Urban Sentinel (October & November 2021) - Stuart Yee

O C T | NOV 2 02 1 EDI T ION

STUART YEE Actor & Director

W W W. U R B A N S E N T I N E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

EDITORIAL

From The Desk of The Editor Reginald Kearney Editor

Corretta L. Doctor

Brandon J. Jolly

Business Manager

Layout Designer

It is October and fall is here, and I have notice that the days are getting shorter. It is great to know that in November we will be getting an extra hour of time as we move closer to the end of the year. Thanksgiving Day will soon be here and we will be enjoying each other while we visit friends and family. Oh! Let me not forget the great food that will be prepared for Thanksgiving Day. My friends and readers, please make sure to get your vaccinations, if you have not had a vaccination, please wear a mask. Even if you have had a vaccination, please wear a mask. We can beat this virus, but we need the whole village to help win the battle.

This month we are featuring Stuart Yee who is an actor, director, producer, and mentor who has been involved in the performing arts and meaningful activities from a very young age. Stuart is also an accomplished musician, martial artist and a person of interest. Since his retirement he has been focused on becoming an actor.

Bridgette Alfred

C. NaTasha Richburg

Writer

Writer

Claudia Newby-Tynes

Anita Davis-DeFoe

Writer

Writer

Dr. Sharon H. Porter Writer

Urban Sentinel Magazine Address: 102 Discovery Ct. La Plata, Maryland 20646 Phone: 301-661-3989 Editor Reginald Kearney Advertising Inquiries Phone: 301-661-3989 E-mail: reginald.kearney@marylanddailyexaminer.com Website: www.urbansentinel.com

2

This issue also features a plethora of great stories that are filled with heart- warming sentiments and words of encouragement. We are excited for you to turn each page and enjoy the articles from front to back.

We are striving to be a favorite magazine to readers around the world. We are reaching homes across nations and sharing stories of empowerment, inspiration and entertainment from the film, music and literary industries. In keeping with our broad approach to bringing you the very best information in a highly professional manner, we are striving to be the best.

We value the feedback from our readers because it helps us to grow. Please email us at reginald.kearney@marylanddailyexaminer.com with your feedback. If you would like to advertise with us, send an email with the word ‘Advertise’ in the subject line. Like us on FaceBook at The Urban Sentinel, follow us on Twitter at @ UrbanSentinel and you may follow us on Instagram at @theurbansentinel . Visit our website at www.UrbanSentinelMagazine.com .

I invite you to view our show, ‘Urban Sentinel Live’, which can be viewed on Facebook @UrbanSentinelLive on Monday nights at 8:30pmET. It is a half hour show that features guests that have been featured in the Urban Sentinel magazine.

Thank you for your continued support. The Urban Sentinel magazine and talk show are great ways to share amazing stories about amazing talent. We thank you in advance for sharing our brand with your fans, family, and followers. We hope you enjoy all of the great stories in the October/November 2021 edition. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and don’t eat to much.

SUMMARY

8

Lasheika C. Boyd

Dr. Elaine Stevens

36

Dr. Anita Davis-Defoe

28

4

Baltimore Love

8

Save Your Relationship

11

21st Century Business Management

14

Living With HIV During the Covid-19 Pandemic

16

Principles for Kingdom Living

18

The Improvement and Development of Business in Guyana

22

Stuart Yee

24

T.R.M Howard: Mississippi’s Courageous Civil Rights Entrepreneur

28

Dr. Elaine Stevens

32

The Power of Financial Literacy

36

How Am I Living?

38

2021 Technology Trends

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

3

BALTIMORE LOVE the smallest towns to the largest cities.

by ARLETTE THOMAS-FLETCHER for urban sentinel

I grew up in Baltimore City and it was an exciting place with friendly people. In my neighborhood everyone looked out for each other. The parents would discipline you verbally if you did something wrong and you would change your behavior out of respect for the adult. If you got into a fight with someone by day’s end you were friends again. We were taught to show brotherly love and kindness to one another whether we agreed with each other. All the neighbors on our street knew what was going on in the community and they cared. If someone was struggling, then they would help that family but often no one knew about it. If there was crime in our community, we worked together to keep it out. If there was someone that needed a job, many times somebody knew about a lead for a position and shared it with them. We were a “village” neighborhood community, that cared about the people we shared our lives with every day. I loved my neighborhood and Baltimore.

Today, the city that I love is hurting because of crime, violence, and the lack of jobs. Unfortunately, Baltimore is known for the riots that happened after the unjust situation that caused the death of Freddie Gray in 2016. It was a tremendous heartbreak for the residents of Baltimore. The city has been historically known for its high murder rate. In 2019, Baltimore’s homicide rate was recorded at 348 homicides.

Our city’s crime rate is 71 per one thousand residents, which makes us have one of the highest crimes rates in America in comparison to other communities of all sizes focusing from

4

The communities are trying to ban together to help get these things under control. However, job opportunities are in dire need in our communities. This will give our youth an alternative to negative influences. As a young person, I had summer jobs to supplement me. Also, when I was an older teen, I worked in fast food restaurants to earn wages.

Our youth are at risk if we don’t assist them in providing the resources for securing employment that pays a good wage.

The youth also need an education that assists them in gaining skills which will guide them to obtaining higher employment positions. Living in an at-risk environment breeds violence and frustration in the people who are affected by it. It is so easy to point a finger at the negative aspects of our city and talk about how difficult circumstances are in solving its problems with crime and violence.

When you look at cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore they are known for being cities with the highest murder rate in the United States. These three cities have had so much crime and violence to face that it may seem very bleak at times. The hope is that these cities work with prevention, intervention, enforcement, and reentry programs to bring crime rates down. Memphis is another city that is known for being a violent city and having difficulties with bringing crime down in their communities. However, the city of Memphis had a federal team tour the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Courts with the objective of diverting low-level offenders.

The city is still having problems but has been able to operate its detention center at approximately 40% of their available cells. Memphis has also developed a prevention model that has a goal of raising awareness in prenatal and early childhood programs that strengthen families and improve parenting skills. While it takes time to see a change in our communities, we must unite our forces to fight against the crime and violence utilizing all possible resources to stop this

issue.

Baltimore has had so many positive people come out of our communities. Edgar Allen Poe was a writer, poet, editor, and literary critic was known nationally for his poem “The Raven”. Billie Holiday, was a legendary recording artist that recorded with record labels such as Columbia records. She was known for great songs such as “Carelessly”, “God Bless the Child”,” Summertime”, and her historic song “Strange Fruit” which focused on her fight against lynching’s. Barry Levison is a film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor known for films such as “The Natural”, “Good Morning Vietnam”, “Bugsy”, “Rain Man” and “Wag the Dog”. Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer, civil rights activist, and an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was the first African American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice in United States history.

