October 2015 by The Positive Community

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GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

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October 2015 thepositivecommunity.com

CELEBRATING NEWARK

Guest Editorial by Mayor Ras Baraka Newark Celebrates 350 Years!

Junius Williams: Newark’s Renaissance Man

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October 2015

CONTENTS

SECTIONS MONEY ..................................10

HEALTH ..................................16 EDUCATION ............................24 CULTURE ................................37

Features Newark CEDC Revitalizing Newark ..................10

City of Newark

5th Annual Healthcare Symposium .................16 Bishop Blount is Paying It Forward ..................22 Newark Theological School Transforms Lives ...24

ON THE COVER:

JUNIUS WILLIAMS: NEWARK’S RENAISSANCE MAN

&also inside

Photo By Harry Prott

Rutgers-Newark Debate Team Wins! ...................32 Q&A with FNF’s Kimberly McLain.....................34 Church of the Covenant Hosts Dignitary ..........36 Newark Prepares to Celebrate 350 Years! ......37

Guest Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jazz, Jews, & African-Americans .....................38 Wealth Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Trilogy Performs Marcus Garvey Opera ............40 Fitness Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Gospel Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 2nd Annual Inter-Faith Alliance Breakfast .......42 My View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Thomas and Smith Tie the Knot! ....................43 Selah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 African American Parade Struts Harlem ..........46 The Way Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 The Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Symbols of Spirits Art Exhibition .....................54

The Positive Community October 2015

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4_14120 7x9.5 4c

“...it changed the world and I was there when it happened.”

Wells Fargo presents the

UNTOLD STORIES COLLECTION

We believe the greatest untold story is your own. This unique collection is made up of stories that provide an intimate look at what it means to be African American today. It features stories of achievement, hope, and joy straight from the hearts of the African American community. View the stories at youtube.com/wellsfargo and use #MyUntold to share your greatest untold story today.

R C

GREAT

OLL

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

ALL

TO PROGRESS

he clergy organizations, churches, community businesses and institutions listed below have committed to the purchase of at least 50 magazines per month at $1.00 each (one-third of the cover price) or support this publication through the purchase of advertising. Find out more by calling 973-233-9200 or email rollcall@thepositivecommunity.com

Abyssinian B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor

Ebenezer B.C., Englewood, NJ Rev. Jovan Troy Davis, M.Div.

Mariners’ Temple B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter

St. Luke Baptist Church of Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie McCann, Pastor

Abyssinian B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Perry Simmons, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church, Brooklyn NY Rev. Anthony Trufant, Pastor

Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport, CT Rev. James Logan, Pastor

St Luke B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, Pastor

Abundant Life Fellowship COGIC, Newark, NJ Supt. Edward Bohannon, Jr, Pastor

Empire Missionary B.C., Convention NY Rev. Dr. Ronald Grant, President

Messiah Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dana Owens, Pastor

St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, Pastor

Evening Star B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Washington Lundy, Pastor

Metropolitan B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Pastor

St. Paul Baptist, Red Bank, NJ Rev. Alexander Brown, Pastor

Fellowship Missionary B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elton T. Byrd Pastor/Founder

Mount Calvary United Methodist Church, New York, NY Rev. Francis Kairson, Pastor

St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton, Pastor

Aenon Baptist Church, Vauxhall NJ Rev Alphonso Williams, Sr Pastor Agape Christian Ministries Worship Ctr. Rev. Craig R. Jackson. Pastor Antioch Baptist Church., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Robert M. Waterman, Pastor

First B.C. of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ Rev. Dr. DeForest (Buster) Soaries, Pastor

Mt. Neboh Baptist Church, Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green Jr., Pastor

Archdiocese of New York Brother Tyrone Davis, Office of Black Ministry

First Baptist Church, East Elmhurst, NY Rev Patrick Henry Young, Pastor

Berean B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Arlee Griffin Jr., Pastor

First Baptist B.C. of Teaneck, NJ Rev. Marilyn Monroe Harris, Pastor

Bethany B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey, Sr. Pastor

First Bethel Baptist Church, Newark, NJ H. Grady James III, Pastor

Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. M. William Howard, Pastor

First Corinthian Baptist Church, NY Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr. Senior Pastor

Beulah Bible Cathedral Church, Newark, NJ Gerald Lydell Dickson, Senior Pastor

First Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Rufus McClendon, Jr., Pastor

Black Ministers Council of NJ Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, Exec. Director

Friendship Baptist Church, Harlem, NY Rev. James A. Kilgore, Pastor

Calvary Baptist Church, Garfield, NJ Rev. Calvin McKinney, Pastor

General Baptist Convention, NJ Rev. Dr. Guy Campbell, President

Calvary Baptist Church, Morristown, NJ Rev. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor

Good Neighbor Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George A. Blackwell, III, Pastor

New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Dr. Frances Mannin-Fontaine, Pastor

Canaan B. C. of Christ, Harlem, NY Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, Pastor

Grace B. C., Mt. Vernon, NY Rev. Dr. Franklyn W. Richardson, Pastor

New Life Cathedral, Mt. Holly, NJ Rev. Eric Wallace, Pastor

Canaan B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Dr. Gadson L. Graham

Greater Abyssinian BC, Newark, NJ Rev. Allen Potts, Senior Pastor

New Zion B.C., Elizabeth, NJ Rev. Kevin James White, Pastor

Cathedral International., Perth Amboy, NJ Bishop Donald Hilliard, Pastor

Greater Faith Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA Rev. Larry L. Marcus

Paradise B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Jethro James, Pastor

Charity Baptist Church, Bronx, NY Rev. Reginald Williams, Pastor

Greater New Hope Missionary B.C., NYC Rev. Joan J. Brightharp, Pastor

Christian Cultural Center, Brooklyn, NY Rev. A.R. Barnard, Pastor

Greater Zion Hill B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Frank J. Blackshear, Pastor

Christian Love B.C., Irvington, NJ Rev. Ron Christian, Pastor

Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) Drek E. Broomes, President & CEO

Community B.C., Englewood, NJ Rev. Dr. Lester Taylor, Pastor

Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev.Chuch Chamberlayne, Pastor

Community Church of God, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Dr. Shirley B. Cathie., Pastor Emeritus

It Is Well Living Ministries, Clark, NJ Rev. Kahlil Carmichael, Pastor

Concord B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Pastor

Lagree Baptist Church, New York, NY Rev. Wayland Williams, Jr., Pastor

Convent Avenue Baptist Church, New York, NY Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor

Macedonia Baptist Church, Lakewood, NJ Dr. Edward D. Harper, Pastor

Mt. Pisgah B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor Mount Olive Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Gregory J. Jackson, Pastor Mount Zion Baptist Church, Westwood, NJ Rev. Barry R. Miller, Pastor Mt. Olivet B.C, Newark, NJ Rev. André W. Milteer, Pastor Mt. Zion AME Church, Trenton, NJ Rev. J. Stanley Justice, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, NJ Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Pastor

Pilgrim B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson, Pastor Ruth Fellowship Ministries, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Tracey Brown, Pastor Shiloh AME Zion Church, Englewood, NJ Rev. John D. Givens, Pastor Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ Rev. Dr. Gerald Lamont Thomas, Pastor Shiloh B.C., Trenton, NJ Rev. Darell Armstrong, Pastor St. Albans, NY COGIC Rev. Dr. Ben Monroe St. Anthony Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Duane E. Cooper St. John Baptist Church Camden, NJ Rev. Dr. Silas M. Townsend, Pastor

St. Paul Community B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. David K. Brawley, Pastor The New Hope B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Joe Carter, Senior Pastor Union Baptist Temple,, Bridgeton, NJ Rev. Albert L. Morgan, Pastor Walker Memorial B.C. Bronx, NY Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush Sr., Pastor World Gospel Music Assoc., Newark, NJ Dr. Albert Lewis, Founder

Businesses & Organizations 125th St. BID African American Heritage Parade American Diabetes Association American Heart Association, Northern, NJ Brown Executive Realty LLC, Morristown, NJ City National Bank Essex County College, NJ Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Marion P. Thomas Charter School Medgar Evers College Mildred Crump, Newark City Council Muslim American Chamber of Commerce NAACP New Jersey* NAACP, NY State Conference* New Brunswick Theological Seminary New Jersey Performing Arts Center New York Theological Seminary New York Urban League Newark School of Theology Nubian Conservatory of Music Razac Products Co., Newark, NJ Schomburg Center The College of New Rochelle United Way of Essex and West Hudson WBGO-88.3FM West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. WKMB-1070AM

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

“The Positive Community magazine does outstanding work in promoting the good works of the Black Church. All churches and businesses should subscribe to and advertise in The Positive Community. Please support this magazine, the only one that features good news about the black community.”—Rev. Buster Soaries, General Baptist Revival, May 20, 2010

RAS BARAKA GUEST EDITORIAL

The honorable Ras Baraka is mayor of the City of Newark, NJ.

Newark 3.0: Defining The Course for America’s Cities ewark, our nation’s third oldest city, stands on the edge of the 350th anniversary of its founding as a community, ripe for both celebration and reflection. For three and a half centuries, from the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Era and beyond, one phrase has defined the achievements of our residents in every field: We Are Newark. As our city’s 44th chief executive, I have faced the challenges and relished the triumphs of governing the state of New Jersey’s largest city. I have discovered that there is no prescribed formula to consult when leading a metropolis that is home to more than 280,000 diverse citizens whose cultural heritages speak of everything from feijoada to fufu. There is no template to follow when trying to rid a neighborhood of drug dealers while simultaneously cutting the ribbon on the opening of a new edifice for a Fortune 500® company. Yet, as the leader of this city, I am trusted to read the letters of constituents as well as legislation from state leaders; to meet with community activists and political adversaries; and, to make decisions that enhance the quality of life for all citizens. I find encouragement through all of these encounters by recalling my strategic vision and plan for the revitalization of our City, which has been designated, ‘Newark 3.0.’ ‘Newark 3.0’ is anchored by three pillars of this administration: health, education and economic development. Our target for health and community wellness is the enhancement of sustainable programs that deliver services to underserved communities and towards the development of an infrastructure that will bolster assistance to overlooked populations such as the homeless and undocumented citizens. We have also begun to advocate for policies that treat violence in our communities as a public health crisis. Our focus in education is the restoration of local control of our public schools and the improvement in the quality of education that is delivered to our students. However, none of this will be possible without an empowering economic blueprint. It is not enough to simply speak of “providing jobs.”

8 The Positive Community

October 2015

Newark needs economic development that benefits our neighborhoods, creates career training and development, and builds prosperity. Our goal as a community is to reduce unemployment and to make our city competitive in an increasingly global and hi-tech economy. This is exactly what we are doing. We had $1 billion in development in the first year of this administration alone, including the signature project to rehabilitate the historic Hahne’s Building in our downtown as a Whole Foods grocery store, housing, and arts complex. We also formed the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation to lead these efforts, and revived the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. One of our two most important economic programs was the Valentine’s Day Land Sale, in which we sold 100 cityowned lots for $1,000 apiece to couples who agreed to live for five years in houses they would build on the site The lots were all quickly sold, and we plan to do more such sales. We have recently celebrated grand openings for both large businesses— such as Nike and Prudential — and small, such as Edo’s Dessert Lounge and Cinnamon Sugar Bakery. These businesses have committed to employing and engaging our vibrant and talented workforce. These efforts are complemented by our work with programs such as My Brother’s Keeper Newark— which connects young men of color with mentoring opportunities. In all of these areas, and more, we have stressed that Newark must be and shall be the model for other cities across the nation and world. For 350 years, Newark has always been a national leader …an early industrial powerhouse . . . birthplace of major inventions…a center of arts and higher learning…the region’s first airport. Our initiatives and programs are now serving as an exemplar to the nation on where cities should and will go. We are defining the course, setting the standard, and revealing the solutions. What we are proud and privileged to do here in Newark will transform our city and the nation into a society that we can all believe in. We will do this… Because “We Are Newark.” thepositivecommunity.com

H a r ry p r ot t / t H e n e W a r K C L U B H a r ry p r ot t / t H e n e W a r K C L U B

Be Part of NJ’s Be Part of NJ’s Growing Economic Growing Economic Powerhouse Powerhouse

NEwark NEwark Open for Business Open for Business

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Owners and Entrepreneurs. For information on sites, incentives, and demographics visit or call: www.newarkcedc.org ncedc@newarkcedc.org | E: incentives, | T: 973.273.1040 For information on sites, and demographics visit or call: | F: 973.273.1070 www.newarkcedc.org | E: ncedc@newarkcedc.org | T: 973.273.1040 | F: 973.273.1070

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Newark CEDC:

Money BUSINESS, MONEY & WORK

ormerly known as Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC), the newly reconstituted economic catalyst for the City of Newark – Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, under the leadership of Otis Rolley III – has been far from inert. Principal functions of the Newark CEDC are to retain, attract, and grow businesses; to enhance small and minority-owned business capacity; and to spur real estate development in every ward of the city. Rolley, since taking the helm at Newark CEDC, has been instrumental in executing on the stated mission of Newark CEDC. “Newark is in a unique position to embrace the current burgeoning business environment and guide economic development activities that will produce and sustain economic growth, generate jobs for our residents, and create wealth for the citizens of Newark,” he stated. Over the past several months, the City of Newark has streamlined the business licensing process, taking wait periods for some applications down from several months to a year to approximately 30 days using a new, automated system. The Baraka administration, for the first time in Newark history, has integrated the various departments and offices within city government and identified efficiencies to smooth the licensing process for entrepreneurs of all stripes. This success has resulted in ribbon-cuttings for new storefronts and groundbreakings on new developments. The opening of the restructured economic development corporation has coincided with the welcoming of several major corporations moving into Newark including a Nike factory and a Starbuck’s Coffee in the city’s downtown business district, Sonic and Shoprite in the Springfield Avenue business corridor, and Diamond Direct Foods, which has opened the largest commissary on the East Coast.

