The Ultimate Black Man Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

Nov/Dec 2021

Magazine

Happy HOLIDAYS

TheUbmm.com

© 2021 The Ultimate Black Man Magazine All Rights Reserved No part of this Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the author.

Created and Published by Renetta J. Cochran

Email: renettacochran@ymail.com For more information call: (810) 962-4819 To request a interview and feature in The Ultimate Black Man Magazine for Speaking engagements or any other special events please contact: The Ultimate Black Man Magazine Website: TheUbmm.com Issuu.com/theultimateblackmanmagazine Email: TheUbmm@yahoo.com Follow us on FB, Instagram, Twitter and ISSUU

Cover Designed by: Renetta J. Cochran Magazine Design by: Renetta J. Cochran

About the Magazine

The Ultimate Black Man Magazine was created in 2009 by Author Renetta Cochran, to recognize, honor and feature Black Men for their outstanding accomplishments. The Ultimate Black Man Magazine is different and unique to a market where the images of our Black Men are generally negative and demeaning. Our main focus is to feature the everyday average Black Man and give him the positive image he deserves.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To promote Integrity, Leadership, Economic and Educational Responsibility of the Community with positive images of the African American Man around the Globe.

DESCRIPTION: The Ultimate Black Man Magazine will target males of all ages. With our global market, the magazine has a universal message: Community Social Education Healthy Living Adequate Health Care Economic and Entrepreneurial Awareness Leadership Empowerment Servitude Knowledge Information We are always looking for writers, graphic designers and advertisers for our magazine that currently have a global following. Our issues will cover the life of black men’s love, marriage, health, social and economic issues. Historical issues will also be issued to educate the masses about the history of the black men. Please visit our website at TheUbmm.com or email us at TheUbmm@yahoo.com

To be featured in The Ultimate Black Man Magazine please contact us by email: TheUbmm@yahoo.com or call us at (810) 962-4819

~ About the Magazine ~ . . . . . ~ 3 ~ From The Publisher ~ . . . . . ~ 6 ~ Dante Shackelford ~ . . . . . ~ 8

~ Dr. Travis Davis ~ . . . . . ~ 14 ~ Community Resources ~ . . . . . ~ 18 ~ It’s Ok to Leave ~ . . . . . ~ 19 ~ Chuckii Montgomery ~ . . . . . ~ 20 ~ David Watkins ~ . . . . . . ~ 24 ~ Ronnie Moss ~ . . . . . ~ 30

~ Roger Louis Kennedy ~ On The Cover ~ . . . . . ~ 36 ~ Charles Clark ~ . . . . . ~ 42 ~ John Momplaisir ~ . . . . . ~ 48 ~ Dr. Oliver Reid ~ . . . . . ~ 54 ~ Will McNeil ~ . . . . . ~ 60 ~ Wes Watkins ~ . . . . . ~ 66

~ Page 40 ~

~ Page 64 ~

From The Publisher “The Ultimate Black Man Magazine is the one and only magazine that honor and features and Black Men for their outstanding accomplishments Hello and Thank you for being a part of Ultimate Black Man Magazine, Please take time out of you busy schedule and Enjoy our latest issue.

The Ultimate Black Man Magazine is the first self-published magazine that focuses on the Black Man. Our vision is to reach all communities all over the world and to teach them the value of black lives. If we can reach one then we can teach one.

The Ultimate Black Man Magazine is an online and hardcopy publication. It is the face of the new Digital Communication/Publication that is sweeping the nation Please continue to celebrate the new face of The Ultimate Black Man Magazine and thank you for supporting our vision. Please visit our website at TheUbmm.com for all our latest events.

Like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Sincerely, Renetta J. Cochran President/Creator/Editor The Ultimate Black Man Magazine (810) 962-4819 Photo by: Stephanie Gallagher

About the Magazine The Ultimate Black Man Magazine was created in 2009 by Author Renetta Cochran, to recognize, honor and feature Black Men for their outstanding accomplishments. The Ultimate Black Man Magazine is different and unique to a market where the images of our Black Men are generally negative and demeaning.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To promote Integrity, Leadership, Economic and Educational Responsibility of the Community with positive images of the African American Man around the Globe.