Elijah Cummings was a politician and civil rights advocate that devoted his life to service in the United States House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th congressional district for twenty-three years. George Herman “Babe” Ruth had a career in baseball which lasted for twenty-two years. He played as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and outfielder for the New York Yankees. David Hasselhoff is an actor, singer, producer and television personality that set the Guinness World record for being the most watched man on Television.

He was known for his role on “Young and The Restless” and as Michael Knight on the “Knight Rider”. Jada Pickett Smith

is an actress, screenwriter, producer, talk show host and singer-songwriter who is known for her role in “A Different World”, “The Nutty Professor”, “The Matrix, Gotham”, and “Girl’s Trip”. She also is known for her talk show “Red Table Talk” that she does with her mother and daughter. There are so many more talented and inspirational people that have come out of Baltimore. Clearly this shows that with the right support, success can happen for anyone from Baltimore.

Each of these people came from different communities in Baltimore and were able to overcome their struggles to become a success.

Boston and Salinas have had success in reducing crime and violence due to their work with inner city youth and gangs.

This achievement has allowed them to reap the benefits of their comprehensive strategic plan that pulled together prevention, intervention, enforcement, and reentry programs. They also enlisted the services of federal agencies to receive interagency technical assistance while working together to support efforts on a local level. Each city has a different focus and approach to decreasing crime and violence in their communities. The city of Boston was selected by former President Barack Obama’s Administration to work with the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Mayor Thomas M. Menino has collaborated with the community working to develop strategies to provide early detection of

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

5

trends and patterns that can prevent violence and other high-risk behaviors. This administration focused on giving a stipend for employment for youth with criminal histories and targeting job skills training, employment readiness and apprenticeships to offer positive alternatives for youth achievement. The city of Salinas has developed a youth violence prevention team that focused on reducing the effects of violence that were witnessed by children in communities.

Salinas in collaboration with the federal government has reached out to first responders and given them resource tool kits to teach them how to communicate with young people who are at the scene of a violent crime.

6

Baltimore is a wonderful city and can utilize these same resources to assist inner city youth in having alternatives. It is a known fact that in the United States youth violence is a major public health concern. Homicide is considered the second leading cause of death among the younger generation, that shows an average age of 16 for youth victims daily. Our youth are the future of society, and we must invest in them if we want to change our culture. Today approximately 20 percent of high school students state they have been bullied in school. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) survey reports that 30 percent of high school students stated that

they have been in a physical fight. Further the CDC reports that more than 619,000 youth ages 10-24 were treated for injuries received from violence in emergency rooms in 2009.

These statistics prove that we have a problem all over our society with crime and violence, however it does not have to overwhelm us. We can change this paradigm from negative to positive by just working together with our communities to improve the world to come.

Reference: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/preventing-youth-violence/ forum-communities/boston/brief Reference: Crime in Baltimore Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_ in_Baltimore Reference:https://youth.gov/feature-article/cdc-awards-45m-preventyouth-violence-four-stryve-communities Reference: https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/blog/top100dangerous Reference : https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-city-rankings/mostviolent-cities-in-america

For More Information about Arlette Thomas-Fletcher go to https://www.arlettethomasfletcher.com/

Reference: https://www.moneygeek.com/living/safest-cities/

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

7

Save Your

Relationship

by Reginald Kearney for urban sentinel Relationships are not easy, but they do not have to be hard.

One source of inspiration comes from Author Lasheika C. Boyd, a North Carolina native that strives to prove that love can exist, even in a space that may seem inevitably barren, or empty of love.

Lasheika believes that men and women need to communicate in an unconventional way. The men and women often know what the real issues are in their relationships but find it arduous to put words to an already stressed situation. Lasheika’s writings focus on establishing deep rooted communication between couples that will garner results in understanding why they are faced with hurdles and how to overcome them.

Lasheika spent some time talking with a number of men on the topic of “cheating”. She carefully interceded and asked the questions that many women want to know, and all women need to know. Some may say that Lasheika treaded the line when asking the hard question of “why” but her upcoming new release, titled ’Top 20 Reasons Why Men Cheat’, will reveal a lot of the truth that women find hard to face when dealing with infidelity in their relationships.

Each chapter offers answers given by men from all walks of life, including clergy and everyday businessmen to high profile men. Keeping with the integrity of her book

8

premise: determining why men cheat, Lasheika gets straight to the point and responds to each man’s response with her opinion and a quote that sums up her thoughts on their individual reasons for cheating.

A lot of relationship books will tell you how to fix the problems of a relationship but not many address the root issue causing the couple to head towards dissolution. There is a popular choice to say, “let by gones be by gones”, but should we? Sweeping a negative and painful relationship issue under the rug will not teach a couple how to address it. If the issue arises again neither person will know how to handle it effectively and the tension surrounding the issue will continue to mount and work as a negative force against the union. The way to heal is to unfold all of the hurt and look for a way to resolve every area of life that the hurt touches. When you carry the weight of a broken commitment or lack of trust and passion in a relationship, others can see and feel the negative energy that emits from your spirit. Your hurt becomes problematic for those in your circle, especially when you have been carrying it around for a while. Think about it, can’t you tell when someone is carrying some unresolved issues within? It may not always be related to a marital problem or a relationship issue, but no matter the source of pain, it seeps out and effects more people than you know. Start with yourself. Save your relationship and if you cannot save your relationship, do what you can to save yourself emotionally.

the red flags. She is fair and balanced in her writings as she shares the truth as it is told by men that have no shame in sharing their truths. They tell it all and they tell it with the intention of hoping that where there is truth there is growth in the relationships that are broken.

Do you struggle with infidelity? Are you a man that is cheating or has cheated in your current relationship? Are you a woman that has been cheated on? Are you finding it difficult to rebuild trust? Do you blame yourself for your partner’s infidelity? Find time to sort through your situation and start by discovering the truth and addressing it fully. Be sure to assess your situation and address the entire issue by looking at the problem without blinders on. Seek relationship counseling, couples therapy, or consider going to a marital retreat where couples are taken out of their comfort zones and placed in a temporary setting to help them zero in on their issues.