The Positive Community October 2015

Starbucks Grand Opening

Mayor Baraka’s call to action is simple— to improve the city’s infrastructure while creating jobs for the city’s residents. Two partners, Shoprite and Sonic, are leading the way. “Each has a workforce composed 90 percent of Newark residents,” stated an enthusiastic Rolley. Newark CEDC encourages all city residents, entrepreneurs and businesses, small and large, to utilize its services. With developments in finance, real estate, small business, and education, Newark CEDC has opportunities for everyone. Visit the Small Business Community Storefront Incubator at 790 Clinton Avenue (the first of five) or simply stop into the Newark CEDC where residents can utilize the small business resource center. For more information on Newark CEDC and its services or assistance with your business reach out to your respective representative below: North: M. Jack Rodriguez mrodriguez@newarkcedc.org Daniel J. Figueroa dfigueroa@newarkcedc.org

East: Elizabeth DaSilva edasilva@newarkcedc.org Rene Velez rvelez@newarkcedc.org

South: Helen Johnson hjohnson@newarkcedc.org Deland Blaney dblaney@newarkcedc.org

West: Taieta El-Amin telamin@newarkcedc.org Cesar Vizcaino cvizcaino@newarkcedc.or

Central: Al-Qadr Camillo – acamillo@newarkcedc.org David Maroti – dmaroti@newarkcedc.org

Prudential Ribbon Cutting

Photos: Courtesy Newark CEDC

Revitalizing Businesses/ Developing Entrepreneurs

REV. DR. CHARLES BUTLER WEALTH BUILDING

people do not mind giving. “ Most But, they want to give less than the amount God commands ” VP EQUITABLE DEVELOPEMENT, HCCI

n Malachi 3:8, the prophet asked the question, “Will a man rob God?’ Then the prophet provides the answer by saying, “Yet you have robbed me.” In this passage, the nation of Israel had started taking God for granted. They had become complacent and slack in their worshipping Him. Now they wanted to know how they were robbing God. The prophet responds to their inquiries by stating that it was evident in their lack of faithfulness, and further specifies the true matter by saying, “in your tithes and offerings.” God commands us to bring all the tithes and offerings into His storehouse so that there may be ”meat in my house.” (Malachi 3:10) However, the subject of tithing is just as sensitive a topic among most believers today as it was when God made the statement through His prophet. If the truth be told, most people in the church still have difficulty with tithing. They do not believe they can afford to tithe and still manage their monthly living expenses. In reality, these individuals are professing to be believers in Christ Jesus, but they cannot trust God to provide for their needs. In the Lord’s Prayer there is a verse that says, “Give us our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God is able and can take care of our needs, but you have to place your faith and trust in Him. Jesus tells His followers not to worry about what they will eat or wear because God the Father is aware of their needs and will provide for them. But here is the problem. Most people do not mind giving. But, they want to give less than the amount God commands. There is always the question of how much an individual can afford to give. Many people strongly believe God is asking for too much of their money and He needs to get out of their business. They want to compromise the amount by giving God less than the required 10% of the monthly gross income. They are robbing God because they refuse to be obedient to God’s command. Ten percent of your monthly income is a pale amount in comparison to what God has given us. God gave His very best to the world when He gave His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We should be able to give out of gratitude, love, and reverence to God, not grudgingly, but cheerfully. Tithing is one of the primary reasons many people are staying away from the church today. They do not

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want to be told how to spend their money. They do not realize that everything they have is a result of God’s benevolent blessings directed towards them. In their minds, they have earned whatever amount of fame they have on their own strength. They have accomplished their fortune through their hard work. This was the same way the nation of Israel started thinking about God. In their minds, God had nothing to do with their success. As a result of their arrogance and self confidence, God had become expendable. He was no longer needed. The consequences for Israel’s unfaithfulness in serving God was that the entire nation would be under a curse. But it did not have to be that way had they remained obedient. God issued a challenge to Israel to test Him. He is issuing that same challenge today. God promises He will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out such a blessing that the windows of heaven would not be able to contain it. Step up and experience that blessing!

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October 2015 The Positive Community

Berger’s Robert Treat Hotel Gears Up To Celebrate 100 Years in Newark, NJ

Landmark Property a City Anchor Through Change, Challenges and Progress

ewark native Thomas N. McCarter, a former New Jersey attorney general and founder of Public Service Corporation of New Jersey (which would become PSE&G), planned the completion of his Robert Treat Hotel to coincide with the City of Newark’s 250th anniversary in 1916. In fact, the hotel at 50 Park Place served as the main venue for events associated with that celebration, and its first guests were none other than Woodrow and Edith Wilson. The president and first lady came to New Jersey to attend the Newark Board of Trade annual dinner – a highlight among the anniversary festivities. Through the past century, the Best Western Robert Treat Hotel has continued to host high-profile visitors and events. “Most importantly, however, the hotel has served and continues to serve as a central gathering point for business, political, religious and civic stakeholders,” said Miles Berger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Berger Organization. “The hotel – named after colonial leader Captain Robert Treat, the city’s founder – from the outset has been an anchor for

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Newark, through change, challenges and progress.” Following President Wilson, three additional U.S. presidents – including Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter – stayed at the Robert Treat. Albert Einstein attended a dinner in his honor there in 1933. And Martin Luther King, Jr. also attended a banquet at the hotel shortly before his death in 1968. The Berger Organization purchased the Robert Treat in 1986. The firm refurbished the building’s lobby, which had been destroyed in a fire. That project was followed by nearly $10 million in additional improvements introducing modern convenience and four-star accommodations. “At the same time, Robert Treat Hotel guests today enjoy the same level of service that defined its inaugural era, when attentive and gracious staff, elegant surroundings, and fine dining were the standards of a grand hotel,” Berger noted. The 176-room, 15-floor building features beautifully appointed guestrooms, meeting and banquet space, dining, and other amenities. Berger is quick to point out that, like

its home city, the Robert Treat’s story includes some hard times. “Newark’s struggles – punctuated by the race riots in 1967 – are well documented,” he said. “Still, the Robert Treat persevered. And as Newark began to rebound in the early 1990s, our property was at the forefront of community-building efforts that fostered that progress.” Newark again has become a destination of choice for business, recreation and culture. And the Park Place neighborhood has returned to its former glory days with expansion of commercial development around Military Park. One hundred years after the Robert Treat’s opening, the city continues to come together there, celebrating milestones like Mayor Ras Baraka’s inaugural ball in 2014, and observing important cultural and societal events like Newark’s Annual Holocaust Remembrance. What’s next? “This milestone year – for the city as it celebrates its 350th anniversary and for the Robert Treat – will be an excellent time to look back on Newark’s colorful past and ahead to its bright future. We look forward to being part of that,” Berger said. October 2015 The Positive Community

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L-R: Roy Hastick, founder/CEO of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CACCI) with Derek Broome during CACCI’s 30th anniversary celebration in Brooklyn

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October 2015 The Positive Community

Health P R E V E N T I O N , T R E AT M E N T & C U R E

5th Annual Healthcare Symposium Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

ealth professionals and senior hospital administrators from throughout New Jersey gathered at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick to discuss “how hospitals are adapting to a changing economy.” The event was headlined by keynote speaker Terrence Clark, president/CEO of the NY/NJ Minority Supplier Development Council. Photos: Karen Waters

L–R: Terrence Clark; Deborah Wiggins, Supplier Diversity University Hospital; Nancy Hamstra, CEO University Hospital, Newark; Dr. Julia Presley, VP Operations NY&NJ MSDC; Joset-Wright Lacy, president NMSDC; Stephen K. Jones, president/CEO RWJUH; Ryan P. Parker chief diversity officer & AVP for Diversity & Inclusion RWJUH; Jeannie Maddox, manager Supplier Diversity Colgate-Palmolive and Board chair NY/NJ MSDC; and Jill Davis Kone, director Corporate Services NY/NJ MSDC

The Positive Community October 2015

Michellene Davis EVP, Barnabas Health moderates panel

L–R: Thomas M. Daly, VP, CFO, University Hospital, Newark; Elizabeth Ryan, president/ CEO NJ Hospital Assoc.; Michellene Davis; and Michael Antoniades, MPA EVP/CEO Robert Wood John University Hospital L–R: Esther Malazita, director Supply Chain, RWJUH; Joset Wright–Lacy, president, NMSDC and Jeannie Maddox, manager, Supplier Diversity Colgate-Palmolive

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October 2015 The Positive Community

KAHLIL CARMICHAEL THE FITNESS DOCTOR Kahlil Carmichael is the spiritual director and founder of It Is Well Wellness and Worship Center in Somerset, New Jersey. He is a spiritual leader and the owner of The Fitness Doctor; a fitness and wellness consulting company. He writes a monthly column for The Positive Community Magazine and is the author of 50 Tips for a Better You! To grow spiritually and improve physically, or have Pastor Carmichael present his wellness seminar to your church or group you can email Kahlil at Pastor@itiswellchurch.com or call 732-921-3746.

Fit to Build hen we think of building or constructing something, we might envision construction workers diligently erecting an edifice such as the beautiful new World Trade Center complex in New York City. Or perhaps you might think of a pastor or CEO of a corporation building his or her ministry or business to be a relevant force within the community. Whatever imagery your mind conjures with the thought of building, most people forget that in some capacity, we are all builders. From the father who strives to build a legacy of spirituality and financial stability for his family to the hardworking mother who desires to build a legacy of education and strong family traditions for her children and grandchildren, and the single person. They, too, are builders. And all of these builders are striving to build something of value. You, too, may desire to build something of value; but before you start building. I want to ask you a simple question: Are you fit to build? Physically fit!! I might presume you’ve planned properly and are mentally, spiritually, and financially fit to build your dreams and a life pleasing to God. What about your physical fitness and health? Are you fit to build? Building businesses, ministries, families, and a life worth living all require stamina and endurance. When we endeavor to build something that will last and stand the test of time, it will require that we maintain an optimum fitness level and good health. Cardiovascular and endurance training help. Endurance exercise is one of the four types of exercise along with strength, balance and flexibility. Ideally, all four types of exercise would be included in a healthy workout routine and AHA provides easy-to-follow guidelines for endurance and strength-training in its Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults. They don’t all need to be done every day, but variety helps keep the body fit and healthy, and makes exercise interesting. Many different types of exercises can improve strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. For example, practicing yoga can improve your balance, strength, and flexibility. Many lower-body strength-training exercises also will improve your balance. Also called aerobic exercise, endurance exercise includes activities that increase your breathing and heart rate such as walking, jogging, swimming, and biking. Endurance activity keeps your heart, lungs and circulatory system healthy and improves your overall fitness. As a

