month, counterproductive in unifying all peoples in America. But are African-American students better for this inclusion? Much of black history in America can be taken painfully, yet also pridefully if viewed in totality considering the opportunities shared by all Americans today. From slavery to the system’s long drawn out emancipation and eventual civil rights movement, the struggle to gain equality as blacks came at a great struggle, yet understanding fully how important that struggle was, is lost more and more with each passing generation of African-American children. Black history and it’s most important figures are only found on the buildings of public schools scattered throughout the educational systems of black communities in our country who’s names are visibly provided, yet their stories, their struggles and their greatness are slowly disappearing in our minds and rarely taught in our classrooms. The U.S. educational system has many more problems that exceed the lack of black history being taught within it’s institutions so it’s no surprise that our children barely know about Martin Luther King Jr. anymore. It’s up to parents to teach their children (African-American or otherwise) about the rich heritages of their histories while also priding themselves as proud Americans. If not, then the example that I used with the nativity my cousin’s knowledge of black historic figures will go from naive to knowing nothing at all.
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In this great nation of ours, we have become increasingly more engaged in becoming a disposable society, perpetuating a cycle of consumerism. If there is anything that we’ve learned from the Occupy Movements across the country, it is that we, the 99 percent, do hold some modicum of power—through our voices, and through the way we spend our dollars. Fair trade is one avenue in which we can utilize both our voices and our dollars in a socially conscientious way. No, fair trade isn’t just beaded necklaces from Africa, but encompasses everything from food to home décor. Fair trade ensures that the person who grew your coffee, sewed your tennis shoes, or made that chocolate bar you’re eating is justly compensated for their labor. To make sure that no child or slave labor, which yes, does still exist, was used in the construction of whatever product you are buying. After all, how can we complain about the injustice done to us by these mega corporations, but at the same time do the exact same thing to others around the world? In addition to fair wages for fair labor, fair trade also promotes environmental sustainability. Our society has become more aware of our environmental responsibility here and around the world, making Fair Trade products easily compatible with our hectic lifestyles. By allowing farmers and producers to go “back to the basics” through smaller farms or production goals, we are indirectly alleviating environmental destruction by preventing deforestation, pollution, and the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Often when we think about all the issues going on within our environment, it leads to a sense of overwhelming guilt. While I’m not saying buying a Fair Trade chocolate bar will fix everything, it does go down a little easier.
ANOTHER POSITIVE ASPECT OF FAIR TRADE IS THE SOCIAL AND EMPOWERMENT IMPACT IT HAS ON DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. Fair trade bars discriminatory employment practices, allowing people
who were previously unable to work due to race, gender, sexuality, tribe, or even appearance to start earning a fair wage under safe conditions. Further, the wages are dissipated throughout the communities, allowing the communities to reinvest and empower themselves—without additional aid. It allows for women to form collectives in which they are their own bosses, for children to go to school instead of being sold to work in factories. Essentially, fair trade gives some of the power back to the people who producing, growing, and putting together the products that we buy. While there are numerous Fair Trade products available, a consumer does need to do a bit a research before believing that a product is actually Fair Trade. There is the Fair Trade Certification mark, which you can find on certified products by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO). However, there are other organizations such as the Fair Trade Federation of the US (FTF) and the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) that also lists products that, while not certified, do fall under fair trade practices. For more information on Fair Trade and Fair Trade practices, you can look here: http://fairtradeusa.org http://www.fairtrade.net
Culture
by Debbi DiFonzo McCulloch It is said that television is a reflection of society and its values, and this is a truism when it comes to the depiction of fathers on television. What was once a sacrosanct position of the responsible breadwinner, the honorable and respected strong father figure has devolved into a caricature of itself. The role of the father on television began as a respected and caring figure. In the 1950’s, we saw the model for this type of father figure established in shows like Leave It To Beaver. Ward Cleaver, the family patriarch, worked hard, came home, spent time with his family, loved his wife and kids, and lived a generally normal life. Even single fathers were portrayed with the same respect, as was seen in the other 1950’s staple, The Andy Griffith Show. Single dad
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Andy Taylor worked hard but always set aside time for his son, never so busy he couldn’t talk to him or interrupt his day to deal with a family issue. Responsibility to the family and the loving but guiding father figure was the norm for television’s portrayal of fathers in this era. This continued throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. Consider the Brady Bunch, the 60’s cult sitcom where Mike Brady not only evoked the strong patriarch figure for his own kids, but for his stepchildren as well. Even in the 1970’s we continued to see the strong, honorable father figures like Mr. Cunningham in Happy Days. When father figures were portrayed as less than the stellar figures, such as the grouchy Fred Sanford or the curmudgeonly Archie Bunker, they never lost touch with their core values of being a good
father. This trend ended in the 80’s with Dr. Cliff Huxtable, of the Cosby Show. This would be the last time we would see TV dads portrayed as caring and responsible as the 80’s brought in the new trend of the uncaring, slacker dad. Enter Homer Simpson. The Simpsons was really one of the first of a series of shows to portray fathers as slackers. In Homer, we see a father who generally doesn’t want to spend time with his kids, knows very little about them and their interests, and often resorts to violence when disciplining them. He routinely disappoints them and his favorite pastime is drinking at the bar, rather than being with his family. While a cartoon comedy, it laid the groundwork for the next decline in the portrayal of TV dads, Al Bundy. Starting in the late 80’s and continuing into the late 90’s, Married With Children took the slacker dad to its ultimate expression. While Homer Simpson was portrayed with some redeeming qualities, Al Bundy had none. He despised his family, and often fantasized of a life without a wife or children. He blamed his pathetic existence on his family and most episodes typically started with Al on the couch, watching TV and drinking beer with one hand strategically shoved down his pants. Over the next decade, television churned out more slacker fathers, such as Peter Griffin (Family Guy) and Ray Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond), but as we entered the new millennium, TV fathers took yet another direction--the criminal or dangerous dad. No new millennium dad embodied this more than Tony Soprano. Here was a father who not only put his family in danger, but also drank, smoked, cheated and was generally the antithesis of the 1950’s TV dads. This same time period also gave several variations on the criminal father, like the bigamist father Bill Henrickson in Big Love and cheating businessman and womanizer, Roger Sterling of Mad Men.