Please follow Author Lasheika Craig Boyd on Instagram @ filterfreechronicles_podcast and stay tuned for her upcoming book, ’Top 20 Reasons Why Men Cheat’. And not to worry, she is already working on her next book, ’Top 20 Reasons Why Women Cheat’. The goal is to have healthy conversations that are healing and nurturing from the inside out.

Lasheika found herself in a painful relationship years ago, one that left her trying to figure and prove many things.

Lasheika tells us, “If I had this information (as found in my book) I would be better prepared for the fallout of a relationship that was not meant to be. Today, Lasheika shares her success story in finding and maintaining a healthy love life. Now happily married, she witnessed many friends and colleagues experience heartache with no idea of why their situations were worsening. In the upcoming book, Lasheika also shares insight on how women miss the signs and dismiss

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

9

10

21st Century

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

by Corretta Doctor for urban sentinel

I remember when management degrees were a hot topic and were viewed as a mark of success. Business Management certificates and degrees were once highly sought after. They were once qualifiers for an upper echelon career across a variety of industries. Businesses rely on human capital, and managing people is an integral part to any company’s infrastructure. The traditional terminology of management has shifted to a modern approach that suits to today’s technical advances and workforce culture.

Power, authority, responsibility and accountability are all signature attributes of an effective manager. In today’s modern workplace, leadership seeks individuals who are self-starters, motivated, and flexible. With the workplace restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a good time to brush up on the skills needed to meet the demands of today’s workforce. With or without a business degree, soft skills are becoming most important when learning to work through computer screens and phone lines. Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. Companies are looking at who you are and what interpersonal values you can add to their workforce while contributing to their revenue and growth. Critical thinking, public speaking, and problem solving are a few examples of soft skills.

Many jobs are remote. This presents two challenges, the managers have to learn how to manage differently, and the

employees have to learn how to work independently. The skills that are needed to manage others must now be applied to workers that are working with little to no interaction with an in person manager. Working from home sounds like an easy way to make a living, but it is not a “cake walk” and here is why. It requires a lot of discipline to be an effective remote worker. A remote worker has to be able to separate their home duties from their work duties by managing their work schedule to the same degree as if they were going into the office. It is easy to blur the lines between tasks for the home and tasks for the company when you are working from a spare bedroom or at the kitchen table. Often times an employee will do online shopping or work on household projects instead of dedicating their full scheduled hours to the company, but it is unethical to use company time to fulfill tasks that should be handled when you are off of the clock. If employees focus on controlling their performance and increasing their productivity to meet or exceed goals, they can measure their success. Some tools to help manage their day to day function as a remote worker are to maintain separate to do lists, one for the home and one for the office.

Ensure there is a dedicated and sufficient break time during the workday, so it is not tempting to randomly stop work to do tasks outside of work. Enforce boundaries and ensure family members understand that your presence at home during the workday is not to be interpreted as you are available to them throughout the entire day.

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

11 11

Managers have a challenge to lead effectively without being in the same building as their staff. Leadership is a function of management that creates a vision for the company and the staff. The tasks of a manager are to lead while motivating and maintaining organization. In times like this it is not easy to promote esprit de corps through the computer screens and phone lines. Creative guidance and understanding work groups is critical to achieving common objectives. A good leader leads by example. Show outward thinking, be open to innovative ideas, and share information that can benefit the growth of the employees and ultimately become a legacy builder that everyone in your circle can glean from. The combination of being an employee and managing employees results in becoming a 21st century manager.

The 21st century manager is a 360 degree leader that takes on a modern approach to lead, inspire, empower and equip others to become successful. Global workplaces demand technical savvy, idealistic and strategic management. Stress management among the work force and personal emotional wellbeing are critical in high paced environments whether they are remote or in person. Gone are the days when managers can boast their open door policy as an incentive to showing their encouragement for open communication and discussion on any topic. These days, managers must intentionally set a time aside for employee engagement.

Understanding the needs of the workforce, specifically those that are working remotely, is important. Knowing how the 12

employees think and feel about their work environment will influence how managers maintain a staff of cohesive employees that are willing to build team solidarity.

Remote workplace management is a skill that weighs heavy on resume’s. The ability to increase your span of management and be able to structure functioning teams will assure your success as a 21st century manager. Remember, everyone has a different idea of motivation. It is unique in nature to each person and is driven by what moves him or her to do something. Motivation is key.

Suggested Reading: ‘21st Century Business: Managing and Working in the New Digital Economy’ by Author James W. Cortada Corretta L. Doctor holds multiple business degrees and is a 30 year career manager that reached success at the executive level working for major defense contractors throughout the United States, Middle East, South Africa and Europe.

Corretta adapted trends throughout her career that have impacted her success and she has gained a healthy process of sharing information that can help others in their endeavors to succeed in management. Corretta credits her former leaders, in particular, Amanda Christian, for preparing her for great success as a global leader and entrepreneur. Visit www.correttadoctor.com to connect with Corretta Doctor.

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

13

Living With HI V

During the Covid-19 Pandemic Urban Sentinel took some time to speak to a woman that is living with the human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV. She is a bright spirit with a beautiful smile, and she lends her voice to our publication to share a piece of her story.

HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system, left untreated it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS was first clinically observed in 1981 in the United States. According to HIV.gov, there were approximately 37.6 million people across the globe with HIV in 2020.

Urban Sentinel: What is your biggest concern about being HIV+ in a Covid-19 environment?

Neketah: My biggest concern about being HIV+ in a Covid-19 environment is that I’m afraid that others aren’t as clean as I am. Everyone has their own lifestyle and their own preferences. This entire pandemic has halted one’s day to day life.

Urban Sentinel: When were you diagnosed with HIV? Neketah: I was diagnosed HIV+ in 1993, and today I’m nondetectable.

Urban Sentinel: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your day-to-day routine, is there anything specifically that you do differently now?

Neketah: The Covid-19 Pandemic has affected my day-to-day routine on a more mental aspect. The only thing I currently do differently since the pandemic is work from home, and I have my groceries and household items delivered. I rarely get out of the house much at all. I don’t have a vehicle so you can only imagine what I’m going through mentally.

14

Urban Sentinel: Did you choose to get vaccinated, and tell us why you did or did not.

Neketah: I would like to get vaccinated, but I’ve been on the fence about doing so. The reason is because there is so much information out there and too much information makes one more confused on the topic than before. One brand vaccination is supposed to be better than the next one. Then days later the one that was stated to be the best one is now the worse. Go figure. I’m reading on the different brands along with ingredients of the vaccinations in hopes I will be more comfortable in getting the vaccination. Before I completely decide I will be discussing it with my provider.

