Unite Jan 2018

December Unite Page 12

January 2018 Volume 28/ Number 1 • A Monthly Publication by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc •

www.unitenewsonline.org

UNITE. Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community

Springfield NAACP MLK March & Celebration Event Springfield, MO—The Springfield NAACP will hold their annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Celebration Monday, January 15, 2018. The march will begin at 9:00 am at the Mediacom Ice Park and end at the Gillioz Theatre. The program will begin at the Gillioz once the marchers arrive. This year Continued on Page 2

Celebrate The 21st SGF Multicultural Festival, Jan 15th Springfield, MO—Unite of Southwest Missouri, presents the 21st Annual Springfield Multicultural Festival. The event will be held January 15, 2018 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall, 525 John Q. Hammons Pkwy., 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information go to: www.smfinfo.com

Presented by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc.

Community resources to create a system that helps move people to prosperity By Francine Pratt Unite Contributing Writer

job-training program led by the Ozark Region Workforce DevelSpringfield MO— Prosper opment Board and it is adminisSpringfield builds relationships tered through the Missouri Job and aligns community resourcCenter. The Academy’s goal is es to create a system to create job training that helps move opportunities for 1,000 people to prosperity. individuals over the Every month, we will next three years in provide the commumanufacturing, connity with information struction, transportaabout resources and tion/logistics, Informaservices available tion Technology, and Francine Pratt in Springfield. This health care industries. month we feature the The Academy is new Change 1,000 Skills Acaddesigned to close the skills gap emy. Change 1,000 is a new and create career pathways for

individuals who have limited skills because they have been unemployed or under employed or have not had access to good jobs and resources. The priority for the Academy is to recruit people who reside in northwest Springfield. Each class will have a maximum of 30 students with classes during the day and in the evening. The outcome of the Academy is for participants to become equipped with the skills needed to compete for good jobs that pay between $10 per hour and $17 per hour. Continued on Page 5

Springfield Symphony plans concert to celebrate African American experience By Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer

Springfield, MO— Kyle Wiley Pickett, his wife Alice, along with their two sons moved to Springfield, MO in 2013, where Pickett was named the eighth conductor of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Contributing writer, Lyle Foster interviews Kyle Pickett.

Kyle Wiley Pickett Conductor

R. Todd Payne, Vocalist

LF: How did you get interested in the symphony and when did you know this would be a career? KP:I grew up playing in the orchestra, but I wasn’t

one of those kids who always knew they would be a conductor. Sometime during college, I realized that I loved orchestral music and I wanted to make that part of my career, but I also knew that I am extremely extroverted and that spending my life in a practice room would be misery. I realized that conducting allows you to take your love of music and really Continued on Page 2

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MLK March

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the NAACP is collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for youth in our Springfield community, collection bins will be available at the ice park and the Gillioz Theatre. Doors will open at the ice park and the Gillioz at 8:00 a.m.

SGF Symphony continued from page 1

your love of music and really share it with people, both by performing it but also by talking about it and working as an ambassador for classical music to the community. How has your transition to Springfield, Mo been? Any surprises? We have been thrilled with the community of Springfield. It’s a great sized town, and we love that a community of this size can support a professional orchestra. What is your impression of our appetite in the Ozarks for the

symphony? It’s been tremendous to see our individual ticket record get broken every year since we’ve been here. It means that there is a great interest in what we’re doing at the Springfield Symphony and it just keeps growing every year. That’s awesome. We have heard rumors that the symphony is planning something in February that will coincide with African-American Heritage month? Can you share that with us please? We are welcoming Todd Payne back to our stage to join us for spirituals and songs that celebrate and honor the African-American experience. We will include an incredibly powerful and moving piece that sets the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream,” speech to music. Dr. Pickett, that really sounds exciting ...are there any other performances that are coming up that you would like to highlight for 2018? We are playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony this

March, which is always thrilling to hear live. In May we will be concluding the season with music from modern Broadway musicals, which will be lots of fun. We’ll be playing music from “Hamilton,” “Les Miserables,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” among lots of other contemporary Broadway hits. I have one question that is a just because question.....if someone has never been to the symphony before any words of advice? Just come and enjoy it! We have a great audience of many ages and backgrounds. You can come in a sparkly dress or jeans. You can go

have dinner downtown before the concert and make it an evening with friends or just go and take in the music on your own. I guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience and everyone can get something out of hearing live orchestral music played by members of their community right here in their community. Last question......what is your New Year's resolution? How about for the symphony? My New Year’s Resolution is to continue to program music that appeals to a broad Springfield audience, and to try to continue to reach out to let everyone know that this is their symphony.