The fictional fathers on television have, like much of the programming, given way to the rise of reality TV and nothing can compare to the rock bottom we have hit in the current portrayal of TV dads. Just as our society has embraced the all-consuming need for reality and constant information, we have been bombarded with reality TV dads that frankly, should be neutered before they can bring any more children into the world and scar them with their brand of “fatherhood.” Consider our prototypical reality TV dad, Michael Lohan. Criminal, loser, and fame whore, he has actively contributed to the destruction of his children’s lives and seeks every chance he has to milk them and their misfortune for money. No discussion of idiotic reality fathers would be complete without talking about Jon Gosselin. A man with eight children who cheats on his wife, leaves her and their eight kids, and proceeds to engage in just about every mid-life cliché known to exist--from the girlfriend half his age, to spending money like it was water, to dragging his wife and kids into court to squeeze more money out while what little fame he had lasted. The most recent evolution of the reality show father is the “nameless father” as portrayed in the show, Teen Mom, a sure sign that the end of civilization is near. Teen Mom continues with the loser reality father figure, but has replaced a specific loser with a series of forgettable and nameless fathers whose sole quality is being a sperm donor to a teenage mother. The truth is that the portrayal of fathers on television is nothing like reality, but a reflection of societal wants and values. Fathers were never perfect to begin with, but were a more important part of family life and values in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. As the family unit began to degrade in the 90’s, we saw TV reflect this, and continue to evolve as society and TV evolved. Today, television glorifies casual sex, lack of responsibility and easy living, and television dads have kept pace. How fortunate for us that television remains a pale reflection of life and not an accurate portrayal of it. It is my belief there are many more loving families and parents than losers like Michael Lohan and Jon Gosselin, regardless of what we see on TV.
Great art never goes out of style.
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can truly belt like a number of legendary female vocalists of the past. However, she does have versatility that moves her music beyond the standard diva showcase. The sound of 21 is frequently timeless, with a Motown on steroids. She has become timeless in her own time.
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Michael Durant: Welcome to Diolog. We are so grateful to have award-winning actress and what I’ve hear people-person Sanaa Lathen on the line with us. Sanaa, we thank you so much for getting on with us. How are you doing today? Sanaa Lathan: I’m doing good, it’s my pleasure to talk to you. Durant: And I personally want to say thank you because you are gracing SoReal Magazine’s first issue for 2012 and we’re grateful for that.
Durant: I didn’t want to say that because I didn’t wanna … Lathan: Oh, you don’t want to age me? (laughs)
Lathan: I love it.
Durant: (laughs) Yes.
Durant: We’re on the outside looking in, but you actually come from a family that’s been in the business.
Lathan: Because I look so young. (laughs)
Lathan: Yeah, yeah, definitely. My mother went to Julliard for dance and she was in the original Alvin Ailey Company and traveled the world, and was on Broadway in the original Wiz and Timbuktu. And as a toddler I was running around backstage. And my dad was one of the first black directors in television and he continues on to this day producing and directing TV and film. So I don’t know anything else – I grew up behind the scenes literally.
Durant: There’s been people that have celebrity parents, although they wanted to go a different direction. What made you say you know what, I want to do this? Lathan: You know, I was always kind of a bookworm, always a real kind of straight A student in school – I actually skipped sixth grade. And I actually didn’t want to go into the business in terms of acting. I always said I wanted to be lawyer, but when it really came down to when I really did research into the day-to-day life of lawyers, it really wasn’t a passion for me I discovered. And I had always been performing since I was a teenager and when I was in college I was in a group called Black Theatre Workshop and we did plays that we wrote and also plays by African-American
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authors. And then I got accepted to Yale School of Drama and that kind of from there on, that I was on the path. And Yale really kind of gave me the groundwork and the confidence and all the tools to, you know, start this journey in this business that now has been over 16 years now.
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Durant: Yes! That’s what it is. Lathan: That’s so sweet. Durant: From what I’ve heard, I have some people, friends of mine, that work with Tyler Perry Studios and they’ve met you and they say, “Oh, she’s so awesome to work with” and you don’t hear that all the time.
I really feel deeply, deeply appreciative of this work that I’m able to do and this business, the fact that I’m able to make a living off of it and doing what I love. I love Lathan: Oh, that’s great to hear.
acting, I love telling stories – I consider myself a storyteller. And it’s just been, you know it hasn’t always been easy, but I really am a glass half full person and feel very, very blessed. And so I try to conduct myself in that way. Durant: Have you been able to get some of that insight when you were coming up through theatre, to TV shows, to movies? Did any of the insights from your parents actually help you? Did you ever go against the grain sometime and find out “Oh, they were actually right, I should have listened.”
Lathan: Well you know it’s interesting because one thing about the business is that there is no one way and
everybody’s journey is different.
I found that a lot of the advice that my dad would give me didn’t necessarily apply to me because his journey was different. The one thing that I really appreciated about having them is that they got it, they understand what I’m going through just because they had kind of been through it. And so there was that deep understanding so that if you did have a bad day, my dad would say, “You know what, it’s good that you did your best, you just move on, this too shall pass,” where some of my other actor friends maybe their parents have no clue and they really couldn’t kind of come to them for advice. So really the biggest part of it is the support and just pearls of wisdom from my dad and mom over the years when you’re going through those struggles and say you know what, if you keep doing your best it’s all an investment, it’s going to pay off, just keep making your highest decisions and just those kinds of things. Durant: So would you say family is very important to you?
night. But on the flipside of that it’s also that the eight-show a week schedule is so grueling that it’s almost like running a marathon. Durant: Which one do you prefer? If you could do it, and then say this is the direction I want to go in terms of your acting career. Lathan: The way that it’s been going has been great. I think that being able to do both is great. I love film because I love, I love the whole process of breaking down a character and fitting the puzzle pieces together and kind of becoming a family and going on location. And I love the fact that film is around forever, you know, that my grandkids will be able to see, you know, Love and Basketball or The Wood. But with theatre, part of the magic is that it is just in the moment and it only lives in the minds of the people who come to see it, so there’s something very magical about that, that you’re experiencing this with these people and they’re the keepers of this experience. And so, I love theatre so much, the problem with theatre for me is the eight-shows a week. I can’t do it for too long – six months is enough and then it’s like you have to have your life. Durant: Out of all the roles that you’ve had from theatre, what one would you consider to be the most challenging part of your career or has been the most challenging part of your career?