Urban Sentinel: Do you think that the vaccine should be mandated for all adults and children in the U.S.?

Neketah: To be honest, for health purposes, I think every adult should be vaccinated. A thorough health panel should be done on each individual and then the conclusion should be made to decide if the adult should be mandated to take the vaccination.

On the other hand, I most definitely believe children should be mandated to take the vaccination. Children are our future, and they have so much more to live for, and to offer this great big world! Children have been getting vaccinations since 1776, thanks to Edward Jenner. Edward Jenner, FRS FRCPE was an English physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines including creating the smallpox vaccine, the world's first ever vaccine.

I don’t believe the vaccination is truly the issue. I believe that underlying medical issues are the essential key of severe illnesses and deaths of Covid-19 complications.

Urban Sentinel: What is the biggest myth that you have heard about living with HIV? Neketah: From day one the biggest myth about living with HIV was, and still is, that we can’t have a normal and productive life. I thank God I’m still here. I don’t take anything about life for granted. I have outlived so many that have passed away from Cancer alone, and now Covid-19.

This is nothing but God’s Grace!

Urban Sentinel: What are some little-known facts about being HIV+ that many people don't know?

Neketah: A little-known fact about being HIV+ is that there are more ‘positive to negative couples’ than people know.

Another little-known fact is that we have HIV, it does not have us. Being HIV+ doesn’t define who we are individually.

We are still human beings who desire to be loved and accepted like anyone else.

Urban Sentinel strives to bring awareness on issues that can impact anyone at any time. December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. For information on HIV Basics visit https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

15

PRINCIPLES FOR

Kingdom Living

by Claudia Newby-Tynes for urban sentinel

Time passes swiftly when you operate in your calling and passion. October 2021 marks my one-year anniversary serving as a contributing writer for The Urban Sentinel Magazine. Happy one-year anniversary to me! Expressions of thanksgivings and praises (all wrapped up in one package) to God; and a hearty thanks to Publisher/Editor Reginald Kearney and his entire production team for a masterful job with the publication of this magazine.

The ninth month of the calendar year, September, is symbolically known as the birthing month. And would you know October is the month for harvesting, and November is a time for thanksgiving to God for the manifestations and possessions of our bountiful harvests. Are you waiting on God to birth some things in and through you? Did you get any of the promises from God that you were anticipating and expecting? Congrats to those who did; and for you who are still waiting, don’t fret. Our timing is not God’s timing. He knows the perfect time for all things to manifest in our lives.

Writing is my passion; writing is also my calling and ministry.

Often I pray with my pen in my hand. In the midst of the 2020 pandemic, on April 21, 2020, I penned this prayer: “Daddy, I’m declaring a new direction for my writing. Show me where and how to proceed on the write path. Put people in my path; open every door you have for me. People need to hear your Word and do your Word as well....”

God has abundantly answered my prayer since I penned it. Here is one of those answered prayers for this article of 16

how the doors were opened for me to write on this platform.

The idea of writing a monthly article for The Urban Sentinel Magazine was pitched to the publisher on September 19, 2020, after browsing through the digital pages of the current issue posted online. God answered this prayer within a few days of me pitching it with a speedy acceptance. My article "Living From the Inside Out" was published in the October 2020 issue. Now one year later, the rest of this story is history.

If you have an idea or plan you want to accomplish, put it out there on the table with a prayer and praise. Watch God bring it to fruition; He will provide and work it out for you too.

I am so grateful to God for giving me this platform where my voice can be heard. I am reminded in the scriptures where He said, “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto Me.” You see, all God desires of us is to share of His goodness to a lost, hurting and dying world, and He will do the rest.

What's even more intriguing of my first article, "Living From the inside Out” and this article for October/November 2021“Principles for Kingdom Living” is the similarity in the messaging. God wants His children to live and thrive as opposed to just exist and survive.

These last two years have been (dare I say exciting), definitely beyond eventual, and chaotic to say the least. Gleaning through God’s eyes, the years were times of exploration, revelatory and exposure with a voluminous amount of clarity and insight provided too.

This article, Principles for Kingdom Living, will serve as

a reminder and refresher for believers to stay focus on Kingdom Living which is synonymous to living from the inside out. You are the “U” in Unique. As Kingdom citizens, the Kingdom of God is within you (see Luke 17:21).

Define the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is God’s domain where He is King; He reigns and He rules. God’s Kingdom is everlasting, from eternity to eternity” (Psalm 145:13).

“For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

(Romans 14:17).

Where is the Kingdom of God? God’s Kingdom is in heaven and it’s on the earth. “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all” (Matthew 6:10).

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) Kingdom Citizenship is living in the Kingdom of God. Kingdom living means to live under the authority or rulership of a king. There are many earthly kingdoms set up all around the world. But in this article, I am not speaking of a worldly kingdom; I am speaking of a heavenly kingdom. It's called the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. As believers, we are kingdom citizens during kingdom business in the earth under the authority of the King of Kings and Lords of Lords Jesus.

Three Kingdom Principles (Word based) for living in the Kingdom of God 1. Be You (The spiritual (Unique) created you – see (Genesis Chapter 1) “In the beginning...” Be who God created you to be in the beginning. You were made in His image and likeness. You were made to rule and reign in the earth realm. You were made to be fruitful, multiply, replenish and have dominion on the earth. Don’t allow the enemy to deceive you any longer. We weren’t instructed to be busy; we were instructed to be fruitful. I attended a women’s conference years ago, and one of the conferees shared this acronym for busy: Busy Under Satan’s Yoke

Since that time, I am cautious when using the word busy. I am fruitful.

2. Do You (The fearfully and wonderfully made authentic you) – Psalm 139 What is it that God has assigned for your hands to do? Are you doing all He has placed in your heart? Doing you says, “I am doing the Word. I am doing the will of my Father.” Doing you says “I am doing my Father’s business. I am ruling and reigning over His business in the earth realm.” Doing you is imitating your Father (Ephesians 5: (1-2). This is where the enemy sets a trap to trip you up. This trap is called comparison.