Springfield Black History Moment This photograph from 1962 shows the Central High School basketball team. At the center of the action is 6 foot 6 inch center Manny Oliver. He would later go on to play for the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and travel the world entertaining millions of fans before returning to Springfield.

Fall into a Career at CU Fall is right around the corner. If you’re looking for a change then look no further than CU. CU offers jobs in a variety of fields and one may be the right fit for you. For more information about job opportunities and the benefits offered by CU, log on to cityutilities.net.

Provided by It is the policy of City Utilities to offer equal opportunity to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

City Utilities of Springfield • 301 East Central, Springfield MO • 417.863.9000 • cityutilities.net

History Museum On The Square

Open Monday ~ Saturday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm Adults $5 ~ Children $3 ~ Museum Members Free In our historic Fox Theatre at 157 Park Central Square, Springfield MO

Achieve Any Goal continued from page 10

It was a tragic moment when the coup happened, says Yeah Samake, mayor of the small town of Ouélessébougou, located approximately 40 miles from the chaos. “I came into my living room and completely collapsed on the couch. My wife came and kicked me. I couldn’t believe it. I told her, ‘I am looking for sympathy here. Why are you kicking me?’ She only said, ‘Get out there and go do something.’ ” Whether you get off the couch on your own or require a little nudge from somewhere else, the point is to get out there and do something. 4) You’ve got to want it more than you don’t want it. Everything will exact a certain price from you—energy, effort, patience, resources. It’s natural to want the good things in life without paying the price: You want to lose weight but don’t want to exercise or sacrifice your favorite foods. You want a promotion but don’t want to put in the extra hours. Success comes when you hit a tipping point and begin to desire your goal more than you dread the cost of reaching it. 5) Don’t let gravity pull you down. Just as massive planets produce gravity—drawing everything toward them—it seems that tough problems and challenging obstacles have enough mass to pull you away from getting what you want. This force gets bigger and stronger as the challenges get larger and tougher. Don’t give in. 6) Every breakthrough requires a bold stroke. Actor Jim Carrey grew up so poor that his family lived in a van after his father lost his job; at one point the Carreys slept in a tent on a relative’s lawn.

But Carrey believed in his own future and in the things that he wanted to accomplish in his life. As the story goes, one night early in Carrey’s struggling comic career, he drove his beatup Toyota to the Hollywood Hills and, while overlooking Los Angeles, pulled out his checkbook and wrote himself a check for $10 million. He scribbled in the notation line “For acting services rendered” and stuck it in his wallet. In that moment, Carrey cemented his personal resolve. Over the next five years, Carrey’s promise to himself led to worldwide fame. At the peak of his career, his per-film paycheck reached $20 million. When you discover your own internal power, you see that you have the right, the ability, even the obligation, to create your own best reality. 7) Ask for feedback. Soliciting advice and criticism from others creates accountability. For this to work, you will need to convince the mentor, friend, colleague or significant other whom you’re appealing to that you want to know what he really thinks. The evaluator needs to know that he won’t suffer any blowback if he is totally honest. Feedback is key to overcoming blind spots and achieving better results. 8) Ask yourself, Am I a renter or an owner? We care more for the things we own than for the things we rent because we don’t have as much invested in things that are temporary; there’s not as much at stake. Have you ever washed a rental car? Of course not. When you own something— whether it’s a car, a work assignment or a relationship—you make an investment, usually involving some degree of sac-

rifice. When you rent, you can walk away without losing anything. If you’re really committed to achieving your goal, go all in. 9) Prepare to move a lot of dirt. Finding solutions is just like digging for gold. Have you seen the Discovery Channel reality show Gold Rush? It follows the lives of modern-day miners as they compete against time, one another and nature in hopes of striking it rich. First the miners must remove a top layer of 6 to 12 feet of dirt and rocks before the real mining even starts. Below this seemingly worthless and painful 6 to 12 feet, they hit pay dirt. The more pay dirt the miners process, the more gold they potentially find. In the end, they must move several tons of dirt to find just 1 ounce of gold. It’s hard work, but it yields rich rewards. Their bottom-line secret to success: Keep digging. 10) Make it happen! How do you do that? How do you really make personal accountability work for you? Wouldn’t it be easy if there were just some switch you could flip? An Easy Button you could push? Maybe an app you could use? Well, there really is a flipping magical switch-app-button. It’s called making a choice and acting on it. You have the choice to fulfill your aspirations or wallow in the blame game and victim cycle.