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October 2015

result, people who get the recommended regular physical activity can reduce the risk of many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. (Courtesy American Heart Association) I was recently challenged to build my cardiovascular endurance by a friend and colleague. I must admit, I (The Fitness Doctor) have somehow allowed my cardiovascular endurance to slide backwards. What does that mean exactly? I am glad you asked. It simply means that I have been working out (lifting weights, playing basketball) but I haven’t been running long distances and building my cardiovascular endurance as diligently as I should. If I am going to continue helping others to live well through fitness and faith, as well as build a life that is worth living, I must strive to maintain physical fitness and good health. Here are some tips to help you build cardiovascular endurance and aerobic capacity. 1.) Walk/run a mile at least 3 times per week. Record your time after each walk and try to beat your last time. 2.) Take an aerobic fitness class. The Fitness Doctor offers a class through our Fit Care program on Monday evenings 7p.m.-8:30 p.m. All fitness levels welcome! Call (732)921-3746 or email thefitnessdoctor@aol.com for details 3.) Join a local running or walking club in your area. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV) Strength training rocks, flexibility is essential, but without endurance the fitness equation is incomplete. So let me ask you. Are you fit to build a life that truly glorifies God? If not, get some professional help and make it happen. You can do it! I am praying for you. Peace and blessings! If you’re interested in a free consultation or more information on FitCare, call 732-921-3746 or email thefitnessdoctor@aol.com. 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. thepositivecommunity.com

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Paying it Forward Bishop Dr. Robert L. Blount, Sr.: BY: QUINITA EDMONIA GOOD

od has been good to 80-yearold Bishop Dr. Robert L. Blount, Sr. (pronounced “Blunt”), a man who has spent his life paying it forward. The octogenarian, who has been pastor of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Jersey City for nearly 53 years, came from meager beginnings. Blount grew up near Ayden (Greene County), North Carolina. His family worked as sharecroppers at a time when money was especially scarce for rural African Americans. Even though he recalls having “a very rough beginning,” Blount remembers J.J. Brown, a local black Methodist church member and educator. He was one of the elders who pushed him to get an education. Although the schools were segregated then, “I just wanted my family and other families to do better,” he said, adding “I just had a love for people, and because of that…I wanted to help others.” And he’s been doing that ever since. In the 1960s and 70s, Blount furthered his education, attending both Grambling University and Seashore Bible College, earning two bachelor’s degrees: one in Religion and English, the other in Theology in 1968. Two years later, he was awarded a Doctorate of Theology degree from Seashore. “I have been a member of the United Holy Church (UHC) since 1948,” explained Blount, who credits his success to his parents, Betty and

The Positive Community October 2015

Providence Blount, the church (church members), and others who invested in him. His first job was manager of security for the Jersey City Board of Education. He was the first one in the city to bring walkie-talkies into the schools to be used for security purposes, making it easier to protect the children and manage the security workforce. Later, he worked for the Jersey City Housing Authority, managing the second largest housing development there. He worked for Progressive Insurance Company as an insurance agent and owned two businesses until retiring in 1998, when he was consecrated as bishop. As a minister, one of his goals was “…to train ministers to be successful and faithful in one church, rather than to run all over the world doing

Blount has also founded 47 churches in Kenya, East Africa, with three schools, including one that provides kindergarten to eighth grade classes and another that is kindergarten to 10th grade. “At that time I saw them as babes hungry for the Word of God…Today, I am proud that they call me ‘Papa,’ and that they now flourish and have learned to share their knowledge of Christ (with) other new babes,” he says. He continues to visit the continent twice each year. Blount’s responsibilities as bishop include overseeing the elders, pastors, and churches of both the Kenyan and Ghanaian Districts. He is also responsible for communicating the well-being of these districts to UHC’s General President, Rt. Rev. Elijah Williams.

In his 53 years as pastor of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, Bishop Blount has covered much ground for his congregation and the surrounding community. “I grew from minister to evangelist, before I had a church,” nothing. I attribute my success to faithfulness in what I believe and, what I believed in, I did it,” he declared. On his first trip to Ghana in 1996, he attended the West Africa Convocation, as a superintendent of the area and while there organized churches. “My purpose then was to help children and support poor families,” he explained. As a result of his efforts and support, Ghana now has more than 350 churches and missions, including six schools for adults wanting to enter the ministry. But he didn’t stop there.

In his 53 years as pastor of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, Bishop Blount has covered much ground for his congregation and the surrounding community. “I grew from minister to evangelist, before I had a church,” he said. For the past 20 years, Emmanuel has provided drug rehabilitation programs, weekly marriage counseling sessions, weekly bible study classes, and outreach programs for the youth. “The youth programs are all for capturing the minds of the youth,” he explained, repeating the slogan of the United

PAYING IT FORWARD

Continued from previous page Negro College Fund, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” In addition to his seven biological children (three girls and four boys) and 15 grandchildren, Blount and his beloved wife, Rosa M Scott-Blount, raised several other children who are still very much part of their family. Training others to follow in his

“I consider my service to others a privilege. I have achieved many goals, some of which I never thought possible..."

Origins of the United Holy Church According to Dr. Chester Gregory, author of The History of the United Holy Church, the UHC denomination was born “…100 years after the basis was set for freedom of church organization…” in the United States. As told by Dr. Gregory, the work of African American Richard Allen—the founder of the Free African Society and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.)—and others was partly responsible for initiating and fighting for that freedom. The denomination’s website states: On the first Sunday in

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footsteps, Bishop Blount is content. “I consider my service to others a privilege. I have achieved many goals, some of which I never thought possible, but because of my love for God and my love for my fellow man, I am afforded many privileges to do what I love, which is to help others.”

May 1886, at the village town of Method, North Carolina, a suburb of the capital city of Raleigh, North Carolina, a company of men met, among whom were; Brothers L. M. Mason, G.A. Mials, Issac Cheshier, and H.C. Snipes, all of Raleigh. This meeting was conducted by the Rev. Cheshier, and was the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina and the Southern United States. This meeting gave birth to what is now known as the United Holy Church of America, Inc. Quinita Edmonia Good is the Owner and Operator of The Online Writing Center, LLC. She can be reached at qwrites@live.com.

October 2015 The Positive Community

Education TEACHING, LEARNING, MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Newark School of Theology: Creating a Context for The Transformation of Lives L–R: Howard Burrell, PhD, Pamela Parker-McGee, and Rev. Douglas Bendall

Photo: Vincent Bryant

peaking with the Rev. R. Douglas Bendall, Ph.D. about the Newark School of Theology (NST), which he founded in 1997 and where he still serves as president, never gives occasion for inattentiveness. Dr. Bendall explains the school was “founded in response to a vision … of a liberal arts school of theology that encourages students to make connections between academic theology and their actual experience.” As he expounds on that vision, words are never superfluous. The mission of the school reaches to the heart of spiritual personhood to engender individual, communal, and societal wellness. “Biblical instruction done right,” he says, “will enhance a person’s faith and increase their understanding of God and their faith tradition.” He adds that in NST he sees students’ faith strengthened. When students are in difficult places that leave them vulnerable, NST reframes things to preserve and increase faith to help them overcome dilemmas they may be facing. Students “are invited to think in new ways, and they learn new things.” As they encounter challenges, they receive the guidance they need to face those challenges with a “deepening and increasing” faith. Dr. Howard Burrell, a member of NST’s Board of Trustees, said, “The key thing that attracted me to the

The Positive Community October 2015

BY MARY H. THURMOND Newark School of Theology is … that since the school’s founding in 1997, … it has successfully fulfilled its objective of being an informal educational ministry that offers seminary-level programs to inner-city ministers, lay persons, and others who wish to pursue the academic study of theology.” The instructional methodology of NST is based on the use of primary literature written by the top voices in theology. Students read these texts analytically, write summaries, and then discuss them as a class to confirm comprehension. Thus, discussions are rooted in an awareness of the author’s own words, and students are enabled to make informed commentary on the texts. Dr. Bendall says using primary literature “makes all the difference” as it allows students access to the “authentic voice of leading scholars and the people who are really the best in the field.” The school insists on getting the best books available for every course and “always picks the most brilliant minds in the whole Christian church.” He continues: “Listening to [these people] is a route to a genuine kind of knowledge and gives an insider’s knowledge of whatever” is being studied. Engaging with primary sources is a mark of a “first-rate school,”

NEWARK SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Continued from previous page

says Dr. Bendall, and adds that NST is “not a secondrate school.” Because of the teaching method at NST, students who continue their studies at other schools “without exception” become “A” students. Pamela Parker McGee, is one of those NST former students. “My studies at The Newark School of Theology prepared me for, and gave me the confidence I needed to enroll at New Brunswick Theological Seminary,” stated McGee. “In 2010 I graduated summa cum laude from New Brunswick Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Theological/Biblical Studies. My firm belief is that my success would not have been possible without the excellent education I received at The Newark School of Theology.” The aforementioned “most brilliant minds” span centuries of Christian theology to include diverse voices such as thirteenth-century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas (used in the Theological Ethics course) and contemporary scholars like Dr. Norman Gottwald (Old Testament I and II); Dr. Gustavo Gutiérrez and Dr. James Cone (Theologies of Liberation); and Dr. Elisabeth Schüssler-Fiorenza and Dr. Renita J. Weems (Women in the Bible). These voices, despite vast differences, are all representative of the social focus of NST. Dr. Bendall frequently refers to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an iconic figure for NST, to illustrate a point or explain a perspective. He says that without the theological knowledge he

had, Dr. King would have been “a great leader and great speaker,” but he “would not have moved the nation” and been a world-changer. NST seeks to offer an education that helps its students become effective agents of change. The school is located in Newark to serve the underserved and provide an opportunity that might otherwise be inaccessible to most Greater Newark-area residents: “It is a school for people who want a deeper understanding of the Bible, who want to know Christian theology, who may have some confusions or puzzles in their own faith, and are open to what leading scholars have to say about these issues and want to have the chance to think them through for themselves.” “Christians have Jesus of Nazareth … as a model of humanity,” Dr. Bendall says. Learning more about him will stimulate [our own] growth. The Newark School of Theology does not exist simply to disseminate information; the school is there, says Dr. Bendall, “to create a context for the transformation of lives.” Board Member Dr. Burrell adds: “If the Newark School of Theology is to … move forward as a vital healing asset in the ongoing renewal of the City of Newark, it needs to develop a Strategic Plan which will outline the … objectives and goals necessary to ensure that it can survive, thrive, and continue to accomplish its mission. I plan to do all that I can to contribute to this effort, and hope… others will join with us.”

Innovate, Invent & Succeed at NJIT Discover why NJIT is a top national public research university Undergraduate Open House November 22, 2015

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October 2015 The Positive Community

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It’s Happening at

Columbia in October THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Oral History, Radical Mapping and Displacement in San Francisco

Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

6:00 P.M. 509 Knox, Morningside campus

The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project documents change in San Francisco by foregrounding the stories of people who have been displaced. For more info, contact Amy Starecheski at (212) 851-439 or visit www.events.columbia.edu.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Women’s Soccer vs. Brown

4:00 P.M. Columbia Soccer Stadium, Baker Athletics Complex, 218th Street and Broadway For more info, call (212) 854-2535 or visit www.gocolumbialions.com.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 Vichy France and the Jews, Revisited

6:00 P.M. Buell Hall, East Gallery, Morningside campus Henry Rousso joins Robert Paxton to discuss the revised edition of Paxton’s revolutionary book Vichy et les Juifs. For more info visit http://maisonfrancaise.org/ events.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 Future of Energy in the Arctic

3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. 1512 International Affairs, Morningside campus A panel discussion on the future of energy in the Arctic. Registration required. For more info and to register, visit http://harriman .columbia.edu.

East Gallery, Buell Hall, Morningside campus

A discussion of Gary Wilder’s Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World, which reconsiders decolonization from the perspectives of public intellectuals Aimé Césaire and Léopold Sédar Senghor. For more info, visit http://maisonfrancaise.org/ events.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 9, 10 John Luther Adams

8:00 P.M. Miller Theatre, Morningside campus Columbia honors the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer in the first concert of this three-night series. Shimmering and clear, Clouds of Forgetting, Clouds of Unknowing evokes Arctic light and expansive landscapes. The second and third concerts, for Lou Harrison and In the White Silence, will be held Oct. 9 and 10. Tickets $25-$40. For tickets and more info, call (212) 854-7799 or visit www.millertheatre.com/events.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 Oral History and Cross-cultural Dialogues: Building Bridges With Artistic Projects

6:00 P.M. 509 Knox, Morningside campus Judith Sloan, an artist dedicated to uncovering narratives of individuals and communities often ignored by mass media, presents excerpts of her performance and radio work. For more info, contact Amy Starecheski at (212) 8514395 or visit www.oralhistory .columbia.edu/events.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

Wallach Family Day

10:00 A.M. Wallach Art Gallery, 826 Schermerhorn, Morningside campus

Artist Scherezade Garcia leads a printmaking workshop for K-12 students in conjunction with her new, site-specific mural In Transit/Liquid Highway, in Miller Theatre lobby. Registration required. RSVP online at http://columbia.edu/cu/wallach.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 Rethinking Booker T. Washington and Uplift Politics in the Era of Jim Crow

12:15 P.M. 758 Schermerhorn, Morningside campus This workshop, led by Desmond Jagmohan of Princeton, will explore “Cultivating Civic Capacity Under Domination.” For more info visit www.heymancenter.org/events.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 Football vs. Penn

3:30 P.M. Robert K. Kraft Field, Baker Athletics Complex, 218th Street and Broadway Pre-game homecoming festivities start at noon. For more info, call (212) 854-2535 or visit www.gocolumbialions.com.