Lathan: Yes, family is very important. I’m very close to my family. I have – how many sisters do I have? I have three sisters – 14, 26, 27. That’s from my father, he was remarried when I was 12. And I have a brother who is a big DJ in LA, his name is DJ Tindagi, and he’s really hot and we’re really close.
Lathan: In theatre or in film?
Durant: Are any of your sisters trying to follow in your footsteps?
Lathan: I would think that Maggie the Cat, playing Maggie the Cat in London. People know the movie, but to play the role is one of the, you know, it’s kind of an iconic theatre role and it’s one of the great, I mean one of the toughest roles to play as a woman. In the first act she’s talking nonstop for about an hour and it’s very emotional and she goes through all these changes. And so I think the fact that I was able to tackle that and get through that was like climbing Mount Everest and yet I think it definitely made me a better artist.
Lathan: Well, the two that are in their 20s aren’t, but who knows about the 14-year-old, we shall see. Durant: Compared to TV, movies and theatre, which one would you consider because I know that play that you were doing, was it in London? Lathan: Oh, I did a play in London called Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which was James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashaad and Adrian Lester and we won the equivalent of the Tony, which is called the Olivier, for Best Revival. It was a great run, that was really an amazing experience. And then I just recently did a play in New York at Second Stage off-Broadway called By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.
And theatre is really my first love.
The actual experience of theatre is just so delicious for the actor because you actually get to live the character from beginning to end and you feed off of the audience’s energy and it’s different every
Durant: Both, I mean has there been anything that overlapped that this making you better, but was that challenging moment that actually defined you?
With film, every role has been so different. I think Love & Basketball was extra-challenging simply because I had to learn to play basketball within five months and so … Durant: Oh, so you wasn’t just skilled like that? I thought maybe you had played in college or … (laughs) Lathan: No, I had never picked up a basketball. To get the role I had to audition, half of my audition was acting and the other half was actually going to the court and doing layups and running drills and all that kind of stuff. And I didn’t know anything from anything and finally I said to them, because they were interested in me, I said you know you’re getting CONTINUE ON PAGE 40
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– because they were throwing basketball players into the mix as well – and so I said you’re getting these basketball players acting coaches, then you need to give me a basketball coach. And so they did, but even still anybody who plays basketball you know that it takes years to even dribble right. So that was grueling and there were a lot of breakdowns during that process. (Laughs) But I think it payed off. Durant: We know when you look at Hollywood today and there’s roles that have been written for African-American women, but I guess you can say we’re starting to see more roles that are written for women that now they’re getting African-American actresses. Do you feel like it’s on the increase or do you feel like it’s still not where it needs to be?
I think there’s always room for improvement, but I definitely – I don’t know if this is
Lathan:
because I know more black actresses – but I definitely think there are more, more of my peers are working, which is good, whether that be on TV, theatre, or film. And so, yes, there is I think a lot of room for improvement and I’m looking forward to that and hopefully that will happen in my lifetime. All I want is for film to reflect the world that we live in and tell stories that are not necessarily stereotypical, but show the range of the human experience and that’s what’s interesting to me. Durant: So now going into voice-over. Moving into The Cleveland Show, I mean, are you able to maintain yourself during the readings? Lathan: Maintain...? Durant: From laughing, I mean the show is hilarious.
Durant: Do you feel that there is a chance for recovery for our economy? Lathan: Yes, there always is. You have to understand you’re talking to somebody who always looks at, I choose, I’m a glass half full person. I choose to look at the brighter side of things and so, yes, are we in a dire situation? Yes, we are. And I feel for all the people who don’t have jobs and are struggling. And yet I would say that it has to get better, it has to. If you look back at the Great Depression it got better. Now who knows, I’m not an economist, I’m not a politician, I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but you know.... Durant: The reason why I asked you is because we see a lot of people turning to their own talents. We’re calling it this new creative economy where we’re taking our own destiny in hands and not just trying to do the corporate thing, but more entrepreneurs are coming up. I agree with you, I believe that the future will be better, but I think it’s going to be when we decide to do it ourselves.
Lathan: Oh yeah. We have table reads every week and that’s part of the highlight of my week because it really is funny and we laugh out-loud and I think laughter is so therapeutic. So that job was just kind of a gift to me I feel because I almost didn’t go in for it, which I can’t believe that I almost didn’t go in. It was another last-minute audition and my agents were like just go in and audition. I said I’m not going to get this, I know I’m not going to get it because I didn’t feel like just my track record with voice-over auditions wasn’t good. But I got the part and it has been – we’re in a fourth season now and it’s just a delight. It’s fun and you laugh and you can roll out of bed and go in, you know?
Lathan: Right. And you have to go through that uncomfortable growth stage, yeah.
Durant: Do you feel it to be the sweeter side of Family Guy?
Lathan: Joy
Lathan: Ugh, it definitely does not have the complete edge of Family Guy, yeah. But yeah, I love Family Guy, too.
Durant: “The future”
Durant: Let me ask you this, and this is a thought because this is one of the articles we have and I just want to get your opinion on. This is one of the articles that we are featuring in this particular issue. There has been this talk about should we remove African-American history as a holiday because some are feeling that it’s considered American history. Now this is just your thoughts – what do you think about that? Is it something we should hold on to or is it something we should push to be implemented more in just American history, not a monthly holiday?
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Lathan: Ugh, I don’t, you know it’s funny because I feel like our curriculums from what you know just me coming up in different schools and just from what I know that the curriculum is so lacking in African-American history that yes, I would like it to be incorporated more in every month, but I think until it is we do need to highlight it, do you know what I mean? We do need to highlight it with a month. But I mean obviously I would like to get to a point where the struggles and triumphs of African-American people in this country and what we’ve done for this country and how this country was built on our backs literally should be part of everybody’s learning I think. But until it is, I think maybe it does help to have Black History Month.