He will have you look at others and compare yourself with them. Don’t do it! Don’t fall in his trap. Scriptures teach us it’s unwise to compare ourselves with others. I been there and done that too. It’s unfruitful. We are allowing the enemy to rob, steal, and kill our authenticity in Christ Jesus. It’s only in Him we live, move, and have our being. In Him, you are the BEST you! No one can imitate you being YOU! 3. Be Free – (Walk out your authenticity in the total freedom Jesus gave you. He whom the Son (Jesus) has set free is free indeed (John 8:32-36). Remember the Kingdom of God is on the inside of you. Look within...and live from the inside out. With so many cares and distractions coming from the outside world, it’s easy to get sidetracked. The key is to take our eyes off of the outside distractions; turn inward and listen to our spirit man. What is He telling you? Don’t let the cares and anxieties of this world (and they are voluminous) hold you captive in your mind. Do not get entangle in the cares of this world concerning what to eat; where to live, what to wear, etc. Keep your eyes focus on Jesus. He is concerned about everything that concerns you. When we take care of His kingdom business on earth; He takes care of our earthly business. My words of encouragement to you during this harvest and thanksgiving season are: “Live your best life, live it to the full, until it overflows and spills onto others. Be a thankful you. Rejoice and be thankful for how God created you for His Glory. Arise and shine, and give God all the Glory!

Be You...Do You...Be Free! That’s Kingdom living when it’s done God’s way.

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

17

The Improvement and Development of Business in Guyana Moves to a New Dimension

by By Dillon Goring – Pepperpot Magazine for the urban sentinel THE Start and Improve your Business (SIYB) Course

Black revealed that entrepreneurship seems to be easier

focuses on helping to establish and develop small

for youths rather than adults, nevertheless, the number

businesses as a strategy for creating more and better

of start-ups seems fewer among young people.

employment for women and men, particularly in emerging economies. Lyndell Danzie-Black, Director

She noted that this might be as a result of lack of training,

of the Cerulean Incorporated (Guyana) works in

lack of awareness, limited financing options and limited

partnership with clients from the Small Business Bureau.

policy directions that are specifically targeting youth

The programme funded by the International Labour

entrepreneurship. Black explained that there are market

Organization in partial fulfilment of her entity, Cerulean

entry barriers that youths face, that can be countered by

Inc becoming an international trainer organization with

training and development.

the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The future of Start and Improve your Business (SIYB) “The objective of the training is to introduce what the ILO (International Labour Organisation) has branded

The brand of the Startup and Improve Your business

Start and Improve Your Business. This has been

would take the market by storm, Black opined. She also

introduced to over 100 countries around the world and

noted that the market will respond more positively to the

that programme targets entrepreneurs, new startups, so

introduction of capacity training and an internationally

what has happened is Global Entrepreneurship Week but

recognized certificate from the ILO on the conclusion of

because of COVID, a decision was made to do something

the training programme.

in observance of the week,”.

“I feel very honoured to bring the ILO Certification Ten clients of the Small Business Bureau were trained

to Guyana through the SIYB,” It was noted during the

on how to develop their businesses towards meeting

interview that the voices of youths need to be more

international standards while creating more employment.

vocal in the conversation on entrepreneurship. Hence,

18

this training is timely, she said, because of the number

platform for Caribbean people to impart knowledge

of young people who leave university without options of

to other Caribbean people. “We are a homegrown,

starting a business or employment. “ I think it is time

Caribbean brand, so that we think that our people are

to change the narrative and start speaking about owning

good enough to impart knowledge to other people,”

your own money. We all cannot be employers, somebody

Black said.

needs to do the job. We need to have more employed,” Black was quoted as saying.

It is against this backdrop that the company Cerulean has launched an invent entrepreneurship programme that targets young people between the ages of 17 -35.

According to Black, leaders within the community, business people and other entrepreneurs where young people reside are being called on to invest in youth.

“This can be done by purchasing a rural invent voucher and giving that to a young person as a gift for Christmas.

We are going to be pushing this in the following weeks, because it is a good gift for the Christmas holidays.

‘I am investing in your future and here you are,’ this would give them the opportunity to learn 20 skills in entrepreneurship,” Black continued to emphasize the point that we must change the narrative in our minds as young people to talk about owning your own business and becoming your entrepreneur. “We will not just be looking for the sponsorship of community leaders, but we will also be allowing them to come in and host a talk session regarding involvement in their sphere of influence,” she noted.

She added that the initiative serves as a great way to build generational wealth.

It was noted that the vision of Cerulean is to create a

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

19

The Urban Sentinel is able to get your message out locally in the DMV, Nationally, and Worldwide through our website and digital magazine.

For advertising rates, please contact Reginald Kearney at

reginald.kearney@marylanddailyexaminer.com

WWW.URBANSENTINELMAGAZINE.COM 20

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

21

S T UART YEE

Born and raised in San Francisco, California and now residing in Hollywood, California since 1995 actor, director, producer and mentor Stuart Yee has been involved in the performing arts and meaningful activities since a very young age. An accomplished musician, martial artist, competitive bodybuilder, personal fitness trainer and a person of many interest. After retiring from his bodybuilding career he focused his energies on becoming an actor.

Stuart began his acting career as a background actor in 1990 working on 5 studio feature films in San Francisco. In 1993 he booked his first principal role and became a SAG/AFTRA union actor in 1995. Stuart has appeared in many successful productions such as Rush Hour, Fast and The Furious/Tokyo Drift, Copycat, Lowdown, Nash Bridges, Alias, America's Most Wanted, Wanted and most recently Perry Mason. Aside from feature films and network TV, Stuart has appeared in numerous commercials and music videos.

Currently Stuart is in development on several feature film and TV projects with his production partner Scott McCullough.

In his spare time Stuart enjoys assisting humanitarian causes and recently has co-created the online website "Step Change," a website dedicated to the self-improvement of others. He is also a successful and well known acting coach in Hollywood serving private students since 2008.

The future looks promising for Stuart as he is currently formally attached as a series regular on 2 upcoming network TV shows in development. He has great passion in helping and assisting others in acquiring their goals as he feels a person's character is a definition of one's self and one should always strive to be at your personal best.

22

Actor | Directo

or | Writer URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

23

T.R.M. HOWARD:

Mississippi’s Courageous Civil Rights Entrepreneur

by Brandee Johnson for urban sentinel The murder of Emmett Till was one of the most

civil rights activist in Mississippi who went above

brutal and senseless murders in American history.

and beyond in the investigation of Till’s murder.

