Fall 2022 Issue NY

Kean University President Lamont

would turn out to be both

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University)

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Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D.

Assemblywoman Inez E. Dickens

Photos Courtesy of Kean University

“Come out and experience our beautiful Essex County Parks System at oneofourfun,family oriented activities. Weinviteyoutocelebratethe fallseasonwithusatourupcomingHalloweenevents.”

JosephN.DiVincenzo,Jr.

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., EssexCountyExecutive And The Board of County Commissioners

Invite You To Our

Fall Events in Essex County

Saturday, October 22nd

Essex County Branch Brook Park WestDrivenearHellerParkway

Registration 9:30 am ~ Parade 10 am

Saturday, October 29th

Essex County Brookdale Dog Park Grove Street Entrance Registration 9 am ~ Parade 9:30 am

Saturday, October 29th

Essex County Grover Cleveland Park Near the Pond House Registration 1 pm ~ Parade 1:30 pm

Friday, October 21st

6 to 9 p.m.

Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

474 Upper Mountain Avenue Montclair Jack-o-lanterns created by high school artists will be lit with candles to illuminate the garden beds. Free

Come trick or treating at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo!

Monday, October 31st 4 to 8 p.m. Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 560 Northfield Avenue West Orange

$3 for Zoological Society members $5 general admission

Saving Our Own Community: Teach Appreciation and Gratitude

Welcome to The Positive Community’s (TPC) Fall Education Focus. In this issue, we’re happy to feature two dynamic leaders in education and public service: Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D.; President, Kean University in NJ; and Hon. Inez E. Dickens, NYS Assemblywoman from Harlem.

On behalf of co-publisher, Jean Nash Wells and TPC family, we express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our readers, dear sponsors/advertisers and the many faith institutions (pg.7) that have said “Yes” to a positive, community building ideal! And we press on for positive change: in the home, schools, our faith institutions— our community; positive change in public and private institutions, community/corporate relations, and international affairs, and race relations too!

The Challenge

Most of us are not too happy with the image of our young people as it is projected in popular media today. Think of it, we’re now living at a time when the contents of rap lyrics can be used to convict an “artist” of violent crimes; a time when our precious young women would debase themselves in the worst possible ways on the public airways and across multiple music platforms.

And yes, shame on the Fortune 500 corporations, espe cially those in the music and entertainment industries— robbing children of their dignity and innocence! Those who would reap huge profits from the sordid, wicked, en terprise of mass marketing the Seven Deadly Sins to our young, our poor and the unlearned as an attractive life style choice. Shame on those among us who would know better, but simply choose to look the other way!

Perhaps in our community’s push toward integration and inclusion, the African American people have all but surrendered their cultural sovereignty to large corpora tions. Through well financed ownership of media and entertainment properties that target Black consumers, we have allowed others to entrench themselves, to dictate fash

ion and trends; to influence and determine what’s import ant for us and our children—on their terms.

We the People

Racism, oppression, trauma, guilt and fear, be damned! A new season of positive change is now upon us. A time for the forward thinkers, the people of God to reclaim the territory and prosper!

Is it not a truth that we the people, are ultimately re sponsible for: 1) the progress of our children. 2) The dig nity and integrity of our African American culture, values and traditions—our collective soul? Never forget: the only way we can ever be denied our own blessings and talents is if we deny them for ourselves! After all, at the end of the day, the culture belongs to the people, and not the person or peo ple with the most money!

Our Narrative

We win only if each of us would commit to teaching a young child appreciation and gratitude—essentials of positive change! Yes, let us boast appreciation for our own American story; and share a debt of gratitude to all who suffered and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today! Let’s celebrate our group achievements—our claim on the American Dream—on our own terms!

The great African American Cultural Narrative was first published 10 years ago in 2012 in anticipation of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 2013. Study it for yourselves. What was first published 10 years ago is as true today as it will be even 50 years from now! The Cultural Narrative is the truth about who we really are: Liberated, beloved sons and daughters of The Most High God; mighty decedents of the Great Emancipation—1863! And that is our story—our American narrative!

Our Music; Our Soul

Teach the children. Teach them about music, song and musical instruments—about our music—all of it. Talk

about our people’s enormous, creative contributions to the American soul and world popular culture. Teach music appreciation, and cultural literacy; instruct them in the fine arts; encourage appreciation and gratitude. Inspire within their souls a real hunger for truth and an unquenchable thirst for righteousness! The church of the future will address these cultural and spiritual matters!

Positive Community Radio (TPC Radio) is the soundtrack that reflects a spirit of positive change, streaming live, 24/7 on positivecommunity.com.(and all smart speakers). TPC Radio gets the people’s music right! We play only the very best of everything, a world-class sound, “In Classic Black.” Come on home to the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of a loving and gifted race—“the real power of Soul!”

Many will say that they already have their own personal music playlists and listening devices. Our response: Tune in to TPC Radio as an exercise in spiritual and cultural unity. Feel the music as a friend or neighbor would receive it! TPC Radio is a shared experience. TPC Radio is about com munity progress and loving service; cultural pride, songs of freedom, love and wholesome fun! Indeed, we do this be

cause it is our absolute divine right and our patriotic duty to preserve, protect and promote our very best—America’s best. TPC Radio: For Music Lovers Only!

Potentials and Possibilities

So don’t fret or be dismayed that the “enemies of progress” would prosper in these evil times; let the negative take care of the negative! Affirm and embrace the positive and keep it moving—forward! For we are about our Heavenly Father’s business—the business about the future—positive change! A most noble and righteous cause!

Always remember, culture is to a community, nation or race, what the soul is to a man or woman. Both enjoy potential and possibilities for survival beyond a single lifetime or generation when intelligently and lovingly nurtured. Teach appreciation and gratitude!

Positive change affirms the dignity of our humanity! Strive to help the children learn to choose their heroes wisely. For each of us has been entrusted to ensure the survival and safe-passage of values from this generation to the next! Amen!

Image from TPC’s

Positive Music

Calendar.

Photo Bob Gore | Art design: Penguin Graphics

The African American Cultural Narrative

African Americans are a unique people with a peculiar history in this land. Brought to these shores in chains from Africa in the early 1600s, our people toiled and suffered as captives in brutal bondage for a quarter of a millennium (250 years). On January 1, 1863, two years into the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, became law, signaling an end to slavery. On that day, the African American community of the United States of America was born.

One hundred years later in August 1963, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial, as he led hundreds of thousands to a March on Washington, seeking an end to discrimination and 90 years of Jim Crow segregation in the South. It was a demand for full and equal citizen’s rights for the people in what has been called “the Second Emancipation.”

Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s tragic assassination in 1968, America elected its first black president, the Honorable Barack Obama (2008).

In the 100 years between the first and second emancipation, in the midst of bitter persecution, humiliation, lynching, and enduring the denial of basic human rights, the resiliency of the African American spirit continued to shine brightly in religion, business, education, medicine, invention, sports, and in the creative arts—music, fashion, dance, language, literature, and theater. Indeed, original American art forms and a popular culture which has become the envy of the world were founded upon the souls of a forlorn people! And that is our story—the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of a loving and gifted race—revealed!

An Extraordinary History

Ours is an extraordinary history of trial, tribulation, and triumph that we must never, ever forget! This is the very story we must tell our children and ever be remembered for all future generations. We the people, descendants of the Great Emancipation must tell our story and sing our greatest songs to each other and to the entire world! We must remind ourselves over and over again of the noble struggle, human dignity, sacrifices and wisdom of our torch-bearing forefathers; of our goodly heritage, our divine inheritance; our great music legacy—Positive Music Matters!

This is our story—the cultural narrative—a new language of freedom; a springboard toward a great and prosperous future; a spiritually enlightened ideal. A vision of hope, opportunity, and progress; liberty and happiness; health and wholeness—peace and goodwill!

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH…!

—Adrian A. Council, Sr.

Optimism for the Future

By Honorable Sean Spiller President, NJEA and Mayor, Montclair, NJ

With the new school year well underway, the enthusiasm expressed by educators, students, and families to be back to the business of learning is palpable. We are especially pleased to be returning to New Jersey Public Schools, ranked #1 in the nation by Education Week three years in a row.

Such an accomplishment is no accident. It’s the result of many years of hard work and investment, with parents and educators working together to make sure our students have the resources and support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

In New Jersey, we know education goes beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic. Fundamental to basic learning, we focus on those subjects every school day. We also know schools have a responsibility to prepare students to be active, engaged members of their communities.

This is why our public school curriculum also includes the Amistad Curriculum, which mandates that every student learn about slavery in America and its impact on our history. We also teach a Holocaust Curriculum, to ensure they understand the horror of the Nazi genocide. Our requirement that students learn about the history and contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans, helps to overcome prejudices and stereotypes that still exist. Our students are required to learn about global climate change, so they understand both the scientific reality of that phenomenon and the imperative to take action to limit its impact.

Our deep, rich, well-rounded curriculum helps New Jersey students learn the truth about the past and the present and provides what they need to help shape

their futures in positive ways. Of course, not everyone is comfortable with the truth. Some would even stop students from learning challenging but important lessons. Very concerning are the efforts to ban certain books from classrooms and libraries, and prevent educators from teaching parts of certain curricula.

Throughout history, many have attempted to ban books and censor truth. In New Jersey, we believe our students deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And when they learn the truth, they will be smarter, stronger, and well- prepared.

We look forward with optimism, knowing the best is yet to come for our students, among them many who will change the world.

“Our deep, rich, well-rounded curriculum helps New Jersey students learn the truth about the past and the present and provides what they need to help shape their futures in positive ways.”

School Days Better Ways

Start the year right with back-to-school routines that work for you

Healthy habits are important at any age but are even more important for children. These tips could help make their school days better.

Plan ahead the night before to make mornings less stressful.

• Pick out clothes.

• Organize backpack.

• Pack healthy snacks with water. Teach your kids to “stay clean.”

• Wash hands well with soap or sanitizer.

• Wear a mask.

• Keep your mask clean by placing it in a bag — wash daily or throw away if disposable.

Member Services

Schedule your child’s doctor visits.

• Make sure vaccines are up to date.

• Visit the pediatrician.

• Visit the eye doctor. Remember to have fun.

• Remember to play often, make crafts, or enjoy the outdoors.

• Reward your kids with hugs, kisses and special treats.

Well child visits and vaccines are at no cost with our doctors.

Call for more information. We’re open every day, all day long.

1- 855 -232-3596 (TTY: 711)

AetnaBetterHealth.com/NewJersey

NJ-21-08-04 | 097-21-53

Money business, finance + work

Dfree 2022 Leadership Retreat and Conference

The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, NJ hosted The dfree Global Foundation Inc. 2022 Leadership Retreat and Conference from July 27- July 31.