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Durant: So I have four words for you and I just want you to give me the first thing that comes off your mind and I’m calling this Word Play. The first word is “family.” Lathan: Laughter Durant: “Success”
Lathan: Me (laughs). That’s so awful, but that’s really the first thing that came to my mind. Durant: That’s being truthful so that’s fine. Sanaa, I thank you so much for getting on with us and for gracing the cover. We are very in love with your career and you as a person, so we are in total support of what you do. Lathan: Thank you so much.
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Celebrities don gowns, shoes, and jewelry worth well over six-figures. Catered parties’ hand out gift bags that are worth more than what many of us make a year. Yet despite the celebs’ exorbitant salaries, most of these items are gifted or borrowed, so that they in essence pay almost nothing! While the Oscars are a celebration of the movie industry, this year I wonder, is this profuse display of excess wealth entirely appropriate? Beginning in 2008, the US has sustained a long-term economic downturn, in economic terms, we are experiencing a depression. The jobless rates are higher than ever, and the safety nets that are supposed to help us out in these situations are being cut and slashed. Non-profits created to assist people in need and social services across the country are facing extreme budget cuts and being forced to turn away clients due to the lack of funding. As shelters and food banks start to close their doors because of overpopulation or lack of food and space, more and more people are turning to the streets. And this is not just a lowincome, welfare abusing societal concern. As graduation draws near, thousands of debt-ridden college students will be released into the work field, with dismal career prospects. And then we have the mid-20 and 30, and even 40 year olds that, due to a lack of a livable wage are moving back in with their families. Small business owners are closing their doors, as people need more bang for their buck, so instead, shop at Target. There are professionals that are skimping on the doctor visits; co-pays and premiums are too much. People who need mental health assistance are being turned away, and instead turning to selfmedication through illicit means. Our nation, and our people are suffering, badly.
Movie Awards….the list is endless. While all of these award shows also engage in a display of excess, the Oscars have, and probably always will take home the award for the Most Lavish Award Show.
However, many argue that despite our economy and social concerns, television, movies, and celebrities are an easy form of escape from our troubled world. That despite our economic and political polarity, we all derive enjoyment from the big, and little, screen. Friends and families around the world to gather to watch movies and television shows together, not only for the pure entertainment value but also as a form of coming together. Across the country, people celebrate the Oscars by having in-home parties; organizations may have Oscar themed fundraisers or parties as well. Movies also may have a therapeutic value as well. All of the societal quandaries can be overwhelming, especially if you are someone who is directly affected by the depression. Yet, if you can scrape eleven dollars together, for two hours or so, your worries are put on the backburner—you can temporarily escape your troubles.
Can we place blame on Hollywood and the surrounding community? After all, celebrities are just doing their job. According to the Academy, they are not only doing their job, but doing their job well and should be rewarded. Similar to your end of the year office party, where you may or may not get a bonus. The Academy Awards even engaged in its grandeur in 1932 and 1933, which coincidentally also happened to be the worst points during the Great Depression—where one in four people, who were looking, did not have a job. And, the culture of Hollywood itself has always been over-the-top extravagance. Some of the items in the 83rd Academy Awards nominee gift bags included: a $5,000 all-inclusive week-long fitness retreat from Live In Fitness Enterprise, $12,000 Belize getaway at Cayo Espanto -- a private island, and a $16,000 all-inclusive getaway to Huvafen Fushi luxury resort in the Maldives compliments of Premier Tours. And these were just a few of the items, definitely not found at my end-of-the year office party.
I would counter argue that, yes, they may serve as a form of escape, but is that what we need right now? And yes, I agree that we all gather to enjoy movies and television with friends and families, but not necessarily Oscar movies. In addition to the Oscars, we have the Golden Globes, MTV Movie Awards, SAG Awards, the Razzies, BET Movie Awards, Critics Choice
Are the celebrities and Hollywood throwing their wealth in our face, or is this just a time honored American tradition that we should just leave alone? Can the Oscars be scaled back, or does this tarnish the glitz and glam associated with Hollywood? Well, it’s all questionable. But come February 26, 2012 we will have our answer.
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When most people think of hip-hop and R&B music, certain thoughts and imagery may come to mind - violent behavior, money being thrown around, scantily-clad dancing women, luxury cars, and bling, bling, and more bling. None of these things are what people would call “positive,” especially when it comes to having an impact on today’s younger generation. Nor are the stories in the media of hip-hop and R&B musicians surrounding violence against women (such as with R&B singers Chris Brown and Rhianna), murder (such as the shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur), and drug use (such as the deaths of DJ AM and rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard).
However, there is a positive influence that hip-hop and R&B music has on today’s youth, mainly
in its ability to tell a story from the perspective of youth living in urban environments, says Toki Wright, hip-hop artist and Hip-Hop Studies program coordinator at the McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He explains that traditionally hip-hop has been about what is going on for young people in the inner city, which has opened the door for certain conversations that had never happened before. And
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discussing topics such as sex and drugs is a positive because we are living in a society where these things exist. So the positive, Wright says, is in addressing these topics rather than sweeping them under the rug. Hip-hop and R&B’s ability to freely discuss real topics, regardless if they are negative or not, is also deemed a positive by Adam Cruz, DJ and producer for indie music company Mixtape Sessions. And it’s this realism that had an impact on Cruz. “Whenever I heard the truth in an artist’s music, I could relate more,” he explains. “I felt they were a friend telling me the secrets of their life. It also implored me to get productive through its encouraging lyrics.” In order to keep current and continue to tell it how it is, Cruz says the content of hip-hop and R&B music has been changing to reflect what’s going on in the world today. “I think that, more than ever before, youth look to hip-hop and R&B artists to tell their true stories through music,” he says. “Slowly, it seems like these artists are shifting their lyrical content, especially in light of the unstable economy and other current events.” For example, Cruz says both lyrical and video content for hip-hop and R&B artists is moving away towards showcasing an extravagant lifestyle. “In today’s world, the idea of, for example, that a rapper will throw hundreds of
dollars into a crow is less in vogue than in prior years. You can even see this in more recent music videos. The over-thetop budgets just aren’t there anymore.” Wright also says hip-hop music had an absolutely positive impact on his own youth. “No where else could I look to see people who looked like me or dressed like me - it felt good,” he says. Wright says hip-hop was his version of a great storyteller that was coming from a familiar situation and translating it into words, and it taught him at a young age that he could also have his voice heard in the same way with practice and experience. So what about today’s youth - who are the hip-hop and R&B artists that they can look to for a positive message? Cruz sites current hip-hop and R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige (“She is
honesty and artistic evolution personified”), rapper Lupe Fiasco (“Really brings a strong sense of truth to his work - a level of authenticity that is rare”) and singer/rapper M.I.A. As having a strong positive influence on today’s youth. “Even a 50 Cent or Eminem that people don’t always regard as being a positive influence are by having a different perspective on the world,” Wright adds. And as a father himself, Cruz sees hip-hop and R&B music continuing to have a positive influence on the future younger generation. “I think we’ll see more honesty in the content of music (and) this will help the art of good music evolve,” he says. “My kids will hopefully reap the rewards of years of good music to come.”
