Urban Trendsetters Aug 1-15 2017 Edition by Urban Trendsetters News magazine

FREE AUGUST 1 - 15 2017 William Brady: The Music Behind The Mission

D.L. Wallace and The Success Institute PAGE 10

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THE OHIO MUNICIPALITIES BUSINESS CONFERENCE & EXPO

Get In Position to Prosper! The Billion Dollar Man Meet Chinedu Echeruo, founder of Gigameet and HopStop

Urban Trendsetters Special OMBC Insertion - Page 8-9

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

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IN THIS ISSUE

STAFF Publisher / CEO Sharon S. Gordon

Online/Digital Director Whitney Barkley

Editor Interim Lisa Freeman-Williams

Distribution W. Cobre’ Gordon

V.P. Sales & Marketing Eric Kirkling

Advertising Sales Brenda D. Spencer Sharon S. Gordon Melinda M. Payne

Contributing Writers Delois R. Wright Brenda D. Spencer Graphic Design Derek Payne Ivory Payne

sales@urbantrendsetters.com

Social Media Director Mykayla Bryant

05 06 08 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 32 35 36 37 38 40 44 46

PUBLISHER’S PAGE COMMUNITY STATE NATIONAL POLITICAL GLOBAL DIVERSITY TRENDS TRENDSETTERS SPEAK THE JOURNEY FAMILY / SENIOR TRENDS YOUNG & TRENDY EDUCATION FINANCE & MONEY REAL ESTATE TRENDS HOME & STYLE TRENDS BEAUTY TRENDS BEAUTY & FASHION HEALTH & WELLNESS FIT & TRENDY SPORTS TRENDY PALATE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BAM BY SHARON BLACK BUSINESS FACTS TRENDY TRAVEL EVENTS BUSINESS TRENDS CEO AUTO TRENDS

06 12 - TRUMP LIES!

28 - BRIDAL BOOTCAMP

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Publisher’s Page

POSITION TO PROSPER

Sharon S. Gordon Founder / Publisher

I can hardly believe that it is August already. Where did the summer go? And for that matter did I have any fun? I am not sure, because I think I missed it. In a few short weeks it will be fall and then the holidays and then OMG, we will be looking at the front door of 2018. You may not believe it necessary but NOW is the time to get your business ready for the 2017 Holiday Season and the New Year. Do you know that BIG businesses are planning for the holidays right now?... Are you?

I’m here to shake things up! Rather than waiting until January to set your year up for success, I’m offering nine easy things you can do right now that will ensure that 2018 is a blowout year for your business. How to Get Your Business Ready for 2018 1. Hire a Business Coach I know that Type A entrepreneurs like myself, tend to think they can do it all themselves, but the fact of the matter is: you can’t. That’s why I suggest getting a business coach is such a smart idea for the coming year. Because they can see your business from the outside, they can provide a nonbiased view of how you’re doing in your business. Choose a coach that excels in areas that you are weak in. I myself recently hired a coach to ensure my 2018 is even more of a success than 2017. They’re working with me on my back office systems, MBE and other certifications I need as well as finance. Especially finance, as that’s a weak area for me. 2. Make Small (and Big) Tweaks to Your Processes and Procedures You have a certain way of doing things in your business. Everything from invoicing to on-boarding new clients has a process. These tend to get cemented into the fabric of your business, whether or not they’re actually effective.

I encourage you to spend some time looking at each process or procedure in your business and identifying the ones that bottleneck productivity or otherwise take far too long. Even adding in software that automates processes (think: automatically sharing your business blog content on social media) can streamline your processes and save you time. 3. Review Your Marketing, Advertising and Sales Plans Even as a marketer myself, I still have to market my brands to build my business. The end of the year is an excellent time to look at how successful your marketing and sales efforts have been in the past 12 months. No doubt you will need to make changes, as some tactics dull in efficacy and new technologies are created daily. Make a comprehensive sweep of your website, social media profiles, lead magnets, email automation, CRM, branding, referral system, and blog to ensure that each channel is pulling its weight in your overall plan. Then look at the plan itself. Are you still aligned with the goals you’re trying to accomplish in it, or do you need to revamp it to better reflect where your business currently is? Add what you need and delete what you don’t. 4. Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Staff Do you need to fire someone? Hire someone? Shift people around to maximize their skill sets? You want to start 2018 with the right team, one that tirelessly works to ensure that your business thrives. Outsource what you can. 5. Refresh Your Product Line When is the last time you looked at your products to determine if you needed to continue selling each of them? If you have products that haven’t done well, consider removing them from your lineup. Likewise, it might be time to add new products (and breathe new life) into your product line. Look at your competitors and see what’s missing. Addressing a market need that isn’t being met elsewhere could provide you with the competitive advantage you need to get ahead. 6. Make Sure You Are Meeting Customers’ Expectations When you’re busy, it’s more challenging to find time to check in with your customers to make sure you’re giving them what they want. Take time now to talk to all or some

Your Success Optimization Strategist What’s Your Next Step? Create YOUR Brand Publishing - Write Your Book! Create Your Online Course Launch Your TV or Radio Show Start Your Own Magazine or Newsletter Monetize Your Current Knowledge & Skills

of them to gauge how happy they are and determine how you can continue to address their needs. 7. Check in With Your Team If you have staff, now is an excellent time to ensure that they are happy working for you. A happy worker, after all, is a productive one. Realize that your employees are a fantastic source for ideas that can boost your business! Encourage your team to submit ideas for how to make your company better. 8. Upgrade Your Technology Technology is such a crucial component for the success of any business these days. Survey what you’re currently using, and then address what’s not working for you. You should have security tools like firewalls and antivirus software in place, as well as apps that make your work more efficient. And if old hardware is holding you back, now is the time to upgrade it. 9. Network and Go to Events That Will Produce Results Network and meet people. In this issue because of our media partnership with The Ohio Municipalities Business Conference and Expo we have provided a special insertion of the events and highlights of the conference. Highlights of the expo include business leaders, corporate executives and city mayors from all over the country who have come together to show us how to grow our business and get in position to prosper. The challenge however for some small business owners is that we wear all the hats and sometimes that leaves little time to devote to getting our business to the level of competition necessary to seal the deal on major contracts, partnerships and other opportunities that will increase our bottom line and grow our business. You owe it to yourself and to your business to attend The OMBC this year. (Page 8-9) None of these items is overwhelmingly difficult to address, and doing so now can pave the way for happy times in 2018.

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COMMUNITY Plenty of Jobs...No Workers for Ohio Factory Owner As a long standing supporter of ECDIEconomic & Community Development Institute, Urban Trendsetters is excited to report that the organization in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co., recently launched a new program that aims to address the financing gap minority-owned construction subcontractors are faced with when submitting

alarming rate over the last 15 years,” said Nancy Tidwell, owner of NRT & Associates, a public affairs and consulting firm that specializes in assisting construction managers and owners in maximizing the inclusion of minority, female and disadvantaged businesses on major public and private construction projects throughout Central Ohio. “They

surveyed reported the need for advance payments to bridge the time gap between the start of construction work and payment for the work. Approximately 66 percent of contractors expressed concerns about starting a construction job without the availability of an advance payment. This problem was only

also be able to take advantage of industryspecific training, incubation services, and mentorship opportunities, provided through ECDI’s comprehensive suite of services and programs. “We are thrilled to partner with JPMorgan Chase to provide essential resources to minority-owned businesses in Central Ohio,” said Inna Kinney, Founder & CEO of ECDI. “This partnership strengthens ECDI’s commitment to address financing gaps for new and existing MBE businesses, creating new jobs while establishing stronger business sustainability for an often neglected entrepreneur population.” Jesse Mark, ECDI relationship manager who will oversee this program during its pilot phase, can be contacted for additional information at jmark@ecdi.org . Urban Trendsetters has partnered with this effort for outreach to the urban community in order to reach minority business owners and assist them in obtaining the resources and services available to get their businesses MBE certified and in position to participate in the programs. For more information on how you can join us in the next information network mixer contact Sharon@urbantrendsetters.com .

bids for large-scale construction contracts. While development projects in Central Ohio are flourishing, the amount of subcontractors has steadily decreased since 2000 due to the lack of short-term working capital to take on large-scale projects. This barrier has had a disproportionate impact on small, minorityowned firms as bank financing is often out of their reach. “We’ve seen the amount of local [subcontractor] companies decline at an

are not receiving the equal opportunity to perform on these projects and very rarely is it due to the company’s ability to do the work.” ECDI and other agencies conducted a survey to assess the problem at the local level. The group found that small contractors, in particular minority contractors, are unable to withstand delays on payments from General Contractors (GCs), limiting their ability to achieve market sustainability. More than 50 percent of minority contractors

Since 2004, ECDI has assisted Ohio’s entrepreneurs through their one-stop-shop business services model, suited to meet the needs of all entrepreneurs, regardless of what busiex- ness stage they’re in. From providing capital acerbated by the fact that of those surveyed, to entrepreneurs looking to expand their over 70 percent claim they had been denied businesses, to providing focused, businessfinancing from traditional lenders. specific educational opportunities to enhance entrepreneurial skill sets, ECDI works with With $290,000 pledged to support the protheir clients to meet their specific needs. gram from JPMorgan Chase & Co., ECDI’s Whether you merely have a business idea or “Capital For Construction” program is exare opening up your fifth location, ECDI’s pected to create more than 100 construction “never say no” approach has allowed over jobs per year in Franklin County. Qualified ten thousand entrepreneurs to take advanminority contractors will have access to low- tage of the services they provide. Visit interest advance payments of $5,000 to www.ecdi.org today to learn more. $150,000 through ECDI’s lending program. Subcontractors enrolled in the program will

Walton + Brown, LLP welcomes attorney Marcus Ross as Of Counsel Walton + Brown, LLP is pleased to announce that Marcus A. Ross, Esq. has joined the firm as Of Counsel, expanding our practice areas to embrace a full spectrum of Criminal Defense matters, including DUIs, felony offenses, and traffic matters. Marcus is a graduate of Hampton University, The Ohio State University, and Capital University Law School. Marcus previously served as an Assistant City Prosecutor for the criminal division of the City Attorney's office where he handled numerous jury trials and bench trials. He has handled misdemeanor and felony criminal matters throughout the state of Ohio.

the Sixth Circuit in 2015.

Marcus has been licensed as a member of the state of Ohio bar since 1997. He was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 2004, the Northern District in 2006, and the United States Court of Appeals for

If you would like to speak to Marcus for a consultation regarding your criminal, landlord-tenant, collections, or small business matter, here is his contact information: Office: (614) 636-3476

In addition to serving as Of Counsel with Walton + Brown, LLP, Marcus is the owner of Marcus A. Ross, Attorney at Law Co., LPA, a full-service law firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. His primary areas of practice include, but are not limited to: criminal, traffic and DUI defense, landlordtenant, collections and small business and general civil litigation. Marcus is an active member of the Columbus, Ohio Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church.

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COMMUNITY Plenty of Jobs...No Workers for Ohio Factory Owner around in that building on a regular basis. So I cannot take the chance to have anyone impaired running that crane, or working 40 feet in the air." President Donald Trump addressed his blue-collar base in Ohio this week, returning to his campaign theme of getting local communities back to work and returning jobs to America from overseas. But Mitchell said she has jobs. She just doesn't have sober applicants. For 48 of the 50 years her company has been around, drug abuse had never been an issue, she told Smerconish. "It hasn't been until the last two years that we needed to have a policy, a corporate policy in place, that protects us from employees coming into work impaired," she said. Opioid use is on the rise across the country, but especially in Ohio. In 2014, the state had the second-largest number of opioid-related deaths in the United States and the fifth-highest rate of overdose. "This opioid epidemic that we're experiencing ... it seems like it's worse than in other places all over the country," Mitchell said.

An Ohio factory owner said that though she has blue-collar jobs available at her company, she struggles to fill positions because so many candidates fail drug tests. Regina Mitchell, a co-owner of Warren Fabricating & Machining in Hubbard, Ohio, told The New York Times this week that four out of 10 applicants otherwise qualified to be welders, machinists and crane operators will fail a routine drug test. In an interview Saturday with CNN's Michael Smerconish, Mitchell said that her requirements for prospective workers were simple. "I need employees who are engaged in their work while here, of sound mind and doing the best possible job that they can, keeping their fellow co-workers safe at all times," she said.

Ohio's new law on medical marijuana, which went into effect in 2016 and allows those with a qualifying condition and a recommendation from a physician to buy the drug legally, was another hurdle for employers to overcome, she said. "The difficult part about marijuana is, we don't have an affordable test that tells me if they smoked it over the weekend or smoked it in the morning before they came to work. And I just can't take the chance of having an impaired worker running a crane carrying a 300,000-pound steel encasement," she said. For now, she said, there are almost 12,000 open skilled labor jobs in Mahoning County. "There are good-paying jobs and the opportunity for people in our area. We just can't find people to show up who can pass a drug test," she said.

"We have a 150-ton crane in our machine shop. And we're moving 300,000 pounds of steel

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STATE

THE OHIO MUNICIPALITIES BUSINESS CONFERENCE & EXPO SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday August 2, 2017 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Location: GCCC 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Municipality Matchmaker Session Location: GCCC – A210 – A215 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Opening Plenary Keynote Location: GCCC – Union Station Ballroom Mayor of Columbus, Ohio Andrew Ginther

Stephen Francis, Esp., New Director of Diversity & Inclusion for City of Columbus (3rd-right) is joined with his leadership team.

Hosted by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and the City of Columbus, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the two-day event will provide tangible tips, resources and business opportunities to start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. The conference will also provide an interactive platform for industry influencers, municipality leads, procurement officers, supplier diversity professionals, business owners and leaders to discuss best practices of entrepreneurship to build and grow their businesses. “This is a great opportunity for municipalities across the state to leverage their buying power for the betterment of our small and entrepreneurial business communities, which we know are drivers of our economic growth,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “Columbus is happy to be the host for this first-of-its kind event.” With an organizational goal of matching cities across the state with business owners, the conference aims to increase the utilization of small business enterprises in the provision of goods and services by providing a steady cycle of opportunities from city to city. The New Office of Diversity & Inclusion THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Under the leadership of Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Chief Diversity Officer, Stephen Francis, Esq., The Mayor’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) is responsible for supporting Mayor Ginther and his Cabinet Leadership Team by leading diversity and inclusion management within the City of Columbus. The ODI will focus on four pillars of diversity and inclusion management: Workforce Diversity, Supplier Diversity, Diverse Outreach and Internal Diverse Leadership, Commitment and Communication are necessary for building Columbus into America’s Equal Opportunity City.