Cornel West and Jeff Stout in Conversation on Secularism

6:15 P.M. 301 Pulitzer, Morningside campus

Cornel West, professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary, and Jeff Stout, professor of religion at Princeton University. For more info, visit www.heymancenter.org/events.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 The Disciplines Series Interdisciplinary Panel on Hoarding

4:00 P.M. The Heyman Center, Common Room, Morningside campus A panel of experts discuss the hoarding. For more info call (212) 8548443 or visit www.heymacenter .org/events.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 An Evening With Poet Rosanna Warren

7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Sulzberger Parlor, Barnard Hall, 3rd Floor, Barnard campus Warren is the author of the poetry collections Ghost in a Red Hat and Departure. For more info, visit http://english .barnard.edu or call (212) 8542116.

Shuttle Bus Service for the Elderly and Disabled Columbia provides a free ADA-accessible shuttle bus service for senior citizens and the disabled (including their attendants) via the Intercampus Shuttle. The service can be accessed near the following subway stations: 96th and Broadway, 116th and Broadway (Morningside campus), 125th and Broadway, 135th and Lenox (Harlem Hospital), and 168th and Broadway (Columbia University Medical Center). The shuttle runs on a regular schedule Monday through Friday except state and federal holidays. Riders must show an Access-A-Ride or Medicare card to board the bus. Visit www.transportation.columbia.edu/intercampus for more info.

www.events.columbia.edu · (212) 854-2871 For disability services, call (212) 854-2284 prior to the event.

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Junius WIlliams A Renaissance Man for A Renaissance City BY R.L. WITTER

t has often been said that nothing worth doing is ever easy. Some people are gifted with the talent to make things seem easy, despite struggles and failures. Junius Williams is one of those people. He has been there, done that, got the souvenir, and then returned bringing others along. And he’s done it all with a broad smile, a hearty laugh, and laser-sharp focus that cuts to the heart of the matter. When I caught up with Mr. Williams, he was, as always, on the move. On a rainy autumn day when others might have opted to pull the covers over their heads or binge watch Netflix, Williams was returning from a rescue mission. He was returning from a trip to the Raptor Trust, one of America’s premier bird rehabilitation centers. “I delivered a yellow-bellied sap sucker,” he explained over the whooshing sound of windshield wipers. “He flew into a window at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center while I was at a meeting,” Williams, the lifelong animal lover, continued. It’s that can-do attitude that has shaped the life of Junius Williams. Rather than sitting back watching, waiting for others to make a move, Williams dives in, head first. He’s a calculated gambler. When years ago he wanted to work for SNCC and Stokely Carmichael but his parents pleaded for him to go to law school instead, Williams upped the ante. “I said I’d go if I got in,” he reminisced. “I was playing hardball with my life. I only applied to two schools: Yale and Columbia… I got into both and I chose Yale. In the meantime I had met Tom Hayden, the founder of the Students for Democratic Society, and he convinced me to come to Newark for the summer of 1965 and if I liked it, I could commute…” It’s safe to say that he liked it, because 50 years later, Williams calls Newark his home.

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To say that Williams has built his home is an understatement. For 50 years he has been on the front line and in the trenches, fighting to create a better Newark for everyone. From his early days in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to his current position as director of the Abbott Leadership Institute on the Rutgers-Newark campus, Junius Williams has been all-in with his commitment to Newark and its people. But as much as he has given to the city, he still remains thankful for the opportunities and adventures it has given him. “If I had to describe Newark in one word, it would be ‘experience,’” he remarked. “Newark is an experience that you can take with you wherever you go. That’s what it’s been for me personally. I’ve learned to make something out of nothing and I’ve had to do that more times than one. And that’s all because of the lessons I learned in Newark…” Williams’ resume reads like a U.S. Army commercial from the 1980s with the tagline “Be all that you can be!” or “We do more before 9:00 a.m. than most people do all day.” He’s a nationally known attorney and the youngest person ever elected president of the National Bar Association, the largest organization of black attorneys

continued on next page October 2015 The Positive Community

JUNIUS WILLIAMS continued from previous page

in America. He’s been a mayoral campaign manager as well as a candidate; he has delivered speeches to audiences packed with people of influence; he is an educator, a published author, a musician, an activist, an organizer, a husband, a father, and so many other things. And through it all, he has worked tirelessly to keep Newark, her residents, and her needs at the forefront. “The most important victory that we have won in Newark was during the time after the rebellion in 1967,” he reflected. “My own organization, the Newark Area Planning Association (NAPA), we were responsible for the construction of over 1,000 units of low- and moderateincome housing. We integrated the workforce for the construction of the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry, and we were able to bring citizens into the Model Cities program. That’s because we learned how to organize… We won great victories which led eventually to the election of the first black mayor, Ken Gibson.” As a man of a certain age, Williams recognizes the significance and importance of the election of Ken Gibson. Gibson was not only Newark’s first black mayor, but the first black mayor of any major northern city in the United States, a fact that makes Williams’ involvement in the campaign and subsequent election even more impressive in today’s climate of whitewashed history and supposedly post-racial America. The child of two musicians and an accomplished musician in his own right, Williams stresses the importance of music and culture as they relate to the progress of the black community. “In the 1950s and 60s, ‘black’ was a distinct culture that we all appreciated,” he explained. “Now in post-racial America, we no longer think of ourselves as a distinct cultural identity… The music today reflects other people’s perception of what music is about…the music we hear now is pop or rap… we’ve let the blues and jazz go.” He continued, “We have abandoned those art forms and I think that’s a reflection of the abandonment of a distinctly black culture.” He remarked that the Black Lives Matter movement needs a soundtrack to mobilize and

It’s that can-do attitude that has shaped the life of Junius Williams. Rather than sitting back watching, waiting for others to make a move, Williams dives in, head first. 30 The Positive Community

October 2015

organize further, but was quick to point out that rap and hip hop offer some of the best poetry, and that the proliferation of electronic music might account for why “the spirit of black people is not being conveyed as it was, back in the day.” Always one to be part of the solution, Williams took it upon himself to make sure that his children were exposed to all types of music and artists of the black diaspora. “Every day on the way to school, I played Duke Ellington; John Coltrane; Earth, Wind & Fire… it got to be a game,” he chuckled. “I’d play a song and they’d name the artist.” He uses the same method to introduce participants in his Youth Media Symposium to music from Motown through the present. “What we have tried to do here is to implant some values and help them understand that you have to be about substance.” His work at the Abbott Institute has informed hundreds of students and parents in an effort to increase parent and community involvement in the education process in Newark. Williams’ efforts have filled in gaps left by budget cuts and provided much-needed guid-

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JUNIUS WILLIAMS continued from previous page

ance and support to Newark students, parents, and educators. “We have very talented young people here in Newark,” he proclaimed. “They just need to have somebody steer them in the right direction.” After having given so much of himself and devoted a great portion of his life to the development and improvement of Newark on so many levels, Williams continues his dedication and is currently working fervently as the chairman of NC350, the group that has undertaken the task of organizing events for the celebration of Newark’s 350th birthday. “I’m truly excited about it,” Williams beamed. “From my point of view, the most challenging thing is to interpret the Newark experience so that young people can understand and value it, and take the lessons learned to go forward and make a Newark that’s better for everybody.” Williams’ love of Newark is real and palpable. His pride and fascination with the city are evident in his voice as he finds the words to express the feelings in his heart for his adopted home. “Newark is not just inner city. Newark is Branch Brook Park; Newark is NJPAC, the Robert Treat Hotel, WBGO. Newark is not just a place that you have to endure. Newark is history; Newark is fun. Newark has produced some of the greatest cultural artists in the world, such as Sarah Vaughn and Amiri Baraka.” He paused for a moment—perhaps to catch his breath, then continued. “I’ve helped raise children in these neighborhoods and there’s a lot to offer because of the diversity of the people and the diversity of opportunity to learn things all of the time and have fun doing it!” Williams and the Newark Celebration 350 Committee are gearing up for a year of events and invite the people of Newark to submit suggestions for events and discussions. Of course, an undertaking of this scale requires monumental support, and Williams is thankful for the resources made available to the committee. “Mayor Ras Baraka has put his stamp of approval on this and is very enthusiastic about it and has availed us of the entire city government apparatus to make this a success,” he beamed. And so it seems that just about anything Williams endeavors will result in success. In his spare time he enjoys birdwatching and basking in the joy of his family life with his wife, Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams, his four children and his three year-old grandson. He plays music with his band Return to the Source, and if you’re lucky, he might broil some salmon for you. It looks like Junius Williams and Newark, NJ are a match made in heaven; a renaissance man for a renaissance city. We wish continued success to them both.

31 The Positive Community

October 2015

Positive Music Matters ®

Junius William’s Classic Selections for Reflection: “ “There is no way to measure the ‘top 10,’ so here are a few of the hundreds of songs I love, based on what I play on my computer.”

1. Sophisticated Lady— Duke Ellington (everything he ever wrote and/or played) 2. Isn't She Lovely— Stevie Wonder (and the rest of Songs in the Key of Life …and beyond!) 3. Nica's Dream—Art Blakey 4. All this Love—Boyz II Men 5. Dock of the Bay—Otis Redding 6. Respect—Aretha Franklin 7. Midnight Train to Georgia— Gladys Knight & The Pips 8. Spain—Al Jarreau 9. The Cisco Kid—War 10. In from the Storm—Lizz Wright

Williams jammin’ on his harmonica

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BY FERLANDA FOX NIXON

RU-N Debate Team Wins UMKC Tournament

he Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) debate team starts the 2015-16 season ranked number one in the country among more than 75 collegiate policy debate programs after its victory at the Baby Jo Memorial Debate Tournament. On a 2-1 decision during the final round against a team from the University of California, Berkeley, the duo of Nicole Nave (a junior from Ferguson, Missouri, who currently resides in South Orange, New Jersey) and Devane Murphy (a junior from Newark, New Jersey) garnered RU-N’s first championship honor at a national level. Nave and Murphy also received top-20 speaker awards, sixth and 11th place, respectively. “The powerful logic and compelling presentations of our Rutgers University-Newark debaters are clear evidence of their potential to become lifelong intellectual leaders in the public sphere. This extraordinary team will honor our investments in their education many times over for many years,” states Marc Holzer, founding dean of Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA). The Baby Jo Memorial Debate Tournament, hosted at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, September 1115, is the first stop of many on the road to the National Debate Tournament at Binghamton University in March 2016. The season-opener, comprised of 82 entries, featured varsity debaters from Arizona State University, Baylor University, Gonzaga University, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, and University of Texas, among many others. Two teams represented RU-N -- Nave and Murphy, and Kevon Haughton (a senior from Newark, New Jersey) and Christian Quiroz (a freshman from Newark, New Jersey).

The Positive Community October 2015

Rutgers Newark Debate Team L-R: Christopher Kozak, Devane Murphy, Christian Qurioz, Nicole Nave, Kevon Haughton and Willie Johnson.

Now in its seventh year, the RU-N debate team is the product of a partnership among the RU-N Office of the Chancellor, SPAA, and the Jersey Urban Debate League, now known as the Newark Debate Academy. The team’s roster includes novice and seasoned debaters pursuing undergraduate studies in various disciplines, and many are Newark natives. “RU-N has built a phenomenally successful debate program largely by cultivating talent from right here in Newark,” Chancellor Nancy Cantor points out. “This speaks volumes about the incredible wellspring of talent to be tapped here, which, in turn, attracts more talent from well beyond Newark and New Jersey. We are thrilled with the team’s success and even more so encouraged by what all of that says about our partnership with Newark schools and the future of this remarkable city.” In late September, the debate team hosted the Rutgers Northeast Regional Opener where 80 pairs of debaters competed and 50 individuals served as judges. This was the fifth collegiate debate tournament held at RU-N. Also at the end of September, Nave and Murphy participated in the 19th Annual Val Browning Round Robin at Weber State University, an exclusive tournament open to debaters by invitation only and believed to be the oldest collegiate policy debate round robin in the western United States. “The continual success of our debate team is testament to the hard work, commitment, and scholarship of our students. I see many more accomplishments to come if we remain diligent,” notes Christopher Kozak, RU-N’s director of debate and coach of the team. For more information about the debate team, contact Christopher Kozak at christopher.kozak@rutgers.edu.