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Success & Inspiration
The landscape of the world’s culture has changed dramatically over the past 20 years alone. The way we see
the world, interact with the world, and our own place in the world, have all
been affected. These changes came
about as a direct result of the efforts of inventors, entrepreneurs, and
business visionaries who dreamed of
better ways to do or to make things and then made their dreams into reality.
At the top of any list of visionaries of the past century Steve Jobs quite literally changed the window through which we see our world. As a pioneer of the computer and cell phone industry,
Jobs became an icon for innovation and the singular face of Apple Computers, the company he cofounded. Jobs’ direct influence on the way we use technology, the way we communicate and the way we share information cannot be exaggerated. Even if you’ve never owned an iProduct, you have been directly influenced by Steve Jobs’ inventions. And you can be sure that Jobs’ inventions and his way of presenting ideas to the world will continue to effect the way we do business forever.
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If Steve Jobs changed the window through which we view the world, The founder of Facebook is widely credited with an entire movement of social networking. Even amidst lawsuits and constant privacy concerns, Facebook has millions of members who post billions of updates per day. The site has changed the way we share information, as well as the kinds of information we share. Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook continues to shape information technology as it evolves daily.
Mark Zuckerberg changed the way we talk about it.
Michael Jackson
’s influence in music is inarguable. As a prominent figure in popular culture for over four decades with estimated record sales of over 750 million worldwide, Jackson was also a choreographer, actor, fashion icon and one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time.
His influence on pop music wasn’t limited to one song or even one album. Any catalog of his albums includes hits that changed the entire direction of pop music. There’s good reason why he was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While Michael Jackson directly influenced the music we listen to,
Sean Parker changed the way we share it. His invention, Napster, was a free downloadable program that turned every computer into a server for exchanging music files. For free. Even though the site was only up for 15 months, more than 60 million people downloaded the software,
making Napster the fast growing software program in history. While the free file-sharing version Napster was
eventually shut down by court order after being sued by the record industry, a host of peer to peer file-swapping programs emerged, and lives on today. Another on any list of recent visionaries, Oprah Winfrey has changed the way we view charitable giving. Oprah’s success goes beyond her obvious wealth, influence and fame. Winfrey views her success not merely as an opportunity to give back to others, but as a responsibility that comes with her wealth.
Oprah Winfrey’s philanthropic work is unprecedented, and has directly influenced others to give back on whatever level they are able. The motivation for her generosity is the philosophy that “none of us in this world have made it until the least among us have made it.”
All five of these visionaries have made changes to the way we view our world.
By following their passions and sharing their talents, they have made lasting, real advances in our physical and psychological histories. Our worlds wouldn’t be the same without them.
Success & Inspiration
If you don’t know who Steve Stoute is, I think you really should and very soon will. He is currently the CEO of Translation, a brandmarketing agency under the massive advertising Interpublic Group umbrella. He has been a guest on the Today Show, pals around with the likes Jay-Z, showered with accolades in the Advertising industry, spearheaded several celebrity brand partnerships and has an American Music Award. Did I mention he just turned 40? Recently Stoute added author to his resume with his book, “The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy” released in early September. What “tanning” means essentially is simple, it is the spread of hiphop culture, albeit through lingo and likewise to the various nooks and crannies of the globe through youth culture making it common day marketing practice and jargon. More importantly, the concept unfurls on the to whole to illustrate a bigger picture in terms of “pop” culture. Stoute is no rookie; he has been a key player and noted observer of this transitional tanning for some time. A New York City native, he started as a road manager in the music business in the early 90’s, not too long after he found himself working as a producer then a top ranked Music Executive with positions at Sony and Interscope Geffen A&M Records. He has worked with artists like Eminem, U2, and Eve along with managing the careers of Mary J. Blige and Nas. In the early part of 2001, Stoute began to explore the depths of marketing even further with PASS, a joint endeavor with friend Peter Arnell that played both on his passion for music and his intuition for
brand marketing. This love would later manifest into the full service agency Translation, his current role alongside Chairman Jay-Z. He also played in integral part in the branding of Carol’s Daughter, by gathering big name investors like Will and Jada Pinkett -Smith to help endorse the product line that was once a brick in mortar in Brooklyn and you can now find at big name stores like Sephora and Macy’s. He literally takes the guesswork out of marketing to segmented audiences not just through the classic case study or a psychographic but an assumption based on popular trends and culture. In other words, he identifies what’s popular and pairs it with what has potential, like Carol’s Daughter. The “tanning” principle plays the role of building a bridge in making the products more accessible.
You see, Steve Stoute is a visionary is the rawest form; he is the kind of behind-thescenes power broker that seamlessly combines experience, intuition and artistry. And without a
second glance a general willingness to share why it is so important look deeply at the changing face of America through a positive lens. This combination offers insight into a growing culture that lacks overall understanding and supposed perspective but lends a hand as to how it came to be and more importantly how it will help develop a better future. As Picasso once said, “I do not seek, I find”, I believe Stoute’s connect the dots mentality follows this same philosophy. Pick up your copy of “The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy”on amazon.com today.