True success doesn’t come from the outside but from within. There is no wizard. Taking greater personal accountability is the key to succeeding in everything you do.

Affordable Housing Opportunities There are currently housing vacancies in the City of Springfield’s program for rental or home ownership. These programs include requirements for fair marketing and non-discrimination. You must be income eligible to qualify. For rental, call Marti Fewell, 417-864-1039 For home ownership, call LeeAnn Camey, 417-888-2020

Good News, Great Music & Warm People 2101 W. Chestnut Expwy. Springfield, MO 65802 (417) 865-4338

Service Times: Sunday 10:30 a.m. & Wednesday 6:00 p.m.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Health & Mental Fitness 10 Steps to Achieve Any Goal Accountability powers you toward your goals, and these guidelines for unleashing its power will get you over the rainbow to what you want. by Roger Connors and Tom Smith Heart. Intelligence. Courage. They’re all valuable traits, but they pale in comparison to what each of us needs most in the quest to total life success: Personal accountability is No. 1. We first introduced our powerful accountability philosophy to the world over two decades ago in a New York Times best-seller, The Oz Principle. Since then, millions of people have come to know us as “the Oz guys.” Why Oz? As it turns out, the perfect metaphoric backdrop for our timeless principles is a timeless story, one that we both loved as kids. Surely you will recall meeting Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s novel. All of the main characters are thrust into despairing circumstances beyond their control. A tornado rips Dorothy from her Kansas farm and hurls her against her will to a strange fantasy world. The Scarecrow lives a stagnant life amid corn and crows because his cre-

ator skimped on brains. The Tin Man is rusted in place, unable to act because he lacks the heart to move. And the lovable Cowardly Lion? He lacks courage and nerve, and therefore lives a life well below his potential. Feeling victimized by shortcomings and circumstances, the characters believe they cannot possibly change things on their own, so they set off on the yellow brick road to the Land of Oz in hopes of finding an all-powerful wizard who will solve all of life’s problems for them. At the heart of their message and ours lies this one simple principle: Don’t let your circumstances define who you are and what you do. In other words, don’t place the hope of future success in the hands of some wizard’s wand. Relying on someone or something to save you only brings a sense of victimization that paralyzes your abil-

ity to think clearly, creatively and quickly. Instead, take charge of shaping your own circumstances, and good, positive, game-changing things will begin to happen. Related: Use This Mind Game to Achieve Your Goals Whether you’re looking to make wholesale changes in your life or just want to fine-tune it a little, here are 10 guidelines—highlights from our newest book, The Wisdom of Oz—that will help you unleash the power of personal accountability to take ownership for your actions, decisions, successes and failures. 1) Redefine accountability. Does the mere mention of the word accountability make you shudder? The negative (and uninspiring) view of accountability is reinforced in the common dictionary definition: “Subject to having to report, explain or justify; being answerable, responsi-

ble.” Staying true to yourself and your goals should not be drudgery. You must view your accountability as a gift to yourself, a voluntary mindset to ensure success, not something you’re force-feeding yourself even though you hate it. 2) Think as if your life depended on it. When you shift to a determined, creative mindset, you begin to discover solutions for challenges that you may have believed were out of your control. If your life depended on it, would you come up with a new idea or strategy to save yourself? Absolutely. The goal you want to achieve or the problem you want to solve probably is not a lifeor-death scenario, but many creative solutions come when you put everything on the line. While your life may not be at risk, your happiness and success are. 3) When you can’t control your circumstances, don’t let your circumstances control you. On March 22, 2012, the state army of Mali stormed the presidential palace, overthrowing the western African country’s 20-year-old democracy. In the turmoil, Islamic militants took control of two-thirds of the country and crushed the upcoming democratic elections. continued on page 11