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Concurrent Workshops Location: GCCC – A110 – A115; A120 – A125 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Mayor’s Kick-Off Reception (Invitation Only) Location: Hilton Downtown Columbus – Pierce Room Thursday August 3, 2017 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Registration Location: GCCC

INTERNAL DIVERSE LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT & COMMUNICATION Mission: To clearly define and communicate internally what the City of Columbus means by diversity and inclusion. Also, to support Mayor Ginther and the Cabinet Leadership Team in the reinforcement of Mayor Ginther’s vision and commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout City Departments and Commissions, with the ultimate goal of developing a benchmark standard of diversity and inclusion leadership for other U.S. cities to follow. “The acknowledgement and celebration of our differences makes us a better and stronger place for people to live, work, and visit”

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REGIONAL PARTNERS City of Akron City of Cincinnati City of Cleveland City of Columbus City of Dayton City of Lima City of Toledo Cuyahoga County PMM Agency

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Power Breakfast Location: GCCC – Union Station Ballroom 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Business Expo Ribbon Cutting Location: GCCC – Hall A 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Concurrent Workshops Location: GCCC – A110 – A115; A120 – A125 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Business Expo (closed for Luncheon) Location: GCCC – Hall A 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Mayor’s Roundtable & Luncheon Location: GCCC – Union Station Ballroom

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STATE

THE OHIO MUNICIPALITIES BUSINESS CONFERENCE & EXPO DESIGNED TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS Program Highlights Include: B2B OPPORTUNITIES Find Your Match!

Mayor’s Roundtable Luncheon — Featured Guest Everett Taylor Wednesday @ 12 p.m.

Power Breakfast – Featured Guest Chinedu Echeruo Thursday @ 8a.m.

Municipality Matchmaker Session — Wednesday @ 10a.m. –12 p.m. A business-to-business matchmaking session with city buyers, purchasers and agencies across the state.

Everette Taylor is a successful serial entrepreneur and author. He currently serves as Vice President of Marketing for Skurt – a mobility company delivering cars on-demand at the tap of a button.

Workshops

Chinedu Echeruo is a serial entrepreneur who has dared to invent the future. In 2005, he founded Hopstop, the pioneering travel app that helped millions of users navigate public transportation in major metropolitan areas around the world. In 2013 he sold the company to Apple for a reported $1 billion.

Track 3: Small Business Accelerators KEEP RISING: NAVIGATING CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF GROWTH Think you can go on autopilot once your business has reached a sustainable pattern of success? Think again! This session will explore: - When to and how to sell your business - Restructuring your company for success - Securing growth funding

Track 1: Finding Success in Contracting WINNING THE BID: BEST PRACTICES FOR A WINNING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Everybody wants government contracts but many companies find the process hard and difficult to manage. Are your proposals attractive to government buyers? Do you have a strategy to meet the proposal deadline every time? Join us for a candid discussion of best practices on what winning companies do to set their proposals apart This session will explore: THINKING ACROSS BOUNDARIES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS - Best practices on winning proposals What do great companies do when they hit a plateau? They innovate! They look for the next - Internal process to streamline RFP/RFQ response time best opportunity that may not always be apparent. This session will explore: - What makes your proposal stand out to buyers - Boundary Spanning Concepts - Setting your pricing strategy Exploring adjacent opportunities for your business - Developing a “Go/No-Go” strategy - Retooling your business for new opportunities - Exploring the Core Competencies of your business SMART COLUMBUS: CONNECTING WITH PRIVATE SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES Municipalities and quasi-governmental agencies spend millions each year in contracting opportunities. This session will explore: - SMART Columbus Partnership opportunities - Best practices for connecting with Private Sector opportunities on government funded projects Track 2: Growing Your Business in Uncertain Times BEYOND HOME BASE: STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING BUSINESS REGIONALLY So you’ve been successful at the local level with winning contracts and building your project portfolio. Great, Now What? Many companies struggle with when and if to expand beyond their immediate cities. This session will explore: - Best practices for joint ventures, partnerships, and MOU’s - Networking strategies in other cities - Leveraging local experience in other communities - Strategic Planning /Growth Planning strategies THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES: AN OVERVIEW OF MAJOR PROJECTS ACROSS OHIO Every business wants to know “Where are the Opportunities This session will explore: - An overview of regional long term initiatives or projects with robust business opportunities - Highlights of the industries targeted for growth within each region - Testimonials and best practices from firms who are actively working on these initiatives

Track 4: Best Practices in Diversity and Inclusion THE ECONOMICS OF A DISPARITY STUDY Public procurement can be a potentially powerful tool for governments to promote equal economic opportunities and to counteract discrimination in the marketplace. This session will explore: - What is a disparity study; - Why might one be needed; - Types of studies, - Required preparations and internal resource requirements; - What types of recommendations a study should provide; and - How to respond to a study's findings including program and project goal setting. CREATING A WINNING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY From being compliance-driven and tactical at its inception, diversity has grown into a business-driven, strategic function. This session will explore: - The business case for diversity and inclusion; - The foundations of a sustainable diversity and inclusion strategy; - Best practices in diversity and inclusion sustainability; Business Expo THURSDAY AUGUST 3, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and build business through this interactive trade show. The expo highlights business opportunities throughout the State of Ohio, creates access to procurement officers from municipalities around the state and provides invaluable strategic business tips from industry experts.

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STATE

The Ohio State Black Chamber of Commerce Announces Affiliation with The US Black Chamber of Commerce Rafeal Underwood, CEO/ Founder The Ohio

Black Chamber of Commerce. We believe that they will be a great asset and their commitment to access to capital for Black Owned Businesses matches our commitment to the businesses in Ohio.” Mr. Underwood has recently named Urban Trendsetters Publisher and CEO, Sharon S. Gordon as Executive Director.

One of the first orders of business for Gordon was to facilitate the merger of the two chambers. “I have followed Ron Busby and The By Lisa Freeman –Williams US Black Chamber since first meeting him at The Ohio State Black Chamber of Commerce The Black Enterprise Conference held here in Columbus a few years ago. Since that time I (TOSBCOC) launched in Columbus, Ohio, have had the pleasure of having conversaSeptember 2015. Since its inception the tions and then interviewing him and became chamber has participated in several events convinced that I wanted to join forces with

throughout the community. The Ohio State Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to being the premier advocate for the over 40,000 Black-Owned Businesses in the State of Ohio. TOSBCOC serves as a centralized state wide resource for business growth providing access to capital, entry into new markets and relationships through strategic partnership and collaborative opportunities. Beginning in May, the chamber will join the roster of affiliate chambers and re-launch under nationally know and recognized U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce out of Washington, DC. Rafeal Underwood, CEO and Founder of TOSBCOC states “We are excited about our affiliation with Mr. Ron Busby and The U.S.

his mission of economic empowerment for our community. I am delighted about the opportunity to work throughout Ohio with Mr. Underwood and Black Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs to expand the vision and mission of TOSBCOC. Of course, we will utilize the resources and media services offered through Urban Trendsetters to provide marketing, advertising and outreach about the chamber’s services to grow our membership base” states Ms. Gordon. Continued on Page 29

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NATIONAL Knowledge of Credit Scoring Drops: Black Consumers Appear to Need Most Education that isn’t in some way tied to or influenced by their credit scores. In the financial world, a person’s credit score illustrates their creditworthiness which simply means how likely it is that a person will pay their bills and whether they will pay them on time. A bad credit score means the owner of that score could end up spending thousands of additional dollars in interest or fees if they want to borrow money, rent an apartment, buy a house, rent or buy a car, obtain insurance. So financial experts stress that it behooves consumers to do all they can to ensure that they keep a positive credit score and hone their knowledge about credit scoring. (TriceEdneyWire.com) - Sharae Newton (Not her real name), has made many mistakes that damaged her credit score. They include running up debt as a college student – including student loans. But after Newton earned a second Master’s degree and began working with the federal government, she thought she was secure. She now admits that she still has an uncomfortable relationship with money largely because of her lack of credit literacy. Like many middle class AfricanAmericans, Newton makes a concerted effort to monitor her credit score and learn all she can about how to protect it. Yet, Newton, who asked that her identity be kept confidential for the sake of financial privacy, lives with a great deal of uncertainty; especially when something unusual happens that affects her regular financial life. “I’m the only income earner in my household, but I had a series of medical issues that lost me money and cost me money,” said Newton, who owns a home in Northeast Washington, DC but has no significant savings. “I never expected the medical

problems I’ve had over the last five years. I’ve had multiple orthopedic surgeries because of a condition that causes my tendons to tear. I earned my second masters, got out of whatever credit quandary I was in prior, but my medical expenses got me right back into it.”

In that regard, Stephen Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Barrett Burns, CEO of VantageScore Solutions, LLC, spoke to reporters in a recent conference call to discuss the findings of a survey to measure consumer knowledge of credit scores.

Her most recent surgery was in January and the portion she’s required to pay is $14,000. She said she and some of her friends and associates are caught in the vice of making too much money to get subsidies and other types of help to pay medical bills that the poor or vulnerable receive.

In the seventh year that the survey has been conducted by the organizations, one of the major findings is that consumer knowledge of credit scores has eroded over the past 12 months.

“All of the safety nets, I was not eligible for them,” she said. “You cannot buy something like Aflac unless you have a catastrophic illness like a heart attack or a stroke. Federal jobs provide you a certain privilege but don’t protect you. … I had to start using leave without pay. It does make you feel like what else can you do to feel protected? This destroyed my credit and I face a very uncertain future.” Newton’s dilemma illustrates that there is very little financially that Americans can do

According to the survey, a smaller number of respondents were aware that non-credit service providers used credit scores in determining prices and the services they offer. For cell phone companies the consumer awareness was down from 68 percent to 59 percent, and for electric utilities this awareness was down from 53 percent to 44 percent. “We wish the survey results were more positive,” Burns said. “Consumers should make every payment on time and we urge them to check their credit every 12 months. The greater availability of credit scores and

credit reports is certainly a net positive for consumers, however the data demonstrates that we collectively have work to do to help consumers understand that credit scores are used by more than just lenders.” Brobeck said the findings generally show that consumers have a dire need for greater levels of financial education. “One would think that increasing access to one’s credit scores would help increase knowledge about these scores,” said Brobeck. “But that apparently has not been the case to the detriment of consumers. Low credit scores can cost consumers hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars a year in higher loan and service costs.” On the plus side, the percentage of respondents who said they had obtained at least one credit score in the past year has steadily risen – from 49 percent in 2014, to 51 percent in 2015, to 54 percent in 2016, to 56 percent in 2017. Barrett and Brobeck said that the surveys, in addition to consumer education, are designed to help consumers understand the varied factors that affect their credit. They stressed that it’s crucial for people to make loan payments on time. Failure to do so can adversely affect one’s credit. It is encouraging, the pair said, that a large majority of consumers correctly identified key factors influencing scores – missed loan payments (91 percent), high credit card balances (86 percent), and personal bankruptcy (85 percent). And also two important ways to raise their credit scores or maintain high scores – making loan payments on time (96 percent) and keeping credit card balances low (80 percent). Continued on Page 44

Harvard Study: Steep Declines in Black Home Ownership (TriceEdneyWire.com) - For the 12th consecutive year, America’s national homeownership rate has declined, according Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)’ annual report, State of the Nation’s Housing 2017. This year’s report also found these declines vary by race and ethnicity.

And therein lies the crux of the problem: access and affordability.

The lack of access to mortgage financing in Black America has a long history rooted in outright discrimination by private actors such as banks, and supported by inequitable federal housing policies that favored white comAs some might expect, the steepest homemunities, while intentionally disadvantaging ownership decline occurred in Black commu- Black communities. This discrimination hinnities, where the percentage of homeowners dered generations of Black families from dropped to 42.2 percent. Among the nation’s entering and remaining among America’s largest metro areas, Black homeownership middle class. These practices also resulted in declined the greatest in Atlanta, Baltimore, lower levels of both Black wealth and homeDallas and Detroit. By contrast, Latinoownership. American homeownership is higher at 46 percent; but both communities of color seToday, applying for a mortgage means a visit verely lag behind the nearly 72 percent rate to a bank where high incomes, low debt and of white homeownership. high “The ability of most US households to become homeowners,” states the report, “depends on the availability and affordability of financing.”

credit scores are among the most favored measures for loan application success. Since the foreclosure crisis, according to the JCHS report, the median credit score for an owner-

occupied home purchase origination increased from about 700 in 2005 to 732 in 2016. Just as communities of color were wrongly targeted for predatory and high-cost mortgages that pushed them into foreclosure, these same communities are the most likely to have suffered credit score declines from foreclosures, unemployment or delinquent debt – or a combination of all three. According to a 2017 CFED report, A Downpayment on the Divide, the mortgage denial rate for Blacks is more than 25 percent, near 20 percent for Latinos but just over 10 percent for white applicants.

whites being able to accumulate wealth through homeownership opportunity while Blacks were denied. As a result, Black households typically delay homeownership 8 years longer than whites, resulting in a comparable delay in building home equity. JCHS also found that nearly 39 million American families are financially challenged with their cost of housing. So is the American Dream of homeownership realistic for communities of color?

A June 29 public hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee focused on how mortgage finance reform and governmentsponsored enterprises, also known as GSEs, The issue of housing affordability is just as must live up to its “duty to serve” all comchallenging. CFED also found that whites are munities. three times more likely than Blacks to receive financial assistance from families to pay for down payments and other upfront Continued on Page 44 costs that accompany a mortgage. The racial disparity is due to America’s history of

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POLITICAL

Trump's Lies!!! gressive immorality that's not altogether unreasonable. In fact, among many practitioners of these vices, we find the connection between those sins the rule rather than exception.

before they do it to me." Their standard interaction accepts the elevation of personal interests as superior to all else. This has led to a coarsening of personal interaction and discourse.

Unlike today, the As I see it, our future is to be inundated with In times past, "Old Folks" took Trump's lies. Many will believe him uncondi- we could recona dim view of cile that some tionally. Others will grow frustrated and those who couldamong us would weary of dealing with the deluge of lies. n't deal in The embrace the Truth. Honesty dark side, but and personal integrity were attributes that we could always count on a core element to, were essential to the level of esteem one at least, exemplify the image of personal commanded in the community. Of course, integrity, honesty and values consistent with there were Liars and Conmen who victimthem. Now, even among those traditionally Dr. Faye Williams ized their communities, but they were usually held to the highest of standards of personal integrity, we see an erosion in truthful deal(TriceEdneyWire.com) - I'm a product of the transients who claimed no communal foundations nor places where they were weling. Sadly, unlike any time in my past, the "Southern Experience." Many of my views comed. Once discovered, they were shunned current President of the US is a principal are shaped by the "mother wit" and logic or run out of town and little could be done to exemplar of this abhorrent behavior. learned growing up there. There's something rehabilitate their reputations. There are no unique to the down-to-Earth "common justifiable reasons for the breakdown of the sense" of the "Old Folks" as they reckoned When candidate Trump's behavior was concommunal values of truthful, plain-dealing, with and evaluated their circumstance and sidered "out of line" with behavioral norms but a breakdown has happened and our naenvironment. expected of one seeking the presidency, tion is the worse for it. many observers believed it would disqualify him from gaining office. Incredulously, othOne of the frequently repeated axioms I disSadly, rejection of truthful dealings has beers excused him with the caveat that he tinctly remember goes like this: "If you lie, come more pervasive. Many accept situwould "turn around" after using his bizarre you'll cheat! If you cheat, you'll steal! And, ational ethics as a standard for dealing with behavior as an election tool. if you steal, you'll kill!" This evaluation of others. Rather than the "Golden Rule," far human character may appear overlytoo many practice principles of "do it to them simplified, but it presents a concept of pro-

Trump's lies prior to the election pale in contrast to those experienced post-election. His lies about President Obama's birthplace, about divesting himself of his business interests and releasing his tax returns seem benign when compared with the avalanche of lies that have flown from the White House since Inauguration Day. The New York Times has constructed a list of all of Trump's lies since January 21st (https://www.nytimes.com/ interactive/2017/06/23/opinion/trumpslies.html). As I see it, our future is to be inundated with Trump's lies. Many will believe him unconditionally. Others will grow frustrated and weary of dealing with the deluge of lies. Our ultimate task will be an on-going vigilance and challenge to the lies, cheating, stealing and potential killing this man has the capacity and authority to render. How many more lies must we endure?