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DEGREES OFFERED • Accelerated Degree Completion Program • Bachelors Degrees (38 majors) • Alliance Theological Seminary • Master Degree Programs in: Organizational Leadership (MSOL), Business Administration (MBA), Mental Health Counseling (MA), Childhood Education (MED) and TESOL (MA) Teaching and Learning centered on the Word of God; Faculty and students are engaged in ministry; Evening and weekend classes are available at two easily accessible campuses: Battery Park and Nyack, NY. Visit us online at: nyack.edu/ATS For more information: 845-770-5709 Blog: life.nyack.edu or: admissions.grad@nyack.edu Twitter: @ATSAdmissions 350 North Highland Ave., Nyack NY 10960 Instagram: @AllianceSeminary October 2015 The Positive Community

Question Top Forty Under 40 Answer & Thank you for all that you do for Newar ON BEING NAMED NJBIZ’S

With Kimberly McLain

President and CEO TPC: What are the Foundation for Newark’s Future’s biggest accomplishments? Kimberly: Over the last five years, the Foundation for Newark's Future has partnered with education leaders, local funders, and community and government officials to invest more than $90M in initiatives that will lead to improved educational and life outcomes for Newark youth. These funds have directly impacted students, teachers, families, and community-based organizations across Newark. We have seen success with our Teacher Innovation Fund, differentiated learning opportunities for our students, family literacy programs, and ensuring that our young people are college and workforce ready. Most importantly, we have seeded the conditions and created the key culture shifts necessary to spark continuous improvement in Newark as we strive for great schools for all. TPC: When you talk about seeding conditions and culture shifts, what do you mean? Kimberly: We are shifting the culture to one of partnership and collective action. We are working with community members to create a culture of literacy through our family literacy programs like Raising a Reader and My Very Own Library. We are working with the academic community to cultivate a citywide college success culture through a $1.5 million grant to the Newark City of Learning Collaborative, which is striving to dramatically increase the percentage of Newarkers with degrees and high quality credentials. We have helped to dramatically increase high quality school options – both district and charter – for Newark students through direct support of excellent new school models like Eagle Academy for Young Men, Bard High School Early College, and People’s Prep. FNF also supported a key instructional shift in Newark that focuses

The Positive Community October 2015

our teachers on professional development and continuous improvement through a Framework for Effective Teaching. We’ve helped to steer the dialogue toward what we can all do together to wrap our arms around Newark’s children and ensure they succeed. TPC: When people look back on FNF in 10 years, will they see a positive impact? Kimberly: Absolutely. Positive conversations about education are happening in Newark right now about the future of education because of our work. In ten years I expect to see a locally-controlled district that is offering high quality school options to all of its students in an equitable way and the City, the district, the university community, and community organizations aligned to provide the critical wraparound services that we know our kids need to be successful. TPC: What is the biggest lesson learned over the last five years? Kimberly: This has not been an easy road, and there have been bumps. I don’t think it’s a secret that with the excitement around the initial announcement, it wasn’t the perfect start out of the gate. And there is no doubt that the inclusiveness I brought to the foundation in my tenure should have come sooner. But let’s not write off an initiative that has made a tangible difference in thousands of kids’ lives because it wasn’t perfect. My biggest lesson is that no one organization or entity can do this. We all have to roll up our sleeves and do this together.

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October 2015 The Positive Community

Church of the Covenant Hosts President of the Republic of Nauru

n Sunday, September 27, 2015, Church of the Covenant, a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), was again visited by His Excellency, Baron Divavesi Waqa, president of the Republic of Nauru, along with First Lady Louisa Waqa, Ambassador Marlene Moses, and a Nauruan delegation. To commemorate President Waqa’s visit, special music was added to the service including a stirring rendition of the song “Excellent” featuring vocalists Veronica Dawkins, Sharon Williams, Shilan Douglas, and Terelle Tipton. The visit marked the commencement of the United Nations 70th General Assembly. President Waqa, who serves as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, offered greetings from the pulpit and described his deep appreciation on behalf of his delegation and nation for the Church of the Covenant’s warm welcome each time he visits the church. “The first time I did not notice the hotel entrance (Hilton Hotel next door), but what I noticed was a small church by the side of the hotel. I told my wife, ‘Let’s go to that church.’ Today we are in the church. God works in mysterious ways.” stated President Waqa during his remarks at the church. Rev. Cornell Edmonds, in a sermon titled “The Main Ingredient” noted, “We are, indeed, blessed to have the head of state of a small nation visiting a small church speaking truth to power from our

The Positive Community October 2015

pulpit. It is a role we can all play, while building relationships beyond our borders to solve the world’s challenging issues such as poverty, climate change, and hunger for the common good. Our relationship with President Waqa serves as an example of how we at Covenant are living out our rich history. We open our doors to the rich and poor, to large and small nations, people of all races, ethnicities and ages to build beloved community.”’ He further noted that “This (is an) extraordinary week when we were blessed to have Pope Francis, President Obama and the United Nation General Assembly in our midst in our (neighborhood and our) great city.” The Church of the Covenant will commemorate its 150th anniversary throughout 2016, led by Elder Jared Grabow, its anniversary chair. The ministry that is now The Church of the Covenant had humble beginning in a classroom above a stable on East 40th Street in January of 1866. The church, now located at 310 East 42nd Street, sits around the corner from the United Nations. The church has been blessed to welcome visitors and dignitaries from across the globe, homeless from around the corner, and neighbors from around the Tudor City, Kip’s Bay, Turtle Bay, and Murray Hill communities. Worship services are held each Sunday at 11 a.m. with Prayer Services the second Sunday of each month at 9:30 am. The church is open and welcome to all. —JNW

Culture

350

L I F E , M U S I C , A R T & L I T E R AT U R E

Newark Celebration 350 BY JOHN JOHNSON, JR.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEWARK CELEBRATION 350

s we approach the year 2016, I am reminded of a Negro Spiritual: Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city. Twelve gates to the city. Hallelu! The late Dr. Clement Price, Rutgers University-Newark professor, city historian, and a dear friend to many, often invoked this spiritual when talking about his adopted home, Newark. In many ways, Clem saw the gleam of this legacy city, America’s third oldest metropolis, and believed that civic engagement was a vital component of a healthy city. The 350th anniversary of Newark’s founding will provide opportunities for participation in civic rituals that allow for critical reflection and celebration. As his former student I, too, share his vision for Newark. This vision is the mission of Newark Celebration 350. The 350th is an opportunity to build positive communities by changing the narrative of the last fifty years. There are many stories in this city, and Newark’s 350th birthday provides many occasions for Newarkers to share our stories with each other, our regional neighbors, and certainly, the world. One in four New Jersey residents has roots in Newark. Newark has been, and remains, a gateway for scores of immigrants and migrants, and those varied peoples have

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Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city. Twelve gates to the city. Hallelu!

left indelible impressions on Newark’s neighborhoods. Across Newark’s five wards we see the interesting juxtaposition of the past and present. Parishioners with roots in the American South, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia worship in old Jewish synagogues and former Russian Orthodox churches. One can hear Salat where Yiddish prayers were once uttered. One can find a Catholic mass or Protestant service delivered in Igbo, Spanish, or French Creole. Newark is one beautiful city with many voices. Next year we commemorate our voices: the singing voices like Sarah Vaughan, Whitney Houston, and Lawrence Roberts; the literary voices like Stephen Crane, Nathan Heard, Curtis Lucas, and Amiri Baraka; the political voices like Bob Curvin, Donald Payne, and William Ashby. Through commemoration we will be transformed. Through the renewing of our minds and through celebration we acknowledge what makes us great. The 350th provides us a chance to reflect on our history, celebrate who we are, and imagine what we will become. We invite you to share our vision of Newark, this beautiful city. Oh, what a beautiful city. October 2015 The Positive Community

Mel Torme 1990 hershorn

J��, Jews, &

A�rican-Americans The Relationships that Helped Grow And Develop America’s Classical Music Sarah Vaughan by Mitchell Seidel

unique and fascinating exhibition presented in partnership with seven religious, educational, and cultural institutions, delves into some of the most fruitful and sometimes contentious relationships in jazz history through photos, documents, and text. Jazz, Jews, and African Americans: Cultural Intersections in Newark and Beyond, is the centerpiece of a community-wide celebration of jazz. Created by the Institute of Jazz Studies and curator-archivist Tad Hershorn, Jazz, Jews, and African Americans profiles influential figures from the 1920s to the present day and reveals how their roles in performance, artist management, media, and recording informed “America’s classical music.” The narrative includes examples of famous success stories, such as trumpeter Louis Armstrong's lifelong friendship with the Jewish family that nurtured his talent, as well as clashes and exploitation between the two cultures. Visitors can learn about the contributions made by George and Ira Gershwin and the impact of the composers' canon on Ella Fitzgerald's recording career. A reproduction of a Nazi propaganda poster, disparaging to both Jews and African Americans, condemns jazz as degenerate music. Controversies over blackface traditions and exploitative managers are chronicled sideby-side with tributes to some of the jazz world's most timeless pairings of black and white musicians.

The Positive Community October 2015

The exhibit emphasizes Newark's prominence in the jazz landscape by spotlighting such legends as Sarah Vaughan, Wayne Shorter, Willie “The Lion” Smith, and James Moody. Innovators like poet Amiri Baraka, author of Blues People: Negro Music in White America; illustrator Paul Bacon, renowned for his dust jackets and album covers; and Lorraine Gordon, owner of the Village Vanguard, also claim strong roots in the city. Vaughan, known as “The Divine One,” was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, where her funeral services were held in 1990. Among the many interesting aspects of this exhibit is that five diverse congregations are partners in the undertaking and will be hosting events: Ahavas Sholom (Newark's only active synagogue), Clinton Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Iglesia El Sembrador, Mount Zion Baptist Church, and Project New Life of N.J. (Projeto Vida Nova of N.J.) all within a short walk of each other on Broadway in Newark, as well as New Jersey City University in Jersey City and the Newark Arts Council. “This is a shining example of how the arts and faith-based groups can partner in a celebration of their mutual love of jazz,” said Donna Walker-Kuhne, NJPAC's vice president of community engagement. “We’re pleased to see such enthusiastic collaboration among members of the spiritual community in this unique, multicultural downtown corridor." Continued on page 44

Trilogy brings the life of Marcus Garvey to operatic life Newark Opera Company continues to focus on African-American icons BY G.R. MATTOX

he period from October 23rd through November 1st is designated as National Opera Week. It is a week when individuals and companies are encouraged to make announcements about their positive yearround impact regarding the art form. In Newark, the genre has been well represented for over a decade by Trilogy, An Opera Company (TAOC), which is putting the finishing touches on an exciting new production that combines the history of a charismatic black leader with the melodic strains of the classical format. Garvey, a new work composed by Michael Raphael, makes its debut in the Victoria Theater of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 22nd at 7p.m. The story will take audiences on a journey into the Black Nationalism movement of the mid 1900s through the lifework of Marcus Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The Rev. Martin Luther King once said of Garvey, “He was the first man, on a mass scale and level, to give millions of

tion, Nat Turner, was so well received that it led to the formation of a committee and continuing productions. Concentrating exclusively on subjects concerning the African American community, Trilogy has successfully produced over 30 original opera works about legendary figures— what Maynor calls “birth projects; productions that develop in TAOC from the ground up” — including Nat Turner, Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, Paul Robeson, Emmett Till, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and François “Papa Doc” Duvalier. The company has also produced operas on the Darfur genocide in the Sudan, and the 1963 Birmingham church bombing that was a turning point in the Civil Rights movement. Some of the top African American composers have been associated with Trilogy and its productions. In addition to working on Garvey, Raphael also wrote for the operas about Nat Turner and The Ballad of James Byrd.