The conference theme was “Financial Healing: Wisdom, Wellness and Wealth,” and presented a lineup which included a broad array of subjects attracting many community organizations. The dfree® Financial Freedom Movement remains committed to providing content, curriculum, tools, and access to professional and industry resources to the community. dfree’s goal is to ensure our leaders around the globe are not only well themselves, but also encouraged, well-informed, and well-equipped to serve their communities locally.

Please follow @mydfree on all social platforms. —TPC Staff

Photos by: Raymond Hagans

AACC Founder, President and CEO, John Harmon

L-R: Dr. Deforest B. Soaries Jr. and Adrian Council

L-R: Brooklyn Berean Baptist Church Pastor Trevor Hyde and CEO dfree Global Foundation Inc. Dr. Deforest B. Soaries Jr.

L-R: Fireside Chat Host Nicole Pride and Black Ownership and Wealth Advocate Jamila “Mimi” McCarly

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority First VP Gina Merritt-Epps, Esq.(center) and Atlantic Region members

Nesbitt Funeral Home, Elizabeth, NJ

Celebrates 90 Years of Dedicated Service

The Nesbitt Funeral Home, from its founding in 1932, provided a place where grieving families could feel safe and supported as they laid their loved ones to rest. Bravell Nesbitt Sr. and Carrie Allen Nesbitt worked alongside various churches and leaders to serve and uplift the Elizabeth, New Jersey community. That tradition continues to this day.

At their 90th Anniversary Celebration, on August 13, 2022, NJ Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver welcomed guests to the event at a Seaside Park, NJ beach. The location was to honor the first Africans who came to America by sea. In an African tradition of honoring our elders, the ceremony in part also honored three centenarians in attendance, Mrs. Lousie Rock, 101; Mrs. Henretta Davis, 102; and Mrs. India N. Edwards, 103. —TPC Staff

Photo by: Karen Waters

L-R: Teddy Good, NJ Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Kim Nesbitt Good, Leah J. Goode, and Anika and Lawrence Good. Front row L-R: Centenarians Henrietta Davis, 102; Louise Rock, 101; and India N. Edwards, 103.

Nesbitt Funeral Home Founders Carrie Allen Nesbitt and Bravell M. Nesbitt, Sr.

L-R: McCracken Funeral Home Joseph Olivero, Carnie P. Bragg Funeral Homes Eleanor Rudolph, Elizabeth NJ Detective (Ret.)Daren Williamson, Elizabeth NJ Council President Pat Perkins-Auguste, Joseph Woods, Alvarez Funeral Home Rita & James Alvarez, Nesbitt Funeral Home Richard Anderson, Madonna Funeral Home Ms. Madonna, and James E. Churchman Funeral Home Dr. Edith C. Churchman

The Anderson Family preparing launch of sacred memory lantern.

The Fellowship Initiative

“Who you know only gets you in the door; what you know gets you the keys to the house.”

– Gina Greenlee, best-selling author.

While there’s no secret recipe for professional and financial success, we know that access to a broad set of learning and skills development experiences, networks, and strong mentors plays an important role for many. These assets and critical ingredients to success are not equally available to everyone, as 1 in 3 young people will grow up without a mentor and many lack access to quality education and employment experiences.

But these inequities won’t solve themselves–they require intentional and deliberate action from leaders who not only have the power to help open the door but can hand over the keys for long-term success as well.

That’s why JPMorgan Chase created The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), a three-year program to provide young men of color in high school with the education, skills, and resources that contribute to greater economic mobility.

TFI offers professional and personal opportunities for young men to hone leadership and networking skills. Fellows like Jason Lopez from Los Angeles found a lasting sense of community through TFI and say the program has been instrumental in supporting both personal and professional growth.

“TFI gave me the knowledge that by surrounding myself with positive people who want me to succeed, it will allow me to become the best, most successful version of myself,” said Lopez, a 2017 TFI graduate and student at Cal State University, Long Beach.

Lopez believes education is the key to a better life.“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life after high school. The only thing I knew was that furthering my education would not only help me navigate this world,

but also assist me in gaining the tools to be successful in the future,” he added. “Once I heard what the Fellowship Initiative could do for me, I knew that I could not pass it up because it could change my life.”

More than 600 JPMorgan Chase employees have worked with TFI Fellows providing mentorship and coaching, Since 2020, the program has expanded to Houston; Oakland; and Washington, D.C.; and now serves students in seven cities across the country. The program has an impressive impact on students, having driven 100 percent high school graduation and admission to college among graduating Fellows.

“Many of these young men are the first in their families to access quality postsecondary supports and opportunities to go to college,” said Rudy Lozano, head of The Fellowship Initiative, JPMorgan Chase. “Through TFI, we’re able to break down the systemic barriers that too often limit economic mobility and invest in the growth of the next generation of leaders.”

During their time in TFI, students receive academic training and project-based learning as well as one-on-one

“Opportunities don’t come to you sitting at home. One has to take the initiative. Dream, and make sure you chase it because it will not chase you.”

The Fellowship Initiative ensures young men of color around the country have access to opportunity and education.

mentoring with JPMorgan Chase employees. Other focal areas of the program include mental health support, college readiness and planning support, professional and leadership development, and career awareness activities.

“I wanted a support system to set my foundation and path towards success. I wanted a program that would help me fight against all obstacles. That is exactly what TFI promised and delivered to me,” said Modou Sissoho of New York, 2020 TFI graduate and student at Bates College.

Sissoho also has words of wisdom for his peers wanting to better their lives and secure a successful future. “Opportunities don’t come to you sitting at home. One has to take the initiative. Dream, and make sure you chase it because it will not chase you.”

Ramon Rachal of Los Angeles, 2017 TFI graduate and student at the University of California, Merced, says TFI revealed a whole new world and opened his mind to a multitude of new possibilities. “TFI exposed me to different opportunities such as traveling out of the country and backpacking in national parks. I would not have gotten the chance to do some of these things

because of my socioeconomic status otherwise,” Rachal said. “Being exposed to these things in high school made me realize that I am deserving of more.”

Rachal encourages others to be fearless and explore every opportunity. “Do not be afraid to follow your desires because on the other side of fear are all of the things you are wishing for.”

Jason Lopez added that life is not a straight path and it’s okay to ask for guidance when you need it. “The best advice I can give to young men from my community is not to get frustrated when your life plan isn’t going the way you expected it to go,” Lopez said.

Through 2030, TFI will triple the number of young people it serves to more than 1,000 across several U.S. cities, building on Chase’s commitment to prepare youth for the future of work.

For more information about the program and how you can get involved, visit your local Chase bank or the TFI home page

Jamboree: A Summer Soul Cruise

Board members of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) hosted their annual Summer Soul Cruise on the Hudson on August 22. This year’s award recipients are Harlem business owners. Mrs. Alyah Hornsford-Sidberry, owner of Cove Lounge, received the Legacy Award and Mr. Leon Ellis, owner of Chocolat Restaurant, received the Entrepreneur Award. The festive luxury cruise included a comedy performance by Dotcom and featured musical guest Jeff Redd.

Founded in 1986, HCCI was established by a coalition of interfaith congregations. Since their founding, they’ve implemented a comprehensive portfolio of programs to provide affordable housing and safe streets, offered opportunities for individuals and groups to become and remain economically independent, increased understanding of and access to health care, and provided substantive educational programs for adults and young people. —TPC Staff

L-R: Entertainer Jeff Redd, HCCI Board Chair Rev. Dr. Keith W. Roberson, Board Member Rev. Dr. Nigel Pearce, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Holmes, Esq., Board Members: Rev. Shepherd Lee Sr., Rev. Dr. Wendy Kelly-Carter, Ms. Debra Washington, Imam Talib Abdur Rashid, HCCI President/CEO Dr. Malcolm A. Punter, Board Members: Ms. Virginia Montague, Mr. George H. Weldon Jr., Rev. Dr. Gail F. Badger, Deacon Rodney Beckford, Rev. Dr. J. Loren Russell, and Comedian/Scholar Kevin “Dotcom” Brown

L-R: HCCI Board Chair Rev. Dr. Keith W. Roberson, Chocolat Restaurateur Leon Ellis, Board Member and Jamboree Committee Chair Ms. Virginia Montague, and HCCI President/CEO Dr. Malcolm A. Punter

L-R: Lynda Council, Adrian Council and Dr. Virginia Montague

L-R: Malcolm Punter Jr, Mrs. Aarian Punter, Rev. Dr. Keith W. Roberson and Mrs. Brenda Roberson

L-R: Pat Stevenson Harlem News, Sabrina Brice, Industral Bank and Willie Walker

Photos By: Ryan Council

JBF’s 5th Annual Golf & Tennis Outing

July 11, 2022 was a gloriously sunny day with over 250 guests attending The Jessie Banks Foundation’s 5th Annual Golf & Tennis Charity Outing at the Montammy Golf Club in Alpine, NJ. The sold-out event featured a golf tournament, tennis, brunch, a cocktail reception, an awards dinner, poolside lounging, live entertainment, and a virtual auction.

The Jessie Banks Foundation Inc. (JBF), founded in 2002 by President and CEO Dr. Sharon Banks Williams, daughter of the beloved Jessie Banks, perpetuates her mother’s memory and service to humankind. JBF was established as a living tribute to Jessie Banks, thought of by some in her Brooklyn neighborhood as a local Mother Teresa. JBF enhances the lives of others through empowerment, health awareness, mentoring, counseling, and providing tuition assistance to deserving scholars. —TPC Staff

Photos By: Don Sherrill & Barrie Dail

Frank Muradov of 44 Oak Capital L-R: Wendy Bernowitz, Ronald Rollieson and Joanne Rollieson

L-R: Dr. Sharon Banks Williams with her brother Bobby Banks L-R: ElCarlos Morse, Bobby Banks, and DeCarlos Morse

L-R: Title sponsors GK Venture Parters: Alan Garvey, Michael Kaufman, and Vernon Boisseau Nyla Thomas (JBF Scholarship Recipient Alumna)

Health

ideas for wellness

Prostate Cancer Awareness

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), but it can often be treated successfully. Prostate cancer often has no symptoms until the disease is advanced, and screening may help detect cancer early, when the chances of treatment success are high. But there is no one-size-fits-all approach. In addition to being more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, a new study suggests Black men are more likely to die from low-grade prostate cancer. In fact, for Black men, the risk of dying from low-grade prostate cancer is double that of men of other races, the study has found.

As men age, the cells in the prostate gland can be come cancerous. Every year in the United States, more than 30,000 men die from prostate cancer, sec ond only to skin cancer. About one in eight men in Amer ica will develop the condition at some point in their lives, and about one in 40 will die from it. Age is the greatest risk factor for prostate cancer. While only one in 10,000 men under age 40 will be diagnosed, that number leaps to one in 14 for those ages 60 to 69. About 60 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, and 97 percent occur in men 50 years of age and older.