Success & Inspiration
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EMERGING an initial $2 million in start-up and were recently valued at nearly $100 million after receiving an $8 million investment from VC Redpoint Ventures to expand their services into 20 markets. The platform works on a variety of levels but lives online so companies can reward their team members in real time for a job well done, employees can benefit from the companies working with the Betterworks platform via discounted incentive and vendors in the neighborhood benefit from an increased awareness and membership. Many larger companies often have a HR pay rolled employee or paid consultant who is dedicated to seeking out and negotiating employee perks outside the workplace. Whether its 15% off at the local sushi spot or a better pricing at a nearby fitness club, Betterworks staff negotiates these targeted spots for their company members based on employee feedback in addition to leveraging their existing network to new members. While they can boast some big name clients on their roster like the NFL, Nokia and HULU, their main focus right now is still small to medium sized businesses with an employee base from 2 – 2000. The pricing is a flat rate per employee and Betterworks is compensated by a percentage based on transaction.
THE CHANGING NATURE
OF INCENTIVES Rethinking Employee Rewards in Real Time
by Libby Hartman
Once upon a time, long ago in a land we once knew, corporate perks like company cars, paid lunches and cash bonuses seemed a simple affair; so too did public recognition at “the” company dinner or an obvious pat on the back from a higher up. But, in turbulent economic times where main street style businesses are faced with analyzing their bottom lines like never before, rewards like these may result in returning from holiday vacation minus a neighbor in the cubicle next door. Today’s employers are faced with shaving perks and cutting bonuses for the sake of maintaining payroll and job security, not to mention the evolving nature of American workforce. Recent college graduates have high expectations from company culture and a necessary bank of knowledge for hiring employers like social media awareness and online branding capabilities. That said, exactly how does the conscious company make room to incentivize without compromising their long term financial goals and losing talent? Enter Betterworks.com, a simple online platform that creates a perfect ménage à trois for employee, employer and vendors alike resulting in real time reward for all three. Betterworks.com is the brainchild of Paige Craig, Sizhao “Zao” Yang and George Ishii. Veterans in the standards of start-up and programming, the co-founders of Betterworks began work in November of 2010 with
While it’s natural to compare this platform to something like Groupon, the two are really quite different. The growing client list helps increase not only the degree of discount and accessibility of perks but also the longevity of the reward, in other words if an individual works for an organization that uses the interface they benefit from discounts. Perks negotiated by BW don’t require a set number of people to participate in a discount, once BW has established an agreement with a vendor, the discount is available indefinitely. Talk about work perks, this concept can revolutionize the way a pat on the back feels. Betterworks now offers a new feature in the integrated platform called “Bonus Bucks”, these “dollars” can instantly deposited into an employee’s online account and be used at any one of their favorite Betterworks vendors. Can you say manicure/pedicure for making your monthly sales goal? Or treating your team to a late dinner because they stayed until 10:30 to finish a presentation? The possibilities are endless and the application is seamless. Betterworks .com corporate offices are in Santa Monica, California but they have recently launched in San Francisco, and plan to extend their brand to other key markets like Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, and select areas of New York City in the very near future. Get perks at your work! Request Betterworks in your workplace! www.Betterworks.com.
Success & Inspiration
Success & Inspiration
Today’s Instant
entrepreneur by Brjden Crewe
I was told that “millionaires are made during a recession”.
Savvy, intelligent and motivated business people who were driven enough to provide a product or service that the public had to have, could make heavy waves in their bank accounts during the economic climate today. Setting yourself up to be open for business once the economy revives itself is what many young business people hope to see happen and they are flooding the free market with their dreams of CEO success. They are the American Dream. But as the internet, the television, and the invention of the “Snuggie” motivate these instant entrepreneurs who have witnessed the rises of young, fast business people making millions of dollars, the path to riches wasn’t as quick as it seemed. Today’s entrepreneur wants it fast, wants it now and in many instances, wants the success without many of the paid dues
needed in order to be a successful business person for the long run. Many of the trials and difficulties that make up a Mark Zuckerberg (co-founder and CEO/President of Facebook) at times go unseen and unnoticed, but his success at such a young age inspires the kind of dream that many promising entrepreneurs hope to replicate with their own creations. Once upon a time, the “American Dream” meant being able to provide a better life for your family and education for your children through a financially stable blue-collar job, but the new dream is to own your own company and provide others the blue-collar jobs that once limited the sky. We’ve looked past just getting by. Today’s instant entrepreneur thinks big and dreams even bigger, but does this ambition have a foundation of strong CONTINUE ON PAGE 62
Success & Inspiration educational roots and solid experience? Or has the success of new, more relatable millionaire business people today make it look a little too easy?
THANKS, HIP HOP
Thank Russell Simmons. Co-founder of the pioneering Def Jam hip hop music label and Phat Farm clothing line, ushered in a new wave of young, hip business people that profited off of a do-it-yourself hustle which included working within an industry that allowed young, passionate lovers of music to control their love and their brand. Other hip-hop moguls such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Master P, and Jay-Z showed millions of young, driven business people that you can control your own product and make millions of dollars in an industry that was historically, never controlled by the artists. Even young business people who weren’t directly involved in the music industry were inspired by a new young flock of hip hop businessmen which took their focus and applied it to many different business arenas. Regardless of race, religion or environment, many young people grew up wanting to take the cool hustle of entertainment business into the boardrooms of their own business ventures and they want to do it with the same style, swagger, and ease as some of their favorite entertainers and television fixtures.