When news of Till’s disappearance was reported,

That activist was the late, great T.R.M. Howard.

several civil rights activists stepped up and began searching for any information that could help find

Who was T.R.M. Howard? T.R.M. Howard was a

Till. Even after Till’s body was discovered, civil

civil rights activist who was also an entrepreneur

rights activists continued to bring awareness to the

and a surgeon. He was a mentor to several civil

injustices of the South and ensured that Till’s murder

rights activists, including Medgar Evers, Fannie

would not be swept under the rug. Many of the civil

Lou Hamer, Jesse Jackson, and Amzie Moore. He

rights activists that were involved include Medgar

believed wholeheartedly in business ownership for

Evers and Rosa Parks. However, there was another

Black Americans, and founded several civil rights

24

Credit: Image taken from www.independent.org. Link: Emmett Till, a New Investigation, and Vindication of T.R.M. Howard: News: The Independent Institute

organizations. In addition to operating a private practice as a surgeon, Howard put his life on the line by becoming heavily involved in the investigation of Emmett Till’s murder.

Before Howard’s prominent work in Mississippi, he was born Theodore Roosevelt Howard on March 4, 1908, in Murray, Kentucky. His father was a tobacco twister and his mother was a cook for a local white doctor. The white doctor – Will Mason – admired Howard’s work habits and ambition; so much so that he gave him the chance to work at his hospital and would ultimately pay for most of his medical school.

Credit: Image taken from www.collection.cmoa.org. Link: William “Bill” Nunn Sr., Robert Ratcliffe, and Dr. T. R. M. Howard posed behind desk, possibly in Pittsburgh Courier newspaper office | CMOA Collection

To express gratitude to Will Mason, Howard added Mason as one of his middle names.

RCNL organized annual rallies for civil rights in Mound Bayou, and orchestrated successful boycotts

While he was attending medical school in California,

against service stations that refused to allow Black

Howard began to participate in civil rights causes.

patrons to use their restrooms. These actions would

He wrote a column for one of the main Black

prepare Howard for one of his most profound

newspapers in Los Angeles, the California Eagle.

contributions to the Civil Rights Movement: his role

In each of his submissions, he emphasized the

in the investigation of Emmett Till’s murder.

importance of Black business ownership and Black history, while denouncing segregation. His efforts in

When Till’s murder made national headlines,

civil rights did not stop after medical school. In 1942,

Howard was very vocal in his outrage. At a time

he became the first chief surgeon at the hospital

where white residents were ready to assault and kill

of the International Order of Twelve Knights and

Black residents in Mississippi for imagined slights,

Daughters of Tabor in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.

Howard openly declared that Mississippi will have

This organization was a fraternal organization that

a Civil War if the slaughtering of Negroes is allowed

was founded and governed by freedmen after the

to continue. Howard’s actions also matched his

Civil War.

words. At a time where local police officials showed little interest in actively investigating Till’s murder,

In addition to opening and operating his own private

Howard led a private investigation intending to

practice, Howard founded the Regional Council

locate, interview, and protect several key witnesses.

of Negro Leadership (RCNL) in 1951. Through

He became deeply involved in searching for evidence

the organization, Howard collaborated with fellow

in the case, and turned his home into a “Black

activists like Medgar Evers and Aaron Henry. The

command center” for journalists.

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

25

Howard and his family put their lives on the line to bring awareness to the murder of Emmett Till and the injustices that Black residents experience in the South. They received many death threats and economic intimidation. Towards the end of 1955, Howard and his family permanently moved to Chicago. Still, Howard had not lost his spunk.

He publicly criticized J. Edgar Hoover for his slow response in locating killers of Black people in the South. T.R.M. Howard lived an amazing life, and made the most of it until his death in 1976. Howard was a great example of entrepreneurs making a change for their people.

Credit: Image taken from T.R.M. Howard Salary, Net worth, Bio, Ethnicity, Age Networth and Salary

During Till’s murder trial, Howard paid for Mamie Till Bradley – Emmett Till’s mother – to travel from Chicago to Mississippi at his expense, and had her stay at his home when she had to testify at the trial. In addition to Mamie Till Bradley, Howard ensured the protection of several people – including Willie Reed, one of the key witnesses in the trial - by providing transportation to and from the courthouse in a heavily-armed caravan.

Howard’s actions did not stop after Till’s killers were acquitted. He organized dozens of speeches bringing awareness to the violence in Mississippi. Howard’s speeches were so prominent that they led to a rally for 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden. He was the featured speaker, and shared the stage with A. Phillip Randolph, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and Autherine Lucy.

26

Credit: Image taken from www.amjmed.com. Link: References in Black Physicians and the Struggle for Civil Rights: Lessons from the Mississippi Experience - The American Journal of Medicine (amjmed.com)

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

27

28

Dr.

Elaine Stevens

by C. NaTasha Richburg for urban sentinel

Dr. Elaine Stevens is a Relationship Coach, Author, and

and verbal abuse, in part, as “insults and attempts to scare,

Personal Development Advisor. She was born and raised

isolate, or control you.” Since most people, including Dr.

in Greenville, South Carolina; a place Forbes Magazine has

Elaine, don’t normally enter into a relationship knowing

coined “one of America’s Best Downtowns.” Nestled in the

the dark side of their abuser, as an interviewer I wanted to

majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, this quaint city features a

know more about this aspect of her life and how it shaped her

unique suspension bridge that spans the Reedy River.

professional aspirations.

Currently, Dr. Elaine lives in Charlotte, North Carolina,

When did you first understand your marriage was abusive?

with her husband of five years, James. Having served as

When I did not recognize myself. In the beginning of the

a Relationship Expert for 21 years, Dr. Elaine’s business

marriage, my former husband’s antics would cause me

practice reflects a passionate commitment to her clients.

to move meekly into a corner, cowering with fear. Later, I

The ebb and flow of her client base has varied over time.

began to change. I had voracious fits of rage. Rage expressed

Initially, it was primarily comprised of men, subsequently

in a manner I did not recognize as a normal aspect of my

transitioning to predominantly female clients. Today, Dr.

authentic self. Normally, I am a mild person. I did not like

Elaine’s clients are primarily couples and individuals who

who I was in that marriage.

are interested in being counseled together. COVID-19 has caused Dr. Elaine to pivot her service model away from home

How did you get out of your abusive marriage? I knew I

visits and to instead hold zoom and conference call sessions.

always wanted to be in a solid relationship, and that wasn’t it.

While her business practice helps clients to effectively

I needed to leave. I prepared an exit strategy.

manage loving relationships, occasionally, Dr. Elaine also offers matchmaking services.