But there is good news; with early detection, prostate cancer can be treated successfully and thanks to billion aire businessman and philanthropist Robert F. Smith, the lives of more Black men in New York City can be saved. The Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, a state-of-the-art mobile facility equipped with advanced scanning and trained staff, enables early de tection of prostate cancer for at-risk Black men. The mobile

Medical professionals—researchers and doctors are constantly working to find better ways to detect and treat prostate cancer. One such breakthrough is the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening bus, which brings prostate screening into neighborhoods where residents need it most Recently the unit screened 60 men during the Love & Basketball Poetry in Motion spoken word competition at Rucker Park in Harlem. The event was sponsored by HCCI (Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement) and included basketball competitions as well.

Black men have a 70 percent higher rate of developing high-risk prostate cancer, and are more than twice as likely to die from it.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to begin taking charge of yourself and get screened for prostate health. In general, screening for prostate cancer should begin around age 45, and even earlier if there is any family history of prostate cancer or other cancers such as ovarian, breast, colon or pancreatic. The following symptoms may be caused by either prostate cancer or a benign (non-cancerous) enlarged prostate.

All of these facts are reasons for concern, but Black men must be particularly vigilant. Black men have a 70 percent higher rate of developing high-risk prostate cancer, and are more than twice as likely to die from it. Prostate cancer usu ally has no noticeable symptoms. The first sign of disease is often found during a routine screening exam. This is why screening is important.

• Frequent urge to urinate

• Back pain

• Frequent urination at night

• Weak or interrupted urine flow

• Blood in urine and semen

Get Screened Now urination

• Inability to urinate/ painful urination/ strain on

The Mt. Sinai Team with Dr. Vinayak G Wagaskar, MBBS

MetroPlusHealth

Opens New Flagship Community Office in Harlem

MetroPlusHealth, New York City’s high-quality and affordable health plan, opened its new flagship location at 2104 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. in Harlem, New York on August 29. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a community open house. Guests enjoyed delicious food prepared by local Harlem small businesses.

Services to the community will include health insurance education and enrollment; health screening and prevention workshops; social service resources (food stamps, SNAP, etc.); life skills training; legal and immigration services; and more. Additionally, the office will be open to the public for meetings, small gatherings, workshops, conferences, and other community needs. —TPC Staff

L-R: MetroPlusHealth Associate Director of Field Marketing Operations Richard Taylor; Chief Brand & External Relations Officer Lesleigh Irish-Underwood; NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem CEO Georges Leconte; MetroPlusHealth Chief Growth Officer Roger Milliner; and NYC Health and Hospitals/Metropolitan CEO Cristina Contreras MPA, LMSW, FABC

L-R: Harlem YMCA Exec. Dir. Christopher Foster and (bai) Initiative Coordinator Gigi Davis Booth

L-R: Lesleigh Irish-Underwood, Harlem Hospital CEO Georges Leconte, Deborah Levine, and Shatic Mitchell

Photos By: Raymond Hagans

Drinking and Your Body

How does drinking affect your general health?

Although the impact of drinking does vary between adults, and for some it’s best not to drink at all, there are facts you can keep in mind.

Getting drunk will impair your reaction time and judgment, which can lead to you or someone else getting injured. Too much alcohol can also leave you feeling sick in the moment or with a hangover the next day. And if your drinking has been extreme, you could even end up in hospital with alcohol poisoning. The best way to avoid these consequences of drinking is to make sure you do not exceed the levels recommended in official drinking guidelines and to avoid drinking altogether if you are driving or engaging in any potentially risky behavior.

Many studies have shown that people who drink heavily on a regular basis are likely to develop various illnesses over time, including liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and some types of cancer. Research studies have also found an association between light to moderate drinking and the risk of breast cancer for women.

The impact that drinking alcohol may have on your health involves factors other than the amount you drink – like your family history, genetics, and lifestyle. However, there’s no question that drinking excessively will have a negative impact on your health, regardless of these factors. And it can also affect your mental and emotional health, not only your physical wellbeing. If you have questions about how your drinking may be affecting your health, it’s best to consult a health professional for guidance.

The brain is the main target of the alcohol you drink. Communication, both within the brain itself and between the brain and the rest of the body, will be affected by alcohol consumption. Drinking too much can slow down your reaction time, affect your coordination and dull your senses, making accidents more likely. Alcohol will also slow down your nervous system and your ability to process information and react, which will make it harder for you to think clearly. And it can affect your judgment, putting you and others around you in dangerous situations.

If you’re concerned about how your drinking may affect your overall health or the health of any organ in your body, the best approach is to consult a health professional.

Alcohol affects different people differently and risk is not the same for everyone. In order to minimize your risk, it is best to adhere to official guidelines. The US Dietary Guidelines recommend that women drink no more than one standard drink per day and men no more than two standard drinks per day.

This information is brought to you by the Multicultural Consortium for Responsible Drinking. Visit DRINKiQ.com to read the full article and find more information about how alcohol affects your body.

Kahlil Carmichael MAPCC, MDIV, CPT is the pastor of Live Well Church, in Somerset, New Jersey. He is a fitness specialist at The Fitness Doctor, a fitness and wellness consulting company; and the author of 50 Tips for a Better You. He is a contributor to Guideposts magazine. His first publication, Living Longer Living Better, is available now. Go to www.livewellchurch.org for more information.

Strengthening Your Core

And just like that–summer is over. Young ones are back in classes and activities–the September whirlwind of excitement. No matter our age, we can all go “back to school” and strengthen our core. We can continue to educate ourselves regarding our bodies and fitness, and take our health to a new level. Your age is the right age to begin a modest exercise plan and to trend up! Your weight is the perfect weight to start walking and then add light weight-lifting to increase results. This is the right time to start—don’t postpone living better.

Although you may have specific body parts you’d like to condition more, the best and least traumatic overall exercise is one where you don’t need equipment. That’s right, lace up your walking shoes and hit the road. Walking is aerobic exercise, literally meaning “with oxygen.” It helps strengthen your cardiovascular system–your heart and blood vessels—which supplies your organs with needed oxygen and nutrients to support your body. Strengthen it by doing a bit more every day! As you push forward you may be a bit out of breath. Monitor and listen to your body, but strive for more.

As a fitness professional, I know the value of having a trainer. A trainer can set you up with an exercise plan tailored for your current fitness level, desired outcome, and time constraints. This limits any frustration you may develop due to not knowing what to do and will help you

work smart. As you become more fit, you will instinctively begin to challenge yourself.

I also recommend clean eating. It is a discipline that is the biggest struggle and can make the largest impact. What does it mean to eat clean? Eliminate high-calorie items like fried foods and sugary treats. By eliminating these empty calories, you will be surprised by the quantity of healthy foods you can eat and still be within your caloric limit, so you will be full of good foods. To lose weight you have to use or burn more calories than you consume. It’s simple, not easy. But it is attainable! If going cold turkey is not your thing, make decisions daily to cut back on unhealthy foods. Before you know it, you will be eating more vegetables, eliminating soda and fast food! In addition to weight loss, the benefits of a healthier diet are clearer skin, better sleep, less inflammation, and the improvement of chronic conditions like gout and heart failure.

Check this YouTube link to my 12-minute workout you can do 3 days per week at home. It provides overall conditioning, but also targeted exercises for arms and your aerobic system. https://youtu.be/E625Kq64XmQ . Strengthen your core, believe for better! You can do it!

Before starting any fitness program, please get your doctor’s approval, especially if you have chronic health conditions.

Live well and prosper.

Fitness training is available through the Live Well Church FITCARE program, offered at the Fitness Doctor Studio in Somerset, New Jersey. Please call Karen Beasley at 732-912-4435 to schedule a free assessment.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is of a general nature. You should consult your physician or health care professional before beginning any exercise program or changing your dietary regimen.

Vaccines are required for children to stay in school and day care.

They’re safe and reduce the risk of severe preventable illnesses, like measles, polio, and chickenpox. COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended for children 6 months and older. Talk to your child’s health care provider or visit nyc.gov/health and search “student vaccines” or call 311 for information on immunization requirements.

You remembered their books. You remembered their forms. You remembered their schedules.

Be sure to remember their vaccines.

Eric Adams Mayor Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD Commissioner

Image from TPC’s

Music Matters Commemorative Calendar. Photo Bob Gore | Art design: Penguin Graphics

“

We encourage residents to help stop the spread of COVID 19 by getting vaccinated. Our comprehensive plan provides vaccinations centers that are convenient to all Essex County residents. Vaccines are safe and effective, and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., EssexCountyExecutive And the Board of County Commissioners

Essex County COVID-19 Vaccination Locations

Testing

Sears is Closing Saturday, Oct.

Sears Building, 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston Mall

Thursdays & Fridays from 2 to 7 p.m. & Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Essex County Hall of Records, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark

Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Orange City Hall, 29 North Day Street, Orange

Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Irvington Town Hall, 1 Civic Square, Irvington Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m.

East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange

Moderna, Pfizer and J&J vaccines are available. Everyone ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Appointments for children ages 6 months to 5 years and all Omicron Booster shots are required. Appointments for other vaccinations are not required. However, if you would like t o make an appointment, visit EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456.

There are no out of pocket costs to receive vaccines. Residents will be asked to provide their medical insurance information so Essex County bill the insurance company $40 for each dose o f the vaccine. If you do not have insurance, the cost of the vaccine will be covered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Funds.

PuttingEssexCounty’sHealthFirst

Choose Healthy Life Service for Hope and Healing

Harlemites welcomed a unique Harlem Week experience at the First Corinthian Baptist Church. Choose Healthy Life’s inaugural Service for Hope and Healing brought together faith leaders and community activists from all over Harlem. Focused on addressing health disparities in the Black community, the Choose Healthy Life initiative works with the National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council, the United Way of New York, and Quest Diagnostics to place full-time, faith-based, community health navigators in each church.

The Service on August 13, combined spiritual unity with heritage and culture to uplift, inspire, affirm, and recognize the power of faith and science. —TPC Staff

CHL Clergy and United Way of NYC Leadership

Coaxner Faith Ensemble

L-R: Bronx Christian Fellowship Pastor Rev. Que English, NYC Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and NYCDOE Chancellor David Banks

Rev. Lawrence Akers, Cornerstone Baptist Church

L-R: United Way of NYC VP Michelle Drayton, CHL Founder Debra Fraser Howze, CHL NYC Leader Rev. Jacques DeGraff and United Way of NYC President Grace Bonilla

Catholic Charities Exec. Dir. Msgr. Kevin Sullivan

Photos By: Bruce Moore

Education the art + science of learning

Hampton University:

Black History by the Sea

By Fern Gillespie

Nestled along the tranquil banks of the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton University is cherished by students and alumnae as “Our Home by the Sea.” Founded in 1868 as Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, the fall 2021 enrollment counted 3,313 students including 2,863 undergraduates.