Maynor, who portrays the title character in the opera, felt that the philosophy of Garvey, the drama and excitement of his life and his work, could be brought to the operatic stage in full force. “Garvey’s voice was melodic in our community” Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny.” Kevin Maynor, who has been described as “one of the very greatest bass voices of the century,” is TAOC’s executive and artistic director. He conceived the company in 2004 as a one-time gift to the city. That produc-

Richard Thompson wrote the libretto and music for The Mask in the Mirror, the opera about Dunbar; Dorothy Rudd Moore composed Papa Doc and Trilogy premiered Trevor Weston's 50-minute dramatic work 4 honoring the lives of the four girls killed in the Birmingham bombing. Continued on page 45

The Positive Community October 2015

MORE TO LOVE MORETHE TO LOVE ABOUT FALL!

ABOUT THE FALL!

Jazz atJazz Lincoln at Lincoln CenterCenter Orchestra withwith Orchestra Wynton Marsalis • 11/4 Wynton Marsalis • 11/4 Part of the TD James Jazz Festival Part of theMoody TD James Moody Jazz Festival

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like “Red, Red Wine,” “(I Can’t Don’t UB40’s favorite hits Help)miss Falling in Love” and more! MarizaOne of the most widely like “Red,Beat Redopens Wine,” “(IitsCan’t hit interactive game show English with unique acclaimed fado stars of the Live!The – Stage Show in Love” and more! One of the most widely that gives you the chance to win. Help) blendFalling of reggae, pop and soul. world music circuit.

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Dianne Reeves, Sharon MythBusters Jazz, Soul & Funk Jones & The Dap-Kings, Farewell Tour Dianne Reeves, SharonJamie’sMythBusters and Christian McBride On-stage experiments, audience Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jamie’s Farewell Tour

participation, including behindA superb evening of jazz, funk and Christian McBride On-stage audience the-scenes storiesexperiments, and more! and soul!

The hit interactive game show English Beat opens with its unique A superb evening of jazz, funk participation, including behindacclaimed fado stars of the Friday, October 30 at 8pm Sunday, November 1 at 7:30pm Sunday, October 25 at 7pm Saturday, November 14 at 8pm Sunday, November 22 at 7pm that gives youOctober the chance win. blend of reggae, pop and soul. the-scenes stories and more! world music circuit. and soul! Saturday, 31 atto 12pm Part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival Sunday, October 25 at 7pm

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KRS-One, The Lox, Ja Rule, Rakim, Mad Lion, Lords of the Underground and KRS-One, Lox, BlackThe Moon

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Shakespeare’s timeless tale of An Astrophysicist Goes Romeo & Juliet tragic romance, set to music by to the Movies Ja Rule,Masters Rakim, State Ballet of Ceremony is danced by 55 of Wednesday, December 2 at 8pm Prokofiev, Mad Lion, Lords of the Theatre of Russia deGrasse Tyson Russia’s brightest ballet stars. Friday, November 27 at 8pm NeilAdventures in Science Literacy Underground and timeless tale of An Astrophysicist Goes3 at 8pm Shakespeare’s Sunday, December 6 at 3pm Thursday, December Black Moon tragic romance, set to music by to the Movies

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Sunday, December 13 at 7pm A Motown Xmas

Saturday, December 19 at 3pm Kurtis Blow

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The Jacksons

The Commodores “Brick House,” “ABC,” “ I’ll Be There” and more!

with special guest MC

Masters of Ceremony Wednesday, December 2 at 8pm Prokofiev, is danced by 55 of December 13 at 7pm For tickets and a full schedule visit njpac.org or call 1.888.GO.NJPAC Groups: Sunday, 973.297.5804 Russia’s brightest ballet •stars. Friday, November 27 at 8pm Adventures in Science Literacy NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • One Center Street, Newark, NJ Thursday, December 3 at 8pm

World Music Series sponsored by

PositiveCommunity_oct_7x9.5.indd 1

with special guest MC

Last season’s holiday sensation returns! Saturday, December 19 at 3pm

Sunday, December 6 at 3pm

For tickets and aExpress full schedule visit njpac.org or call 1.888.GO.NJPAC • Groups: 973.297.5804 American NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • One Center Street, Newark, NJ World Music Series sponsored by American Express

Sunday, November 22 at 7pm

Part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival

Romeo & Juliet Neil deGrasse Tyson

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#NJPAC

9/22/15 10:41 AM

2nd Annual Inter-Faith Alliance Prayer Breakfast Hosted by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, NJ

Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, guest speaker, Empowerment Temple, Baltimore, MD

L–R: Amina Baraka, mother of Mayor Baraka, Rev. Dr. Malachi D. Rountree, and Mrs. Evelyn Rountree

L–R: Fredrica Bey, WISOMMM, educator and activist and Cleopatra Tucker

L–R: Rev. Harper; Rev. Dr. Perry Simmons, Jr.; and Rev. Gerald Lydell Dickson

L–R: Pastor John K. White; Representative from Jesus Love Gift & Book Store; Marc Williams, The Positive Community

Photo: Karen Waters

Front Row: Rev. Jenkins; Rev Marie Mason; Rev. Orlando Vick; Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, Clergy Affairs Manager City of Newark; Hon. Mayor Ras J. Baraka; Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant; Min. Valerie; Pastor Carmelo Roman; Pastor Pablo Pizarro, Youth Minister Vasquez

The Positive Community October 2015

Wedding Bliss

Photos: Vincent Bryant

n July 31, 2015 Rev. Dr. J. Wendell Mapson, Jr., pastor of Monumental Baptist Church in Philadelphia, presided over the ceremony uniting Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas, Ph.D. and Alma J. Smith in marriage. In August, Rev. Thomas retired as the 8th pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, New Jersey. His farewell retirement banquet was held on July 30th at the Airport Marriot Hotel, Newark. Rev. Thomas was called to pastor Shiloh in 1997. Under his leadership, in March of 2005, the Shiloh Baptist Church family held its first worship service in their new $13.2 million state-of-the-art church edificeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a miracle achieved within two years and five months. The new church edifice provides seating for 1,200 people with two giant video screens that assist the worship service, as well as a 700-seat Community Life & Cultural Arts Center, a stateof-the-art kitchen, media technology, gymnasium, administrative offices, classrooms, music room, a nurse's office, nursery, food and clothing pantry, and CCTV in-house security system. The church also houses the successful T.E.A.M.S Charter School (grades K-12). Among his many contributions, Dr. Thomas authored an insightful book African American Preaching: The Contribution of Dr. Gardner C. Taylor The bride, Alma Smith (Mrs. Thomas), built an extraordinary career in project and construction management. Their wedding took place on the grounds of The Newark Museum. Congratulations to the newlyweds! www.thepositivecommunity.com

October 2015 The Positive Community

JAZZ

Continued from page 38

Stan Getz 1990 hershorn

“This unprecedented collaboration also speaks to the pride that these diverse members share in sustaining Newark's jazz landscape,” said Wayne Winborne, executive director of the Institute of Jazz Studies. “This exhibit takes an unblinking look at the triumphs as well as the misfortunes experienced by both African Americans and Jews - in Newark, the country and internationally - in pursuing something original and transformative.” On view from October 15 through December 13 in the Jewish Museum of New Jersey at Congregation Ahavas Sholom, the event is co-produced by New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark, Jewish Museum of New Jersey at Congregation Ahavas Sholom, and WBGO Jazz 88.3FM. The exhibit coincides with the fourth annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival at NJPAC (November 7-15) - the largest gathering of jazz talent in the Northeast - and is a stop on the Newark Arts Council's Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival (October 15 - 18). It is also open to visitors on Saturday, October 17 for the Newark Celebration 350 Family Fun Festival in nearby Military Park, an afternoon of free events and activities to herald next year’s 350th anniversary of the founding of the City of Newark. For more information about dates, times and programs, visit www.njpac.org/events or http://www. jewishmuseumnj.org

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Wednesday, noon–7 pm

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The Positive Community October 2015

MARCUS GARVEY

Continued from page 40 Maynor, who portrays the title character in the opera, felt that the philosophy of Garvey, the drama and excitement of his life and his work, could be brought to the operatic stage in full force. “Garvey’s voice was melodic in our community,” he explained. “His call to organization, pride and dignity was easily communicated in his speeches and in all he did in regard to reaching out to people. We really wanted to focus on Garvey this time around and to present him in a grand manner, musically.” In addition to the main character, two pivotal roles will be portrayed by Nicole Mitchelle as Garvey’s first wife, Amy Ashwood, and Natalya Simone taking on the part of Amy Jacque, Garvey’s second wife and the mother of his two sons. Both women have appeared in previous TAOC productions, Mitchelle in Treemonisha and Emmett Till, and Simone as Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s wife in The Mask in the Mirror. Along with the main characters, the production is augmented by a cast of about 40 along with orchestra, ballet, chorus soloists and projections by Kaelann Maynor. In addition to enthusiastic backing from major philanthropic organizations including The American Heart Association, the Prudential Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Puffin Foundation,

the Modell Foundation, and leading black investment bankers including Derek Jones and Ray Mcguire, TAOC acquired the support of actor Danny Glover, its newest advisory board member. “Trilogy promotes the talent and culture of opera through beautiful and challenging music that involves a comprehensive art form,” Glover said in his call for public support. While Maynor has a full plate with operatic productions about the Central Park Five and Jomo Kenyatta in the works, a cantata about Joe Lewis to be presented at a new performance space at Rutgers-Newark, both to be a part of the 350th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Newark, and a possible State Department tour of Pakistan, TAOC remains his main focus. In producing this art, his focus is putting people and families together and echoes Glover’s thoughts about the beauty of the work. “I want people to come out to our events and I want them to see one another with a plan to see each other the next time. I want them to talk about what they see and articulate it to the community,” Maynor explains. “I’m interested in developing families and I want to make people beautiful and there’s no other way to do that than to use the arts. The arts will make you beautiful.”

NEWARK MUSEUM PRESENTS Lectures Performances Artist-led tours Ar ND & workshops Music Lectures Performance Science demonstrations & workshops Mus Artist-led tours Art/Science demonstration A N E W SE R I E S F OR A L L AGE S Lectures Performances Artist-led tours Ar & workshops Music Lectures Performance Science demonstrations & workshops Mus Artist-led tours Art/Science demonstration Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 - 1 pm Lectures Performances - 2 pm Artist-led tours Ar & workshops Music - 3 pmLectures Performance - 4 pm Science demonstrations - 1, 2 & 3 pm & workshops Mus Artist-led tours Art/Science Lectures Perfo tours Art/Science demonstrations & works Performances Artist-led tours Art/Science workshops Music Lectures Performances Science demonstrations & workshops45Mus Artist-led tours Art/Science demonstration

2SUNDAYS

Join us every Second Sunday – from November through June – for lectures, performances, artist-led tours, art/science demonstrations and workshops, music and a special brunch menu. Programs are designed to showcase the Museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collections and enhance the gallery experience.

Kick-off:

Antoinette Montague

+ “How We See Color” Lecture by neuroscientist & artist Bevil Conway + Newark Museum through the Eyes of Aferro Gallery Artists

Anne Q. McKeown, painter, printmaker, master papermaker and Aferro Gallery Artist in Residence

+ Performance: Antoinette Montague, Jazz Vocalist + Conversation with artist James Little & curator Tricia Laughlin Bloom, Ph.D. + Family Gallery Programs/Creative Play: Color Me Red! EVERY 2ND SUNDAY, ENJOY BRUNCH CATERED BY

noon-2 pm, reservations recommended. For menu, pricing and reservations, visit newarkmuseum.org

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Check our website about this and other Second Sundays, including our Holiday Celebration on December 13th.

newarkmuseum.org

49 washington street, newark, nj 973.596.6550 711 tty On-site parking available for a fee.

October 2015 The Positive Community

AA Parade Harlem

Harlem Congressman Charles B. Rangel with former NYC Mayor David N. Dinkins

n Sunday, September 20, marchers, dancers, musicians and colorful floats filled the roadway along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 110th Street to 136th Street in Harlem. The annual Af-

New York State Governor Andrew Coumo, Public Advocate Letitia James, and NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer

rican American Day Parade was in full force. Politicians perched on convertibles waved to the onlookers and music of every genre wafted through the air, everyone enjoying the ambiance. Photo: Seitu Oronde

NAACP

Healthcare Local 1199

Historically Black College Lincoln University marching band led this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parade

The Positive Community October 2015

Photo: Glen Frieson

Longtime President/CEO of WBGO Led Rebirth and Growth of Newark Jazz Station

Essex County Executive Divincenzo Celebrates The Life of the Late Cephas Bowles

ewark, NJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (right) dedicated a bronze plaque honoring the life and legacy of the late Cephas Bowles, who served as president and CEO of WBGO radio station in Newark for 21 years, on Wednesday, October 7th. With him at the unveiling was Mr. Bowlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wife,

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Linda Arrington-Bowles (left) and Dr. Loretta Hobbs. The plaque is located at the promenade in the Essex County Justice William Brennan Park located on the south side of the Historic Essex County Courthouse in Newark. A native of Newark, Bowles was a resident of Dover when he passed away on February 21, 2015, at the age of 62.