Dr. Elaine’s exit strategy was predicated on the fact that she had to make a clean break from a situation that brought

Dr. Elaine successfully matriculated educationally to achieve

out negative behavior in her. The exit strategy took time to

a doctoral degree and later entered into marriage with her

prepare. The time Dr. Elaine devoted to planning her exit

childhood sweetheart. The comfort associated with the

from an emotionally abusive husband proved to be a valuable

familiarly of this high school sweetheart made it easy for the

undertaking, yielding invaluable, albeit painful, first-hand

couple to reconnect. Unfortunately, Dr. Elaine’s first husband

experience when offering advice to clients. According to

emotionally and psychologically abused her, which included

an article published by the Ananias Foundation, “48.4% of

a few instances of unwelcomed grabbing of her shoulders,

women have experienced at least one form of psychological

followed by shaking. Women’s Health has defined emotional

aggression by an intimate partner during their lifetime.”

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

29

COVID-19, my approach to matchmaking had to pivot Dr. Elaine packed all of her belongings into her car and

because we have fewer opportunities to meet socially.

drove from Kansas, heading east for 18 hours to arrive at

I now teach clients how to manage relationships. Prior

a place of new beginnings. Many of us know how to look

to this current state of being, I offered personalized, in-

for the light at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Elaine personally

person matchmaking services. It takes a lot of work to

realizes what it is like to plan a life-changing exit strategy,

learn about unique clients and find somebody who’s a

requiring her to drive for many hours toward that light.

match for them since I do all of the research to match

With her painful past now in her rearview mirror, Dr.

clients. Sometimes I have good results. Sometimes what

Elaine’s personal experience in an abusive relationship

works on paper is not a match when the clients meet

never deterred her heartfelt desire to marry again, to

each other. There is a lot of trial and error, along with the

experience the joy of sharing her life with a loving and

stigma some people associate with matchmaking. Some

caring husband. “I knew there was something better for

people feel matchmaking is creepy. They would prefer to

me. I needed to heal first,” she explains. Deep within her

meet organically and not use a matchmaking service.

sprit, Dr. Elaine understood that a new life would be a shared experience, intertwined with the thrill of divine

What is your greatest accomplishment? Surviving

partnership with a loving husband. James is that loving

domestic abuse without being bitter.

husband. Dr. Elaine delights in her mission to teach others how to obtain and maintain healthy, fulfilling, and

What is your greatest challenge? Doing all of the things

meaningful relationships. In 2008, Dr. Elaine established

that have to be done. For example, I’m writing my

The Pretty Girls Alliance to empower and encourage

memoirs; I’m unpacking from a trip; I fully enjoy cooking

women of all ages and ethnicities in crucial areas of their

and prepare daily meals for my husband; and I have to do

lives.

my practice. It’s a lot.

How did you develop The Pretty Girls Alliance? I was the

Dr. Elaine’s positivity bears witness to how anyone can

youngest of five children. When my nieces and I walked

move out of negativity’s space. She is a beacon of light

into the room, my mother always said, “Hey pretty girl.”

in the Charlotte, North Carolina, community who has

She identified attributes accompanied by the word Pretty

the ability to break through the dark clouds and inspire

to explain exactly what was pretty about us, such as our

empowering hope that can usher us into the light of our

hair, our legs, our walk, or our smile. Those attributes

destiny. Dr. Elaine has a Pretty Girl demeanor, with a

stuck. It made our shoulders go back, our heads rise

resounding smile reflective of the possibilities we all

higher, and our chests expand. We felt special. People

possess to achieve well-functioning, loving relationships.

always ask me to plan events, and I wanted other women

Reach out to Dr. Elaine at:

to understand how to feel pretty, just as I had as a young

https://drelainestevens.com/about

girl. Twelve years ago I started “The Pretty Girls Alliance” to plan events, such as a spa retreat or a brunch, to give women a boost. As each woman enters the room, they are addressed as “Pretty,” and they are surrounded by like-minded women. I love planning events.

Describe the matchmaking services you offer. Since

30

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

31

The Power of Financial Literacy

The Key To Successful Women Empowerment

32

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

33

The Power of Financial Literacy

The Key To Successful Women Empowerment

by Ambassador (Dr.) Regina Inem, Founder/Executive Director Regamos Foundation, Nigeria. for urban sentinel

According to United Nations Women, from street vendors

on the way society sees women and even on how women see

and domestic workers to subsistence farmers and seasonal

themselves, it seems that the role of nurturer is one that many

agriculture workers, women make up a disproportionate

women cannot escape.

percentage of workers in the informal sector.

However, the position of women in the home and in society In South Asia, over 80 per cent of women in non-agricultural

can be harnessed in a positive way regarding the issue of

jobs are in informal employment; in sub-Saharan Africa, 74

financial literacy.

per cent; and in Latin America and the Caribbean, 54 per cent.

First of all, women need to be financially literate for themselves in order to run successful businesses. Financial literacy

Here in Africa, the role of women in society is ever

creates a pathway to sustainable financial independence that

increasing, women tend to play the traditional homemaker

can empower a woman to be self- sufficient. The result of

role. While most women in these areas are actively involved

this is that the woman becomes an asset to those around her

in productive activities such as farming and trading, the bulk

rather than a liability.

of the family income and power to make financial decisions still comes from the men.

There is a great deal of respect that comes from a financially stable woman being able to hold her own irrespective of what

Traditionally, women are not allowed to inherit property

the people in her life are able to provide for her. Such women

from their fathers. Certain legal and religious limitations

become role models and occupy a place of respect in society.

have also conspired to practically sideline African women.

Their voices and opinions are valued and appreciated. Lesser percentage of women death in domestic violence will be

While educated and successful women are on the increase,

recorded as their spouses will hold them in high esteem.

women are still expected to play the role of caregivers in the

Those in abusive relations can move on and be alive to care

family setting. This proliferation of roles means that having a

for themselves and their children.

successful career is not generally accepted as a substitute for being a successful wife and mother.

With the economic demands of 21st century life, women are increasingly pulling their weight financially in the family. This

While modern influences are increasingly having an effect

34

is commendable because an over-dependence on partners for

financial sustenance has been identified as one of the reasons

empowering women to expand their businesses or get a skill.

why women tend to stay in abusive relationships.