Community News

African American Authors Are Celebrated Year Round At The Library by Kathleen O’Dell, Springfield-Greene County Library District The African American ReadIn is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. The Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English established Kathleen O'Dell it in 1990 to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. The Library celebrates that diversity year-round through its collection from writers such as Zora Neale Hurston, who wrote in “Their Eyes Were Watching God:” “So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day.” The Library also joins the observance with programs for all ages. We invite you to explore some of this great literature and join us at these events. We’ll read stories by great African-American authors and illustrators during adult book discussions at branches and offsite locations, noted in Bookends and at thelibrary.org continued on page 5

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Unite: The Value of Family? by Gwen Marshall, SPS

Business

Top 5 Grants For Women Entrepreneurs by Carolyn M. Brown

Lifestyle & Entertainment News

Movie Review “Black Panther” by Lyle Foster

UNITE. Volume 28, Number 1 PUBLISHER Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. MANAGING EDITOR Samuel G. Knox CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lyle Foster Gwen Marshall Kathleen O'Dell John Sellars PHOTOGRAPHY Tondaleigha Jones

Health & Mental Fitness

10 Steps To Achieve Any Goal by Roger Connors and Tom Smith

GORMAN-SCHARPF FUNERAL HOME, INC

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(417) 886-9994 • Fax: (417) 1947 E. Seminole Springfield, Missouri 65804

City Employment Link The City of Springfield offers a variety of municipal career opportunities for individuals interested in public service. Job opportunities are updated each Friday and can be accessed through a number of mediums: Web: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/jobs; or TV: CityView on Mediacom Cable Digital Channel 80; or In Person: visiting our offices at 840 Boonville, Room 324, Springfield, MO 65802. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Individuals with disabilities should request reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act prior to testing or appointment. Proof of United States Citizenship/Authorization to Work in The United States as established by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 is a condition of employment. Pre-employment drug testing required.

VOLUNTEERS Tyra Knox Patrica Burton

The Unite. publication is a monthly newspaper published by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. Distribution of Unite. is by free circulation at various locations. However, request for home delivery by mail may be directed to Unite. P. O. Box 1745, Springfield, Missouri 65801 and accompanied by $25. for one year’s postage and handling. Those wishing to make a contribution or become a monthly sponsor should direct correspondence to the same address. Readers comments and questions are welcomed. The opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. “The Unite Publication in accepting advertising in this publication, makes no independent investigation concerning the services of products advertised and neither endorses nor recommends the same and assumes no liability therefore.” For further information, you can contact us at (417) 864-7444. Email: unitepublication@yahoo. com

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CommunityNews

SCT

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Unite: The Value of Family worked to attend to showing love and engaging in play. The Merriam-Webster dicHowever, nurturing relationtionary defines “family” as “the ships, spending time enjoying basic unit in society each other and worktraditionally consisting ing to maintain the of two parents rearing values and standards their children; also: any we hold dear would be of various social units of great benefit to our differing from but families. regarded as equivaSpending quality lent to the traditional Gwen Marshall family time builds family” for example, a strong family ties, makes “single-parent family.” Value, on life-long memories, and builds the other hand, is the quality or self-esteem and character in worth of a thing. According to our children. Spending quality Susie Duffy, Licensed Marriage time does not mean you have and Family Therapist “to comto spend lots of money. The bine the words ‘family’ and value is in the time itself that ‘value’ yields a reference to a you spend with your family. In traditional set of social stan“Family Time Rocks” Deanna dards defined by the family. Sletten shares five reasons to These standards include a hisvalue family time. tory of customs that provide the It builds self-esteem in children emotional and physical basis which increase their feeling of for raising a family: values reinself-worth. Activities, such as forced by our spiritual, social or taking walks, going for bike religious beliefs and traditions. rides or playing a game, are How children learn, grow, and inexpensive ways to enjoy each function in the world depends other’s company and build a lovgreatly on the foundational valing environment. ues they learn in their families.” It strengthens family bonds. As children grow, they are Families who enjoy group activexposed to the values of othities share a stronger emotional ers in places like school, playbond as well as an ability to grounds or social events and adapt to situations as a family. may become confused. It is up Family time is an opportunity to to the parent to redirect and put your devices on pause and remind them of the importance share hobbies, read books, or of respecting and valuing othwhich a movie together. ers. Psychologist Erik Erikson It develops positive behaviors. has identified the three basic According to a study by the needs in life as work, love, and University of Minnesota chilplay. If asked, most of us might dren that spend more time with say the family comes first, but their parents are less likely to how do we measure up in the experiment with drugs, alcohol, areas of work, play, and love? and engage in negative behavMany times we are too overior. A simple thing like sharing By Gwen Marshall Unite Contributing Writer

meals together lowers the risk of unresolved family conflict which leads to other problems. It creates happy memories. Children with happy family memories tend to grow up to create a loving environment for their children. The best lesson a child can learn is how to learn, work, and play with others. These lessons are usually learned in the family unit and help our children grow to be competent adults and parents. It helps parents and children