Yesterday and Today

Today, sixth in the rankings of HBCUs in US News & World Report , Hampton offers baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, professional, and associate certificate programs including master’s programs in health and physics—90 in all. Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, dedicated to cancer-fighting technologies and known as one of the largest free-standing facilities of its kind in the world, is one of 16 research centers at the university. Classified as a “R2: Doctoral Universities for high research activity,” a branch of the Department of Atmospheric and Space Sciences also resides there.

The most popular Hampton schools are the School of Engineering and Technology, School of Pharmacy, James T. George School of Business, Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communication, School of Nursing, School of Liberal Arts and Education, School of Science, University College, College of Virginia Beach, and Graduate College. The university offers many ways for students to become involved in the more than 100 student-run organizations, theatrical performances, concerts, and recitals. Student athletes participate at the recreational level and for the Hampton University Pirates

varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.

In its early beginnings at the onset of the Civil War in 1861, Union Major General Benjamin Butler decreed that any escaping enslaved Black retreating to Hampton could receive some education. Mary Peake, a free person, taught a group of about twenty students under an oak tree. The site of the first southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the tree became known as the Emancipation Oak. In 1929, Hampton Institute became Hampton College with degrees in agriculture, home economics, education, business, library, music, mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

Forward-looking Leadership

Dr. William R. Harvey became president in 1978, and led Hampton for 44 years, retiring in June 2022. During Harvey’s time at the helm, endowment rose from $29 million to more than $300 million. He established an MBA program, NASA partnerships, and centers for hightech scientific research. Dr Harvey launched 92 academic degrees and added 29 buildings to the campus. In 1984, he transitioned Hampton from an institute to a university.

Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, U.S. Army, (Ret.) attended Hampton under Dr. Harvey’s leadership and succeeds him as president. General Williams, a 1983 graduate, brings over 40 years of proven success in leading complex military and commercial business enterprises as well as nonprofit and academic leadership experience Hampton changed Williams’ life. He was Mister

Hampton University President Lt. Gen Darrell K. Williams, US Army, Ret.

Freshman 1979; a three-year Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) scholarship cadet; a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and Hampton’s senior class president. He met his wife, the former Myra Richardson, at Hampton. Married in 1987, they are the first president and first lady to both hold Hampton degrees.

Notable Graduates

“It’s a love of Hampton the moment you walk on to the campus,” said Hampton alumn, Dr. Dionne Ledford, executive director of the Roseville Community Charter School in Newark, NJ. “Dr. Harvey embedded those traditions into daily life. From day one, the orientation at Hampton for freshman is very special. There’s a candlelight ceremony that inducts you into the Hampton family,” explained the Hampton graduate and educator. Hers is a Hampton legacy family with

her husband and daughters also alumni. “Hampton gives you a sense of belonging,” she continued. “You are taught how to maneuver in a world that might not fully understand who you are. Hampton helps you know who you are and that you’re going to be strong in your convictions and knowledge.”

For over 150 years Hampton has spawned graduates whose lives add much to the United States and make the world better for everyone—history makers such as Alberta Williams King, the mother of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; actress and comedian Wanda Sykes; Percy Sutton, former Manhattan Borough president and chairman of Inner City Broadcasting and the Apollo Theatre; Lois Alexander, founder of the Black Fashion Museum; Oscar-winning Costume Designer Ruther E. Carter; and TV Meteorologist Spencer Christian to name just a few.

Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC, a Hampton Mass

Photos Courtesy of Hampton University

Media and Arts graduate, is the first Black woman to head a cable news network. This year, she established the Rashida Jones Scholarship Fund at Hampton. “I will always have a special place in my heart for Hampton University,” said Jones. “It helped me gain the skills and confidence to dive into the competitive world of journalism and television news. I hope this contribution can help and inspire [students] as they prepare for their next chapter.”

Hampton alumna have broken barriers in the space race. The NASA headquarters building in Washington is named in honor of Mary W. Jackson, who in 1958 became the first African American female engineer at NASA and was featured in the hit movie, Hidden Figures. More recently, Dr Moogega Cooper, a 2006 graduate, served as Lead Planetary Protection Engineer for Mars 2020.

During a recent visit to Hampton to discuss STEM research, Vice President Kamala Harris recognized these NASA pioneers. “Hampton University educated Mary Jackson—NASA’s first Black female engineer. It is from Hampton University that we have Dr. Cooper, who is working on the current Mars mission at NASA right now. Today, Hampton is the first and only HBCU to fully control a NASA mission.” she continued, “… when we talk about the role of HBCUs on this issue, let’s be very clear that HBCUs are not only competing; HBCUs are leading.”

Rooted in Excellence

Currently, Hampton holds four NASA-funded satellite mission projects, including the $140 million Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission, the first NASA mission totally controlled by an HBCU. Since its founding in 1996, Hampton University’s Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (APS) department has been involved in NASA missions. Hampton University scientists are also involved in two future missions to Jupiter and its moons, and a joint mission with South Korea.

The renowned Hampton University Museum, founded in 1868, is acclaimed as the oldest museum in Virginia and the first African American museum in the U.S. The museum’s extensive collection holds over 12,000 artifacts representing diverse art representing Black Americans, Africans, Asians, and Native Americans.

Hampton University remains rooted in the site of the legendary Emancipation Oak. The majestic tree is designated as one of the 10 Great Trees of the World by National Geographic and is a National Historic Landmark. Its trunk now measures 16 feet around with a 100-footwide canopy rising 50 feet above. Like students did over 150 years ago, Hampton scholars gather to study beneath the branches of that mighty oak, a constant symbol of the promise of freedom and education for all, even in the face of adversity.

At Marion P. Thomas Charter Schools we live by the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child.”

Our village is filled with an impressive community of educators, students, parents, and community partners. At our village, we teach our scholars to dream BIG and work hard to make their dreams a reality.

Our innovative approach to learning features:

• Free, full-day Pre-K3, Pre-K4, and Kindergarten programs that infuse learning with fun.

• An Honors Academy for highachieving stude nts in our elementary and high schools.

• Enrichment programs for students in need of support.

• Students can earn college credits while still in high school through our dual enrollment programs and AP classes.

• A variety of electives and extracurricular activities including: performing, visual, and culinary arts, field trips, after-school clubs, athletics, and college and community partnerships.

EXPERIENCE COLLEGE

Continuing Education

It’s not a one-size-fits-all program: It begins with you at the center!

accredited higher education.

TION

Are you working toward a promotion?

EXPERIENCE

PILLAR

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Considering changing fields? Pursuing a dream or hobby?

tion is designed for future elementary school Through this program, the student will gain ellectual, physical, emotional, and social development of

Now is the time to start a new season of growth!

No matter what career or personal goals you may have, a Pillar Academy of Continuing Education (PACE) certificate can help you reach the next level. PACE provides a variety of certificate programs, as well as, individual courses with flexible schedules.

hands-on classroom experience by participating the classroom with

Hundreds of courses offered ranging from: Learning to Teach Online, Launch Your Online Business, Suicide Prevention, Christian Ministry, Introduction to Cybersecurity Essentials, and Early Childhood Education.

HardenSharon Elementary Education elementaryeducation

to promote the in

According to CAEL | EvoLLLution - A February 2022 study produced by Harvard Business School in conjunction with Emsi Burning Glass, provides empirical evidence of employer preferences shifting from degrees to skills… “an additional 1.4 million jobs could open to workers without college degrees over the next five years.”

tudents will gain

PACE courses meet the demands of the market while catering to the needs of emerging leaders Learn in-demand job skills and add value to your resume with certifications!

You can change your future today! Learn more at: pillar.edu/PACE

Some certificate courses can be completed in as little as 1 week.

e as a team to encourage students to reach their goals sionally in ways leading to lifelong impact. tian, private, and public schools. School partnerships o experience pedagogy and classroom learning in a xt-generation educators. peer support and engage in project-based learning that ommunity contexts.

Receive up to 3 college credits for selected courses when transferring to a Pillar College degree program saving both time and money!

Receive career training that connects your passions with your calling

Continue your education and remain current in your profession.

For more inform tion, call Campus Locations: Newark, Somerset,

erson, Plainfield, and Jersey City

Education

MSCHE)

ELEMENTARY EDUC

Chairperson, B.A.

Pillar Academy of Continuing Education

n Higher The only accredited Christ-centered Bible-based Christian college in NJ Campus Locations: Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Jersey City, Basking Ridge, and Ocean County, NJ Pillar College is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Answer the Call at Drew Theological School

Rooted in the long tradition of Wesleyan and Methodist commitment to higher education, Drew Theological School’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) program prepares a learned Christian leadership in and for the world.

Drew is a diverse, ecumenical, and open community that dares to pursue the love, wisdom, and justice at the heart of the transformative gospel of Jesus Christ. We engage the challenges and hopes for dismantling racism, interfaith and ecumenical solidarity, ecological sustainability, and sexual and gender justice per our faculty shared values.

The MDiv provides a professional graduate education for those called to be ordained pastors or deacons, congregational leaders, community organizers or activists, and chaplains in hospital, university, or prison settings.

Drew’s students and alums answer their callings through a variety of vocation settings—whether to further pursue a career in ministry or chaplaincy—or follow a path to a new vocation entirely.

“Drew prepared me by stressing the importance of inclusivity, particularly through the lens of language, sexuality, gender, culture, ethnicity/race and age,” said Master of Divinty and Master of Sacred Theology alum Rodney James Lynch T’14,’15, pastor and executive director, Baptist Student Foundation at Purdue University.

“My theological training at Drew was very liberative, in that I was liberated from a dogmatic religiosity—that is everything but inclusive,” said Lynch. “I was prepared and understood the importance of cross-cultural collaborations.”

“Drew is such a unique place,” said Master of Divinity alum Krysta Angelique Piper T’18, Master of Divinity, United States Army Reserves, Ch (1lt) – Chaplain First Lieutenant. “Drew always brought the best version of who

I was out of my innermost parts. Drew challenged me to love deeper and articulate what social justice meant to me. Drew changed me in all the best ways possible and I believe that’s why I am able to love every person that comes in my path the way I do. Because Drew instills in its students to love your neighbor as yourself, but also become a healthy mind, body, and spirit—others we serve can see Christ’s love within us.”

Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah T’10, chaplain at JFK Medical Center, associate minister at New Hope Baptist Church, and MDiv alum, left a teaching career to pursue her calling to ministry. Her pastoral journey has been “exhilarating and exciting.” After graduating from Drew, she found a path to Clinical Pastoral Education, leading to her current role at JFK Medical Center. “I really bloomed in The Forest and Drew holds a special place in my heart.”

Drew prepares you for Christian leadership in and for today’s world. All master degree programs can be completed in residence or fully online and scholarships are available.

To learn more or apply online to our MDiv or other theological programs, please visit drew.edu/positive.