DESCRIPTION: The Ultimate Black Man Magazine will target males of all ages. With our global market, the magazine has a universal message: Community Social Education Healthy Living Adequate Health Care Economic and Entrepreneurial Awareness

Leadership Empowerment Servitude Knowledge Information We are always looking for writers, graphic designers and advertisers for our magazine that currently have a global following. Our issues will cover the life of black men’s love, marriage, health, social and economic issues. Historical issues will also be issued to educate the masses about the history of the black men. Please visit our website at TheUbmm.com or email us at TheUbmm@yahoo.com

To be featured in The Ultimate Black Man Magazine please contact us by email: TheUbmm@yahoo.com or call us at (810) 962-4819

other people for your success.

Dr. Travis Davis is a successful entrepreneur who believes in giving back to his community by creating economic sustainability. He gives his time and energy to creating a recession-proof lifestyle with an emphasis on underrepresented communities.

Dr Davis, a promising scholar-athlete, career ended while attending Virginia State University. However, he transformed from a scholar-athlete to strengthening his portfolio in the fast-growing technology field and realized the importance of having a financial plan and not relying on

His expertise in cybersecurity has led to securing multiple domestic and foreign government contracts.

After securing multiple milliondollar government contracts, Dr. Davis saw this as the perfect system for any business owner to add to their financial plan. He knew this information was vital to share with more business owners, especially with the lack of education on the subject matter. Since learning about government contracts and winning his first one, Dr. Davis is determined to educate business owners on the power of leveraging government contracts to secure revenue.

Using their intelligence, skills, and determination throughout the process, Dr. Davis has created systems and courses for business owners. He walks them through the step-by-step process for securing their government contracts. He breaks down the process in a way that is engaging and understanding -making sure to eliminate any confusion or fear throughout the process. Dr. Davis won't rest until all business owners learn how to leverage government contracts as another stream to secure revenue.

Hi, I am Tarnesa Martin, Your Patient Resource & Community Advocate.

Most of you know, I was born and raised in Flint, I went to Brownell Elementary, Holmes Middle School and graduated from Northwestern High school. I grew up in Flint and love being connected and supporting Flint which is why I am taking a stand for the city that raised me and taught me how to be strong and resilient.

I have been a Registered Nurse for 19 years working

at Hurley Medical Center. I started Hurley in 2000 as a Nurse Extern on the Mother Baby Unit and Graduated from University of Michigan, Flint in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I have worked in several positions at Hurley which include Ortho Trauma Surgery, Renal, Cardiac, Rapid Response and Case Management. I have also taught nursing clinicals as an adjunct clinical instructor for both Baker College and University of Michigan – Flint.

The last 12 years of my life was spent managing a 50-bed medical -surgical renal unit which I absolutely loved because it gave be an opportunity to care for a diverse population of staff, patients, families, and residents from the community. Leaving my job as a manager was a leap of faith and an answer to a call from God that I had to make to help the city of Flint “Be Healthy and make better Healthcare Choices”.

Patient Resource & Community Advocate for Hurley Medical Center, which serves as a community liaison for identified health concerns, focusing on community education and health related resources to reduce disparities and improve access to care for the un

Choosing to Be Healthy is not a Topic, it is a lifestyle that impacts our everyday routine and how we choose to live. I have experienced family members, friends, patients, and community

My goal is to be used as a resource to help the community have better health care outcomes through education, encouragement, support, advocacy, and community outreach.

residents die too soon from chronic medical conditions because they did not have the education, encouragement, and resources to help confront and conquer the contributing factors of Heart Failure, Stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Kidney Disease.

On April 19th, 2021, I was appointed The

der-served populations.