2018 ACT Registration ACT Registration Deadlines: January 12, 2018 ACT Test Dates: February 10, 2018 ACT Late Fee Required January 13-19, 2018 Up Coming Events: MLK Jr. Day January 15, 2018 (School System Closed)

reconnect. Most of our lives are hectic, and no household has the same schedule. Spending family time is an opportunity to reconnect. It is a perfect time to engage in family conversation and model life lessons like fairness, empathy, and compassion without conflict. The configurations of families may vary, but one thing that never changes is the importance and value of the family unit. Now is a good time to reinforce the power of the family, for as the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius noted: “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”

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First Chance Screening of NEW Marvel Black Panther Movie Springfield, MO—The Sigmas of Springfield under Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated invite students, the public, media and guests to join in this first chance screening of Marvel’s Black Panther Movie. This special screening is scheduled for Thursday, February 15th at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in Springfield, Missouri. The evening will begin at 6:00 pm with a brief reception

before the film. At the reception guests can enjoy raffles, door prizes and drinks at a cash bar. The film will be shown at 7:00 pm. Marvel’s Black Panther movie is a groundbreaking action film about a superhero who returns home to his technologically advanced African nation after the death of his father. He battles several forces while trying to take his place as heir to the continued from page 5

were the biggest names in show business: Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway, Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Cher, Ryan O'Neal, Nick Nolte, Mike Nichols, Gore Vidal, Bob Fosse…If her clients were the talk of the town, she was the town, and her dinner parties were the envy of Hollywood. Now, you're invited into her glamorous Beverly Hills home for an evening of dish, dirty secrets and all the inside showbiz details only Sue can tell you in John Logan's play I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue

Mengers, starring Leslie Ballew (Mornings at Seven) and directed by Gretchen Teague. I'll Eat You Last plays January 12-21, 2018. Director Melanie Dreyer-Lude and actress Sarah Wiggin (Good People) return to SCT with the poetic and stirring Grounded. From award-winning playwright, George Brant, comes the story of an ace fighter pilot whose career in the sky is ended early due to an unexpected pregnancy. Reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns to her family

each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries begin to blur between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away. Grounded plays January 19-28, 2018. The festival culminates with Here, There and Everywhere. Created from a collaboration with five international dance artists working in Scotland, dancer/choreographer Ruth Barnes takes Center Stage in a solo dance evening. This dance performance first premiered at Dance Base in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2013 and has subse-

Restaurant Review: “FD's Grillhouse” By Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer

Springfield, MO—Well, this one escaped me and part of it is the location. So I felt I would write about it in case you missed it too and it has some pretty good food. Now we just finished all of the Thanksgiving fixins and Christmas holiday meals the reality is that we still go out. And sometimes we go out because we have gotten tired of looking at all of the food around the house or we just need a break from all of the cooking demands. Springfield as we all know is full of restaurants and some of them are great and the scene keeps changing and reinventing itself. Tucked off of South Campbell just past James River freeway is FD’s Grillhouse. The ambiance is very well done with a combination of wood finish and muted tones to give a sophisticated feel yet warm and inviting. A combination of booths and tables provide the seating choices and the wait staff are prompt and attentive which makes me happy. No attitudes here everyone wants to do their job and make sure you enjoy your meal.

The menu provides a reasonable selection without being too overwhelming that you don’t know what to do. I like the menu a lot as a lot of my restaurant favorites are on it. Yes I did do the calamari but also the catfish and the second time some more seafood. They bill themselves as a seafood restaurant and the prices and portions are both reasonable. But they also have great steak and ribs and chicken and pasta. I can attest to the other categories as on both occasions I was with a group and they were all very happy with the

quality, the taste and the portion. I am a bit embarrassed to say my catfish was fried but will have to tell you it was good and at least for that night I was glad that it was. On each of my visits the guests with me also enjoyed their seafood and pasta dishes and found them to be just what they were expecting. I have had the tossed salad, fries, baked potato and broccoli. They were all cooked to order and very plentiful portions. And yes that is one of the nice surprises about the restaurant as the portions

quently been seen in Brooklyn, Connecticut and California. We are thrilled to bring SCT collaborator Ruth Barnes to our audiences in this special dance event. Here, There and Everywhere plays January 26-28, 2018. Tickets for productions in the Missouri Solo Play Festival are priced $22 for Adults and $20 for Seniors (55 and over) and students. Also tickets are available for all four festival shows for $64 per person. Tickets can be purchased at SpringfieldContemporaryTheatre .org or by calling 417-831-8001.