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of the National Congress of Black Women. www.nationalcongressbw.org)

CBCF to conduct the 47th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Pre conference registration ends September 9th

This year's conference theme, "And still I RISE" reflects a legacy of resilience that emphasizes the collective strength of the black community to rise above continued racial inequalities. Don't miss this awe-inspiring 5day policy conference with legislators, thought leaders, sub-

ject experts, and celebrities! Purchase your tickets today before pre-conference registration ends on Saturday, September 9. Tickets can be purchased at cbcfinc.org/alc. Follow us on Twitter @cbcfinc and let us know you're coming by using our hashtag, #CBCFALC17.

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GLOBAL TRENDS Global Meeting of the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society: Daring to lead in a disrupted world would continue to fulfill their commitments. Even as international co-operation faces continued pressure - leaders at the non-national level are finding strategies to co-ordinate and co-operate on what is arguably humanity's most urgent challenge.

Magatte Wade, founder & CEO of Tiossan, once named one of the "20 Youngest Power Women in Africa" by Forbes PARIS, FRANCE -- Different and often opposing forces are at play in a disrupted world. Automation technology is putting jobs at risk, yet many companies are developing new ways to put humanity at the center of their organizations. The US Federal Government seems to be moving away from collaboration on climate, yet other leaders from all quarters are stepping up. Amid an unprecedented level of uncertainty, the only thing that's certain is that we must act - and a gendered perspective can provide new strategies, fresh perspective and concrete solutions. When it comes to climate action, companies, mayors, governors, NGOs and even architects - have come out to strongly declare their continued support for the Paris Agreement. It has galvanized a global effort, and these leaders have shown just how they

In addition to being more directly and severely affected by the results of climate change globally, women have been the architects of global climate co-operation and are exercising different forms of leadership on climate action. It is in that spirit that we introduced our Climate Manifesto at our recent meeting in Rome, calling on leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement. We are attracting signatories from around the world, and our Global Meeting in Paris will be an opportunity to turn that commitment into concrete action. There will be speakers from a variety of backgrounds to address a range of global issues. Included in the listing is Magatte Wade, a passionate entrepreneur and founder & CEO of Tiossan, once named one of the "20 Youngest Power Women in Africa" by Forbes, will discuss what is needed to cultivate the next generation of daring leaders. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and watch the tag #WFGM17 to hear the latest on our program and learn how you can join the conversation. In addition, feel free to contact us with questions about Women's Forum Meetings by writing to delegates2017@womens-forum.com.

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DIVERSITY TRENDS

SUCCESS INSTITUTE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT How to Leverage Soft Skills sounds even better when you explain it in an interview. Show What You Know – The main purpose for acquiring soft skills is to become more effective in the business world. Therefore, show your prospective employer

(through concise explanation) how what you’ve learned has prepared you for the challenges of the job at hand. Explain how your skills in leadership, customer service, problem solving and team building will help the company grow and positively impact others.

SUCCESS INSTITUTE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DL WALLACE

The great Greek mathematician, Archimedes once said, “Give me a lever and I can move the earth.” While that statement may or may not be true, no one can argue that leverage plays a major role in business. Simply put, leverage is the art of using small object to move a much bigger object through proper positioning. Your soft skills training may not seem like a big deal now, but if leveraged properly, it can help you secure the position of your dreams. The better you leverage what you know, the more likely you are to excel in the business world. Almost every employer is searching for candidates with superior soft skills (leadership, problem solving, communication, time management, interpersonal, sales, etc.). Most prospective employees are in a mad dash to acquire soft skills.

They’re attending conferences; workshops and any other self-help initiatives that can help them achieve soft skills rapidly and inexpensively. Therefore, you must keep pace or run the risk of being left behind. Finding places to acquire soft skills in one thing – leveraging those skills you acquire is another story. Keep the following in mind: Get certified. Only engage in Soft Skills Training that offers you some type of certification. This provides additional leverage for you to use with prospective employers and gives you newly acquired skills added credibility. Add Soft Skills to Your Resume – Whether you’re applying for a job with a new company, a promotion or acceptance to a university, you MUST promote your soft skills. It looks good on your resume and

LET US PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE STREETS! TO ADVERTISE CALL 614-267-3233 TODAY

Urban Trendsetters is a proud Media Sponsor for the Champions of Diversity Luncheon & Career Fair. For more information, sponsorship or vendor participation contact

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TRENDSETTERS SPEAK

America and the Tale of Two Realities (TriceEdneyWire.com) - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the By Dr. Leon Wilmer epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” - Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities” 1859 Americans, especially African-Americans, stand shocked but not surprised in the wake of the acquittal on all charges of officer Jeronimo Yanez in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota. Castile, armed but licensed to carry, is dead after informing Yanez that he was armed and licensed. Castile appeared to follow Yanez’s directions. Officer Yanez’s defense? He was “in fear for his life”. Yanez was afraid that Mr. Castile was grabbing for the gun, telling the jury, “I thought I was going to die” and that he (Officer Yanez) had visions of his wife and “baby girl”. This is ironic testimony from Yanez since his shooting of Mr. Castile took place with Castile’s fiancé and her young daughter in the car. In Tulsa, Okla., a jury found Officer Betty Jo Shelby not guilty in the death of Terence Crutcher. Shelby fired a single bullet into the chest of an unarmed Terrence Crutcher as he stood next to his car on a tree-lined street. Her defense? She was in fear for her life. She testified that she had a reasonable fear that Mr. Crutcher was reaching for a gun and that she simply reacted based upon her training. A jury deadlocked in the murder trial of former University of Cincinnati police officer Raymond Tensing. Tensing shot and killed an unarmed Samuel DuBose during a routine traffic stop in July 2015. The traffic stop took place off campus. Judge Leslie E. Ghiz declared a mistrial for the second time in this case. How is it that in these recent cases and countless others; families are left looking for indictments or guilty verdicts while juries see justified shootings? In spite of body cameras and independent video, juries view what the public sees but are unable to indict or convict the officers. They can’t believe their lying eyes. They believe the

police accounts of “I feared for my life” even when it is proven that the officer’s account of the event wasn’t true or the unarmed victim was trying to comply with the directives given by the officer. In America, it’s the tale of two realities. I know that not all people fall into the following categories and I am about to paint with a broad brush. But I believe the prem-

Four of the twelve jurors were AfricanAmerican. I believe the most dominant factor in these cases can be attributed to racism (White supremacy) and the misperceptions and emotions conjured up by issues involving the artificial construct of race. Dr. Francis Cress Welsing defines racism (White supremacy) as the local and global power system structured and maintained by per-

Protests of police-involved deaths across the nation have painted the picture of a tale of two realities. White supremacy appears to be the root of it all. PHOTO: Trice Edney News Wire

ise is valid. It starts with how the police are viewed by different segments of society. Many people in the dominant culture, White people, see the police as a force that is there to serve – them, and protect their property against threats and attacks by people of color. Many people in communities of color, especially African-Americans and Latinos have a different experience and historical perspective. They see the police as an occupying and oppressive force. A police officer telling a jury, “I was in fear for my life”; or “he made a furtive move”, resonates with some White jurist’s fears and perceptions. This enables them to ignore the reality projected in the video and nullifying the common-sense conclusion drawn by those with a different reality. Jurors have said, yes, I saw the video but I could not bring myself to convict that officer of man-slaughter or murder. This reality is not as simple as Black and White. African-American police officers have been acquitted of killing AfricanAmerican people as in the case of Milwaukee police officer, Dominique HeagganBrown. Officer Brown, shot Sylville K. Smith in his chest even after Smith had thrown his weapon over a fence. Juries with African-Americans on them have acquitted African-American officers for killing people of color as in the Smith case.

sons who classify themselves as White, whether consciously or subconsciously determined. This system consists of patterns of perception, logic, symbol formation, thought, speech, action and emotional response, as conducted simultaneously in all areas of activity (economics, education, law, etc.). Even though some of the officers or jurors involved are African-American, the analysis still applies. AfricanAmericans can and have fallen victim to the same conditioning as White people. These White supremacist perceptions and actions not only play themselves out on the streets of America but are articulated on the world stage as well. They are clearly expressed by representatives of the local and global power system such as American members of Congress and President Donald Trump. As anti-immigrant and Islamophobic rhetoric gains traction in many corners of European society, Iowa Congressman Steven King praised the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has espoused antiimmigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric and recently called Moroccans “scum”. While in Europe, King said, “You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else’s babies…You’ve got to keep your birth rate up, and you need to teach your children your values. In doing so, you can grow your

population, you can strengthen your culture, and you can strengthen your way of life.” While in Poland President Trump gave a not so subtle nod of approval to Poland’s authoritarian and anti-immigrant President Duda. Trump, the patron saint of the “birther movement” spoke about defending “Western civilization” and “Western values”. He also said, “We must work together to confront forces…that threaten over time to undermine these values and to erase the bonds of culture, faith, and tradition that make us who we are…” How were these sentiments interpreted by leaders from Asia, Africa and Saudi Arabia? To the average American these are innocuous words, standard American rhetoric. To those with another reality who understand settler colonialism, American racism and hegemony, this is White Nationalist code language. As Dr. Ronald Walter’s wrote in “White Nationalism Black Interests”, “if a race is dominant to the extent that it controls the government of the state…most policy actions appear to take on an objective quality, where policy makers argue they are acting on the basis of “national interests” rather than racial ones.” In short, they don’t have to articulate racist narratives; it’s baked into the policy. If one truly understands the pervasive impact of racism (White supremacy) and White Nationalism it is easy to understand how juries can rationalize and dismiss the murderous behavior of police officers. It is important to understand that the members of these juries may not be consciously racist. They have been raised, taught and indoctrinated in and by a system that creates, supports and perpetuates this mindset. These precepts play themselves out on the streets of America and its courtrooms. They are articulated by American presidents and members of Congress on the world stage even today. If you are a beneficiary of the American Dream, it is best of times. If you are oppressed by the American nightmare, it is the worst of times. Are we living in an age of wisdom or an age of foolishness where “fake news” and “alternative facts” rule the day? It’s America and tale of two realities. Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program “Inside the Issues with Leon,” on SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: wjl3us@yahoo.com. www.twitt er.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook.com

Let Us Put Your Business in the Streets!

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THE JOURNEY Civil Rights Icon Rev. Barber Charts New Course Down Beaten Paths By Marc H. Morial our nation—and our world.

planned on descending on our nation’s capital with scores of poor people to demand fair wages, unemployment insurance and quality education. He would not live to join the protestors who would eventually descend on Washington, erect a protest camp and demand economic justice, but the campaign was short lived, and we continue to fight for that same justice Dr. King understood was essential to achieve, if our nation was truly committed to giving everyone, regardless of color, gender or zip code, a fair chance at life.

Rev. Barber’s activism—powered by morally induced outrage to unjust policies and the abuse of the most vulnerable—has taken on many forms and roles, moving him from national stages to the streets. As the chief architect of what would become the ongoing “Moral Mondays” movement, an extension of the NAACP’s Forward Together movement, in the spring of 2013, Rev. Barber stood and protested with impacted people, civil rights activists and community leaders in front of the North Carolina state legislature to challenge discriminatory voter access laws and other state-sponsored attacks on civil rights. Mark Morial, President The National Urban League

Protestors sang “We Shall Overcome,” held signs, blocked the doors to the Senate cham(TriceEdneyWire.com)- “This is America’s bers and got arrested. Described in his own opportunity to help bridge the gulf between words as the “largest state-governmentthe haves and the have-nots. The question is focused civil disobedience campaign in U.S. whether America will do it. There is nothing history,” the first protest would, thankfully, new about poverty. What is new is that we not be the last. Crossing traditional barriers now have the techniques and the resources to of religion, race, class, political affiliation or get rid of poverty. The real question is sexual orientation, that first Moral Monday whether we have the will.” — Dr. Martin has inspired tens of thousands of people to Luther King Jr., American Civil Rights Aclock arms in solidarity and protest beyond tivist, “Remaining Awake Through a Great the state of North Carolina, undeterred by the Revolution.” March 31, 1968 very real threat of arrests, with over 1,000 protestors handcuffed and jailed—including After 12 historic years leading the North Rev. Barber, several times. Carolina chapter of the NAACP, the Reverend Dr. William Barber is stepping down from his post and stepping up to the chalUnder the umbrella of Repairers of the lenge posed by the late Martin Luther King Breach—a nonprofit founded by Rev. Barber Jr. nearly five decades ago to unite the poor that develops church and lay people into and put an end to the social inequities and leaders who strategize and organize for prouniversal indifference that breeds poverty in gressive, moral agendas—Dr. King’s Poor

Reverend Dr. William Barber

Today, Dr. King’s legacy in the fight for economic justice for all Americans has been passed on to Rev. Barber, and I am pleased that Rev. Barber has answered the call to lead this effort in the affirmative.

People’s Campaign will find new life. The new campaign, now the New Poor People’s Campaign: National Call for a Moral Revival, will pick up where his assassination left the nascent movement.