If you would like to connect for community outreach, education, information on resources or have events or ideals that you would like supported from a Health and Wellness perspective feel free to contact me: Tarnesa Martin, RN, BSN, AKA “Nurse “T” Patient Resource & Community Advocate 810.262.6100 Tmartin1@Hurleymc.com

LaCracha Handy - It’s Ok to Leave La Cracha Handy is a blogger and divorced mother of two sons. She is currently working on branding herself as a nonfiction author of marriage and divorce, relationships, and parenting including children with special needs. Her first book, Leaving the Hidden path: Motivational Guidance for Women with Young Kids Considering Divorce, will be released March 2021.

I got divorced four years ago. It was 4 days after my 16th wedding anniversary. Two hours later I went to work as if nothing happened. Divorce Day was an exhausting day, but I was filled with joy as I walked out of the courtroom. I blasted “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors over and over until I got home.

Thing is, dissolving my marriage wasn’t an easy decision, I had to carefully examine everything about it and decide if it was worth leaving.

Relationships need teamwork in order to survive. It doesn’t matter if you’re married or in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, both people need to do their part to make sure the relationship stays healthy. There are times where you may not be up to putting in your 50% and that is fine. This is where your partner takes up the slack. That right there is teamwork.

Deciding to leave a relationship when minor children are involved is even harder. Should you stay for the sake of the kids? There are so many factors to consider. But no one can decide for you because only you know what’s best for you and your children.

We stay in toxic relationships for several reasons. We stay in them because of our religious upbringing, financial security, afraid of being talked about or looked down upon, and societal expectations.

Listen it is perfectly okay to leave an unhealthy relationship. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be stress and drama free. You need your positive energy back.

And if you have young children, then you need to be there for them as well. You and your kids need to be physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually strong. But the kids can’t reach these stages without a healthy YOU.

However if you are unhappy, frustrated, fed up, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, or just an emotional wreck, then it’s time to go over your relationship with a fine tooth comb.

That’s what I did with my marriage. I even sought counseling before deciding to separate from my (ex)husband.

The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge there is one.

Assess your situation. Seek counseling if needed. Talk to a trusted friend. Don’t have a trusted friend?

Well you do now and that person is me. I know what you are going through because I have been there.

But what if you are in a toxic relationship and don’t know whether you should leave or stay?

Chuckii Montgomery, is a long-time resident of Flint who has a heart for his community. He is a graduate of Flint Community Schools and Detroit College of Business where he received a BBA in Business Administration and Marketing.

Chuckii is employed with General Motors for 24yrs in the management capacity.

He is a proud member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he has served in many ministries, including the music ministry for over 30 years. He has volunteered for Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters (Big Brother of the Year), Advisor to the Kappa Leadership League of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc, PastPolemarch of the Flint Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and

currently serving as the Assistant to the Keeper of Records for the Northern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc covering Michigan, Ohio, Buffalo NY, Syracuse NY, Rochester NY and Canada.

Chuckii has initiated several community projects such as the Kappa Alpha Psi Turkey Give-Away that has provided over 1500 Thanksgiving Baskets to local families, Flint Water Crisis proving water to local schools, Hurricane Relief efforts for Houston Texas, Real Men Wear Pink Campaign for the American Cancer Society, Back 2 School Kuts, which provides 100 boy’s each year with free haircuts and his “Community of Excellent” award that acknowledges the work of other’s in the Flint Community too our youth. The most recent

establishing a Memorial Scholarship in memory of his late Mother the Alice HillStocker Basic Needs Scholarship and he is involved in many other community projects.

Chuckii, was recently awarded the highest award in the Northern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc, the “Robert L Gordan Award” for his community service work and work in the fraternity.

Chuckii, personal life quotes are “A Restless Heart Cannot Rest” and “My Humbleness Is My Strength”, these are his motivation factors that surrounds his life. Because, my God is so Amazing, that He can take the Unlikely, to accomplish the Unusual, because our God is Unlimited.

Chuckii, is the father of 2 beautiful daughters Ariel and Ashnee.