Plan to visit us during our Open Doors event on October 20—an opportunity to get to know Drew Theological School as a place that values thinking, action, flexibility, and creativity during a day that provides a realistic glimpse of life as a Drew student. To register, please visit drew.edu/opendoors.

Rodney James

Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Krysta Angelique Piper

ANSWER THE CALL

Drew Theological School invites you to join us on a vocational path toward your Master of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry degree.

Choose an MDiv or DMin experience that supports your goals and lifestyle, and that responds to the great theological and ethical challenges of our day.

Drew Theological School prepares you for Christian leadership in and for today’s world.

Commit to courageous Christianity. Dive into ecological and social justice. Inspire the church, the neighborhood, the city, the world.

ARE YOU a Believer? an Activist? a Seeker? a Thinker? a Counselor? a Preacher? a Teacher? a Poet? a Dreamer?

Learn more or apply online to our Master of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry programs. All master degree programs can be completed in residence or fully online.

Drew University | Madison, NJ | 973.408.3111 gradm@drew.edu | drew.edu/positive

GBCNJ Laymen’s Movement Announces Scholarships

The National Baptist Laymen’s Movement announced seven scholarship awards and New Jersey received two of them. Marcus James Hopper won first place, receiving a $5,000.00 scholarship. Dyshon Mitchell was the fourth-place winner, receiving a $1,500.00 scholarship. Marcus Hopper will be attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, and Dyshon Mitchell is enrolled at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD.

Both Junior Laymen are members of Community Baptist Church of Englewood, and their pastor is Rev. Dr. Lester W. Taylor Jr., the Northeast Region’s vice president. Integral to the student’s successes were Deacon Dr. Bernard Gantt, who serves as the Laymen’s Education Committee chairperson; and Sister Valerie Payton, team leader on the CBC Educational Council, who prepared our Junior Laymen for the process.

—TPC Staff

Save energy and money with Comfort Partners.

The New Jersey Comfort Partners Program is helping families lower their energy costs and conserve more energy. The program offers energy-saving home improvements to income-eligible customers free of charge, helping families reduce their utility bills and ensure a more safe, comfortable home.

Learn how to apply

at njcleanenergy.com/CP or call 1-800-915-8309

L-R: Deacon Dr. Bernard Gantt, Dyshon Mitchell, Marcus Hopper, CBC Education Consul Valerie Payton, and Laymen's Movement Auxiliary President Vincent Bryant

Photos By: Vincent Bryant

Tik Tok as a Tool for Literacy and Learning Reimagining 21st Century Literacy and Learning

By A’Dorian Murray Thomas, Board Member, Newark Board of Education Founder & CEO, SHE Wins Inc.

Children want to read—just not in the way you want. In the era of Tik Tok, tweets, and Instagram, those of us who care deeply about children’s education must expand our view of what learning looks like in the modern age. As schools and communities grapple with the issue of learning loss amid COVID-19, now more than ever, students need access to diverse and innovative tools that can make learning exciting and help bridge literacy gaps.

I had the privilege of supporting more than 30 girls who served as youth leaders at the PAC Elementary School “Literacy Carnival” this summer.

SHE Wins Inc, a girls leadership and mentorship organization, focuses on serving girls affected by violence and building a pipeline of college, career, and community-ready young women leaders. SHE Wins Scholars distributed free books, facilitated reading circles, and led art activities to increase enthusiasm for reading prior to the new school year.

Though SHE Wins Scholars and their fellow Gen Z'ers need traditional books to learn, they can learn just as much from beyond the page. As an educator, some of my most intellectually rigorous conversations with students stemmed not only from discussing books or articles, but

also including tweets, YouTube videos, and Tik Tok videos. Rhetorical questions, historical facts, and probing insights on issues ranging from climate change to institutional racism can emerge from the text of a Tik Tok or the caption of an Instagram post.

While mindful of the limitations of social media and the digital world, this moment calls us to acknowledge the ways in which the digital landscape can help the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and creatives engage in reading comprehension, storytelling, and critical analysis both in and beyond the classroom. It is our job as educators, parents, caregivers, and concerned citizens to support students in finding balance online and leveraging social media for literacy and learning. Collective neglect of this opportunity may risk deepening the educational wounds we seek to heal.

The power of the pen is no longer limited to ink and paper. With the right support, students can cultivate valuable literacy and critical thinking skills with the scroll of their thumb. Let’s help our students write their own stories of intellectual exploration as they prepare for bright futures in the new age.

“It is our job as educators, parents, caregivers, and concerned citizens to support students in finding balance online and leveraging social media for literacy and learning.”

The Legacy of Carey Jenkins aka Mr. Operation Link-Up

By: Marquise Francis & Rochelle Jo-Yen Kiam (Both OLU program graduates)

On July 30, 2022, friends and relatives gathered at International High School in Paterson, NJ to honor the memory of Carey Jenkins. Known affectionately as “Mr. Jenkins,” the high school guidance counselor—a larger-than-life figure—passed away nearly a year ago. However, safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his memorial service. Jenkins will be remembered for his subtle, southern-influenced speech; his quirky persistence in asking questions; and his unmistakable bluntness expecting nothing but the best from those he cared about most. He embodied accountability, and the lives he touched directly reflect that. Mr. Jenkins changed the trajectory of many lives and, ultimately, generations through his work as teacher, mentor, and founder of Operation Link Up (OLU).

Born in Gloucester, Mississippi, Jenkins attended California State University and worked on the west coast for two decades, then switched coasts to work with inner-city youth in Paterson, New Jersey. As a school counselor at John F. Kennedy High School, he founded Operation Link Up (OLU) in 1987 with 30 students. The organization eventually grew to more than 600 students from throughout the city.

Mr. Jenkins passed away on September 30, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Jenkins; sons: John, and Kevin; two grandchildren: Grace and Samuel; his daughter-in-law, Annie; four siblings: Leroy, Maxine, Marie, and Louise; and many, many, protégés.

The first three trailblazing OLU alumni graduated from Syracuse University in 1995. Gina Zuniga, Lillian Garcia, and Rochelle Jo-Yen Kiam today are a doctor, high school guidance counselor, and lawyer, respectively. Zuniga

recalled the doors OLU opened for her, both personally and professionally that helped her get into medical school. Garcia remarked that although they didn’t always see eye to eye, “Mr. Jenkins was like a father to me.”

Jabari Butler graduated from OLU and Syracuse University in 2016. Today he works as a web developer with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Butler credits Mr. Jenkins with his educational foundation. “Without Mr. Jenkins, I don’t think I would have had the extensive guidance and structure to be as well-prepared as I had been,” said Butler. Butler’s older sister, Nailah, who also attended Syracuse, said. “He gave me the advantage of that next level of education… Without OLU, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now.”

Angela Pearson Wells, a volunteer who served on the OLU board for many years and mentored several young women at OLU, spoke warmly of Mr. Jenkins. Such was her fondness and respect for him that she continued her relationship with him after she relocated from New Jersey and even visited Jenkins at his home in Virginia prior to his passing. “He was a kind, generous man who loved his family and all of his ‘kids’ in the OLU program,” Angela told The Positive Community

At the memorial service, parents of OLU alumni announced the formation of The Carey Jenkins Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded annually to two Paterson, New Jersey graduating high school students who demonstrate the value of hard work and academic excellence. The goal is to award each recipient a $2,500 scholarship awarded in $500 increments over their four-to-five-year undergraduate collegiate career. We are sure Mr. Jenkins would approve.

L-R: Former Director Metropolitan Admissions for Syracuse University Dr. Lonnie Morrison, OLU students, Carey Jenkins, and Caroline Jenkins

L-R: OLU alumni parents Patrica Francis, Synita Butler, and Nora Belle

Photos Courtesy of Operation Link Up

Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet:

Blazing A Trail Forward with Purpose and Vision

By R.L. Witter

As a teenager making his way through the Carteret, NJ school system, Lamont Repollet had hoop dreams. He envisioned himself playing in the NBA with young people looking up to him for his skills on the court. Fast forward a few decades and while his hoop dreams weren’t realized, young people look up to and listen to him. As the first African American president of Kean University, Repollet’s leadership, advice, and accomplishments are affecting thousands of young people every day.

His path to education and administration wasn’t a straight one though. He took a few turns before finding what would turn out to be both his calling and his purpose. “I went to school and majored in communications,” he explained. “I went to graduate school at NYU (New York University) for a summer program in film and television and then I just realized it wasn’t something I wanted to do because the probability of being successful was quite low.”

So just how did Repollet find his way into education? “I coached basketball and I fell in love with the students,” he said. “That helped me realize I should be a teacher. People always talk about God’s plan and I felt that the minute I stepped into my purpose; everything opened up for me in education. The path was clear, my vision was moving forward; everything just seemed to work.”

In early 2020 when COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic, Repollet had a full plate as NJ Department of Education commissioner. “The challenging part was creating a ‘new normal,’” he said about managing NJ schools during an unprecedented event. “The challenge was taking a system that wasn’t designed for virtual learning and creating a system that allowed us to be flexible enough to educate 1.6 million students and have folks going to work and not losing their jobs.”

His focus wasn’t only on keeping people employed and students learning. He also kept mental and physical health front of mind, even when he was installed as Kean

Repollet photos courtesy Kean University

University president in October, 2021. “We understood that for two years we had isolation, depression, loss of life, injur y, and folks coming in with PTSD. Their minds are not really focused on education; their minds are focused on survival. We’ve created a proven connection. We’ve emphasized our wellness center. We have an initiative right now called ‘Well-Being at Work’ that’s looking at well-being financially, environmentally, socioemotionally, physically, and mentally.” Repollet is steadfast in advocating for his faculty and students to assure them the best possible experience at Kean. “We have to make sure our students are safe, make sure education is equitable, and access to affordability.”

One of Repollet’s main goals in helming the university centers on making the transition from a liberal arts university to a research university. “I’m very pleased that Governor Murphy and the legislature of New Jersey have designated Kean University as New Jersey’s first urban research university,” he explained. “We’ve acquired the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, which is the policy arm behind 32 urban mayors— the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association. We are on course to get that Carnegie R2 designation, which is 133 research universities in the country. We’re designated as a state research university, which affords us opportunities, grants, and additional money for our students in Pell grant money.”

This approach has led to investment in additional faculty at a time when other universities are downsizing. Also, Hynes Hall, the new business center, offers a diverse array of state-of-the-art resources for business, public administration and criminal justice students including: smart classrooms and study lounges, Bloomberg business intelligence software, a virtual “library in the sk y,” and rooftop deck with views of New York City. “Our goal was to go from a world-class liberal arts university to a worldclass research university,” said Repollet. “If we do that, our diplomas will accrue value.”