October 2015 The Positive Community

Photos: Seitu Oronde

Harlem Week Ends Lloyd Williams

Patrice Covington

Voza Rivers, executive producer, Harlem Week

ARLEM WEEK 2015 hosted its closing gala reception at Mist Harlem entertainment complex. It was an evening of scholarship awards, fun, and entertainment. A special treat was a performance by Color Purple cast member Patrice Covington.

Speaking on behalf of the HARLEM WEEK board of directors, Board Chair Lloyd Williams thanked everyone in attendance, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Harlem community supporters and sponsors alike are important to the success of the many events and actives associated with our celebration of the Village Harlem.

Thomas Giblin Fundraiser

Newark Municipal Council President Mildred C. Crump and Newark Beth Israel President and CEO John A. Brennan at recent fundraiser honoring NJ State Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin

The Positive Community October 2015

“NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING!” ABC TV

“INSPIRATIONAL. BEAUTIFUL. EMOTIONAL. EXHILARATING.” ASSOCIATED PRESS

“ELICITS WIDESPREAD GASPS AND CHEERING FROM THE AUDIENCE!” THE WASHINGTON POST

“A LAVISH HISTORICAL EPIC.” NEWSDAY

“A sweeping historical musical, set in England, Africa and the Caribbean, about John Newton, a British slave trader born in the 18th century who, after briefly being enslaved himself in Africa, had a religious conversion, became an abolitionist and wrote the words for the hymn from which the show takes its name.”

PHOTOS: JOAN MARCUS

-The New York Times

FOR TICKETS VISIT TICKETMASTER.COM

Learn more at AmazingGraceMusical.com Nederlander Theatre 208 W. 41st St., btwn 7th & 8th Aves.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

October 2015 The Positive Community

BY PATRICIA BALDWIN

Jonathan McReynolds & His ‘Life Music: Stage Two’ Grace & Peace he Gospel of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. It’s been the foundation for the redemption of lives for over 2,000 years now—give or take. God is so good, that He even gives you a choice to decide on your own whom you will serve. But I tell you (and many of you can attest to it) that following God was/is the best decision you can ever make; I know it was for me! Our feature artist Jonathan McReynolds can certainly agree with me and he tells his story on his sophomore album Life Music: Stage Two on Entertainment One Music label. McReynolds transformed from that ‘‘young dude who loves God and want to sing” to a wise man who reaffirmed his spiritual calling on this new project. For those unfamiliar with Jonathan McReynolds, his musical stylings are definitely out of the box. The Chicago native uses the metaphoric term of going from a 21-year-old college student on the first album to a 26-year-old professor, and you can hear the growth profoundly. Influenced by the musical and lyrical dynamics of a mixture of an uncommon group of musicians, both Gospel and secular, it’s apparent why everyone will be able to relate and enjoy. Favorites like Bob Dylan, Travis Green, and John Mayer are proof of that. Then there are the Neo-Soul sounds of India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild that you hear with the vocal arrangements of Kim Burrell coupled with the passionate and compassionate lyrics of Smokie Norful—all to make a classic compelling story of the life of a Christian living for real. Life Music: Stage Two has 13 inspiring tracks that Jonathan took his time to creatively design what I call a musical diary of a believer. “The album is written from the perspective of a guy looking for God in a social media-distracting generation. A shallow generation,” he explained. “I’m trying to insert a little more depth and focus into the life of a young Christian.” This season he’s working with a diverse roster of producers and artists including Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Warryn

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October 2015

Campbell, PJ Morton, Derek Minor, DJ Camper, and Israel Houghton. It features his thumping hype song “Gotta Have You,” a single that lets us know McReynolds will have the same fortune of the first album. “Whole” is the latest single, where he teamed up with GRAMMY® Award winning singer-songwriter India.Arie. This was inspired by their first collaboration in an acclaimed live acoustic performance together on BET’s Celebration of Gospel in 2014. “After that performance, we said we would record together on the next album” McReynolds states, “Whether it was hers or mine—just mine happened to be first, I reached out and we made it happen.” With incredibly catchy musical arrangements attached to lyrics that compel your spirit, this project is a great gift for that new Christian. Every song is relatable, it’s like someone took your personal thoughts, prayers, and questions to God and put a melody to them. It’s the autobiography of the sincere Christian (new or seasoned) who struggles with keeping and trying to “Maintain” their faith as they deal with the everyday “Pressures” of life—two more songs I love on this CD. It’s clear that McReynolds is on a mission to change lives with his music. “All my songs come from conversations that I had with friends and loved ones that are looking for more and understanding the way this walk thing goes,” McReynolds explained. “But we are Christ representers; I represent the Kingdom of God and I tell people that it’s important that you know who you are and know your worth! Don’t live up to anyone’s expectations – love and trust God. I'm going to be awakening or reminding people on purging, and helping people think about some of the decisions that they made, and use the wisdom that comes with walking in spirit,” he said. “I just pray that this album, and all my music for the rest of my life and the rest of my career, always points people to living this whole Christian thing; living it out every day.” thepositivecommunity.com

Winner 2015 Phillis Wheatley Book Award

Join us for Babyland Family Services’ Annual Awards Dinner and Gala

Thursday, November 12, 2015 | 6:00pm–11:00pm Robert Treat Hotel - 50 Park Place, Newark, NJ

2015 Gala Honorary Committee Chairs The Honorable Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, The City of Newark, New Jersey Miles Berger, Chairman & CEO, The Berger Organization

Host Wesley N. Jenkins, Executive Director, Babyland Family Services

On Sale in Bookstores Everywhere barnesandnoble.com • amazon.com www.alightshinesinharlem.com

Scan Me!

Gifts & Things

Please Visit Our New Art Gallery & Retail Fine Art, Store.

Just in time for the Holidays Grand Opening, November 2, 2015 10:00 AM til 7:00PM - Browsers Welcome www.thepositivecommunity.com

Gala Host Committee Lissa Jean Ferrell, Esq., LJF Consulting, Chair Merian Oliver-Williams, Newark Parking Authority, Vice-Chair Calvin D. West, Vice-Chair

Shelly L. Bell, Babyland Family Services, Sheldon Bross, Esq., Attorney at Law, Lenny Coleman, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Karolina Dehnhard, Esq., Budd Larner PC, Shivaun Gaines, Montclair State University, Anthony C Mack, Esq., Newark Parking Authority, Liz Swinicki, Pravda Consulting, Shannon Steitz, HudsonMod Magazine, Tiffany A. Walker, Rutgers University Newark, Robin A. Wilkins, Boots Up™

2015 Gala Awards Honorees Celia M. King, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Newark (Mary Palmer Smith Award) Marilyn “Penny” Joseph, Vice President, Community Relations and Corporate Outreach Programs, Panasonic (Corporate Community Award) Everton Scott, Director, Regional Public Policy, PSEG (Corporate Community Advocacy Award) Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer (Barnabas Health - Community Leadership Award) James M. Oleske, M.D., MPH, François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School (Babyland Distinguished Service Award)

RSVP AT 973.399.3400 or SHELLYB@LJFCONSULTING.COM B A B Y L A N D F S G A L A . O R G

Proud past. Promising future.

Babyland Family Services, Inc. Babyland Headquarters: 755 South Orange Ave. Newark, New Jersey 07106 973.399.3400 BABYLANDFSGALA.ORG | BABYLANDFS.ORG

October 2015 The Positive Community

REV. THERESA NANCE MY VIEW

Rev. Nance is pastor of The Church by the Side of the Road in Passaic, NJ. She is also a radio talk show host and documentary filmmaker.

LISTEN TO THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY HOUR ON WKMB 1070 AM HARVEST RADIO, MONDAYS, 1:30–2:30 P.M. WITH HOST THERESA NANCE.

When October Comes he great jazz singer, Nancy Wilson, sings a beautiful song written by Barry Manilow (based on a Johnny Mercer lyric), “When October Goes.” It’s a fabulous song. Well, October is here, and with it not only comes Halloween, though it's hardly observed in most Christian churches today, but mother nature also prepares us for the oncoming winter. October is the month in which I was born, along with my son, Bert, and my late mother, Mrs. Marie Lewis. It is when both churches and civic organizations hit the ground running to continue doing good works—works that were put on hiatus, so to speak, during the summer months. I love the fall. I was in Los Angeles this past August. It was a great getaway. I did the Hollywood thing and all that, though it really was a ministry endeavor. The weather was fine. No smog, believe it or not. Palm trees swayed to and fro like they were keeping time with a Don Ho song. Don Ho is a popular singer from Hawaii who was hot back in the sixties. Trees were laden with fruit, surfers took advantage of the big waves, and when we hit one of the well-known restaurants that served all kinds of Bijou food, well, it was a trip to be remembered. Having said that, I still was glad to get back home to the changing weather that occurs in the northern part of the United States—New Jersey specifically in the case of yours truly. And I can't wait until our trees put on their fall apparel of orange and gold. I like the feel of the warm sun on my neck in the morning even though I hate the fact that the days are getting shorter and it gets dark earlier. I suppose I'm painting a Norman Rockwell-like picture of what I see. OK. Guilty. But it's what I choose to see. I know crime still runs rampant. Lives continue to be lost because people's humanity continues to be disrespected. Many children still go to school hungry. Domestic violence is yet a problem and the socio-economic status of the perpetrator and victim doesn't matter. In other words, the Wall Street guy is just as likely to commit this heinous crime as the brother from the hood. Be that as it may, all of the above is true. But still, I'll hate to see October go because the mighty Almanac says we're headed for a brutal winter. So, hang tough, Y'all.

52 The Positive Community

October 2015

thepositivecommunity.com

Photo: Bruce Moore

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;R: Rev. Shepard Lee and First Lady Lois Lee; Rev. Dr. Charles Curtis, senior pastor, Mt. Olivet B.C., Harlem; Rev. Dr. Joan J. BrightharpDargan with husband Cornelius Dargan; and Adrian A. Council

Rev. Brightharp-Dargan Retirement Celebration

NEW HOURS OF OPERATION OPEN 7am to 7pm: Wed., Thur., Fri., Sat. & Sun. CLOSED: Mon. & Tues

ev. Joan Brightharp-Dargen and members of Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Christ congregation in lower Manhattan came together for a wonderful Gospel Brunch retirement celebration for their beloved pastor at Harlemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Cotton Club.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

October 2015 The Positive Community

Symbols of Spirits Cultural Museum of African Arts Exhibit At African Burial Ground

Founding Father of the African Burial Grounds, The Rev. Herbert Daughtry

BY EULENE INNISS

Yaa Asantewaa Queen Warrior of Ashanti Empire–1900 Dancer Zakis Huntly

ver the years, Eric Edwards, a native of Brooklyn, has amassed over 1500 African artifacts in a collection that includes masks, statues, garments, jewelry, and other household items found in African villages. On September 24, 2015 much of the collection was on view at The Eric Edwards Third Annual Symbols of Spirits Exhibition, uniting the peoples of Africa with the peoples of Brooklyn at the African Burial Ground in downtown Manhattan in the GSA Building. The exhibit at the Burial Ground included a rare, exquisite granite carving of a Nubian royal woman, circa 2000 BC; from Songye-Kifwebe (D.R.Congo): a powerful mask representing nature and animal spirits; from Bamileke People (Cameroon) a king’s meditation consultation amulet; and other pieces from Mali, Ivory Coast, and Yaa Asantewaa Queen Warrior of Ashanti Empire circa 1900. The space in the Burial Ground’s General Service Administration (GSA) building where the reception was held features quotes from former enslaved Africans and their descendants including Frederick Dou-

The Positive Community October 2015

glass, Sojourner Truth and Dr. John Henrik Clark, permanently etched in the marble floor. The sight of these quotes conjured memories and images of the experiences of early Africans in America. The connection was driven home when the Reverend Herbert Daughtry, former representative of the Descendants of the African Burial Ground Committee, highlighted experiences he and the late Ollie McClean had with GSA. Their struggle lasted from 1990 during the excavation of the remains of 419 children and adults, until 2003 when only 19 ancestors were reinterred. The anger, pain, and suffering of those ancestors was rebirthed in the current descendants who, mesmerized by the details, found solace in the surrounding labyrinth of the drums. New York elected officials in attendance were Assemblyman Charles Barron and City Council members Robert Cornegy, Inez Barron, and Laurie Combo. Dignitaries from African countries were: President Sidique Wai, United African Congress; Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, Ethiopia; Dr. Mohammed Nurhussein, chairman of the

Photos: Lem Peterkin

LaPlacaCohen Publication: Insertion date: Size:

212-675-4106 POSITIVE COMMUNITY OCT 1, 2015 3.4" x 9.5" 4CMAG

“Dazzling blockbuster” —Wall Street Journal

Eric Edwards receives The Power OF Dream Award given by Danny Glover presented by Monica Sanchez

Songye-Kifwebe from D.R.Congo

United African Congress; and Ambassador Anatolio Mba, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Ambassador Alemu, Ethiopia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks that when they met, Eric Edwards told him, “I want to invite you to my home to see something. I spent my entire life putting this together for our community.” So amazed by Edwards’ collection, Alemu said that he, “…looked inside myself and said if I can do anything in my own way [to help the museum], because it is said that Africans never reach out to brothers in America, I will. So I went out and talked to my people. We are committed to his endeavor.” The overwhelming support offered to Eric Edwards and his sister, Myrna Edwards-Williams, educational director, validates the mission statement of the Cultural Museum of African Arts that “… it is mandatory that children of African ancestry possess a knowledge of their “true” history and a basic understanding that their history dates back thousands of years and does not commence with slavery.” www.thepositivecommunity.com

metmuseum.org

#KongoPower

The exhibition is made possible by the Gail and Parker Gilbert Fund and the Diane W. and James E. Burke Fund.