David G. Watkins currently holds the title of Community Development Officer at Level One Bank with the responsibility to create affordable housing opportunities to lowincome communities throughout Southeast Michigan. In just under seven years, David was successful in distributing over 4.5MM in grant funding to assist lowincome persons with home rehabilitation earning him the “Community Spirit Award” for the State of Michigan. The award was presented by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. He also is a huge supporter of small businesses distributing over $300,000 in grant funding to eligible small businesses that are currently struggling to keep their doors open due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Recently David was presented with the “Spirit of Detroit Award” in recognition of outstanding leadership for improving the quality of life in the City of Detroit.

David frequently is asked

to join various panel discussions to speak on topics involving financial literacy and fair housing issues in low-income communities. He has also been featured on the PBS television talk show “Just Ask” with host Marsha Florence and the TCT cable network community program "The Public Report" with host William H. Arrington to speak about grant funding opportunities available to seniors, persons with disabilities and small business owners.

Prior to joining Level One Bank, David worked as a Public Relations and Community Development professional for several non-profit agencies such as The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Northeast Guidance Center and One Detroit Credit Union. He is recognized nationally as a freelance photojournalist operating under the business name “Oxygen Photography” which he Is also founder and CEO. David is a graduate of Walsh College earning a

Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership.

He also holds a BBA undergraduate degree from Davenport University and is a Detroit Regional Chamber – Leadership Detroit Class XXXI graduate. He actively serves on several boards and steering committees such as Detroit Symphony Orchestra Classical Roots, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Community Reinvestment Act Associations for Southeast Michigan and West Michigan, JoySouthfield Community Development Corporation, Detroit Pregnancy Test & Help Center, Just Ask Foundation, and the Student Advocacy Center.

David enjoys hobbies that include music, photography, bike riding and slot car racing and he also enjoys spending time with his two lovely daughters Kailah and Ashley.

of The Spinners

When Ronnie “Raheem” Moss was growing up in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, he probably never dreamed that one day he would become part of one of the biggest soul music groups of all time.

But his talent as a singer and percussionist made his name grow in the region, and as a young man he landed a position in a latter day version of the legendary group The Velvetones. He then took his percussion skills to help several jazz bands, including Masterpiece and Orange Lake Drive.

Ultimately, Ronnie moved to Atlanta and joined Sol Factor, one of the region’s most popular backup bands, while also recording his solo music on the side. One of the artists who knew and respected Ronnie’s great talent was Spinners member Marvin Taylor, and when the group’s co-founder Bobby Smith died in 2013, Ronnie became a member of the legendary act, a position he still holds today.

Working with The Spinners has been a great opportunity and learning experience.

I have been blessed to have worked with such talented young men and we have bonded like family. The greatest reward is

working with each member and the legendary Henry Fambrough. Traveling all around the country and even globally meeting diverse cultures and people of people that really appreciate us as the spinners, is amazing. The truth is, this group can prosper and continue for many years to come.

Ronnie is one of the lead singers, with The Spinners, with in and out vocals on many of the songs. Ronnie also has his own music, and he is releasing a brand new album, working with producer John Carey. The lead single is a song on which a cool groove and Moss’s impressive vocal range will get the folks in Chicago, Detroit, and all of the other steppers’ cities moving.

It’s called ““Keep On Stepping” by Ronnie Moss to SoulTracks!

Quoting Ronnie, what makes us so unique is our adherence to tradition and vocal harmonies, with an ever-changing yet current 2021 sound. We made it through a tough year when virtually no one could perform live. But we took that time to record our new album, “Round The Block and Back Again”. Now that we have started and finished a great wonderful album, it’s time to get back to the top of the Charts!

of The Spinners

REACH HIGHER IN LIFE AND LOVE Join Kesha as she shares her very transparent journey; from feeling depressed after an extremely difficult divorce, dealing with suicidal thoughts during her darkest times, feeling alone, defeated and like the ultimate failure to becoming a confident woman of faith. Her desire is to share her process by incorporating 7 tips to help you identify who you are, determine what it is you desire and deserve, with hopes that you begin to journey to achieve the very best life has to offer. Join Kesha as you pursue your journey to reach higher in life and love! “Available on Amazon

Roger Louis Kennedy was born in Chicago Heights Illinois and raised in Dixmoor Illinois by his 2 beautiful parents Joe and Phyllis Kennedy who have been married for 58 years.