On the horizon is a dual enrollment program called Kean Scholar Academy where students across New Jersey attend high school and Kean simultaneously beginning in ninth grade, accruing college credits. Another new program called Entrepreneur Education Initiative (EEI) where both students and parents are educated, as well as bilingual education for freshmen foreign students in their native languages, helps ease the transition to college and squash language barriers. “I always talk about access, equity, and creating a pipeline from a young age,” Repollet said.

In addition to his work at the University, Repollet enjoys the Harry Potter books and films. “My office looks

Repollet with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Kean University mascot Keanu the cougar

like a castle,” he chuckled. “I call myself a Gryffindor with a little Slytherin in it.” If he could talk with anyone alive today, he would choose Barack Obama. “I was on a golf course in Martha’s Vineyard and I shook his hand, but I’d love to have a detailed conversation with him because sitting in that White House, being the first—I can only imagine what he went through.”

Upon being hired at Kean University, Repollet received a piece of valuable advice from David Wilson, president of Morgan State University. Wilson said, “This is a lonely job; understand that. So, find yourself a peer you can talk to.” Repollet reached out to other Black and African American college presidents in New Jersey— a total of nine; each the first to hold the position at their respective

His focus wasn’t only on keeping people employed and students learning. He also kept mental and physical health front of mind, even when he was installed as Kean University president in October, 2021. “We understood that for two years we had isolation, depression, loss of life, injury, and folks coming in with PTSD.

institutions. “Now I don’t feel lonely,” he said. “There are eight other people I can call who understand…”

His family is his rock. His wife, Darlene was the breadwinner while he earned his doctorate and made moves to get to where he is now. Repollet also credits his two daughters and his church family at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens for supporting and inspiring him.

When asked about the future and perhaps looking toward a second act, Repollet was quick to answer: “I’m not looking for a second act; you don’t mess with things God ordained. For me, this was my purpose… And if that’s not God’s plan and God’s anointment, I don’t know what is.”

In early 2020 when COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic, Repollet had a full plate as NJ Department of Education commissioner. “The challenging part was creating a ‘new normal,’” he said about managing NJ schools during an unprecedented event.

Repollet addresses the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) conference.

President Repollet records a moment in a selfie.

Students come to Kean University with a singular purpose: to get the world-class education they need to climb higher in life. They acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the classroom, in the workplace and in the world. Find your passion and a path to success that lasts a lifetime.

50+ undergraduate programs 70+ graduate options 6 doctorates

New Jersey’s urban research university

The most affordable university in N.J.

30 minutes to NYC via train station on campus

Top 3 Residence Halls in N.J. by niche.com

Study abroad programs in 30+ countries, including our English-speaking campus in China

Competitive NCAA Division III intercollegiate varsity sports teams

Designated Hispanic-Serving Institution

Kean is New Jersey’s most affordable university. We promise equity, access and excellence in higher education. Together, the Kean Tuition Promise and the state’s Garden State Guarantee program provide qualifi ed New Jersey students with a world-class Kean education tuition free.

MORE INFO : kean.edu/tuition-promise

in the right place.

ADDICTION CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

Young athletes. Grandparents. Moms-to-be. No one expects to become addicted to opioids, but it can happen to you or someone you love. It’s important to know that there is help and recovery is possible for everyone. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage pain that don’t involve opioids. Talk to us about finding treatment.

Everyone has different goals and different circumstances. That’s why Berkeley College makes it easy to balance an excellent, career-focused education with your busy life.

Certificate programs, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs, and Continuing Education programs allow you to advance your career and earning potential at your pace.

To learn more, visit BerkeleyCollege.edu or call 800-446-5400 today.

Assemblywoman Inez E. Dickens

Champion of All Things Harlem

By Glenda Codagan

It is said that Assemblywoman Inez E. Dickens owns politics in Harlem. Some even call her the dean of Harlem politics. She, however, shrugs off the title with stubborn insistence that the crown still belongs to former Congressman Charlie Rangel, one of her mentors throughout her political life. “What I am is the Dean’s protégé,” she told The Positive Community.

Influencers

Indeed, Dickens’ politics, informed and guided by many stalwarts, reflects their input. Chief among them were her father, the late Harlem businessman and New York State Assemblyman Lloyd E. Dickens, and her uncle, the late Assemblyman and State Supreme Court Justice

Thomas K. Dickens. Another strong influence in her life was the powerhouse group known as the Gang of Four, which included: David Dinkins, the first Black mayor of New York City; Basil Paterson, a New York State lieutenant governor and attorney; Percy Sutton, Manhattan Borough president (all three deceased); and former Congressman Charles Rangel.

Sutton’s influence is a particularly interesting story. As Dickens tells it, Sutton—a civil rights activist and lawyer and political rival of her father, opposed him in elections 13 times. “Thirteen times he ran against him and thirteen times he lost. Yet, when Sutton ran for mayor, my father gave him a loan of a quarter million dollars in order to make his campaign financially viable.” she said. “You see, my father was not interested in holding a grudge. He believed we had a real shot at having our first Black mayor and to him, that was more important than holding onto a political grudge.” Sutton received the full gamut of support of the powerful Dickens-led New Era Democratic Club in that failed 1977 run for mayor.

After her father’s death, the Gang of Four—in particular Sutton and Rangel—took an interest in the political career of “Little Betty” as she was affectionately called. “When my father died I was not yet elected to office, but they saw something in me that I did not see in myself at that time. Percy Sutton became one of my staunch supporters and Congressman Rangel mentored me every step of the way.”

Early Days

Without a doubt, Lloyd Dickens was a man ahead of his time. And it showed not just in his public politics but his personal life as well. Certainly, at that time in the 50s and 60s when Little Betty was coming of age, Black dolls were

cont’d on next page

“I love this community with all my heart,” she said. “I was born in Harlem and lived here all my life except when I went to college. I am proud of everything I was able to accomplish for my constituents and beyond.”

Assemblywoman Dickens talks with Legislative Director Riccardo Aguirre

Bob Gore

unheard of. Yet her father painstakingly had Black dolls made for Dickens and her older sister. He also ensured she had an amplesupply of Black enrichment books. One in particular, A Pictorial History of the Negro in America, was at the center of a life-defining experience when she was just 7 years old. “One day I was playing with my friends on the stoop and I decided to bring out my book to share with them about slavery and how we came to America. I was so excited.” Others saw it differently, however. “I remember when my father told me that some parents informed him they no longer wanted me associating with their children. I could not understand it,” she recalled. “It hurt me dearly and does so to this day. But I also still have that book,” she added.

Although heartbroken by the loss of three friends for being “too conscious,” such influences fueled Dickens’ political life from the New York City Council to the New York State Assembly. Elected to the City Council in 2006 representing the 9th District encompassing Central Harlem, Morningside Heights, East Harlem, and parts of the Upper West Side, she became known as a passionate

A strong influence in her life was the powerhouse group known as the Gang of Four, which included: David Dinkins, the first Black mayor of New York City; Basil Paterson, a New York State lieutenant governor and attorney; Percy Sutton, Manhattan Borough president (all three deceased); and former Congressman Charles Rangel.

Inez Dickens shows a treasured photo of Charles Rangel and her father, Lloyd Dickens (Circa 1961). Rangel was then Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York; Lloyd Dickens was a New York State Assemblyman.

SPECIAL SECTION 46 The Positive Community Fall Issue 2022 www.thepositivecommunity.com Bob Gore

fighter for basic civil and human rights, social justice, wage equity, inclusion, and diversity. During her tenure on the City Council, she brought millions of dollars in services and resources to economically distressed communities throughout the city and rose to the leadership position of majority whip. After winning the 2016 election by an overwhelming 93 percent, she continued that fight in the New York State Assembly—taking an active role in economic development and support of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs)

Another memento in Dickens’ possession is a handwritten letter sent to her father from the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “These were the kinds of people I grew up meeting and seeing in the flesh as they came to see my father,” she said. “In addition to Dr. King, I also saw and met John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.”

Champion of All Things Harlem

No doubt her father was influenced by the politics of his father, a Garveyite. “My family was originally from Oklahoma but with the rampant racism there, my grandfather took his 10 children to live in Canada.

When he heard about the Marcus Garvey Movement, he returned to America with the aim of going back to Africa with the UNIA,” she explained. “History tells us how that turned out.”

With this kind of consciousness in her family, it was customary for her father and his brothers to gather at the kitchen table every Saturday to discuss all things political. The Dickens clan believed politics and economics went hand in hand and one couldn’t exist without the other. On the business end, the family owned and operated the history making Lloyd E. Dickens Real Estate Company in Harlem.

This history influenced and penetrated Dickens’ career, making her a fierce champion of all things Harlem. “I love this community with all my heart,” she said. “I was born in Harlem and lived here all my life except when I went to college. I am proud of everything I was able to accomplish for my constituents and beyond.”

Among those accomplishments: funding for Silicon Harlem; the upgrade of Morningside Park; refurbishing the public libraries on 115th and 124th Street; the installation of security doors and cameras in almost every NYCHA building in her district; and most recently, 177 Units of real affordable housing. She is also well known as an anti-gang violence activist and helped support the creation of organizations such as Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E (Stop Another Violent End), headed by Jackie Rowe-Adams.

Despite her achievements, Dickens would rather be remembered for who she is than what she did. “In time people are going to forget all these things. Though my name is engraved on the steps of Morningside Park, one day that sidewalk is going to be upgraded and people will forget that too. So, what I want people to remember about me is that foremost I was a spiritual person who loved God and believed in a higher power. And next, that I was a fierce and tenacious fighter for Harlem and gave it all I got.”

When she is not on the political battlefront, Dickens enjoys spending quiet evenings at home watching old movies and reading mystery novels and autobiographies. It comes as no surprise that one of her all-time favorites is Gunsmoke, the old television series routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time. Certainly, there seems to be more left in the political guns of Inez E. Dickens. Bets are she will keep them smoking for a long time to come

Dickens and Charles Rangel

David Dinkins, Basil Paterson, Percy Sutton, Charles Rangel

By Rev. Dr. Carl L Washington Jr.

The Inez Dickens I Know

Councilwoman, State Assemblywoman, Activist, and most important, Christian — Inez E Dickens. As her pastor, I know Inez and what a joy it is. This woman, my congregant, renders great service to the community she loves dearly.

Her passion for the people in the Village of Harlem and her constituents in the 70th District amazes me. More than a politician, she is a powerful force for the rights and dignity of those she serves. Her main concern is to see her beloved Harlem thrive and prosper.

As a member of the New Mount Zion Church, Assemblywoman Dickens is a constant source of inspiration for young people of what God can do if you trust Him. Inez Dickens, a giant in diminutive form, fights with the ferociousness of a lioness for her cubs.

And she is ubiquitous. Her constituents know her. After all, Harlem is her lifelong home. During her most recent election campaign, though faced with a formidable opponent, Inez prevailed through the support of Harlem’s faith community.