are plentiful and depending on your appetite you may be taking some of your food home. I found the meal to be very filling and prepared quite well. I was also more than impressed with the servers as they were pleasant without being overbearing. In fact a manager stopped by an at least one other person inquired if everything was ok. I felt like they meant it and it worked. I went back and I am not ashamed to say another time as well because it’s a good quality place and a welcome addition to the culinary scene in Springpatch. In fact the last time that I went I saw some Unite readers in the house and then I knew it has caught on because the northside folks were on the southside (lol). Again, the first time you go you may have to look for it but once you find it you will be glad an chances are that you will go back again and again. Oh and a word to the wise on Friday and Saturday evenings you may have to wait for a seat and Sundays after the church. But the wait is not too bad. This might be a new favorite to place on your list to check out in 2018! And Blessed new year to all! 4 forks!

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Arts&Entertainment News

Prosper Springfield continued from page 1

Movie Review: “Black Panther” on February 16. Well yes, just in time for African-American heritage month we get to see Hahaha!.....Maybe you can our super hero all calm colfeel the giddiness or the excitelected and with a room full of ment but let me tell you the swagger. buzz is in the streets for the first No we have not seen it yet black superhero……and you but I can tell you that the press have to love the fact and the anticipation is that black is in the palpable as folks are planname of the hero! ning screening parties I am sure many of and going in groups and you like me grew up have it in their calendar with the comic books to see it more than once. and of course, the TV The previews and trailers shows and later the have been rock solid and Lyle Foster movie installments do you mind if I say it; of all of your favorite the film has a whole lot super heroes and well yes they of folks of color, as you know were all white. This is not a Black Panther has an alter ego prejudicial statement but rather that is a ruler of an advanced a reality of what our experience African nation by day. Yes an was. I would imagine that more African nation so that means than a few of you thought back you will get to see a lot of folks to those days and wondered if and a lot of cultural portrayals we would ever have a superhero so it is going to be on y ’all. I that looks like us. It was almost hope they don’t throw me out as distressing as waiting for a for talking back and acting as if United States president that I have lost my mind. However, looked like us and we finally got if y ‘all see me just remember one….and well our other prayer we have been waiting a long has been answered, as Black time for this and so we have to Panther will burst on the scene show some love and support By Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer

were real movies and they had for the super hero. Of course, an element of heroic to them as this is Marvel getting the credit they were larger than life and and the money that is going to we got so excited to see them come from this film. Yes, I preand established a place in Black dict it will be highly successful movie history for this genre of and unless we have a February film. Midwest blizzard or an East Finally, the Coast N’easter list of actors is we will be out in too numerous to mass to check it name but suffice out. it to say that a lot Now what of your favorites folks are saywill be on the ing is that in big screen and some ways this everyone should is a natural be happy. Well, and somewhat okay I will menexpected evotion a few. How lution of black about Chadwick heroes since Boseman (Black the days of the Panther), Blackploitation Warner Brother Pictures 2017 Michael B. movies….some Jordan, Angela of you are too young to even Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, know what they were but those Florence Kasumba and Forest were the closest we had to Whitaker (and many others)! superheroes in the past and So this it the teaser column we had to work with what they but in the meantime support gave us. Lift your hands if you your local movie house and get remember Shaft, Cleopatra in the habit for 2018. Jones, the Mack, Super Fly A blessed new year to everyand Foxy Brown. I am almost one! laughing as I write this but they

SGF Contemporary Theatre Presents “Walking Toward America” By Rick Dines Unite Contributing Writer