As a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment for the poor and underserved, The National Urban League will honor Rev. Barber and his longtime commitment to civil rights and justice during our annual conference this year. We A year before his death, Dr. King shifted his live now in worrisome times where a robust focus to economic inequality, and as he did movement is afoot to limit Americans’ acwith civil and voting rights, he was commit- cess to the ballot box, where millions of peoted to making poverty and the plight of all ple worry that they will not have healthcare our nation’s poor a top priority on our federal next year, and where the stock of private government’s agenda. Dr. King announced prisons continue to soar as the Trump adthe Poor People’s Campaign at a staff retreat ministration finds more people to criminalize for the Southern Christian Leadership Conand occupy prison beds. So we are fortunate ference in 1967. He described the campaign to have men and women on the side of right, as a “highly significant event,” adding that like Rev. Barber, who contemplate action in the campaign was “the beginning of a new the face of abuse and refuse to remain silent cooperation, understanding, and a determina- in the face of injustice. tion by poor people of all colors and backgrounds to assert their right to a decent life and respect for their culture and dignity.” He

BEBE WINANS HEADS WEST WITH AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STAGE MUSICAL; ANNOUNCES FIRST SOLO ALBUM IN FIVE YEARS run through August 6th.

the unexpected and unparalleled road toward his destiny.

coming release of a brand new album, inspired by the show and also titled Born For Born For This boasts an esteemed creative This. The album will include original studio team triumvirate, with a book written by Wi- The musical documents the inception of recordings of songs from the show, and will nans, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright BeBe and CeCe Winans, played with eerie be Winans’ first solo album in five years. It (Motown: The Musical, “Greenleaf”), with accuracy by Winans’ nephew and niece, Juan features guest appearances by Tramaine music supervision by Donald Lawrence. It is Winans and Deborah Joy Winans Hawkins, Tobbi & Tommi, Debra Winansan emotional journey that chronicles Winans’ (“Greenleaf”), respectively, their unconven- Lowe, Margaret Bell, Pastor Marvin Winans, early years as the youngest son born to a tional beginnings as cast members of Jim and and Mom Winans, as well as newcomer Six-time Grammy Award-winner and Gospel family whose name is synonymous with Tammy Faye Bakker’s televangelistic pheKiandra Richardson, who stuns in her porMusic Hall of Fame inductee, BeBe Winans, Gospel music, and depicts his rise to supernomenon, “Praise the Lord,” their chance trayal of Houston in the live production. premieres his self-penned musical stage pro- stardom and his internal conflicts between meeting and subsequent friendship with duction, Born For This, at Santa Monica’s faith and fame. Broadway World declares, Whitney Houston, and their relationship with Tickets for Born For This, the musical, are The Broad Stage for a limited run this Sum- “This spectacular musical is impossible not their older brothers, the legendary Gospel available now on TheBroadStage.org. mer. After successful runs in Atlanta, GA, to enjoy.” The captivating production begins quartet, The Winans. Born For This, the album, will be available and Washington, D.C., Born For This makes in the Winans family’s humble home in Desoon wherever music is sold. its West Coast debut on July 11th and will troit, MI, and follows Winans as he travels Winans has recently announced the forth-

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THE JOURNEY The William Brady Project Band - The Music behind the Mission

William T. Brady, CEO The William Brady Charitable Organization and The William Bray Project Band

The saying goes “music soothes the savage beast”, well in the case of William Brady Project Band, music is also a source of community outreach, engagement and awareness. As the founder and band leader for The William Brady

Project Band, William Troy Brady has found a way to combine his love of music and his passion for his community as a way to operate in his true purpose. The William Brady Project Band is a nonprofit band/organization that uses music to increase mental health awareness. A Warren, Ohio native, Brady found himself at the losing end of a 20 year battle with drug addictions and living life in the fast lane. Having hit his “rock bottom” Brady realized that he needed to make a drastic change and that there was more to his life than what he was reflecting in his current circumstance. Brady had found himself like most individuals who struggle with addiction…alone. “I was at a place where my friends, family and it seemed everyone had turned their backs on me”- state Brady. After much soul searching Brady was determined to win back his life and decided that in order to make a true change he had to turn his life over to God and became a Born Again Christian. During this new journey Brady soon discovered his new life; a ministry that would allow him to reach out to others who were in need. He knew that he had to give back and make a difference in the lives of others. His specific mission was to care for those who had no one else, no one to turn to and nowhere to go. That ministry be-

came The William Brady Charitable Organization (WBCO), the method would be housing for the mentally ill and the music through which is flows is The William Brady Project Band. The WBCO is a supportive housing program that provides housing to individuals suffering from mental illness. In addition The WBCO’s clients have had AIDS, drug addictions and other disad-

The William Brady Project Band vantages that have made it difficult to find landlords that will rent to them. Since its inception in 2009 The WBCO has assisted over 4,000 people secure safe and affordable housing. Mr. Brady turned his love for music into a means of raising funds to support the ministry of The WBCO. This amazing

band’s concept is to entertain free of charge and through their intermissions they take a moment to spread the word about mental illness. The audience who has had the pleasure of attending and listening to the bands blend of Jazz and R & B music roster have the opportunity to thank the band with their donations. It’s a win/win situation for all. The William Brady Project Band is always looking for organizations, events and partnerships to help them further their mission and movement of spreading the word about mental health awareness through music. If you are interested in donating to The William Brady Charitable Organization, requesting the presence of The William Brady Project Band to perform for your next event, or you would like to enjoy a great party on purpose, log onto www.williambradyevents.com. You can hear the band perform live at their weekly event Jazz at The HUB every Saturday from 8pm – 12 midnight. The HUB is located at 1336 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43205. For more information about The William Brady Charitable Organization log onto www.wbcoi.org.

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FAMILY TRENDS Help Your Kid Say No To Underage Drinking but you as a parent or caregiver do not have to feel powerless. You can take action to help your child make healthy decisions that prevent underage drinking. While the rates are declining, alcohol is the most widely misused substance among America's youth and underage drinking remains a serious concern in the U.S. The 2016 Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking finds that youth start drinking at an early Spending time with your children can prevent underage. Although the peak years of age drinking. underage drinking happen from 7th to 11th grade, 10 percent of How do you prepare your child with the 9- to 10-year-olds have already started knowledge, skills and confidence to say no drinking and nearly one-fifth of underage to alcohol? The task can seem challenging, drinkers begin before age 13.

The report also finds that any alcohol use can have serious consequences for young people. It contributes to risky sexual behavior and increases the risk of suicide and using other drugs. It can negatively impact brain development, which can have lifelong effects. It can increase the risk for heavy drinking later in life. And underage drinking can result in arrest or, worse yet, death from drunk driving or alcohol poisoning. So what's behind this issue? There are many reasons young people are tempted to drink, including peer pressure. Underage drinking typically happens in a group, and for adolescents the desire to fit in is powerful. Other risk factors include having a history of social and emotional problems, such as depression, and a family history of substance abuse. Trying to cope with difficult life transitions, such as divorce in the family or moving from middle to high school, can also trigger underage drinking.

SENIOR TRENDS

Five Steps To Plan For Dealing With Diminished Capacity And Illness (NAPSI)—Aging can change many things in a person’s life, including the ability to manage one’s own money. That sobering reality is behind the creation of a new resource, “Planning for Diminished Capacity and Illness,” issued by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These organizations offer this key tip for how to prepare for your financial future: Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

The first-ever Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health shows how parents are a leading influence in a child's decision about whether to drink. How Parents Can Help 1. Be a positive role model. Children learn from observing and that starts at home. Don't let your child see you misuse alcohol or drugs, and get help if you think you have a substance use problem. Even if you have misused drugs or alcohol in the past, you can still have an open conversation about their dangers and the reasons to stay away from them. In addition, keep temptation away by safeguarding alcohol and medications at home so they are not accessible to your child.

Continued on Page 19

GET PUBLISHED IN 2017

the legal authority to make financial decisions for you if you cannot. That person is called your agent. A financial power of attorney differs from a health care power of attorney, which covers only health care decisions. After signing a durable financial power of attorney, you can still manage your money and property as long as you have the ability to make decisions. Since you’re essentially giving financial decision-making authority to your agent, it’s critical he or she be someone you trust.

STOP PROCRASTINATING

The Problem

Step 4: Keep things up to date. If something changes (for example, you open a new account), keep your infor“Diminished financial capacity” generally refers to a mation as current as possible. Your trusted contact may decline in a person’s ability to manage assets to serve his or her best interests. When people of any age lose the also change over time. Keep your financial professionals informed of changes regarding who has authority to capability to manage their finances, they may also bereview your account or whom they should contact in an come more vulnerable to investment fraud and other emergency. forms of financial abuse. What You Can Do These five steps can help you prepare. Step 1: Organize your important financial documents. Store them in a safe, easily accessible location. Give copies to trusted loved ones or let them know where to find them. When it comes to bank and brokerage statements and account information, make a list of your accounts with account numbers. Keep a separate list of online bank and brokerage passwords and PINs, and keep both lists in a safe place. List the locations of your safe-deposit boxes and their keys. Keep your mortgage and credit information, insurance policies, retirement benefits and Social Security information easily accessible. Step 2: If you work with a financial professional, give that person emergency contact information in case he or she can’t reach you or suspects something is wrong. Discuss what you would consider to be an emergency and specify when your financial professional may contact someone on your behalf. Step 3: Consider creating a durable financial power of attorney. A financial power of attorney gives someone

Step 5: Speak up if something goes wrong. If you ever think someone is taking advantage of you or that you’ve been the victim of a fraud, speak up. Sadly, sometimes even family members, financial professionals and other people they think they can trust commit financial crimes. If this happens to you or your loved one, you’re not alone—and the sooner you let someone know about it, the better chance there is of putting an end to it. Learn More If you have questions or concerns about issues with brokerage accounts and investments, call the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors toll-free at (844) 574-3577. You may submit a formal complaint to FINRA about a financial professional or firm at www.finra.org/ complaint or call (301) 590-6500. If you have an issue with a consumer financial product (such as a mortgage or credit card), submit a complaint to the CFPB. Visitwww.consumerfinance.gov/ complaint or call (855) 411-2372. To learn more about how to protect your money, visit the FINRA Foundation’s website: www.SaveandInvest.org.

Make 2017 the Year You Publish Your *Book *Magazine *Community Or Industry Newspaper What We Offer: Self Publishing Services Editing Marketing & PR Services Whether you are in the beginning stages or your book is ready to go to print. We are here for you. For a FREE 30 Min. Consultation Contact Sharon S. Gordon 614-267-3233 or email Sharon@sharonsgordon.com Visit Our Website Sharonsgordon.com/getpublished

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YOUNG & TRENDY Making Informed Choices About Student Debt (NAPSI)—Millions of

students are pursuing a college degree in the hope that it leads to a successful career and a meaningful life. It can seem like the only way to a stable financial future. But is it really? The decision to go to college might seem like an easy choice for some high school graduates; for others it could be challenging, especially if they can’t easily afford it.

Many students don’t understand how student loan debt will impact financial stability after graduation.

There are many ways to pay for college, including student loans. In considering whether to take out a loan to invest in one’s future and thereby capture financial gains, it’s helpful to view the process like businesses that borrow funds to invest in expanding their productive capacity. Details matter; how much borrowed can increase or decrease return on investment.

Many students don’t understand how student loan debt will impact financial stability after graduation. According to the U.S. Department of Education, as of the end of August 2015, about 7 million

Applications Now Open for Disney Dreamers Academy Class of 2018 at Walt Disney World Resort One hundred high school students to be selected for exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime gram taking place in March 2018 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – High school students nationwide can now apply at DisneyDreamersAcademy.com to be among 100 selected to participate in the 2018 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE, the innovative, outside-the-classroom, mentoring program that takes place in March at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. For over a decade, Disney Dreamers Academy has helped to inspire young minds from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for the future. Each year, students participate in hands-on, immersive career workshops, ranging from animation to zoology. Each participant learns important skills, such as communication techniques, leadership qualities and networking strategies, and are inspired by celebrity speakers and special guests who share their stories and provide insight on how to achieve success and DREAM BIG. The program has produced many success stories, inspiring students to become authors, nurses, pilots, doctors, journalists and engineers following the three-day allexpenses-paid experience at Walt Disney World Resort where the theme parks become vibrant ‘classrooms’ leading to career discoveries and fun memories to cherish for a lifetime. “After 10 years and over 1,000 Disney Dreamer alumni, we’re excited to begin the next decade of Disney Dreamers Academy,”

pro-

said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World vice president of commercial management resorts and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “We are excited about the many success stories, as this program continues to cultivate and inspire the minds of young high school students from across the nation to follow their dreams and accomplish their goals. By applying for Disney Dreamers Academy, future leaders of this country are taking a step toward an experience that can change their lives.” Program applicants must answer essay questions about their personal journeys and dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. Selected applicants, along with a parent or guardian, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Applications are open to U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19, through Oct. 31, 2017. A distinguished panel of leaders will evaluate the applications, and selected participants will be announced in early 2018. For more information regarding applications, interested applicants can visitDisneyDreamersAcademy.com, or learn more about the program on Facebook.com/ DisneyDreamersAcademy or Twitter.com/ DreamersAcademy.

Americans with student loans have not made a payment to the government in a year or more.

There are several ways to reduce the amount of money borrowed for higher education. Regardless of the approach, it’s important to investigate the cost of education for a given career choice and potential ability to pay off any student debt taken on. In the end, choosing a college or any post−high school institution is an intensely personal decision for individual students and their families.

Junior Achievement, the world’s leading nonprofit economic education organization, has created a free guide that parents and teens can use to gain a better understanding of making the right choices when it comes to student loans. This guide, “Understanding the Student Loan Explosion,” can be found at www.JA.org/Influencer.

Under Age Drinking—Continued from page 18 2. Strengthen family bonds. Be involved in your child's life and spend more time together. Show interest in your child's activities and plan ones you can do together based on their interests, such as attending sports games or having family movie or game nights. Know your child's daily routine in and out. Get to know your child's friends and friends' parents, so you can share your rules about not allowing any form of alcohol or substance use. 3. Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular activities. In the same way, support your child's involvement in school clubs, such as debate or yearbook, team sports or other outside interests. Doing so will help build your child's confidence, respect, leadership, sportsmanship and ability to work with others. Also, keeping your child engaged in positive activities helps avoid the chance that idle time is filled with potentially dangerous behavior.

to reinforce why you don't want your child to drink—not just because you say so but because you want them to be happy and safe. The conversation will go a lot better if you're working with, and not against, your child. Keep it low key. Don't worry about getting everything across in one talk. Many small talks are better. Help for Parents If you are worried your child may be involved with alcohol or drugs, it's important to seek professional guidance. Your pediatrician can be a first-stop resource.

There are also many online resources to help you better understand the issue of underage drinking and talk to and encourage your kid to stay away from alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has underage drinking prevention resources specifically for parents and caregivers at www.samhsa.gov/ 4. Balance your child's independence with underage-drinking. This includes access to safe boundaries. Provide daily encourageSAMHSA's free app for parents called ment to your child to boost self-esteem and "Talk. They Hear You" to help prepare you confidence. Find ways for your child to have to talk to your kid about underage drinking more responsibility in family life, such as through practice drills. doing chores or caring for a younger sibling. Set clear expectations, including about alco- By being proactive and following the sughol and drug use. Create a pledge between gestions described here, you can help you and your child that commits your child strengthen your child's resistance to alcohol. to not drink or use drugs. Take the first step by making the commitment to talk together today. 5. Talk to your children regularly about alcohol. Young people are more likely to listen when they know you're on their side. Try

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EDUCATION TRENDS Success Training Institute Announces New Initiatives to Bridge Soft Skills Gap Amongst High School and College Students One of the exciting initiatives of Success Training Institute is their commitment to bridge the soft skills gap amongst high school and college students by offering drastically discounted (and in some cases, complimentary) training for college students, high schools and nonprofits serving underprivileged and disadvantaged areas. Research studies show that soft skills are the most sought after skill set by companies all over the world. However, they are also difficult and often expensive to acquire. Recognizing this trend, the Success Training Institute has developed an affordable soft skills training platform for colleges, public and charter schools. In some cases, schools can qualify for their student body to receive certifications in critical soft skills such as leadership, problem solving, time management, critical thinking, sales, and customer service, at no out-ofpocket expense to the schools. “Our soft skills platform was designed to help people from all walks of life become more employable, more marketable and more confident,” said DL Wallace, CEO of Success Training Institute. “However, we realize the scarcity of quality of soft skills training in underserved areas and we are committed to bridge the gap.” This initiative will help those that can’t afford quality soft skills training to acquire it at little or no cost. The plan is simple: •The Success Training Institute is seeking partnerships with non-profit organizations, schools, and associations with an emphasis on jobs programs.