Once upon a time, the “American Dream” meant being able to provide
a better life for your family and education for your children
The problem with this view, is that many young business people only see the lavish lifestyles of entertainment moguls. They see the money, and the materials without seeing the sleepless dedication of someone like Russell Simmons who spent many less-than-profitable years making a name for himself and the music that he loved before seeing much success. For every Jay-Z that’s successful, there are nearly millions of nameless artists/CEOs that have tried and failed to make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry and unfortunately, “Plan B” is rarely one built on much substance. Many new instant entrepreneurs relate to hip hop and entertainment moguls because of the humble beginnings and similar backgrounds shared, yet never put an emphasis on the educational skills needed to hustle a number of business ventures that looked to be spearheaded by instant entrepreneurs.
through a financially stable blue-collar job, but the new
dream is to own your own company and provide others the blue-collar jobs that once
THANKS, INTERNET
Thank Sean Parker. One of the co-founders of Napster and one of the early presidents of Facebook is part of the fraternity of many young, creative minds in the business world that took the reigns of entrepreneurship by creating multi-million dollar businesses in front of a computer screen in their bedrooms. The instant entrepreneur is also inspired by the Tom Anderson’s (founder of Myspace) of the world who have turned the “Casual Friday” clothing attire into the work week norm for new multi-million dollar industries that focus more on innovation rather than prototypical, stuffy business suits. The revolution of internet industries has witnessed many creative men and women take on the role of Chief Executives of successful companies who have since renovated standard business practices with a much more casual approach to workplace protocol that not only includes a more casual work attire, but more lenient, yet heavier work hours and an open forum of brainstorming ideas which allow upper management positions to be filled with more creative, passionate people who’re willing to learn and work hard as oppose to qualified, educated professionals.
limited the sky.
The downside? Everyone has the next “thing”. Everyone wants to be the next internet sensation that can take an idea and create a phenomenon from one’s laptop. Many of the hardships to becoming an instant
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entrepreneur from the internet is an already over saturated market of whiz kids looking to profit from one’s imagination. Properly coordinating business plans, licensing, researching, marketing and having a good education, once again takes a back seat to big dreams which many times, is not enough.
THANKS, RECESSION
For many instant entrepreneurs, the recession is a great time to start realizing their dreams of economic independence. With job and budget cuts throughout the American workforce, many smart, creative “9 to 5’ers” found themselves unemployed with nothing but time on their hands which gave many an opportunity to open that business that they always planned on starting once their careers were solidified. But with many startup businesses closing and banks even less enthusiastic about loaning individuals money in order to start a new business, people had to get really creative about how to start a venture made up of little money and sheer drive. Grassroots beginnings often test the drive, creativity and staying-power of a young business and business person, which gives character to possible companies and products on the rise in a market flooded with fledgling businesses. But... We all have to eat. Thinking big and dreaming bigger many times come at the cost of one’s bills and one’s credit. Stories such as the one depicted in “The Pursuit of Happyness” showed a nearly impoverished Chris Gardner doing whatever it took to make his dreams come true, yet many instant entrepreneurs take such a story as to think that success may come at the cost of stability. Supportive friends, family and romantic partners have found themselves supporting the instant entrepreneur, which can sometimes lead to many false start businesses, bankruptcy, and shattered relationships.
THANKS AMERICAN DREAM
I am the American Dream. I myself am an entrepreneur set on making my own way with my career instead of punching a work clock that I watched my father punch in for over 30 years of his life. I think my own drive and my own dreams of creating my own business and my own wealth is a testament to a generation of entrepreneurs fueled by the desire to never work ourselves to the bone for a company that didn’t appreciate our hard work. We watched our parents work twelve and sometimes sixteen hour days for industrial plants and construction sites only to peak at middle management and middle-class financial limits. With the world wide web supplying a platform for digital advertising, internet marketing, social media/SEO companies,
and a number of new creative jobs in the digital universe, a new wave of entrepreneurs now have the ability to control their own destiny while quickly positioning themselves as CEO of their new business. Even other non-digital ventures of business are on the rise with many young entrepreneurs looking to allow their dreams to come true in the business world. The opportunity is now for many dreamers that want to be their own boss. With many new business ventures preferring enthusiasm over education, stay
tuned for more innovative and digital versions of The American Dream.
The moral of the story is that today’s instant entrepreneur need not give up nor chase their dreams without a plan. Education, stability and patience are essential in properly executing a successful business. You may not be the next Diddy or Myspace founder, but who’s to say that you won’t be even bigger? Following a dream can mean a number of things, but expecting instant success in the business world may be enough to wake you up to the cold, hard reality of what it truly means to be a long-lasting entrepreneur.
New home construction is the number one cause of species becoming endangered. Even in places where there are fewer people, new home construction threatens more and more plants and animals, pushing them to the brink of extinction by bulldozing their living environments. It seems we might enjoy our homes more if they were not so harmful to the environment in which we built them. In response to growing concerns, many builders are incorporating more eco-friendly materials and green practices into their projects. But, by its very nature, it is impossible for a huge home to be a truly green home. Just as the McMansion is one extreme, there is a trend in answer on the other end of the spectrum, the mini home. Also called nano-homes, these tiny structures work with the space they inhabit, utilizing eco-conscious building materials and practices to create one-of-a-kind houses that are generally smaller than just the living room alone in that mini-mansion.
by May Long
How much space do we really need to be happy?
When you see the dramatic increase in new house sizes, it seems that many people believe more is better. We’ve all seen the huge house movement: new subdivisions packed with McMansions sitting elbow to elbow, neighbors tearing down their small, older home and replacing it with a miniature castle, or the childless couple who just added their fourth bedroom. Dream homes have ballooned into unmanageable mammoths. The effects on homeowners, the financial, mental and social tolls, have caused many to look for simpler, and smaller homes. And they tend to be happier in them. As the American home expands, so does its footprint on the earth. Today, the median size of a single-family home is around 2,400 square feet, whereas in 1977 it was closer to 1,500 square feet. Construction has many disturbing effects on the environment. Sixty percent of all the raw resources that humans use are produced for use in building. A majority of the trees we cut down are used in construction. A full two thirds of the copper we dig up becomes wiring and pipes for our buildings. And the waste produced by construction is astounding: the construction of an average home adds at least eight tons of trash to landfills.