SCT's third annual Solo Festival kicks off January 5 with performances playing weekends throughout the month of four shows in rotation. This year's festival brings us four stories of

strong women. The series opens with Walking Toward America. Ilga Vise, a longtime Springfield resident, is brought to the stage by another Springfield native, Annie Meek-Montgomery in a new play by former Drury playwright-in-residence Sandy Asher. At the center of

her narrative is the winter of 1944–1945, when 10-year-old Ilga and her parents leave Latvia to escape the Russian occupation of their city. Soon they are taken into a German forced-labor camp and, eventually, walk 500 miles across frozen, war-torn northern Germany, survive strafing by

Russian planes and find their way to a refugee camp in western Germany. Later sailing through an Atlantic storm to safety and freedom in America. Walking Toward America plays January 5-14, 2018. Next up, for more than 20 years, Sue Mengers' clients continued on page 9

There are four phases for the Skills Academy: Soft Skill Training, Technical Skill Training, Job Readiness and Job Placement. Students will also earn certified and accredited competencies and complete training in Personal and Business Finance, Family Support, Mentorship Support Services, Personal Development, Health and Wellness, Barrier Removal and Remediation (when needed). Competencies in basic industrial safety, OSHA certification and basic computer skills will be offered as well. The Missouri Job Center has partnered with local colleges and training providers to develop the training materials. The Missouri Job Center will screen and make referrals to the industry partners and host hiring events to help connect graduates from the Academy to job opportunities. Some of the industry partners include Partnership Industrial Center East (PIC East), Buckhorn, Springfield Sign, Cintas, John Deere Reman and other businesses. For more information on this new program contact the Ozark Region Workforce Development Board located at 2900 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO 417887-4343 or the new Job Center located at 1443 N. Robberson (Cox North Tower), Springfield 417-874-2730. For more information about Prosper Springfield, contact Francine Pratt at 417-888-2020.

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Library

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under the Programs link. Here’s the list of children’s Racing to Read Storytimes: One World: Ash Grove Branch: Friday, Feb. 2, 9:30 a.m. for infants-age 6. Library Center • For infants-12 months: Monday, Feb. 5, 9:30 a.m. • For infants-36 months: Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6-7, 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. • For ages 3-6: Tuesdays, Feb. 6, 11:15 a.m. • For infants-age 6: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 11:15 a.m. Librar y Station: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 7 p.m.

for infants-age 6. Schweitzer Brentwood Branch: Saturday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for all ages. Midtown Carnegie Branch: Friday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. for infants-age 6. Strafford Branch: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. for infants-age 6. Willard Branch: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. for infants-age 6. Republic Branch: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. for infants-age 6. Fair Grove Branch: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. for infants-age 6. All ages are invited to join the Library and community partners for a celebration of African-American authors at the ninth annual African American

Read-In from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Springfield Art Museum, 1111 E. Brookside Drive. Participants will share music, dance, dramatic readings and original works that will appeal to all ages. Winners of the African American Read-In Poetry Writer's Workshop will be announced and perform their original compositions. Door prizes and refreshments will be provided. Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.

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throne. This highly anticipated film is groundbreaking because Black Panther is the first African-American superhero in a mainstream comic series. This film is also the first marvel movie to feature a predominantly black cast. Proceeds from this event will help support the organization and its various philanthropic endeavors throughout the year. Please join us in experiencing this revolutionary and highly anticipated film. We are excited to bring this film to the community before it opens to the public on Friday. To purchase tickets visit: blackpantherpremier.eventbrite. com ** TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE FEBRUARY 1, 2018**

8:00 AM—Doors open Mediacom Ice Park 9:00 PM—March begins March travels to Gillioz Theater Program begins after the March

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The BusinessSection

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5 TOP GRANTS OR FREE MONEY FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS by Carolyn M. Brown Black Enterprise Magazine Women are the growing face of business given that 30% of all U.S. businesses–9.4 million in total–are owned by women. Of which, 14% are controlled by black women who are generating $52.6 billion in combined revenues and employing 297,500 workers. With the number of women starting businesses continuing to skyrocket, the greater the need for access to capital to help grow and scale these businesses. Yet, women entrepreneurs continue to get shortchanged when it comes to getting bank loans, venture capital, and angel investments. To help ease this barrier, there are a number of grants available to small businesses. Here are five grants women business owners should consider: FedEx Opportunity Knocks –Small Business Grant Share your small-business story and enter for a chance to win the top prize–$25,000. There’s also one $15,000 winner and eight $7,500 winners. Part of the judging involves the general public voting for the finalists, so participants may promote their businesses while garnering votes. https://smallbusiness.fedex. com/grant-contest.html Miller Lite Tap the Future This business plan competition is a great way for new entrepreneurs with innovative

ideas to win capital for their companies in the form of prizes ranging from $5,000 to as much as $200,000 or more. This competition is aimed especially at minority entrepreneurs and is sponsored by MillerCoors. http://mltapthefuture.com/ Minority Business Development Agency The MBDA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that assists minorities and women in establishing and growing their businesses. On its site, you can research grants and access links to state agencies that work with women-owned businesses for funding opportunities. https://www.mbda.gov/page/ competition-archives National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants