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•Offering its training to the members of those communities and organizations for an extremely low cost. Together, the Success Training Institute and the partnering organization will track the success of the users of the soft skills training platform after certifications are earned. “As a former college president, I have always supported the need for soft skills amongst our student body,” said Felix A. Zamora, President Emeritus Mountain View College, DCCCD. “The Success Training Institute’s desire to partner with college and high school programs will be well received and partnerships such as these are long overdue.” Success Training Institute is leading the soft skills revolution by doing its part to increase awareness of the growing need for soft skills; which play the greatest role in securing employment in today’s workforce. Further, the online platform of the Success Training Institute makes learning convenient for those who don’t have the time or transportation to travel to a brick and mortar facility. All content can be delivered to users mobile phones and tablet and tests can be taken from their devices as well. Using its copyrighted, revolutionary SIPS Instructional Method©, every lesson is effectively taught in 8 minutes or less. CEO’s, College Presidents, Professors, and Entrepreneurs have endorsed the training platform. Success Training Institute is based in Addison, Texas. Find out more at www.sharonsgordon.com/ Success ♥

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FINANCE & MONEY Nationwide — Every day people hear about the stock market, however, few people really understand how it works and how to actively buy and sell stocks and make money, thus they don’t participant in the stock market. FLip That Stock (www.FLipThatStock.com) and Hold That Stock (www.HoldThatStock.com) are changing that!

step-by-step how to start buying and selling stocks using the latest technology. “The response has been overwhelming since we launched. People have been flooding our websites to learn how to get started. Learning how to buy and sell stocks is a valuable skillset that is one of the keys to taking

These two education and technology companies specialize in teaching beginners a FUN and EASY way to learn how to buy and sell stocks. FLip That Stock focuses on “trading” stocks and generating income over a very short period of time, while Hold J.R. Fenwick, founder and CEO of FLipThatStock.com and HoldThatStock.com That Stocks focuses on “buying and holding” stocks to build a stock portfolio that increases in value of stock market works and how to make is just too risky and you will lose all your time. money buying and selling stocks. money. With the proper education, people “Millions of people want to know how the stock market works and how they can begin to make money and we are teaching them,” says J.R. Fenwick, Founder and CEO of

“Our mission is simple….teach EVERYONE how the stock market works and how

control of your financial future outside of a job and the fact that you can do it from your laptop, tablet or even smartphone from anywhere in the world makes it even more appealing to people,” Fenwick adds.

He is currently touring the country doing LIVE seminars to educate people on the will understand they can make money annu- stock market. Details about the tour schedule can be found ally, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily and at www.LiveSeminarRegistration.com even within minutes and seconds from buy-

to actively buy and sell stocks using our fun ing and selling stocks, while minimizing and easy system and the latest technology to risks. Learning to buy and sell stocks is a

FLip That Stock and Hold That Stock. “Our make money and build wealth. The first part valuable skill people can use for the rest of unique, fun and easy teaching approach is of teaching people is debunking the myths their lives,” Fenwick says. spreading across the country like crazy,” and misconceptions that many people have Fenwick continues. about the stock market, such as, you have to FLip That Stock (www.FLipThatStock.com) and Hold That have millions of dollars, an MBA from Har- Stock (www.HoldThatStock.com) offer Fenwick has been buying and selling stocks vard and spend all day looking at compliexcellent educational programs through for over 15 years, and started the company cated stock charts or doing hours of research their online memberships, live seminars, conference calls, webinars and private and when friends and even strangers began reto start buying and selling stocks. Or, that it group coaching programs that teach people peatedly asking him to teach them how the

With a TV and radio show, smartphone app, trading hardware and software all in development, Flip That Stock and Hold That Stock’s future are brighter than ever. J.R. Fenwick is available for interviews and seminars that will enlighten, educate and entertain by contacting FLipThatStock@gmail.com or www.BookJRFenwick.com

TECH TRENDS Let Today’s Technology Save You From ‘Renophobia’ Before you buy that fixer-upper, you can get a good idea of just how much fixing it up will cost. 2. Technological advancements can make homebuying easier and less expensive.

If you’ve been thinking, or even just dreaming, about buying a new home but “renophobia—the fear of having to do renovations—is holding you back, you may be glad to hear two things. 1.

You’re not alone. Often, prospective homebuyers, particularly millennials, want a turnkey home but can’t afford one in their desired area, and a fear of renovating means they remain renters. At the same time, many older homes have the potential to become a dream house with a little TLC.

You can now know just what renovations and repairs a house you’re considering will need, even before you visit it. That’s because Intero Real Estate Services (interorealestate.com) has partnered with Kukun, an online platform offering digital solutions that help homeowners navigate the home remodeling process. Through the widget, you get real-time home renovation estimates and return on investment information for the online listings. You can see which renovations you’d like to do, how much they will cost and what the property will be worth once they’re complete. You can even see which other homes in the area have had renovations and which construction companies or contractors were used.

What’s more, there are easy-to-use tools that help home renovators manage the process from beginning to end and control the time and money involved along the way. It’s simple to do. You can access the system through an app on your phone as well as the widget and get valuable data as you walk through a property.

lated and make sure they’re not lead. Look under the sinks for leaks, water damage or mold.

What To Look For

5. Learn about the neighborhood. How are the schools? How close is shopping? What’s the transportation like in the area? Is it under a flight path?

While you’re doing that, think about these seven things. 1. Is the building structurally sound? Look for big cracks, dampness around baseboards, and sagging walls. Check the window frames for cracked paint. Look at the ceiling for cracks, flaky plaster or water stains.

4. Check out the basement and the attic. How easy is access? Is there much storage space? Could it be converted into extra rooms? Is there insulation?

6. Look to the layout. How easy is it to get from room to room and from indoors to out? 7. It’s a hot idea to be sure the heating and cooling systems work.

2. Are the rooms and closets big enough? Learn More Are there enough bathrooms? Are the ceilings a good height for you? Will your family Visit www.mykukun.com for further inforand furniture fit comfortably? mation and an Estimator Tool or download the Kukun Mobile app on iOS and Android 3. Inspect the plumbing. Check the water devices. pressure. Turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets. See whether the pipes are insu-

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REAL ESTATE TRENDS Investing in Single-Family Real Estate Properties Online Here are five tips that can help: • Rule number one when looking at a property online. Figure out how the property performs today as an investment. You shouldn’t assume any type of appreciation, speculation or reduction in expenses over time. “What you’re buying today is what you’re going to live with because no one knows what tomorrow will hold for your property. Most savvy investors do not speculate on what a property might become,” said Dennis Cisterna, CRO of Investability Real Estate, Inc. (NAPSI)—Nobody has a secret formula for successfully investing in real estate, but brushing up on your financial literacy, digging deep into market dynamics, understanding property-specific costs and turning to today’s access to unprecedented data and technology can lead to more-informed buying decisions.

• A big line item is price. A lot of online marketplaces will factor price appreciation into their analysis. Often, this can be misleading because you don’t always have the knowledge to know whether a market will appreciate, and making assumptions based on previous performance can be risky.

of your return. You may assume, if rents go up, you might see an equal appreciation in your costs, so your yield may remain the same,” said Wally Charnoff, CEO of Investability Real Estate, Inc. • Also, be sure you understand operating costs. When you own a property far from home, it can be beneficial to rely on thirdparty providers to manage and repair the home. Therefore, it’s often best to include costs such as repairs, capital expenditures, “turn costs” (when a tenant moves out) and leasing expenses upfront.

• Finally, you must do your due diligence when investing. Regardless of whether you’re buying across town or across the country, make sure that the assumptions the seller uses are in line with the market’s actual costs and returns. Look for an opportu• Another factor to consider is rent apprecia- nity based on the current numbers, not what tion. “It can’t be guaranteed and you should- some experts may promise about tomorrow. n’t speculate that rental increases will be part By understanding the market- and property-

level analytics and familiarizing yourself with the service providers in the area, you can be in a better position to make an informed investment decision. With upfront metrics and a network of vetted service providers, Investability can make it easier to find single-family residential properties that fit with your investment strategy. Find your next single-family real estate investment atwww.investability.com. Tune in to “The Real Investor” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play for more tips, strategies and insights into real estate investing. To hear more on this subject, listen to “What to Consider When Buying Residential Investment Properties Online” on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2gjrZIS

URBAN TRENDSETTERS “Own Where You Live & Work” Realtor Spotlight

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HOME & STYLE TRENDS

Tips To Help Cool Down Air-Conditioning Costs With a ductless system, you can have different temperatures in each room of your house. You can save energy and money by letting the sun shine in on cool days, closing your shades against the heat on hot ones. NAPSI)—When temperatures rise, many people automatically crank up the air conditioners to stay cool. However, it may surprise them to learn that air conditioners use about 5 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S., costing homeowners more than $11 billion a year in energy expenses. The good news is that by following some practical tips at home, you can stay cool, save money and even help the environment. Here are a few energy-saving ideas to consider: Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling: Upgrading your system can have a big effect on your utility bills—and your comfort—year-round. In fact, the most energy-efficient heating and cooling products on the market—ductless mini-split systems—can save you as much as 30 percent on your utility bills. How does a ductless mini-split system work? Thin copper tubing is used to pump refrigerant from an outdoor compressor directly into an indoor air-handling unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space. This eliminates the need for basement or attic evaporators and bulky, expensive ductwork. Mini-splits are easy to install and usually require only a 3- to 4-inch hole through a wall or ceiling to connect the indoor and outdoor units. Ductless mini-split systems also let you control the individual temperature in each room. This means you don’t have to waste money cooling or heating spaces that you’re not using—such as guest bedrooms, bonus rooms, sunrooms and basements. Ductless systems operate at efficiency levels far above central forced-air systems and window units, as duct losses in a central AC system can account for more than 30 percent of your energy consumption. Fujitsu General, a leading mini-split manufacturer, offers the most energy- efficient lineup on the market, including wall- and floor-mounted, slim duct and compact cassette indoor units.

Get Your Hair Done and Car Fixed...GENIUS!!! Patrice Banks is the genius entrepreneur who is also the owner of Girls Auto Clinic in Philadelphia, PA. In response to a national problem of women being taking advantage of at many auto repair shops owned by men, Patrice launched her company to give women a better and more comfortable experience. A new approach

Coming up with the idea

Unlike traditional shops that often rip off their female customers, the staff at Girls Auto Clinic take time to go over each step with their customers. They also host free monthly workshops teaching simple, straightforward lessons and tips on car maintenance.

Currently, only 2% of all auto mechanics in the United States are women.

But here's what really makes them unique: While waiting for their car to get serviced, there is an on-site beauty parlor where customers can get their hair and nails done!

"It's fabulous," said another customer. "It's the best combination to get my nails done while waiting for my car!"

Patrice says that she once got ripped off at an auto repair shop, and immediately recognized what happened to her a potential business opportunity. She quit her job as an engineer, took night classes to become an auto mechanic, and then opened up her own shop with other "auto gals".

Satisfied customers "I want to see more of these types of auto shops," said one customer.

For more details about the company, visit www.girlsautoclinic.com

Rebates and Tax Incentives: To encourage homeowners to buy energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse gases, many utility companies offer rebates on qualified products. To estimate how much money you could save on a ductless mini-split system, you can visit the efficiency calculator on constantcomfort.com. The federal stimulus package also offers significant tax credits to homeowners who invest in new insulation and energy-efficient windows and heating/cooling systems. Quick Fixes: Small changes can have a big effect on your utility bill as well. Try to use heat -producing appliances—stoves, irons and dryers—at night or early morning. Switch to LED lightbulbs instead of incandescent bulbs—which consume 90 percent more power. Seal air leaksÊaround windows, doors, and places where pipes and wires come through walls. Check existing caulking and weather stripping for gaps or cracks. Window Treatments: These can work to your advantage, too.ÊClose all windows and coverings to keep your house cool. Dark-colored curtains, Roman shades, even discount store roller shades can be very effective. Solar screens, or meshlike window screens, intercept up to 70 percent of solar energy before it gets into the house, and installing awnings can reduce solar heat gain by as much as 77 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. When it comes to beating the heat, there is no need to suffer high utility bills. There are many actions you can take to reduce your energy expenses. You can change some everyday habits or invest in a new energy-efficient heating and cooling system. Many Fujitsu systems with the Energy Star rating are more than twice as efficient as the minimum standard set by the government. To learn more or find a contractor nearby, call (888) 888-3424 or visit www.constantcomfort.com.

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BEAUTY TRENDS Mom Makes $1 Million in First 60 Days By Starting This Business Celebrity backing With the help of star-powered backing, including Amber Rose, the Kardashians, Kevin Hart and others, Ramona made one million dollars in her first 60 days! She continues her online business, and has also opened a flagship boutique in College Park, Atlanta. Here she works with celebrities like Blac Chyna, in a beautiful and elegant salon that offers one-hour treatments from certified technicians. Her advice to other entrepreneurs Ramona recently told Essence, that if "there’s any piece of advice that [she] would offer to other budding entrepreneurs, it would be hustle, drive, keep it simple, research, do your do-diligence and know that it’s attainable."

“hustle, drive, keep it simple, research, do your do-diligence and know that it’s attainable."

Ramona Griggie grew up in Section 8 housing in St. Croix, and later moved to Atlanta, GA where she got married, had a child, and became a housewife. One day, she decided to give her son, who was graduating from Duke University, a gift of teeth whitening. But this led to a whole new business opportunity for her. She launched Express Smile Home Teeth Whitening System, and generated $1 million in revenue within her first 60 days of business.

After a fall led to her closing the shop, Griggie changed her plans and found a way to work from home by offering her product Ramona's son spent years in braces, so the online. She developed a web site, got a busigift of teeth whitening was perfect. The prob- ness phone, and then chose to market her lem was cost; it was too expensive to have product through Instagram. After just the the procedure done by a dentist. So she refirst 4 hours on Instagram, $8,000 came in searched until she found a product that was and her Instagram following went from about affordable and worked. The product was so 500 to 10,000 followers. On her second good that everyone wanted her to whiten sponsored post on Instagram, she made close their teeth. This led to her first teethto $50,000 in one day! whitening shop.

Regarding starting your own business, she comments, “Think about a product that people need and make it affordable. I was clear from the beginning that I wanted everyone to be able to afford to get their teeth whitened.”