Roger also has a loving brother Terry Kennedy and four great children 1 son Kaylon and 3 daughters Amber, Taylor, and Zaria. It's been a tremendous journey for Roger Louis Kennedy because he had to emotionally rebrand himself after being married for the first time for 21 years and eventually got remarried to his now-wife Dr.Frederica Kennedy of 8 years.

It's all about being mentally sound and rigged to deal with life's adversities as pitfalls present themselves in your life. The beautiful thing about adversity is it will either make you or break you and in Mr. Kennedy's case it made him a stronger and more brilliant minded individual creatively, Mr. Kennedy has always been an outside the box thinker even as a child he was creating and inventing things all while maintaining good grades and working a job.

The greatest thing that Mr. Kennedy understands is that life is not always easy and most of the time people around you won't celebrate you or your success in life.

It's very important that you always believe in yourself at all times because your biggest critics will be the closest people in your circle. I think that's what makes Mr. Kennedy so brilliant in his thoughts because he was able to take his mindset to another level and become a 2 time published book author, Inventor, and worldwide youth mentor all while maintaining a healthy mindset and a stable view of what direction that he's headed in. It's a lot to be learned from Mr. Kennedy because he has truly rebranded himself emotionally and taken his mindset and creativity to a higher level.

The simple notion is that Mr. Kennedy has countless friends from NBA stars. NFL stars, Grammy award-winning music industry stars, and countless other highly successful individuals in multiple industries in his powerhouse circle. The sky is truly the limit for Mr. Kennedy because he has multiple businesses and he has a major film deal in the works from the title of his 2nd book 50 reasons and more why some black men might cheat. The bottom line is that Mr. Kennedy wants everyone to realize their full potential in life and never take a backseat to anyone that doesn't understand you creatively.

What Do You Know About Prostate Cancer?

Most people know the significance of a red ribbon – AIDS awareness; Pink Ribbon Breast cancer. How about a skyblue ribbon, drawing a blank? Most people do. Sky blue signifies Prostate Cancer Awareness. While not as wellknown as AIDS or Breast cancer, it can be just as deadly.

The prostate is a gland just below the bladder and is the size of a walnut. Its primary purpose is to produce seminal fluid. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer.

Risk factors include family history and age. African American men are also more likely to develop prostate cancer than other races. Prostate cancer is usually, though not always, slow growing.

In its initial stages, prostate cancer can have few, if any symptoms. Most early symptoms involve urination problems: frequent urination, especially at night; weak urine stream; pain or burning during urination (or ejaculation); or difficultly starting or stopping the urine stream.

Prostate cancer can usually be detected early by conducting a blood test called the PSA, which stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen and is a protein made by the prostate gland. Another way to find prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam, which most men find distasteful. Though neither of these tests is a foolproof method of detecting cancer, and indeed may even show false positive results, testing is still recommended to men over the age of 50. Earlier screening may be recommended if there is a family history of prostate cancer in the patient’s father or brothers. As men age, their risk for developing prostate cancer will rise, with 66% of prostate cancer diagnoses occurring after age 65.

Prostate cancer is complicated, and diagnosis isn’t always easy. Men should talk with their doctor to determine if the risks of screening outweigh the benefits

Charles D. Clark is an American-born multi-award winning professional SAGAftra actor known for his “Bad Boy” role in the FOX hit show Empire as one of Shine’s main Goon Enforcers. Charles has also played various Detective roles on hit true crime series that aired on TV One, ID Channel along with being in several upcoming big screen and indie films .

His latest appearance will be in Will and Jada Pinkett Smith new movie "Charm City Kings" which is on HBO Max. Charles has an extensive resume that is destined to continue to expand into being the next star in Hollywood .

Outside of acting Charles is also a multi-award winning transformation speaker empowering lives worldwide through his powerful and lifechanging testimony.