This program allows business owners to apply for financing a particular small business need. Worth up to $4,000 each, past recipients used their growth grants to purchase computers, hire part-time help, and create marketing materials. http://www.nase.org/ become-a-member/ grants-and-scholarships/BusinessDevelopmentGrants.aspx The Amber Grant Foundation

Awards $500 to a different women-owned business every month. At the end of each year, one of the 12 grant winners is awarded an additional $2,000. The application is relatively simple: Applicants must explain what your business is and describe what you’d do with the grant money. The foundation’s advisory board chooses the winners, looking for women with passion and a good story.

https://ambergrantsforwomen.

Putting your dream to the test! Springfield, MO—The Monthly Minorities In Business Networking Event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 5:30 p.m. at the eFactory (Robert Plaster Free Enterprise Center), 405 N Jefferson Ave. Their program

will start at 6:00 p.m. The guest speaker will be: James Bonds, who is a John C Maxwell Certified Life Coach, will be speaking about "Putting your dream to the test! He will explore, "Is my dream continued from page 7

really a dream? Light refreshments will be provided. Parking is available in front of the building and James Bonds Life Coach also in Lot 47 (on Jefferson next door, north of the building). Feel free to bring a friend and lots of business cards! MIB Networking events are open to anyone who is interested in: • cultivating relationships with local minority business owners, • connecting with local business development resources or • seeking business opportunities in the City of Springfield, Missouri.

GET $30K TO BUILD YOUR IDEA Springfield, MO—Jumpstart your business idea with $30,000 from The eFactory's accelerator program. The 12-week program transforms early stage companies with resources, mentors, and more. Are you building the next big thing? Do it with help from The eFactory when you’re part of our in-house accelerator program. Our transformational twelveweek program is designed to jumpstart emerging companies with $30,000 in capital and unparalleled resources. What you get:

• $30,000 investment in exchange for 8% equity • 24/7 access to The eFactory • Dedicated office space • Free on-site parking • Unlimited access to five fully outfitted conference rooms • Free business consulting with SBTDC small business consultants • Dedicated mentors and industry pros • Introductions to follow-on funding • Free entry to all of The eFactory’s events and programming

HOW TO USE EFFECTIVE EMAIL MARKETING Springfield, MO— Did you know email is considered to be 40 times more effective at acquiring new customers than Facebook or Twitter? Capitalize on the power of effective email marketing with help from Allison Getty, Salesforce Certified Marketing Email Specialist at Torrent Consulting. Allison will share her tips on building beautiful campaigns

and growing your customer base over lunch at The eFactory on February 13. Registration is $10. Lunch will be provided. Attendance is free for members and partners of The eFactory. Use your 2018 discount code for free entry! For more information go to the eFactory facebook page and register to attend.

Applications are accepted: December 1, 2017; - February 28, 2018: Applications close; Accelerator program; May 14 – August 13, 2018: is Demo Day. For more information go to the eFactory facebook page and register to attend.

eFactory's January Speaker Series Springfield, MO—The eFactory's January Speaker Series features Tez Ward as he explores the Value in Numbers. Tez will focus on how to better understand the numbers that impact you and your organization through every phase of its life, from startups to exits. There is a $10 general admission. There is no cost for members and partners of The eFactory - use your 2018 discount code to get in free! Learn more about what investors care about and why. For more information go to the eFactory facebook page and register to attend.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Are you inspired to create a better future for yourself and others? If so, Missouri State has a place for you. With a campus community filled with diverse perspectives, voices and opinions, Missouri State is fulfilling its commitment to address the needs of a changing society.

Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Minority/Female/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity Employer and Institution. Employment will require a criminal background check at university expense.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? APPLY TODAY AND

www.jobs.missouristate.edu