One could pronounce the title of Dean of Harlem Political Leadership on Ms. Dickens and she learned from the best. Leaders like her father and mentor, the late Harlem businessman and New York State Assemblyman Lloyd E. Dickens; and her uncle, the late Assemblyman and State Supreme Court Justice Thomas K. Dickens; and the legendary Harlem Gang of Four, Percy Sutton, David Dinkins, and Basil Paterson, and Charlie Rangel.

Unselfish and unashamed, she stands strong as she fights for what is right for community and country.

In leadership and values, Inez is the bridge that connects the victories of the past to the hope of the future. She is a mentor to a new emerging leadership of Harlem elected officials! Names like NYS Senators Hon. Cordell Cleare, Hon Robert Jackson, and Assemblyman Rev. Al Taylor among others. The key to the future lies in the ability to build upon the successes of those who came before us!

I am honored to have her serve with me in ministry to the masses as she answered the call of God for her life and said like Isaiah, “Here am I send me.”

Pastor of the New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Harlem President, Empire Baptist Missionary Convention of New York

“Unselfish and unashamed, she stands strong as she fights for what is right for community and country.”

A Fierce Advocate for Social Change in Harlem

A Fierce Advocate for Social Change in Harlem

Assemblywomen Inez Dickens has been a champion of Harlem's most vulnerable households. Over the years she has advocated for public investments in affordable housing, emergency housing for homeless families and food insecurity. Her efforts helped to launch West Harlem Group Assistance's (WHGA) Healthy Food Hub in 2015. Each year the hub supports over 100,000 families with access to a healthy food pantry, and benefits counseling.

"WHGA leveraged seed funding from Assemblywoman Dickens' office which enabled the organization to create a comprehensive plan for our homeless services", explains WHGA's Executive Director, Donald Notice. "As a result of this plan, we were able to secure a 30-year, $18 million contract to finance the redevelopment of West Harlem Residence, a 50-unit emergency housing facility for homeless families with children."

Dickens' advocacy for affordable housing was instrumental in the redevelopment of Mannie Wilson Towers (pictured above), a 102-unit senior housing facility. for which WHGA recently secured $18.2 million in financing for systems upgrades.

"The highlights shared here reflect a mere fraction of Assemblywomen Dickens' impact", says Notice. "She is a fierce and tireless advocate on many issues of import for the Harlem community."

Established 1971 $750 Million Invested in Harlem's Affordable Housing

1652 Amsterdam Avenue . New York, NY 10031. (212) 862 1399 . whgainc.org

West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc Salutes Assemblywomen Inez Dickens

Inez Dickens Hosts Summer Soiree

Most of the August 23 Democratic primary victors attended Assembly Member Inez Dickens’ Summer Soiree at her Harlem home on Thursday, August 25, where NY Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams were among the guests. The great food, sincere fellowship, and notable company made for a glorious summer afternoon. —TPC Staff

L-R: Londel Davis, Donald Day, Honoree Donald Notice, and Donel Davis

L-R: Honoree Michael Gardner, Vy Higginsen, and Voza Rivers

NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Charles Rangel, Inez D. Dickens, and Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs

L-R: Restaurateur Melba Wilson and NYS Attorney General Leticia James

L-R: Charles Rangel, NYS Sen. Robert Jackson, Inez D. Dickens, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rev. Carl Washington, District Leader Maria Luna, and Manhattan Borough Pres. Mark Levine

Photos by: Seitu Orande and Bruce Moore

President/CEO Greater Harlem Chamber Loyd Williams MC'd the event

L-R: NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Maria Luna, NYS Sen. Robert Jackson, Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, NYS Sen. Cordell Cleare, Rev. Carl Washington, and Dr. Hazel Dukes

L-R: NYC Assembly Member Inez D. Dickens and NYC Mayor Eric Adams

L-R: Chocolat Restaurateur Leon Ellis and NYC Council Member Gale Brewer

The party is live!

L-R: NYS Governor Kathy Hochul and Inez D. Dickens

+

Health ideas for wellness

By James Frazier Newark News & Story Collaborative

Black Theater Companies Pivot, Present | In-person Theatre is Back survival!

buiness, finance + work

“My father’s heritage is East Indian; my mother is African-American and so they were bringing together two cultures,” said Kahn. “That’s ethically as well as geographically. Growing up, there was never a sense that we were solely identified by being Black kids in Camden, New Jersey. Yes, we were Black in Camden, but our roots are global. What I’ve always wanted to tell people through Crossroads is that it’s about our roots. As Black people in this country we should not forget or even allow people to think this is all of who we are.” He continued, “There’s much more! The sense of a connecting, having a theater like Crossroads that connects to many different communities in this coun try and around the world is in order for us to redefine who we are on a larger level.”

the art + science of learning

Church on Henry Street. Many perform ers benefited from ear ly successes on NFT’s stage—the late Chad wick Boseman, Debbie Allen, Morgan Free man, Phylicia Rashad, Denzel Washington, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Issa Rae, and many more. Woodie King Jr. retired from leadership of the illus trious theater at the end of June.

“During the first part of the pandemic, March 2020, I had been thinking about retiring,” King revealed. “Then the pandemic increased in time. The offices closed down. Then people needed to have shots. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I don’t want to go back to work. I’m 83 years old. So, what should I do?’ I thought, I needed a young person to run it. And that person was Elizabeth Van Dyke, our artistic director. She’s experi enced and understands how to communicate with this generation. And getting that younger person to run it and work with me over the last year and five months, solidified it for me.”

Across the Hudson River, one of the pioneering insti tutions integrating artists of color and women into the mainstream American theater, Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theater (NFT), faces major changes. Found ed in 1970, NFT began as an outgrowth of a theatre program called Mobilization for Youth. The theatre’s first season opened in the basement of St. Augustine’s

As millions of people quarantined last year, the aters around the world temporarily closed their doors and we were forced to stay at home without live en tertainment. For the first time, the theater found the need to compete with social media and streaming platforms. NFT embraced change, deciding to shift theater to the digital space with pre-recorded and live

Gospel in the Park

The 15th Anniversary of the Lincoln Park Music Festival featured a “Gospel In The Park”concert. The event, hosted by Rev. Kevin E. Taylor of Unity Fellowship Church and Newark Councilwoman-at-Large Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, brought music, praise, and fellowship to downtown Newark on July 27.

Attendees were gobsmacked by a special surprise appearance by R&B legend Valerie Simpson, one half of the iconic duo, Ashford and Simpson. She joined the Provenance Music Group onstage, blessing those in attendance with her powerful vocals.

Joyful noise from Anthony Ponder & Ministry’s Desire (APMD), Le’Andria Johnson, and the Christ Love International Church Youth Choir enthralled the thankful crowd. —TPC Staff

FPraise and worship time

L-R: Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter Valerie Simpson and LPCCD Executive Director Anthony Smith

Christ Love International Church Choir led by Pastors David & Kemi Ojo

Anthony Ponder (left) and Ministry's Desire

Valerie Simpson surprises fans with Provenance Music Group

Winner of BET's Sunday's Best gospel competition, Le'Andria Johnson

L-R: Newark Councilwoman-At-Large Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree and Unity Fellowship Church Pastor Rev. Kevin E. Taylor

rustrated with the lack of diversity in Amer ican theater, Ricardo Mohamed Khan and L. Kenneth Richardson conceptualized the Crossroads Theatre Company. Since its founding in 1978, Crossroads has produced over 100 works, many of them premiere productions by African and African American artists, including The Colored Museum and Spunk by George C. Wolfe, Jitney by August Wilson, Sheila’s Day by South Af rican writer Duma, Ndlovu and many more. Crossroads received the 1999 Tony Award for Outstanding Region al Theatre in the United States in recognition of its 22year history of artistic accomplishment and excellence.

Ricardo Kahn Crossroads Theatre Company

Photos By: Raymond Hagans

Summer Birthday Barbecue

Essex County Mayors, their wives, and friends came together to celebrate the birthday of Karma Warren MD., First Lady of the City of Orange, and wife of Mayor Dwayne Warren at the couple's home. —TPC Staff

L-R: NJ State Democratic Chairman Hon. Leroy Jones, East Orange Mayor Hon. Ted Green, Hon. Dwayne Warren, Plainfield Mayor Hon. Adrian Mapp, and Irvington Mayor Hon. Tony Vauss, seated: First Lady Karma Warren MD.

The General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, Inc.

Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders, President

Rev. Dr. James A. Dunkins, General Secretary

Brother Vincent Bryant, Laymen's Movement Auxiliary President

Come join the Laymen’s Movement of the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey for a Veteran Day Celebration to Honor our Veterans. During this event, we will honor the oldest veteran, the most decorated veteran and the veteran who achieved the highest ranking.

We want to do more than just say “Thank You for Your Service”. We will have a resource panel providing information and answering questions concerning health care and benefits, VA and private health services, housing, health and life insurance issues, education, training, transportation and community support.

There will be VA representatives along with a VA onsite mobile claim clinic available to file a claim, to check on the status of a claim and answer questions. In addition, joining us will be State and Federal officials, Veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and VFW, the NAACP, civic groups along with our many sponsors sharing information on policy issues and other services.

Join us, bring a veteran and learn about resources and your entitlements. There will be refreshments and fellowship. We look forward to seeing you!

If there are any questions, please contact: Vincent Bryant, vinstudio1@optimum.net

Sandra Dickerson, sdickerson600@gmail.com

Fantasia Barrino (American Idol) and Sarah Vaughan Award winner Jazzmeia Horn.

University-Newark. Support for

program

series

A Blue and White Affair

David M. Sheppard celebrated his 70th birthday at the jam-packed Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem. Dave’s longtime friend, "Talent, the comedian," had everyone laughing and Jeff Redd tore the house down with his hit songs, “You Called and Told Me” and “I Found Lovin’.” Sheppard; recognized for 40 years of promoting jazz, R&B, and comedy; was joined by Debi B Jackson, formerly of WBLS and other entertainment industry notables. The event was hosted by Producer/Publicist Kym Swain. —TPC Staff

David M. Sheppard

L-R: David with Daughter Akira Sheppard

L-R: Mike of Pike Ent., Robert Hall, and Dave Sheppard

David with Rita Baxter celebrating her birthday

L-R: Robert Cooper, Debi B Jackson, and Jeff Redd

Photos By: Bruce Moore

Tracy Morgan

Sat, October 15 at 8pm

See the comedian star/actor from Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock live in New Brunswick!

Johnny Mathis

Sat, October 29 at 8pm

Don’t miss the chance to see one of the most enduring vocalists in music history. With popular hits like “Chances Are,” “It’s Not For Me To Say,” and “Misty.”

Hip Hop Fever

Fri, October 28 at 8pm

Featuring Slick Rick, Rob Base, The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio of The Furious Five, Nice & Smooth, Black Sheep, Lil’ Cease of Junior M.A.F.I.A, and more!