Stay tuned…Charles D. Clark is the newest face in Hollywood known for always giving God the glory!

www.crowndfashions.com

John Momplaisir is an author, inspirational speaker, relationship coach and minister.

He was born in Neptune, New Jersey and raised in Port-AuPrince, Haiti and Miami, Fl. John grew up in a Christian home where he was taught the importance of integrity, respect, and excellence.

Even at a very young age many of John's peers were drawn to him for advice, however the gift was fully realized when others started scheduling him to speak at church events without his knowledge. Although, there was no preparation for speaking at the time many found his spontaneous messages to be empowering, motivating and inspiring.

In 2009 John was licensed and ordained as a pastor and served as an associate and youth pastor at a local church. In 2012 he earned his bachelors degree in Biblical Studies/Theology.

John Momplaisir is known for his empowerment conferences, and for being a social media influencer. John is the Founder and Ceo of John Momplaisir, LLC. and the Founder of the Non-Profit Love, Faith, & Grace Charities, Inc. He has a ministry for the broken-hearted and is a promotor of love. Most importantly, John Momplaisir is a devoted father of his two gorgeous daughters, Anecia and Heaven Momplaisir.

Synopsis: Magical Falling Raindrop ( The Bucket) 8 year old Kelvin is a dreamer.

In a particular vivid dream, Kelvin thinks raindrops are magical, but he later realizes it’s not the raindrops that are magic, but the bucket he was using to catch them.

A story from years ago unfolds as Kelvin recalls how he attended a magic show.

The magician called him onstage and gifted him with a bucket.

Kelvin’s parents soon forget about the bucket as it collects dust in the garage, but Kelvin uses it to collect raindrops.

Kelvin then realizes that he’s had magic all along with his magical bucket.

Available on: Amazon.com; Target.com ;Books A Million.com; Barnes And Noble.com and Walmart.com

Dr. Oliver T. Reid is a multi-bestselling and award-winning author, motivational speaker and the founder & president of I Am a Solution Consulting Firm, LLC; a human development organization providing specialized relationship

consulting and coaching services. Known as “The Writing Coach”, he uses cutting edge writing coaching techniques to help Entrepreneurs, Speakers, and Coaches , while leading them to live into their highest potential.

In addition, he is the creator of the revolutionary interactive card game for singles and couples, The InnerView™.

Within the past seven years, Dr. Reid has published 25 bestselling books, contributed to 10 anthologies, and has won multiple

awards for his literary work, including the 2016 IALA Distinction of Excellence Legendary Honoree and NAACP 20162017 Black Men Image Award. Dr. Reid has been featured on HuffPost, Black Enterprise, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC

Classy Moves Productions looks forward to assisting you with your entertainment needs. Remember that we can provide the following services: DJ, MC, Event Host/Hostess, Hospitality, Ballroom and line dancing needs. Services offered can be combined or customized to fulfill your event needs.

We at Community Grant Connectors are a unique concept with a true partnership with the community we serve. Our platform will be structured to your organization’s needs.

Grant Research, Grant Design-Writing, Partner coordination, Grant Management team.

Director of Administration/Project Management

Director of Funding & Partnerships

More information contact us at: infor@CommunityGrantConnectors.com (623) 231-7767 Community Grant Connectors

ILL McNEIL is as the founder and CEO of Black Tech Jobs. Will has held multiple senior sales leadership positions as a Director, Vice President, and Senior Vice President. He has launched/co-founded 7 different companies, the first when he was only 8 years old. His professional background spans a 20 plus year career in telecommunications, insurance, financial services, automotive, digital media, and technology.

Will is a 9-year veteran of the United States Army, which allowed him to attend college on the GI Bill. As the grandson of a sharecropper, he’s a huge advocate of hard work. He is a father of 4 and has been a resident of Chicago for over 20 years.

He is deeply connected to Chicago’s African American community and makes most of his community investments mentoring young people at both the K- 12 and collegiate level and advocating for tech career building for adults in the black community.