The winding road to success

Find out more about Griggie's teethwhitening product by visiting her company's official web site at www.expresssmileatlanta.com or follow them at www.facebook.com/pg/ expresssmileatlanta/

Ask About Our

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BEAUTY & FASHION SPOTLIGHT URBAN TRENDSETTERS FASHION SPOTLIGHT….KINGS & QUEENS FASHIONS Authentic African Cloth Hand Made Jewelry All Natural Shea Butter Products Body Oils & Whipped Shea with Aloe Kings & Queens Fashions

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tives are designed keep Black-Owned businesses or corporations connected and support a climate where member businesses can grow. TOSBCOC is committed to TOSBCOC offers a range of services, all cultivating corporate partnerships and designed to help businesses reach their full sponsorships. These relationships will not potential. Whether looking for a small only increase the number of Black owned tweak or complete overhaul, there goal is businesses in Ohio but also expand the to be the voice of the Black-Owned Busi- business capacity of existing Black owned ness community in Ohio. businesses to be among the most competitive in the Ohio marketplace. The Ohio State Black Chamber of Commerce mission is to work to provide access For more information about membership, to capital, increase procurement opportuni- partnership and/or sponsorship, visit ties in the public and private sector and www.theohblackchamber.org , email represent Black business interests in the info@theohblackchamber.org. or call legislative and regulatory arenas.” Rafeal Underwood at TOSBCOC is uniquely positioned to assist 614-515-0853 or Sharon S. Gordon at 614African-American business owners be530-3870. cause it understands the nuances and challenges of Black business ownership. TOSBCOC is designed to provide services to support member businesses with this understanding” states Underwood. The Ohio State Black Chamber of Commerce Continued from page 10

The TOSBCOC proposes a robust set of minority business offerings in the State of Ohio. The proposed programs and initia-

Ms. Queen offers Wearable Art Designs. We design clothes for Kings and Queens in everyday living or special occasions. Dresses, Capes, Skirts, Dashikis. We offer African head wraps as well as head wrap lessons. Enjoy our assortment of natural body products using Shea butter and aloe. Address: 1336 East Main Street By Appointment Only Phone: 614 516 5584 Online @Facebook: kings&queens fashions

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NEW COLUMBUS LOCATION 623 S. Hamilton Road (Hamilton Plaza) Columbus, Ohio 43213 P - 614-369-1982 SHOP ONLINE 24/7 WWW.FOREIGNSTRANDZ.COM

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

If You Have These 8 Symptoms, Your Stress May Be Making You Sick Everyone experiences some level of stress in their lives. Some stress is good if it motives us in a positive direction. But the type of stress that is concerning is chronic stress that continues with no relief. This is when stress begins to affect your health. The American Psychological Association did a survey on stress and found that nearly onethird of all people in the survey say stress impacts their physical or mental health. When it's time to get help

#5 Frequent colds - stress weakens the immune system, causing you to get frequent colds. Research at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh showed that people experiencing stress are twice as likely to get sick as those with less stress. #6 Acne - increased stress causes the body to produce more hormones, like cortisol, which increases the production of oil, leading to clogged pores and acne.

Stress can come from many sources, such as finances, work, loss of job, health issues, violence, discrimination, and much more. Eventually, this kind of stress will take it's toll on your physical and emotional health. If you have any of these symptoms relating to stress, it's time to seek help. #1 Hives - hives are the result of your immune system kicking in to release the chemical histamine to fight off your ailment, which is stress. Stress can actually weaken your immune system. #2 Weight gain or loss - stress can cause your body to release the hormone cortisol. This will weaken the body's ability to process blood sugar and changes the way you metabolize fat, protein, and carbs. The result is either weight gain or loss.

#7 Loss of concentration - stress can make it more difficult to concentrate, causing memory problems, anxiety or depression. #8 Loss of hair - stress can cause the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immune system to attack your hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.

Stress can come from many sources, such as finances, work, loss of job, health issues, violence, discrimination, and much more. #3 Headaches - stress headaches are common among people who suffer chronic stress. It's caused by the release of chemicals that can create changes to nerves and blood vessels in the brain.

Mykayla Bryant Independent Diamond Director Phone: 614-330-4976 Facebook / mykaylabryant

#4 Heartburn and stomach cramps stress can trigger the production of more digestive acid, causing heartburn. It can also lead to longer times for food to digest, causing bloating and cramping in the digestive tract.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it's time to take a long look at your stress factors and take positive steps to change your life. Read more at www.rd.com/health/wellness/ stress-make-you-sick/1/

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FIT& TRENDY SPOTLIGHT

Boom Shock Fitness Gets Brides Fit For Their Wedding Day and Beyond Atlanta -- Every year in the United States, more than 2 million couples get married, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. For some, it’s a special rite of passage and a chance to improve certain areas in life, including one’s health. That was the case for Cordnesha Mosby. For her, signing up for a customized Boom Shock Fitness workout plan was a chance to embark on a long-term commitment to wellness – beyond her special day. Founded in 2010 by Stephanie Jones, a certified personal trainer and group fitness coach, Boom Shock specializes in empowering women to meet their fitness or wellness goals. “I told Stephanie that although I have a wedding coming up, I did not want a quick fix. I didn’t have a magic number that I wanted to [achieve],” says Mosby, whose nuptials are scheduled in September. “What I did tell her was that I wanted to have a trainer to help me jumpstart my journey in becoming a healthier me.”

Stephanie Jones Founder, Boom Shock Fitness

Brides with limited time, but ready to achieve results, can get a customized Boom

Shock workout routine and food plan that helps them meet wellness or dress-size goals. Stephanie, who roller skates for fun, seeks to empower her clients, who are often well equipped for the challenge but need guidance. “I don’t allow my clients to use me as a crutch. You going to Red Lobster, you don’t have to call me. You already know what NOT to eat,” says the University Maryland graduate and certified massage therapist. “It’s about growth within yourself, learning your body and what works for you.”

When asked how she came up with the name Boom Shock Fitness for her company, Stephanie laughs and shares, “I went through a phase where whenever I got excited, I would say, ‘boomshockalocka!’ I did this for about a year.” She adds, “Then, I was having lunch with one of my girlfriends and said, ‘boomshockalocka!” She said, “That’s it!” Stephanie says her initial reaction was – no. However, eventually she landed on Boom Shock Fitness.

Spring is underway, now is the time to get fit. Sign up for a customized bridal boot Stephanie also assists women struggling camp, live virtual workout program or perwith high blood pressure, diabetes, bad sonal training opportunity at http:// knees or back pain. These are women deter- www.boomshockfitness.com/ mined to defy a doctor’s odds against their ability to be healthy. “I also target that person who does not know what the heck to do,” says the 38-year-old, full-time entrepreneur, “too much going on, no balance; don’t know what to eat; and don’t know what to do to work out. I get excited when my clients come to me like this, and then notice improvement. ”

Learning About Dyslexia Several characteristics of dyslexics, based on data from www.wikipedia.org, include the following: Dyslexics appear bright, but are unable to read, spell or write. Those with the disorder may appear bright, intelligent, and articulate but are unable to read, write, or spell at an age-appropriate level. Dyslexics may have good (Black PR Wire) Dyslexia is defined as a oral, but poor written skills. learning disorder that affects your ability to Dyslexics may feel inferior. They might read, spell, write, and speak. Kids who are have poor self-esteem and become easily diagnosed with dyslexia are often smart and frustrated and emotional about school readhardworking, but they have trouble connecting or testing. ing the letters they see to the sounds those Dyslexics may learn best through hands-on letters make. experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids. According to WebMD, approximately 5% to Dyslexics may reveal talents in other areas 10% of Americans have some symptoms of such as art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, dyslexia, such as slow reading, trouble spell- story-telling, sales, business, designing, ing, or mixing up words. Adults can have building, or engineering. this learning disorder, as well. Some people Dyslexics may have related problems with are diagnosed early in life, while others attention in a school setting; for instance don't realize they have dyslexia until they they might seem to "zone out" or daydream get older. often; get lost easily or lose track of time; and have difficulty maintaining attention. What causes dyslexia? WebMD explains It goes without saying that dyslexia is differthat it is linked to genes, which is why the ent for everyone. While some people have a condition often runs in families. You're mild form that they eventually learn how to more likely to have dyslexia if your parents, manage, others have a little more trouble siblings, or other family members have it. overcoming it. Rest assured that those who The condition stems from differences in have the disorder can still succeed in life, parts of the brain that process language. Im- survive and thrive. The first step to overaging scans in people with dyslexia show coming obstacles involves learning about that areas of the brain that should be active dyslexia. when a person reads don't tend to work properly. For Vendor and Sponsorship Information contact Sharon S. Gordon 614-530-3870 / Sharon@urbantrendsetters.com

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SPORTS TRENDS

The Ebony-American Sports Digest By Oscar C. Woodall, Jr. - HayWood Media

HBCU NEWS

CFB: Towson University (TU) Ath-letics Director Tim Leonard (MSU photo, left side) and Morgan St. University (MSU) Athletics Director Edward Scott (MSU photo, right side) announced their renewal of the ‘Battle For Greater Baltimore’, between these only two schools in the Bal., Md. area with a college foot-ball program. Kickoff is Sept. 2, at TU. MSU will host next year’s game. The schools are working out the details to extend the series thru 2020. WNBA: At halftime of the 14th WNBA All

Frankly Speaking -Star game, Allie Quigley won the 3-point shooting contest, and in doing so she collect -ed $10K for the Patrick Quigley Memorial Scholarship, which her family has endowed at Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy (JCA) in honor of her late father. Both Quigley and her dad attended JCA. The scholar-ship helps in providing funds for other kids to attend JCA. “It’s awe-some that it’s so close to home,” Quigley said of the cause. “I know he was there with me and I was trying to shoot for him.”

In Memorium

MCB: At age 59, Reggie Biddings was laid to rest due to losing his battle with colon cancer. Biddings was a college basketball star who played for SUNY Oneonta, an NCAA D-III school in Oneonta, N.Y. Thereafter, Biddings played professionally in Australia, where he set a National Basketball League (NBL) record for most points scored (63) in a 40-minute game. … NFL: Due to an undisclosed cause, Willie C. Townes (Cowboys photo) was laid to rest at age 74. After spending four seasons playing college football at Tulsa, the defensive end was taken by the Cowboys in round two (22nd overall) of 1966's NFL Draft, and by the Patriots in round one (second overall) of 1966’s AFL Draft. However, he opted to play for the Cowboys. After spending five and a half seasons with the Cowboys, the Hattiesburg, Ms. native spent the balance of the 1970 season with the Saints, before joining the Giants for their 1971 season, his final season playing in the NFL.

NFL DOES RIGHT FOR CTE VICTIMS, OTHERS SHOULD FOLLOW By Oscar C. Woodall, Jr. - HayWood Media

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease found in folks who have had repeated blows to the head. A subtype of this is dementia pugilistic (DP), i.e. “punch-drunk,” as it was initially found in those with a history of boxing. CTE has been most commonly found in deceased athletes who had experienced repeated concussions or other brain trauma from participating in rodeo, football, stunt performing, bull riding, boxing, ice hockey, wrestling, rugby and other contact sports. Its presence in domestic violence victims is also being considered.

It can affect high school athletes, especially American football players, following just a few years of activity. It is a form of tauopathy. Mayo clinic.org researchers are trying to find a test for CTE that can be used when the patient is still alive. The NFL has put millions of dollars into researching and preventing concussions, the primary cause of CTE. Speaking at the conclusion of the 2012 NFL owners meetings, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell backed the recent assertion of NFL senior vice president Jeff Miller, who said at a congressional roundtable that there is “certainly” a connection between the brain disease and football. “The most important thing for us is to support the medicine and scientists who determine what those connections are,” said Goodell. “We think that the statements that have been made by Jeff Miller and others are consistent with our position over the years.” Stay tuned to see who follows suit.

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TRENDY PALATE

Serving Up Soul at Creole Kitchen

Creole Kitchen Founder, Chef Henry Butcher, Mayor Andrew Ginther and Creole Kitchen CEO, Antoinette Parks

Chef Henry Butcher has been operating in his passion of providing his patrons with a plate of food cooked to perfection for over 40 years. Hailing from the Shreveport, LA, Chef Butcher started his culinary career in the hotel industry. Butcher has worked in some of the finest hotel chains in the country but found his true love by owning and operating his own restaurant, Creole Kitchen. Located in the heart of the community in the Mt. Vernon Plaza, Creole Kitchen serves up the best Louisiana cuisine in the city! The authentic taste of New Orleans flavor are alive and well in every served. Phase II – New Beginnings Same Ole Taste Creole kitchen first opened its doors in spring 2006. At this time Chef Butcher and his family served its customers

through a walk-in, place your order and out the door system. Now 11 years later and after much waiting, patience, politics and persistence, Creole Kitchen has expanded, and in addition to the themed colors and décor of Mardi Gras, features a dining area, a stage for live music, and a private meeting area. The expansion of Creole Kitchen was made possible in part from a grant through the city’s business renovation project. “The whole process of the expansion took close to 2 years to complete but we were both patient and persistent and we finally got all the paperwork, licenses and renovations complete” states CEO and daughter of Butcher, Antoinette Parks. Creole Kitchen offers a delicious array of original Creole favorites such as Po Boys, Shrimp and Grits, Etoufee’, Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, Gator & Crawfish however you can also try a

signature Creole Kitchen entre’ featuring Blackened Catfish, Pastas and some of the best sides this side of the Mississippi. Creole Kitchen is looking forward to an exciting summer with an array of upcoming in house events. With a very affordable menu and catering options available, if you are looking for a great place to host your next networking event or business meeting we suggest Creole Kitchen as venue option.

Shrimp, Crawfish and Andouille Platter

The Creole Kitchen is opened daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday and located at 1052 B, Mt. Vernon Avenue in Columbus, OH. For more information visit them online at www.creolekitchen.biz or call 614-372-3333.

Catfish Po’ Boy

Before Renovation

Crawfish Broil

New Dining Room Addition

Guest enjoy live music

Egg Basin Street on Rice Patties with Red Beans & Andouille Sausage, Poached Eggs, Bearnaise Sauce

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TRENDY PALATE

Chef Cobre’ - 8 GREAT FOOD TIPS Chef Cobre’ Gordon, Founder A Bleseed Palate 1. Store spices in a cool, dark place, not above your stove. Humidity, light and heat will cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor.

freezer. dry with a paper towel so the meat doesn't release moisture 3. After working with garlic, rub your hands vigorously on when it hits the hot oil. Too much moisture makes the meat your stainless steel sink for 30 seconds before washing them. steam instead of sear, and you will lose that rich brown crust. It will remove the odor. 7. A cast-iron pan is a valuable kitchen ally. It offers an even 4. If you find you need more oil in the pan when sautéing, cooking surface and is a breeze to clean. add it in a stream along the edges of the pan so that by the time the oil reaches the ingredient being cooked, it will be 8. Plunge vegetables in ice water after blanching (boiling) heated. them so they maintain a bright color.

2. Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze it in plastic 5. For best results when you're baking, leave butter and eggs bags. When you want to make a at room temperature overnight. nice soup or boil veggies, you can simply pull the bag out of the 6. When you're browning meat, you should blot the surface

URBAN TRENDSETTERS IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR FOR THE 2017 SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP & VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Contact Sharon S. Gordon 614-267-3233 Sharon@urbantrendsetters.com

Catch Chef Cobre’ at The Lincoln Café’ daily MondaySaturday. Also featured at The 2017 Soul Food Festival and Riverfest614. For your catering needs call A Blessed Palate at 614-928-1879. See AD Below.

www.blackorchidcateringllc.com

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Tyler Perry to Split From Oprah's OWN -Signs Major TV/Film Deal With Viacom and BET

Writer, director, producer, playwright and actor Tyler Perry has recently signed a longterm deal with Viacom that is certain to make the media conglomerate a stronger and more competitive television network for African-American programming. Industry experts say the move represents a huge loss to the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

She continues, "BET co-funded Tyler’s very first feature film, we’ve aired his movies and many of his series with great success on our networks, and we’ve honored his tremendous talent with our signature awards. This partnership will allow us to work even more closely with him and bring more of his iconic content to our viewers."