More and more people are making their lifestyles a statement of their political, spiritual and environmental beliefs. These people are downsizing, shedding and discarding “things” and stuff that no longer serves them or for which they no longer have any high regard. They’re cleaning out closets and sorting through items in basements, attics and garages. They’re recycling their unused and unwanted possessions by donating to local charities. And they are finding that they need far less space to live a happier, simpler lifestyle. As a result, they’re looking for smaller and smaller homes. Nano homes are also being built in response to diminishing space in urban areas, a growing concern of the depletion of renewable resources, and as a way to build a home that makes a positive impact instead of a negative one. Nano home designs consider the resources required for the construction and operation of the house. Often built of straw bale, salvage materials and recycled building supplies, these homes work to leave no footprint from their construction. These sustainable, tiny homes being built today can actually work to raise awareness of our tenuous relationship with the environment, and they may serve as an educational instrument by example. The home designs highlight the surrounding natural landscape, thereby encouraging their preservation. These small homes can make a big impact on design and the idea of what we need to be happy.
by Libby Hartman
Who better to encourage empowerment than Hip-Hop legend Mary J. Blige? With a career that spans more than 20 years and 9 Grammys, the Queen of R&B has always been vocal about counting her blessings and clear in her intention to give back. FFAWN, a foundation created by Blige and Media Mogul Steve Stoute was born in 2008 with mission of educating and empowering women through educational scholarships, programs and grants. CONTINUE ON PAGE 68
Cause Campaign
With its multi-faceted approach, FFAWN and their partner’s offer women in need the opportunity to grow and the means to reach their full individual potential. Blige’s co-founder, Steve Stoute recently authored, The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy which was released in September of 2011. While much of his career is behind the scenes, Stoute has an amazing resume as a brand marketer and proven track record of success in music.
People say you never get a second chance to make a first impression but what happens if you never have the tools you need to nail the first impression the first shot out?
Concentrated in Blige’s stomping ground of Yonkers, NYC with the eventual goal of going national, FFAWN partners with members of the community to increase awareness and efforts by creating programs that cater to specific challenges facing women, like child care, career opportunities and access to higher education. In September of 2009 the MJB Center for Women opened and partnered with Westchester County Jewish Community Services in conjunction with FFAWN to offer consistent programs like A Different Start and Patrice’s Closet. FFAWN also offer monthly workshops through their 3E Series, academic scholarships, grant based funding and mentoring.
While it would be easy to assume that in the “Teen Mom” era of young mothers, assistance would be more available now that the challenges of early motherhood have been more clearly illustrated and identified. Nonetheless, resources available through standards like Social Services are not only inaccessible to most young mothers but difficult to navigate for the young mind. A Different Start focusses specifically on expecting or parenting low-income mothers ages 16-21 seeking opportunities for career advancement, educational counseling, GED services, advocacy services and decision making support. Real-time solution based resources not only serve the young mothers looking for the chance to rise but also create a healthy atmosphere of seeking help when needed without a negative stigma attached. People say you never get a second chance to make a first impression but what happens if you never have the tools you need to nail the first impression the first shot out? Patrice’s Closet is a program committed to helping women with their outward appearance and image consulting while trying to enter the workforce. This program focusses on providing appropriate attire and image consulting for those women looking to meet a potential new employer head-on with the confidence only the right appearance can offer. The idea behind Patrice’s Closet isn’t simply just the tools to look the part but the tools to get the parts working for the individual, shifting the focus from how you look outside to how your feel inside. In what can only be described as one of the most competitive job markets in the history of our country, a candidate needs to feel like they are ready for the job, both inside and out. If you would like to donate or learn more about FFAWN, check out www. FFAWN.org. Also, for every bottle of My Life or My Life Blossom by Mary J. Blige you buy, $1.00 is donated to this worthwhile cause. These classic signature scents would make the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day, find them here at www.carolsdaughter.com.
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The art world has always been a subjective area—some define Picasso’s works as masterpieces, while others find it well, ugly. Either way, museums and galleries around the world have adorned their walls with these pieces of “fine art.” In the US, appreciation and conservation of such works are not only a million dollar industry, but also is considered the epitome of sophistication and elegance. One the other hand, we have lowbrow art. While this was an art movement in the US starting in the 1970’s, lowbrow art can be seen through comic books, pop art, street art, and graffiti art. Art, in the most general sense, has always been a tool that everyone could embrace to express their dissonance with society, a means of communicating to the masses. It was something that even the very poor or uneducated could embrace to show their perception on the world around them. While to the average consumer art is art, unless the artist becomes famous (think Andy Warhol), these works do not receive the high acclaim or recognition as fine art does. Through embracing these ideals, art has become a tool in which we further stratify our society. Most often this can be seen in urban neighborhoods. If you try walking around your neighborhood, you may notice graffiti on walls, freeway overpasses, trains, and buses. And yes, some may look like chicken scratch, yet many are incredibly imaginative, beautiful works of art. The problem lies in how each community deals with graffiti art. Some communities chose to paint over these works, creating garish, multi-colored walls that are usually quickly tagged again, causing a cycle of repainting that seemingly never ends. Other communities are starting to embrace this form of expression, giving people a chance to contribute to their communities through public art. Enter Here Comes The Neighborhood, a short series of documentaries that explore how street art can help urban communities. While I won’t spoil the whole series, it does mainly feature street art and its impact on not only the community at-large, but the people who create these works as well. The pilot season of Here Comes The Neighborhood primarily focuses on Wynwood Walls, located in Miami, Florida. In 2009, Tony Goldman and Jeff Dietch created Wynwood Walls. Originally a run-down industrial area, Wynwood Walls has become one of the largest outdoor art spaces in the world. While the artists in this series are all commissioned, it does provide the framework for understanding the relevance and importance of art in every community. In essence, this project has created an urban renewal in Miami, allowing creativity and expression to explode within this community. While the art debate continues, it does appear that street art is beginning to get more art cred. As galleries begin to promote more and more street artists, lowbrow art is starting to become more recognizable. Perhaps soon, artists like Miss Van,
Banksy, and Futura will become equal to Van Gogh, Botticelli, and Da Vinci. Although you probably won’t have to pay admission to view these exhibits.
For more information about Wynwood Walls, you can visit: www. thewynwoodwalls.com