In his spare time, you can find him on the golf course. On a good day, he can drive the ball straight over 300 yards

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND DIABETES Diabetes affects 2.7 million African Americans. Studies show that minorities are more likely to develop complications from diabetes. African Americans tend to eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, sugars and starches. They also eat less fruits and vegetables, and more fried foods than other demographic groups.

TYPE 1 & 2 Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) accounts for 5% of people, it is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin which is needed to convert starches, sugar and other foods for daily energy.

Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance) is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly and makes extra insulin to compensate. Eventually, your body cannot make enough insulin to maintain blood glucose at normal levels. Higher than normal blood glucose levels are called hyperglycemia.

COMPLICATIONS When African American men have diabetes, they are more likely to develop more serious complications including cardiovascular disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, nerve damage, fungal infections, bacterial infections, dry skin, gangrene, erectile dysfunction and amputation. African American men are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to experience amputated limbs than any other race.

SEXUAL HEALTH Men with poorly controlled diabetes are more likely to have sexual issues. One of the biggest causes for these sexual issues is erectile dysfunction. More than 50 percent of men who have diabetes for more than 10 years have erectile dysfunction. Other concerns are low levels of testosterone, decreased libido, depression and premature ejaculation.

PREVENTION Diabetes can be controlled with exercise, weight loss, monitoring blood-sugar and medication. Preventive care necessitates a low-cholesterol, low-fat, and high fiber diet, regular exercising and check-ups from your physician. Avoid alcohol, smoking and stress. Don’t let diabetes control your life. Control your diabetes. You can beat diabetes! A healthy man is a better man.

Drummer and Author Wes Watkins has carved his place in the musical landscape of the Washington, D.C. area by playing for R&B, Gospel, Rock, Jazz, Neo Soul, Hip- Hop, Blues and legendary Go-Go bands. Born in Baltimore and raised in Severn Md. Watkins, Former Drummer and Musical Director for Grammy Nominated artist Carolyn Malachi, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Walker Redds Project, and his band Got My Own Sound, was inspired by watching and imitating the awe inspiring dexterity of his father’s drum style.

He recalls tossing his drumsticks in the air and watching drum videos as a kid, perfecting his performance as well as his sound. By age 7, Watkins was noticed by Richard Smallwood and asked to play for his music workshops at his church “Argone Hills. At this time, Watkins realized music was his passion and what he wanted to spend his life pursuing.

Watkins was heavily influenced by Go -Go-- a style of music established in Washington, D.C., heavy in percussion where the drummer drives the beat with the conga player. At age 9, the enterprising young drummer organized his first band at school creating his own experience. Watkins did his first International Drum Clinic in Amsterdam at the Drumland Music Store, with over 100 people in attendance to watch him take to the stage to perform, speak, and field questions.

Wes has had the pleasure of working with many artists. Greats like The

Fabulous Thunderbirds, Grammy Nominated Artist Carolyn Malachi, Recording Jazz artist Marcus Johnson, Saxophonist Brian Lenair, Eddie Baccus Jr., Koryn Hawthorne, Travis Greene, Chrisette Michele, David Correy, Sirius Company, Temika Moore, Ten Commandments, Project 71, Lissen, Familiar Faces, Faycez You Know, Northeast Groovers, What? Band and Backyard Band.

Watkins has had the opportunity to tour the world with The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Carolyn Malachi.

Wes Watkins has released three albums and two books since 2016.

First album titled Got My Own Sound released in February of 2016. The single titled Sky, featuring Carolyn Malachi, was produced and arranged

by Watkins along with the help of Branden Jacobs and written by Carolyn Malachi.The second album “Welcome To Our World” released in 2018 and the third album “Out Of Love” dropped in 2019. Preparing to release the latest album in March of 2021 entitled Moonshine Music is highly anticipated. In 2019 Wes released his first book “The Life That Created My Own Sound” speaking on his past addictions to alcohol, depression, suicide and how changed his life to move forward. Following his first book he wrote a second book “Motivation+Drive=Purpose”. In this latest book Watkins explains how he found the Motivation, Drive and Purpose to respond to his “Why” in Life and accomplish his goals and Vision in life.