Through January 3

Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi: Mangaaka), detail, Kongo peoples, 19th century, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester. Photo: Peter Zeray, The Photograph Studio, The Metropolitan Museum of Art © 2015.

October 2015 The Positive Community MET-0290-Kongo_PosCommunity_3.4x9.5_Oct01_v1 (MAG).indd 1

9/30/15 5:31 PM

JOANNE J. NOEL SELAH!

Professor Joanne J. Noel, B.A., M.A., M. DIV., DMIN is Chair of General Studies and Associate Professor of English, Pillar College.

God and the Goldilocks Experience Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.—Psalm 34.8

he story is told of a little girl named Goldilocks who went for a walk in the forest. Soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in. At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl. "This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed. So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl. "This porridge is too cold," she said. So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge. "Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up.” Some of us need a Goldilocks experience with God. Just like Goldilocks tried the porridge before deciding what was good for her, we need to try God—to taste and see that God is good. The psalmist challenges us to try for ourselves the goodness of God because he knows that knowing God will positively transform our life. Trying on someone else’s faith, whether it’s your grandma or mama, is not a good fit. One size doesn’t fit all. An individual choice is the right fit in this context. Taste and see for yourself. David issues the invitation because he has a transformative experience when he encounters God’s goodness in his most desperate situation. God’s goodness is not contingent on any external stimuli. God is inherently good. When David was fleeing from Saul, he discovered that God is inherently loving, gracious, compassionate. He discovered some things about God’s goodness in the cave that he would have never known if his only context was the castle. He discovered in his wilderness of despair, discon-

56 The Positive Community

October 2015

tent, and doubt that God is good. He discovered in being protected by God from the jealous persecution of Saul that God is good. He discovered that in being hunted by Saul and kept by God, that God is good. Also noteworthy is David’s framing of the invitation. David invites us to “taste and see” and not “see and taste.” We live in a visual culture, and we are subjected to illusions that lead us astray. Advertisers make a lot of money during Thanksgiving and Christmas in packaging inferior products attractively because they know that if something is packaged right, we will be drawn to trying it. Conversely, if it doesn’t appeal to us, we don’t try it. For some, God is the “imaginary friend” of Christians. David Schroeder in Follow Me explains that the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that God is a wish projection “whereby people who cannot tolerate being orphans in the universe hypothesize the existence of a super-Father” (70) with qualities of goodness. God is not “packaged” in a way that appeals to us because following God requires us to align our lives with godly practices and to follow godly principles, so we are not readily inclined to try God. In this peculiar fairy tale, nobody invited Goldilocks to try the porridge; in fact, in our era, she would have been arrested for breaking and entering. But she was hungry and tired. Some of us are hungry and tired and like St. Augustine said, “…You have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you.” (Confessions). However, the way Goldilocks tasted a bit of porridge from each bowl is symbolic of how some of us have tried other things to fill the hunger in us: other gods, other pleasures, other toys, but no thing can satisfy that hunger but God. Perhaps, if we try God, if we taste and see, we will discover with David that “God is good” and we will be driven to exclaim like Goldilocks, “Ahhhh, that’s just right.”

thepositivecommunity.com

MWANDIKAJI K. MWANAFUNZI THE WAY AHEAD

Reviewing the September 2015 Maafa Commemoration at St. Paul Community Baptist Church ast month, Brooklyn’s St. Paul Community Baptist Church (SPBC) held its 21st annual commemoration of The Maafa. The Swahili word “maafa” (pronounced “mah-AH-fah”) means “disaster.” During the 20th century, some African-American historians and others began applying this word, with a capital “M,” to refer the transatlantic slave trade. Over time, the term “Maafa” has been expanded to include the historical degradation and suffering of blacks under Western Hemisphere chattel slavery. “Chattel slavery” refers to how, in North America, South America, and the Caribbean, enslaved blacks were essentially regarded as “things” rather than people. Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines “chattel” as “a movable article of personal property . . . any article of tangible property other than land, buildings, and other things annexed to the land . . . a slave.” In Africa and other parts of the world, slaves had severe service obligations to their masters, but were nonetheless typically viewed as people, not as things. At SPCBC, this year’s performance began with a depiction of European slave traders in Africa exploiting a dispute among Africans in order to enslave people on both sides of the dispute. Next portrayed was the transatlantic Middle Passage of enslaved Africans to the Americas, “tight-packed” between the decks of a ship. The next scene dramatized a North American slave auction, including the auctioneer’s disrespectful way of marketing the human merchandise while potential purchasers similarly picked over that human merchandise. A subsequent scene explored sexual abuse of enslaved blacks on a plantation. After other scenes, including one that extolled slave liberator Harriet Tubman, The Maafa concluded with the cast singing and moving to black spirituals and Gospel songs. Ending the performance with Christian music and black liberation from slavery more or less reflects history. The transatlantic slave trade and Western Hemisphere chattel slavery began around the early 1500s. Centuries later, during the mid- to late 1700s, massive numbers of enslaved blacks accepted Christ during the movement called “The Great Awakening.” Among whites, one impact of the Great Awakening was that the Quakers, who had been slave owners when the 1700s began, became ardent abolitionists, both

thepositivecommunity.com

in the nascent United States and in Great Britain, by the end of the 1700s. As the Second Great Awakening grew in the early 1800s, anti-slavery activism further increased. By 1865, the North defeated the South and ended slavery. The Northern wartime anthem was “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” essentially a hymn that begin with, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...” Since 1994, SPCBC, through its Maafa Commemoration, has strived to heal current wounds, incapacities, and injustices by exposing massive numbers of people to the lingering impact of the horrible history of slavery in America. The main event is the dramatic presentation in September. The audience typically includes delegations from other congregations, as well as SPCBC members and others. Over the years, SPCBC has also presented its Maafa dramatic presentations in churches in various states. Another Maafa Commemoration venue is the Maafa Museum, through which SPCBC, also in September, devotes a significant portion of its indoor space to showcasing artifacts, historical documents, and artwork related to Western Hemisphere slavery. Knowledgeable church members study these and related materials, then conduct educational tours of the temporary museum for school groups and others. This year, one of the tour groups consisted of adult volunteers who work with the Schomburg Center for Research and Culture. Additionally, in past years, SPCBC has provided lecturers and classes to educate its members and visitors concerning Maafa-related history and issues. SPCBC’s annual Maafa Commemoration began under the leadership of its former pastor, the nationally known Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood. It has continued under SPCBC’s present pastor, Rev. David K. Brawley. On the last night of this September’s Maafa performance, Rev. Youngblood, who now pastors Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in northern Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, sat with other Mt. Pisgah members in front rows of the sanctuary. By the ending minutes of the presentation, Rev. Youngblood was standing and waving his arms enthusiastically as the cast was singing and performing, others followed suit. Apparently, for many, the Maafa Commemoration is enjoyable as well as enlightening. October 2015 The Positive Community

GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

The Last Word thepositivecommunity.com October 2015

™

HOW DID IT GET SO LATE SO SOON?

Publisher Adrian A. Council, Sr.

Editor-in-Chief Jean Nash Wells Associate Editor R. L. Witter

Sales Angela Ridenour Adrian Council, Jr. NGS Communications, Inc. Satori MPR Marc Williams

Contributing Writers Mwandikaji K. Mwanafunzi g.r. mattox Patricia Baldwin Doris Young Boyer Rev. Theresa Nance Rev. Reginald T. Jackson Glenda Cadogan Helene Fox Rev. Dr. Joanne Noel Photographers Bob Gore Wali A. Muhammad Seitu Oronde Rev. Dr. William L. Watkins, Jr. Darryl Hall Vincent Bryant Hubert Williams Brian Branch Price Karen Waters Art Direction & Layout Penguin Design Group Martin Maishman The Positive Community Corp. 133 Glenridge Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 973-233-9200 Fax: 973-233-9201 Email: news@thepositivecommunity.com Website: thepositivecommunity.com All contents © The Positve Community Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This publication, in whole or in part, october not be reproduced, stored in a computerized or other retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission of The Positive Community Corporation. Any opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Positive CommunityTM, its management or staff. The Positive CommunityTM reserves the right to retain all materials and does not assume reponsibility for unsolicited materials.

58 The Positive Community

BY R.L. WITTER

Vol. 15, No. 9

October 2015

can faintly recall being a child of three or four when my maternal grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. It was a grand celebration! Grandma wore a gold dress and Grandpa a dark suit and tie. They were surrounded by their friends and relatives as music played and champagne was poured. It was an affair to remember. When I was 20 years-old, I was fortunate to help plan the 50th anniversary celebration for my paternal grandparents. My memories are more vivid as I helped pick the venue and plan the menu. Gram and Pop looked fabulous in their finery and again, loved ones gathered to watch them cut a rug after toasting 50 years. It’s funny how in some aspects 50 years seems like a long time and yet in others, it doesn’t. It has become less common for couples to mark that golden wedding anniversary; so 50 years of marriage seems like a good stretch. However, as the days tick by and I am finding myself now closer to 50 years-old than 40, 50 seems like a blink of an eye. When did that happen and where did the time go? I most certainly don’t feel like I’m nearing the half-century mark. To better put it into perspective, all I have to do is think of Newark, NJ and the upcoming 350th birthday celebration in her honor. Three hundred and fifty years is a long time; Newark is the third oldest metropolitan city in America, after all. Founded in 1666, Newark predates all modern conveniences, structures, customs, and even the United States of America. Now my almost 50 years and even my grandparents’ collective 100+ years of marriage seem a bit less impressive. I think of all of the things that happened that might have prevented me from making it this far — a car accident, a childhood choking incident, even an overnight fire that

thankfully my family escaped, but completely destroyed our home. Then I contemplate the challenges in my grandparents’ marriages. The Great Depression, World War II, a child with polio, financial difficulties, the death of a child, a hostile racial climate, and countless other obstacles and quagmires to which I’m simply not privy. Yet somehow, they managed to keep their marriages and their families together and build them into a source of pride and joy. And then there’s Newark again. Over the last 350 years, Newark has survived and thrived. Land from Mother Newark birthed the communities of Bloomfield, Orange, and Springfield among others. Some flourished, while others like Clinton and Vailsburg came back to the fold, like prodigal children. Newark has been devastated by fire, torn apart by political and racial disharmony, and faced financial difficulties more often than not. She has mourned the death of too many of her children and watched others leave the fold not to return. But the children who stayed have made their family proud. Sarah Vaughan, John Amos, Savion Glover, Amiri Baraka, Wayne Shorter, Cissy Houston, and Whitney Houston are only a few of Newark’s famous sons and daughters. And we cannot forget cousin and god-brother Dr. Clement Price. There will always be a place set for him at Newark’s family table. As we approach Newark’s 350th celebration, I’m excited! All of the family traditions like the Brazilian and African-American parades will be there and we’ll visit NJPAC and Symphony Hall while WBGO plays our soundtrack as we cruise down Broad Street. I’m looking forward to a spectacular party, so I’ll start looking for a dress and rely on Junius Williams and the NC350 committee to do the rest.

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