Financial literacy and women’s empowerment go hand in Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively

hand. Increasing women’s financial literacy can help them

use financial skills, such as personal financial management,

achieve their life and career goals more effectively.

budgeting, and investing. Merely possessing money is not enough to make it sustainable. Financial literacy for women

Financial independence serves as a cushion during unforeseen

is thus very important to keep track of finances.

circumstances. Some studies and experience have shown that women are often unable to leave abusive family situations or

Financial literacy for women is an important aspect of their

marriages due to financial dependency. Even for women who

independence, financial and otherwise. Being financially

have careers, often their income is seen as just extra income

illiterate can lead to a number of problems. You could be

and they are expected to take up additional responsibilities

more likely to accumulate debt burdens, have poor spending

at home as well.

habits, or lack long-term preparation. Financial literacy empowers people, especially women, to make independent

In this day and age, there are ample resources for women

decisions. During emergencies or unforeseen circumstances,

who wish to become financially literate. Online resources are

an individual can take correct steps if she is financially

abundant for those who wish to educate themselves. At the

literate.

same, it is a stark reality that women in Africa may not always have the access to or know-how of the Internet to learn these

However, a survey revealed that only a small percentage of

things by themselves.

women are able to build on and grow their existing wealth.

Among those, only about 33 per cent, have the confidence to

In such cases, NGOs such as Regamos Foundation can

invest their money as they see fit. Given that women’s roles

step in. For instance, this August, we empowered three

in the domestic and public sphere are on the rise, these low

hundred women in a remote community with financial

figures show that financial literacy for women is still not part

literacy skills in partnership with two financial institutions

of mainstream discourse.

in Nigeria, donated 100 hybrid palm seedling to the farmers amongst them, also provided free medical health checks

The first step to a stable and secure financial future for women

and administered free medications in our wealth and

of any age involves securing and growing personal income.

health program for communities. This is one of the several

Whether in a traditional household role and entering the

empowerment initiatives we have done for women. Our

workforce by choice or by force (widowed, divorced, or

vision is to transform lives through empowerment.

partner unemployment), or just leaving high school and ready to take on the world, earning an income should take top priority women’s financial to-do list.

An important priority towards financial independence is

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

35

36

How Am I Living?

S P I RI T UA L NO U RI S H M E N T B RO U GH T TO YO U B Y URBAN SENTINEL AND UPSHIFT GLOBAL

by Ambassador Dr. Anita Davis DeFoe for urban sentinel Granted, these are days of global stress and strife.

Unarguably, we live in a world riddled with constant uncertainty; an ongoing battle with a pandemic that has left a trail of pain and sorrow and has polarized people on both sides armed with their perspectives. Nightly on the news, unconscionable acts of violence slap us in the face. In the face of all of this, it is so easy to feel as though everything that surrounds us is spinning out of control. Many of us are so filled with despair that we are overwhelmed with discontent.

Some of us have just about called it quits; mentally, some of us have already thrown in the towel. Some of us have opted not to persist in quest of our personal goals, instead deciding to put our dreams in our back pockets, only to sit on them.

Until we take the time to get to know and understand ourselves, our dreams, our strengths and opportunities for improvement, the inner peace and personal joy that our spirits seek will escape us. Until we decide to discover our divine talents and use them, and to let purpose and personal responsibility guide us, turmoil and negativity will haunt us.

So much of what characterizes our life is linked to who we think we are, who we have become, and not how the world around us may be on any given day. Who we are is a fascinating mix of our attitudes, prejudices, our responses to and perceptions of the events happening all around and to us.

When we begin to allow ourselves to feel powerless, it is because we have forgotten that the power to change our lives and our circumstances is within our reach; we are no longer acknowledging that the power to create the life that we desire lies within us.

This all leads to the question that I am pondering and I suggest that you do the same, and that question is, “How Am I Living?”

Be honest as you ask yourself this question; be sincere as you contemplate your actions, your behaviors, your choices, because your life is so very important and besides we only get one life journey and adventure on this planet.

Stop and earnestly ask yourself am I living by choice or am I existing merely by chance.

If you determine that you are not consciously choosing the direction of your career, your business, your relationships, your finances, your health, your life goals, even your attitude, then you are not living a life based upon CHOICE, you are leaving everything up to CHANCE. I am certain that very few of us want only to live our lives holding tightly to chance’s coattail. Chance is a funny thing; it is not very reliable; it might show up; it might show up when you least expect it, and then again it might not show up at all. I am certain that we can all agree that unlike taking a chance with the lottery knowing that mathematically the odds are not in our favor to win, we do not want to do that with our lives. We can all agree that allowing chance to totally rule our lives is a very dangerous proposition.

If you are not making deliberate choices daily, then evidently you are waiting for chance to come knocking on your door. Decide today to take control of your life and consciously choose to actively live YOUR life. On a daily basis think about the choices that you are making and always above all, ask yourself the question, “How Am I Living?”

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

37

2021 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS by bridgette m. alfred for urban sentinel

A. Introduction: In many ways, Covid-19 was a catalyst for a host of changes to our increasingly online and digital lives. Technology today is evolving at such a rapid pace. Due to the worldwide pandemic, most of the global IT population is working from home. Another thing that is clear is that today’s most important tech trends will play a big part in helping us cope with and adapt to the many challenges facing us.

B. Robotic Process Automation (RPA): 1. Physical: Robotic Process Automation, or RPA, is a technology that is automating jobs. RPA is the use of software to automate business processes such as interpreting applications, processing transactions, dealing with data, and even replying to emails. RPA is creating new jobs while altering existing jobs.

Research reports that less than 5 percent of occupations can be totally automated, but about 60 percent can be partially automated.

2. Spiritual: Romans 1:21-25 (ESV): For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal

38

man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

C. Internet of Things (IoT): 1. Physical: Many things are now being built with WiFi connectivity.

The Internet of Things is the future, and has already enabled devices, home appliances, cars and much more to be connected to and exchange data over the Internet. As consumers, we can lock our doors remotely if we forget to when we leave for work and preheat our ovens on our way home from work, all while tracking our fitness on our Fitbits.

2. Spiritual: Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

D. Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality: 1. Physical: Both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have a very huge potential in education, rehabilitation, entertainment, training and marketing. Virtual Reality has initially been using for the gaming purpose and now AR and VR have enormous potential in

rehabilitation after an injury. Either could be used to train doctors to do surgery, offer museum-goers a deeper experience, enhance theme parks, or even enhance marketing.

2. Spiritual: Exodus 35:30-33 (ESV): Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.

E. Cyber Security: 1. Physical: Cyber security is evolving just as other technologies are. That’s in part because threats are constantly new. Hackers who are trying to illegally access data are not going to give up any time soon, and they will continue to find ways to get through even the toughest security measures. As long as we have hackers, cybersecurity will remain a trending technology because it will constantly evolve to defend against those hackers.

2. Spiritual: Job 11:18 (ESV): And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

39

40

URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | OCT-NOV

41