Ailey II

Thu, November 10 at 8pm

Ailey II merges the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creativity of today’s most outstanding choreographers.

Celebrate the Season with Patti LaBelle

Thu, December 1 at 8pm

The Grammy ® -winner performs holiday classics and the hits you know and love—bringing to the stage her powerhouse vocals and electrifying energy! Co-presented with Metropolitan Ent.

STOMP

Dec 2-3 — 3 shows STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, and appeals to audiences of all ages. using everything but conventional percussion instruments to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. STOMP— see what all the noise is about.

ON SALE NOW AT STNJ.ORG!

Edmonds Family 16th Annual Summer Gathering

Modeled after "down home" family reunions, the Edmonds Family Summer Fish Fry and Barbeque is an annual pilgrimage of diverse people coming together as family to enjoy good company and soul food. In the past years, as many as two hundred people of different races and religions and from all walks of life, have attended. The unscripted and relaxed event has helped create deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and lasting memories among family, friends, and strangers.

—TPC Staff

L-R: Evor Ingram, Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Jean Wells and Tom Watkins

L-R: Hon. Rev. Al Taylor and wife Gwen Taylor

L-R: Jackie Rowe Adams and Bill Adams

Rev. Dr. Cornell Edmonds tending to the smoker

L-R: Aria Fort, Rev. Dr. Cornell Edmonds, Cara Fort, Donna Greene, Jamison Fort and Ayla Fort

Photos By: Raymond Hagans

Carnival Celebration Back on the Scene

Jersey City Carnival 2022

Multitudes from the Caribbean community arrived ready to celebrate at the 27th Jersey City West Indian Caribbean American Carnival Association Inc. (JCWICACAI) Statewide Carnival Parade and Post Parade Grand Marshal Roaming Relay on July 23 and 24. Celebrants gathered at noon on Saturday, July 23 at Lincoln Park in Jersey City and paraded first to Jersey City Hall, then to Columbus Drive and Warren Street. A joyful occasion showcasing Caribbean culture, the

parade features marchers, characters, and bands with vibrant, colorful clothing, costume, and music. After the parade, participants regrouped in Orange, NJ for the Grand Marshal Roaming Relay. Later, all returned to Jersey City for a “Night Lime,” a traditional Caribbean party. The festivities continued on Sunday at the Hoboken Riverfront with a “Heal and Release Day Event.” Finally, second day celebrations concluded in Newark at the “Evening Lime.” —TPC Staff

The Aetna team

Grand Marshal Class of 2022 Led by Marshal '22 Lance Louison

Grand Marshal '21 Tina Nalls and Friend

Ambassador Cheryl DB Murphy and Adrian Council

Grand Marshal '22 Doris Toni Ervin

Photo by: Raymond Hagans and Ryan Council

Bits and Pieces

current news + topics

Collected by Leslie Nash

Harlem School of the Arts Names New President

Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), The Herb Alpert Center, proudly announced the appointment of James C. Horton as the seventh president of the organization on September 8, 2022. With Horton’s former position as vice president of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York, he brings a wealth of experience to his new position. HSA, founded in 1964 by internationally acclaimed African American concert soprano Dorothy Maynor, offers world-class training in music, dance, theater, musical theater, and media & design to children ages 2-18. The organization encourages students to reach their full potential through interdisciplinary arts training that celebrates the rich complexity of the African American community.

On his new role at HSA, Horton

said, “Organizations like this one have played a vital role in the conversations we have been having over the past couple of years, as we navigated through a global pandemic and explored questions and ideas around what justice, equity, and a just society truly mean, and how it relates to our work as art makers and culture bearers.”

Horton, who studied theater and communications at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is the recipient of several national awards and has been an invited keynote speaker and presenter at both global and national conferences focused on education, arts, culture, and community engagement.

Horton, a longtime Harlem resident, will have a short commute from his home where he lives with his partner and four children.

Gymnastic History Made! Black Girls Rock

An historic first in women’s gymnastics took place on August 21, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. Three Black women—Konnor McClain (17), Shilese Jones (20), and Jordan Chiles (21) stood on the championship podium proudly accepting their medals (gold, silver, and bronze respectively) as the 2022 all around U.S. Gymnastic champions.

An all-Black, all-female American Airlines flight crew channeled the spirit of Ms. Bessie Coleman, who performed the first public flight by an African American woman in 1922. The fight from Dallas to Phoenix celebrated 100 years of Black female empowerment and Black girl magic. The crew consisted of Black women in every spot from the pilot and flight attendants to the cargo team and the aviation maintenance technicians.

“American is being intentional in its efforts to diversify the flight deck,” airline officials wrote in a news release. “Black women have been notably underrepresented in the aviation industry—especially as pilots, representing less than one percent in the commercial airline industry.”

The airline hosted Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s great-niece and CEO/ president of the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour, which recognizes how Coleman bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the way for many others. Coleman earned her pilot’s license in 1921 in France when she was denied training in the United States because of her race.

For years, since women gymnasts first competed as teams in the Olympics in 1928, tiny women lacking melanin dominated the sport. Dominique Dawes and Betty Okino changed that when they competed and made the team in 1992. Black girls have competed individually and on teams at all levels with great success. For example, Gabby Douglas won the all-around gold Olympic medal in 2012, paving the way and showing Black girls they can also fly high. Simone Biles, one little girl who watched Gabby, won seven Olympic medals and recognition by many as the gymnastic GOAT (Greatest of All Time). There’s no doubt that the accomplishments of Simone, Gabby, Konnor, Shilese, and Jordan continue to motivate many other little Black girls to become tomorrow’s gymnastic champions tumbling, swinging, and jumping into our hearts.

Bessie Coleman Tribute: AllBlack Female Crew Flies High!

What Support Looks Like

The adage “A picture is worth a thousand words,” proved more than timely for a refreshing vision of spousal support. I and thousands of other LinkedIn social media connections recently applauded TheMoneyCoach.net Co-Founder Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, who posted a quick pic of her husband, Earl, prepping a meal for her prior to her scheduled media interview.

The bustling former CNBC Wall Street Journal report er, New York Times bestselling author, media personal ity, wife, and mom said she simply planned to “grab something quick to eat” for a bit of vigor before her engagement, when Earl sprang into action preparing one of her favorite meals—salmon and green salad.

Lynnette’s LinkedIn post boldly blitzed the word “SUPPORT” in all caps underneath a real-time pho to of Earl’s deft seasoning of pink salmon fillets near a basin of delish-looking leafy greens. “We don’t talk enough about supportive husbands who help their spouses achieve work and career goals by pitching in around the house...” she stated, then briefly described what ignited such attention to Earl’s gracious act of gourmet chivalry.

Earl’s seamless and selfless gesture, just one among the countless others they’ve shared in a symbiotically successful, nearly 20-year marriage, they were amazed by the surge of “likes” the post produced—well over 10,000—in just a few days.

Lynnette said she and Earl “were completely blown away by the feedback. Lots of people remarked they were touched by Lynnette’s public adulation of her husband’s efforts.

When I asked Lynnette why she felt her apprecia tive post resonated, she answered, “Often in marriage, people forget to say, ‘thank you’ or express gratitude for their mates.” Her post “made many people reflect for a moment and take stock of their own situation.”

Lynnette said she received comments from women who took time out to tell her: “My husband is a great supporter, too,” while sharing their own helpful hub

bies anecdotes. She believes another reason her post became an inspiring, viral sensation is partly because, “It represented an image that isn’t talked about or shared very much on social or traditional media,” as women vie to sustain in a still prevalent social frame work. Lynnette says “women perform a dispropor tionate amount of household duties like cleaning and cooking.” Her husband’s “open-mindedness and team player mentality” are some of the qualities she loves most in Earl.

The seminal meeting that seeded the couple’s God-fated relationship back in 2003, happened when Lynnette, looking to self-publish her manuscript, met Earl, already a well-known book consultant entrepre neur, at the Los Angeles Book Expo. Their relation ship began platonically at a Newark, NJ, airport lug gage carousel, eventually blossoming into beautiful, mutually rewarding, wedded bliss. They merged their professional expertise to found TheMoneyCoach.net, and their love to produce three wonderful children.

Lynnette’s advice to other couples wanting to fos ter supportive marriages: “flexibility” and to “waive all preconceived notions of what a union involves be cause,” Lynnette remarked, “people and the world have evolved.” She also cautions couples to “over-com municate” and talk about “EVERYTHING.”

SUPPORT—THIS is what it looks like!

Sonja D. Gracy, author, playwright, and NYC public school teacher is currently working on her next book,God and the Girls.

Husband Earl deftly seasons the salmon.

Publisher

Adrian A. Council, Sr.

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Jean Nash Wells

Associate Editor

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Sales

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Community & G overnment Affairs

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The Last Word

BY R.L. WITTER

A CHANGE OF SEASON

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. The cooler weather, the colored leaves, and warm soup in my stomach make it so. We’re not quite there yet, but the countdown is in effect. I usually associate spring with growth, things returning, and signs of new life. But currently, autumn seems to be working overtime.

This fall will bring with it not only foliage and pumpkin spice, but a new vaccine to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant. After the outdoor socializing of summer, this vaccine will provide me with a better sense of protection as we head indoors. I’m not a fan of injections; but thus far, the vaccines and booster shots in addition to consistent mask wearing and God’s grace, have kept our household COVID free.

I (in addition to most parents I know) am also thrilled to see students making a full return to school! I love seeing the kids waiting for the school bus on my morning walk. My many teacher friends are looking forward to a return to normalcy. They’re readying their classrooms and adding masks and hand sanitizer to the usual back-to-school supplies.

Churches and other houses of worship are also returning to inperson services and bible studies. After online services seated at St. Sofa for so long, I look forward to wearing my Sunday best and turning to my neighbor to say, “God is good!” There’s nothing like the feeling of fellowshipping after the service when my heart and spirit are full of happiness, hope, and conviction.

In an effort to take a page from nature’s playbook, I am striving to be like the autumn trees and shed things I don’t need, as well as those that do not serve me well. As the leaves change colors, I am trying to change my outlook after two years of isolation and only a few months of protracted socializing. My hope is that by the time the trees begin to shed their leaves, I will have shed my fears. While the pandemic isn’t completely over, it does seem to be more manageable and I need to adapt and change.

For now, I’ll sip my iced tea and enjoy the last signs of summer: the perfectly blue sky, the smell of charcoal working its magic to flavor the chicken on the grill, the cacophony of crickets outside my bedroom window, the glow of fireflies, the laughter of children playing outdoors, and the whir of the blender making icy drinks to beat the heat and quench my thirst.

And when I feel a bit nervous or fearful regarding COVID, I’ll make a pot of hot tea and remember Philippians 4:6-7: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

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