The terms of the deal The deal, which starts in 2019 and will run through 2024, requires Perry to produce 90 episodes per year of original drama and comedy series. The content will be aired on BET, and other Viacom networks (like MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central).

But Oprah isn't out yet

Given the success of Perry's other scripted shows like The Have and Have Nots and If Loving You Is Wrong, along with his Madea movie series, the deal will increase Viacom’s audiences and strengthen BET’s position as the leading home for AfricanAmerican programming and scripted shows. BET is thrilled

But for now, Tyler Perry Studios still has contractual obligations to Oprah Winfrey's OWN. His contract requires him to continue to produce television content for OWN through May 2019, with series airing on the network through 2020. At the end of their exclusive relationship, OWN and Tyler Perry have the option to work together on a non-exclusive basis. Tyler can't lose Over the last 20 years, Tyler Perry has generated billions of dollars in revenue from 7 original television series, 16 feature films and 20 plays. His films alone have grossed nearly $2 billion in revenue worldwide.

Debra Lee, the long-time CEO of BET Networks, comments, “I am delighted that we are deepening our long-standing relationship with Tyler." For more information about Tyler Perry Studios, visit www.tylerperry.com

D O M M Y S T Y L E S . C O M

THE D.J. FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT 937-371-0395

Listen to D.J. Dommy Styles on Power 107.5

Someone to Watch - Devin Haqq for supporting this category and for the cash award he received.

Miami, FL — Devin Haqq, an independent filmmaker, won the 2017 Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) held in Miami on June 18th. The winning film, “Ambition’s Debt” is set in a post-apocalyptic world and adapted from William Shakespeare’s epic tale of honor, ambition, betrayal, and the supernatural. The story follows the downfall of Rome’s most honored citizen, Marcus Brutus, as he conspires to assassinate Julius Caesar. Haqq is elated to have been selected to participate in this year’s 2017 American Black Film Festival for the film he adapted, directed, produced and starred in. He is grateful to Prudential Financial

Haqq, a Tennessee State University (TSU) undergraduate in Business Administration, also attended the prestigious Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) graduate school at the University of Alabama (UA), in Montgomery, AL where he received a Master’s in the Fine Art of Acting (MFA) in 2001. Devin teaches theater classes for Epic Theater Company where he is a part of the Ensemble and serves as an actor, mentor and teaching artist. A few of the plays he has done with Epic are: “Measure for Measure”, “MacBeth,” “Born with Teeth.” “Ad Astra” is currently in development with Epic. Devin Haqq has participated in Regional Theater “Camp Logan”, Boston Center for the Arts, “As You Like It,” Arden Theater (Philadelphia, PA). His film and TV credits include: Law and Order (NBC), Ambition’s Debt (2017), Wendell and the Lemon, (2013), Frances of Brooklyn (2012), and The Assassin (2007). In February of this year, Devin played the role of Bennedick in “Much Ado About Nothing” with the NY Shakespeare Exchange, the cast also presented

GET LISTED! List Your Business on the Urban Trendsetters Online Business Directory www.urbantrendsetters.com/business-directory

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REMIX - Urban Trendsetters Partners with Superior Broadcast Local Over-The Air Broadcast Station WCSN TV 32 They include: MOVIES

Unless you have been living somewhere under a rock you have noticed the switch from cable television to internet, or OTA (over-the-air or antenna based) options either a friend or maybe even your home has made the switch and ditched cable. Well if you are located in Central Ohio then you are in for a treat with the new partnership of Urban Trendsetters News Magazine and Media with Superior Broadcast. Urban Trendsetters and WCNS TV 32 will give viewers access to exposure through our multi-cultural 8-digital network line-up. Urban Trendsetters founder Sharon S. Gordon knows that everyone that watches TV wants to see television programming that reflects and represents them featuring people who they can identify with. They want news and information that speaks to their culture and lifestyle. The NEW WCSN TV 32 will cover the true diversity and multi-cultural lifestyles of the individuals that make Ohio a great place to live, work and play. Our channels feature a variety of genres from different cultures.

Movies! programming presents a variety of theatrical MOVIES! Network offers viewers a new way to watch movies 24 hours a day on broadcast television creating an exceptional viewer experience. Notable titles in the MOVIES! library include The African Queen, From Here to Eternity, Bridge Over the River Kwai, The French Connection and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

Ohio’s Multi-Cultural Channel

COZI

America’s most beloved and iconic television series, hit movies and programming powered by NBCUniversal. The network airs a mix of classic television series from the 1950’2 to the 1980’s, movies, and first-run lifestyle programming. DALMAR Somalian TV and Community Programming Since 2011, Dalmar TV has been Columbus, Ohio’s only 24/7 Somali Local and International Television Station. Dalmar TV programming audience is 45,000 strong and growing and our mission is to provide them with relevant local and international programming designed to inform, enlighten and entertain.

REV’N Rev'n is a 24/7 all automotive, all-the“As the new General Manager/of WCSN time network geared toward the performTV 32 my goal is to provide a multi chan- ance enthusiast, currently reaching more nel programming option that we believe than 54 million US DMA households. you and the rest of our diverse commuWith proven content ranging from classic nity of individuals want to, and I hope automotive programming to the latest our community will agree, said Gordon. events, races, competitions, auctions and more, this unique new offering features Urban Trendsetters will produce and create local programming and a real com- cars, trucks, motorcycles, and anything munity station. Utilizing local talent the else that's cool and revs! station is positioned to create local news and programs that will give everyone the UTS TV opportunity to be on TV either through advertising, paid programming, television Urban Trendsetters Television is a new shows as well as employment opportuni- network affiliate. Producing local proties in media. gramming, and urban news in Central Ohio. Urban Trendsetters has negotiated several new affiliate networks since assuming For more information about WCSN TV management of the station. Beginning in 32 log onto www.wcsntv32.com. June the following networks are featured on the station.

Diversity TV for the Community FREE OVER THE AIR TV In Central Ohio just got BETTER! WCSN TV 32 & TV 22.1 Covers over 900.000 Households in Central Ohio with 8 Sub-Digital Stations Total Family Enjoyment

AFFILIATE NETWORKS INCLUDE:

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT US WCSN TV 32 611 East Weber Road Columbus, OH 43211 Phone: 614-267-3233 www.wcsntv32.com Email: info@wcsntv32.com

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URBAN TRENDSETTERS PRESENTS UTS CITY VIEW NEW INDOOR DIGITAL BILLBOARD ADVERTISE TO A CAPTURED AUDIENCE EVERYDAY! BE THE FIRST TO GET ON BOARD PRE SALE OPPORTUNITIES

Get On Board! * Host Locations *Advertise *Career Opportunity *Business Opportunity Contact Us Today Urban Trendsetters Media 614-530-3870 www.utscityview.com

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BAM—BRAND / ADVERTISE / MARKET - BY SHARON S.G. HOW TO BUILD YOUR LIST FAST—PART 1 So the first thing you have to do is to make sure you do not stay out of touch with potential clients. And this can be done through a signup form. Make sure your signup form is available at every step: – Contact page – Product and services page – Pricing grid – Shopping cart checkout

potential to make it visible to a whole new, wider audience. Since you already have a brand name and followers, why not convert them into subscribers?

All you need to do is put a picture of the newsletter and add a ‘subscribe now’ option in the caption if you are using Facebook. Likewise, you can utilize similar techniques for different platforms. In the ‘subscribe When designing a signup form, make sure now’ section, you can link those clients back it’s visible and subtle at the same time. Don’t to your webpage where you can get their expect the audience to come back to your email addresses. This can dramatically inwebpage once they have left. This is why crease your email list within a few weeks. your signup form should suit your webpage. Let’s say you have 50,000 fans or followers By that we mean the colors, call to action on social media platforms. Even if 5000 of (CTA), fonts, and all other elements of it those users subscribe to your newsletters in a should speak volumes about your brand to create a brand image to potential clients.

Sharon S. Gordon Founder, CEO Urban Trendsetters News Magazine, Outreach Strategist

So let’s take a look at what an effective and traffic generating newsletter signup looks like: – It will have a CTA that lets potential clients know what to expect Yes, we all know email marketing is outfrom your webpage. dated and not many people have to time to – It will have a benefit language check their emails daily. But the fact remains which will tell potential clients that there are still million of users that acabout what they can receive upon tively use their emails across various plattaking action. forms like Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo mail. – It will have input fields for But then there is the question: How do I get emails, personal details, etc. new leads? You have tried selling your brand – It will have discount coupons and or business through newsletters, and have special offers that motivate the invested little in methods that have generated potential clients to visit your webquality data and email lists. But it only gets page. you halfway there. So today, we will discuss – It will have disclosure confirmation and some of the fastest ways to build an email data protection. list, whether you are new to email marketing or not. These signup forms can be provided on weekly or monthly basis to your email clients. And as for your webpage, when more Create a Signup Form and Put It Everywhere! people start filling the input fields, you can A good signup form is catchy. By that we expand your email list with the details they mean you instantly find it appealing, can provide. access it easily, and perform actions without a hassle. This is exactly what the audience Combine Newsletters with Social Media needs from you when they see a signup form. Platforms The key here is to build interest on your website and the services you provide. Even a Your social media profiles on Facebook, visitor on your webpage may not stay for Twitter, and YouTube are your best bets at long if your webpage doesn’t provide enough reaching an unprecedented audience. There’s information or details on your services. But no denying how social media platforms have when you create valuable and interactive helped businesses grow and reach new content on your webpage, then soon more heights in terms of audience and traffic. visitors will generate traffic towards it and When you integrate newsletters with your become familiar with what you have to offer. social media profiles, you are unlocking the

filling out the form. But with a pop-over, you should be very careful in making it instantly appealing. In other words, it should have the answer to every user’s question; ‘what’s in it for me?’ By providing visually appealing offers and discounts in a not too overly worked newsletter, you can get their attention and make them subscribe! Create Landing Pages Landing pages are basically created for the sole purpose of converting potential clients into a client base. Landing pages can have multiple options for the audience. They can order products, get quotes, or for your email marketing purpose, subscribe to newsletters. The landing page is the place where you have to plan out the graphics, list the benefits of subscribing to your newsletters, and make call to actions that are convincing. Your actions should be designed with the Average Joe in mind. They should be easy to understand and must prompt the user to sign up. A good landing page can be a great source of building your email list. It can also be integrated on social media profiles for better results. Email Marketing The final puzzle of the piece is email marketing. Email marketing generate good traffic to your website that can convert to clients. And when email marketing is integrated with social media and pop-over, it can be one of the most effective online marketing tools for your business.

week, that means you have collected 5000 email addresses! You can also enable users to sign up for your newsletters through their social media profiles. This can save time on the users’ end I would love to work with you! and improve their experience, leading to an even larger audience base. For more information on list building, email marketing, landing pages and other online Create a Pop-over marketing products, services and resources, Other than having a signup form on your look no further than Urban Trendsetters and webpage, blogs, and social media profiles, Sharon S. Gordon. Visit my blog at sharonsyou should give pop-over a thought. The gordon.com for upcoming webinars, classes main characteristic of a pop-over is that it and workshops on BAM! (branding, adverstands out from all other online marketing tools. Your newsletters will not be integrated tising and marketing). Call 614-530-3870 or on your website. Instead, it will appear email Sharon@sharonsgordon.com For within a few seconds once someone visits your complete online marketing needs I recyour website. This makes your newsletter ommend one system officeVP and Me. visible to even those users who do not spend more than 10 seconds on a webpage. These users have a short attention span. But this tool will prompt them to at least consider ALL INCLUSIVE ONLINE MARKETING SYSTEM EMAIL MARKETING UNLIMITED WEB AND ONLINE AUTORESPONDERS PAGES LIST SEGMENTATION WEBSITE BUILDER & SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS HOSTING UNLIMITED WEB FORMS AUTOMATED WEBINARS SHOPPING CART I LIVE BROADCAST WEBINARS NTEGRATION CHARGE IN ADVANCE VIDEO EMAIL WEBINARS AUDIO EMAIL WEBINAR SCHEDULING VIDEO TRIGGERS UPLOAD & HOST YOUR VIDEO & AUDIO ANALYTICS VIDEOS HTML5 VIDEO HOSTING Rates begin at $15 UNLIMITED LEAD CAPTURE per month PAGES & CONTACT FORMS Www.officevpandme.com

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BLACK BUSINESS FACTS 10 Little Known Facts: In the U.S., There Are 2 Million Black-Owned Businesses -And Other Facts About Black Entrepreneurs Dante Lee is the founder and CEO of Dante Lee International, an online advertising firm with offices in Columbus, Ohio, USA and Metro Manila, Philippines. By Dante’ Lee According to the United States Census Bureau, there are more than 2 million businesses in the country that are owned by African Americans. That statistic dispels a lot of rumors that African Americans are not successful in business. On the contrary, Blackowned businesses are a huge asset to the U.S. economy. But wait there’s more!

LOCATION: #1 – The highest ratio of Black-owned businesses is in Washington, DC where 28% percent of ALL businesses there are owned by African Americans.

INDUSTRIES: #5 – Nearly 38% of Black businesses are in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services.

#2 – The second highest ratio of Black-owned businesses is in the state of Georgia, where 20% of ALL businesses there are Black-owned.

#6 – Other popular categories among Black businesses include advertising firms, auto dealerships, consulting services, restaurants, barbershops, beauty salons, and more.

#3 – Although the ratio is only 10.6%, the state of New York actually has the most Black-owned firms at 204,093. EMPLOYEES: #4 – Of the 2 million Black businesses in the U.S., only about 107,000 of them have actual employees and they employ more than 920,000 people with a total annual payroll of about $23.9 billion.

TOP BUSINESSES: #7 – World Wide Technology, a global technology consulting firm based in St Louis, MO, is the LARGEST Blackowned business in the country. Founded by entrepreneur David Steward, they post annual revenues of more than $2 billion.

#8 – There are actually many Blackowned businesses that generate millions in annual revenue. For example, Oprah Winfrey’s Harper Productions and Bob Johnson’s RLJ Companies. There is also GlobalHue, an advertising agency in Detroit, that generates more than $480 million in annual revenue; and many, many others. WHERE IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED: #9 – African Americans make up more than 13% of the U.S. population, but only own 7% of the businesses. #10 – Nearly 1.9 million of the 2 million Black-owned businesses do not have paid employees. If each of these were able to hire just one or two employees, experts say that would be a huge solution to Black unemployment.

GET LISTED LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON THE URBAN TRENDSETTERS BUSINESS DIRECTORY TODAY CALL 614-267-3233

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TRENDY TRAVEL NAACP, AIRBNB PARTNER TO PROMOTE TRAVEL, OFFER NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO BLACKS (Black PR Wire) Baltimore — The NAACP, the country’s original and largest social justice organization and Airbnb, the world’s leading hospitality company, today launched a landmark partnership that will help spread the economic benefits of home sharing to more communities. Under the new partnership, Airbnb and the NAACP will conduct targeted outreach to communities of color to help more people use their homes to earn extra income. By increasing the number of travelers to communities of color, the partnership will spread the economic benefits of tourism. The partnership also includes a unique revenue sharing model: Airbnb will share 20 percent of its earnings from this partnership with the NAACP. The NAACP and Airbnb will also collaborate on a series of projects to support Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to increase workforce diversity, as well as support Airbnb’s supplier diversity goals. As the original social justice organization, the NAACP has been at the front lines of the fight to create economic opportunities for African American families for 108 years. The agreement with Airbnb builds on this work by creating a 21st century partnership that makes housing more affordable and drives new economic activity to communities of color. “For too long, black people and other communities of color have faced barriers to access new technology and innovations,” said Derrick Johnson,interim president and CEO of the NAACP. “This groundbreaking partnership with Airbnb will help bring new jobs and economic opportunities to our communities. Airbnb’s commitment to that goal is a tremendous step in the right direction for Silicon Valley to opens its doors to African-Americans and other communities.” “Airbnb is democratizing capitalism. Instead of a corporation controlling the supply and distributing the profits, hosts decide when they offer their space and keep 97% of what they charge for their listing,” said Belinda Johnson,Airbnb’s Chief Busine ss Affairs Officer. “Our fastest-growing communities across major US cities are in communities of color and we’ve seen how home sharing is an economic lifeline for families. This partnership will build on this incredible progress. The NAACP is unrivaled in its tireless work to expand economic opportunities for minority communities and we look forward to collaborating

underrepresented communities, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones by the end of 2019. Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere and the company has worked to leverage its platform for good around the world. In the last year, Airbnb has set a goal of providing temporary housing for 100,000 displaced people, forged partnerships to provide economic opportunities for women in India and is creating new ways to recognize and promote hosts who commit to pay their house cleaners a living wage of $15 per hour or more. Airbnb has also worked to implement a series of steps to help fight discrimination, Derrick Johnson, interim president and CEO of the NAACP, Belinda Johnson, Airbnb's chief business affairs officer and Leon Russell, chair of the NAACP Board. promote inclusion and diversify its community and employee base including, but not limited to: with their talented team.” series of commitments: Everyone who uses Airbnb must agree to Economic Opportunity is one of the the Community Commitment, a pledge to NAACP’s six “Game Changer” issues. As Community Outreach & Education. Lotreat everyone in the community with resuch, the NAACP recognizes the imporcal NAACP chapters will work with Airbnb spect and without judgment or bias, regardtance of the economy and economic issues to launch a grassroots, community-based less of race, religion, national origin, ethnicin advancing an equal opportunity society campaign to educate more people on the ity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual and aims to address the challenging ecoeconomic benefits of hosting and bringing orientation or age. nomic realities facing our country including more travelers to communities of color. The poverty, lack of jobs and disproportionate campaigns will include a series of in-person Airbnb has surpassed our goal of making 1 high unemployment, lack of affordable community meetings, online and offline million listings available via Instant Book. housing and foreclosures. Through its Eco- outreach efforts, and educational campaigns Today, Airbnb has 1.4 million Instant Book nomic Department, the NAACP works to on issues regarding fair and affordable houslistings available, and 60 percent of all resenhance the capacity of African-Americans ing. ervations are now booked instantly. Instant and other underserved groups through finan- Revenue Sharing. Airbnb will share 20 Book lets hosts offer their homes for immecial economic education; individual and percent of the earnings it receives as a result diate booking without requiring prior apcommunity asset building initiatives; diver- of these new community outreach efforts proval of a specific guest. sity and inclusion in business hiring, career with the NAACP. Host earnings will not be Under Airbnb’s Open Doors policy anadvancement and procurement; and moniimpacted by this initiative. Additional denounced last fall, if a guest is unable to book toring financial banking practices. tails regarding this initiative will be ana listing and feels that it’s due to discriminaAnalyses have shown that Airbnb and nounced in the weeks ahead. tion, a specially trained team of Airbnb emhome sharing can provide significant ecoA Diverse Employee Base. According to ployees, available 24/7, will ensure that the nomic benefits to communities that have not the most recent figures, 9.64 percent of all guest finds a place to stay. benefitted from tourism in the past. Up to 50 United States-based Airbnb employees are Anyone who violates Airbnb’s policies percent of guest spending occurs in the from underrepresented populations. Increasmay be immediately and permanently neighborhoods where guests stay and coming diversity in its workforce is a key priorbanned from using Airbnb. munities of color are some of the fastest ity for Airbnb, which has set a goal of inLast fall, Airbnb also engaged a preemigrowing neighborhoods in the Airbnb com- creasing the percentage of its employees nent US expert to help develop trainings for munity. A 2016 study of the New York from underrepresented populations in the hosts that will help reduce unconscious bias. City host community found that the number U.S. to 11 percent by the end of 2017. The After launching the training and promoting of Airbnb guests grew 78 percent year-over- NAACP will provide support and guidance it to US hosts, Airbnb continues to make it year in the 30 city zip codes with the highest as Airbnb works toward this goal. available online. percentage of black residents, compared to Supplier Diversity. The NAACP will serve Nearly 100 percent of Airbnb employees 50 percent city-wide. Similar studies of as a formal adviser to Airbnb’s Supplier have completed anti-bias training, and Airbnb host communities in Chicago’s Diversity Program to better connect Airbnb Airbnb has created a permanent team of South Side and Washington, DC’s Anawith diverse businesses who can help meet engineers, data scientists, researchers and costia neighborhood found even higher rates the growing company’s needs. Airbnb has designers whose sole purpose is to advance of growth. set a goal that 10 percent of its total probelonging and inclusion, and to root out The Airbnb-NAACP partnership includes a curement spend goes to suppliers owned by bias.

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BUSINESS TRENDS

Big Advice For The Smallest Businesses (NAPSI)—While large enterprises may make the most headlines, it’s often the country’s smallest businesses that are providing jobs, fueling innovation and growing the economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 62 percent of all U.S. businesses are microbusinesses, or businesses with fewer than 10 employees. These businesses also account for 75.3 percent of all private-sector employers.

data software like Microsoft Azure is also more affordable and easier to use than ever, allowing even the smallest businesses to benefit from enterprise-grade analytics. • Ask for help. Launching a business can be intimidating, especially if you have little or no experience in all the areas necessary for your business to function, such as accounting or HR. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to other small businesses in your area, finding a mentor or joining an online community can help you find the answers you need.

These small but mighty companies often face a unique set of challenges. With fewer employees and resources, owners of microbusinesses often find themselves juggling all aspects of the business, including areas where they may not have expertise or experience in managing, while often competing against larger, more established enterprises.

• Don’t let anything hold you back. From preschool kids to military veterans, the featured microbusiness owners are proof that success can be found at any age and at any stage of life. Time and time again, entrepreneurs shared that the most important thing to do is stop second-guessing yourself and just get started.

To shine a spotlight on these inspirational entrepreneurs, Microsoft recently recognized 10 microbusinesses that are making the biggest impact. The full list includes Philip and Melissa Niu, Parachut; Jason and Sarah Kenworthy, Pink Helmet Posse; Noah Elias, Noah Fine Art; Dr. Agnes Scoville, Scoville & Company (Pacidose); August Graube, Fort Boards; Mikaila Ulmer, Me & the Bees; Jessica Matthews, Uncharted Play; Dave Ackerman, Tobacco MotorWear; Megan and Marshall Dostal, Further; and Kalika Yap, Citrus Studios. • Inspiration can be found anywhere. From These companies demonstrate what is possi- bee stings to childhood hobbies, inspiration ble with an idea and the determination to for these business owners came from a wide bring it to fruition. Whether you’re an alrange of places. Even if you don’t consider ready-established small business or a future yourself a creative person, being open to entrepreneur, below are some best practices unexpected ideas and thinking outside the cultivated from this standout group of micro- box are keys to discovering a new business, businesses: product or service idea.

• Automate day-to-day tasks. Technology, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, can help you work smarter and more efficiently. Automating your business processes lets you and your employees focus less on the day-to-day tasks so you can focus your time and energy on more important responsibilities. • Never stop listening and learning. The businesses with the most loyal customers are the ones focused on continuous listening and learning. Whether in person or via software and social media, listening to your audience helps build trust and keeps them coming back. Beyond customer service, big data is another way to access a wealth of knowledge about your audience and business trends. Big

To learn more about the 10 all-star microbusinesses, including how they got their starts, tackled common small-business challenges, and the techniques and technologies that have led to their success, download the e -book at https:// info.microsoft.com/10under10eBook.html? wt.mc_id=AID608734_QSG_145084 .

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Urban Trendsetter Business Spotlight Melinda Payne of Mo Entertainment, LLC Melinda “Mo” Payne knows that planning that perfect event can be a challenge for those who may not share her passion. She on the other hand finds that planning events is her purpose and the desire behind Mo Entertainment. Mo’s mission is to create a stress free event so that “my clients

Mo Entertainment, established the summer of 2011, in Columbus, Ohio brings you the whole kit and caboodle. Using their network of only the best vendors, venues, and creative minds Mo Entertainment consults, collaborates and executes any and every event imaginable. “We love challenges and

said Payne. Mo Entertainment prides itself of providing their clients with an event strategy that from consultation to completion allows her clients the ability to relax and enjoy the process…as well as the their guests. “There is nothing

Looking for a one-of-a-kind event experience? Look no further than Mo Entertainment. For more information contact Mo Entertainment at 614.233.1724 or visit the website at www.moentertainment.com. Also Melinda has introduced an all new division, Joyous Occasions by Melinda Ann, a division specializing mainly on weddings, décor and sweets treat designs. www.jobymelindaann.com

who are celebrating their momentous occasion can truly enjoy the occasion,“

worse than attending an event and the host or hostess of the event is running around frantic on the day of their celebration unable to enjoy all of their hard work and efforts as well as their attendee” state Payne. “Our clients only job is to show up and be fabulous!”

live for the excitement of coming up with new ideas or a new twist on an old idea.”

Traveling While Black & The Reason for Noirbnb Imagine trying to book a reservation at a Bed & Breakfast and being rejected, not because of credit issues, but because you are black. Sadly, this is happening often with online vacation booking sites. So two black entrepreneurs started their own vacation booking web sites that offer vacation booking services -- without discrimination. The two new web sites e Innclusive.com and Noirbnb.com. The sites are "creating a welcoming and safe platform for people from all walks of life" to enjoy a vacation home. Together, the web sites have a goal to better serve the black community and represent the future of travel for African Americans.

Discrimination in vacation booking A Harvard Business School study recently found that African-American guests had a lower chance than white guests of being approved for a vacation booking by Airbnb. Airbnb is an online marketplace that enables people to list, find, then rent vacation homes for a processing fee. They have been busted on Twitter and media outlets such as Buzzfeed, Slate, Yahoo, and others for their racism and discrimination. The incidents include bookings rejected after sending in a photo from a black guest trying to book a vacation rental, racial slurs against black guests, and the one that really drew attention, cops being called on a black family renting a

vacation house because they thought the house was being robbed. Solving the problem One practice that Innclusive.com is doing differently is preventing hosts from seeing pictures of their guests until after the booking has been approved. The company's rules prevent the host from booking with anyone else if they cancel a booking after seeing the guest's photo. Both companies were created out of a need to stop racism in the vacation rental industry. For more details about both sites, visit www.innclusive.com and www.noirb nb.com

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Sullivan Accountancy, Inc. Owner: Yvonne Sullivan Description: Sullivan Accountancy, Inc. is a cloud-based CPA firm and social enterprise. The firm offers integrated services at fixed, affordable rates. Remarkable difference means better client experience. Address: 1900 Polaris Pkwy, Ste 450 Columbus, OH 43240 / Phone: 614-600-2533 Website: www.sullivanaccountancy.com

CERTIFY AGENCY RESOURCES “Helping people to live, learn, and work in our community”

Agency Ownership Consulting Specializing in our MRDD and Aging Population Jacqueline Tate CEO

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CEO CAREERS / ENTREPRENEURS / OPPORTUNITY

Mykayla Bryant 614-330-4976 Facebook/MykaylaBryant

The Ohio State Chamber of Commerce

tweak or complete overhaul, there goal is to be the voice of the Black-Owned Business community in Ohio.

Continued from page 11

The TOSBCOC proposes a robust set of minority business offerings in the State of Ohio. The proposed programs and initiatives are designed keep Black-Owned businesses or corporations connected and sup-

TOSBCOC offers a range of services, all designed to help businesses reach their full potential. Whether looking for a small

port a climate where member businesses can grow. TOSBCOC is committed to cultivating corporate partnerships and sponsorships. These relationships will not only increase the number of Black owned businesses in Ohio but also expand the business capacity of existing Black owned businesses to be among the most competitive in the Ohio marketplace.

For more information about membership, partnership and/or sponsorship, visit www.theohblackchamber.org , email info@theohblackchamber.org. or call Rafeal Underwood at 614-515-0853 or Sharon S. Gordon at 614-530-3870.

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Credit Education Continued from page 11

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Little research has been done to determine the racial disparities in credit score knowledge. However, there is strong evidence that, in general, credit scores of Blacks are lower than those of Whites. A study by the Federal Reserve Board in 2008 and an Illinois study by public interest groups in 2014 demonstrated the difference, which no credible source denies. A proximate cause of this credit score difference is that more Blacks than Whites have poor credit reports, the main basis for credit scores. A study by Freddie Mac in 2013 found that 27 percent of Whites but 48 percent of Blacks had poor credit reports. One basic cause of the lower credit scores in the African-American community is that Blacks appear to know less than Whites about credit scores. In the 2016 CFA/VantageScore survey, for example: *90 percent of Whites, but only 69 percent of Blacks, knew that personal bankruptcy influences one’s credit score. *86 percent of Whites, but only 73 percent of Blacks, knew that 700 was a good credit score. *77 percent of Whites, but only 62 percent of Blacks, knew that the CFPB is the best place to file a complaint related to a credit score. Blacks are aware of this void in their knowledge of credit scoring. In the 2016 CFA/Vantage/Score survey, 54 percent of Whites, but only 40 percent of Blacks,

Home Ownership Continued from page 11 “Homeownership is the primary way that most middle-class families build wealth and achieve economic stability,” testified Mike Calhoun, President of the Center for Responsible Lending. “Wide access to credit is critical for building family wealth, closing the racial wealth gap and for the housing market overall.” In the throes of the 1930s Great Depression, Congress created the GSEs to provide stability to capital markets and to increase the availability of mortgage credit throughout the nation. They were also given a mandate: Serve all credit markets all times, ensuring access and availability across the country. From 2003 to 2006, the years leading up to the housing crisis, the GSEs followed an unfortunate private mortgage market trend. By loosening underwriting guidelines, particularly for Alt-A no documentation loans, millions of foreclosures occurred and GSE credit losses led to conservatorship under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, also known as HERA. HERA also enacted a number of reforms that have made today’s market stronger. Now, with far fewer foreclosures nationwide, Congress is deliberating over the future of the GSEs and $6.17 trillion in mortgages they now hold along with Federal Housing Administration issued mortgages. “Home equity accounts for only 30 percent of the net worth for wealthier households,” continued Calhoun, “but constitutes 67 percent for middle-to-low in-

thought that their knowledge of credit scores was good or excellent. To address the need for credit score education in the general community, CFA and VantageScore have created a 12 -question credit score quiz to help educate consumers about credit scoring. The quiz can be found at www.creditscorequiz.org. The Center for Financial Advancement, a new collaboration between HomeFreeUSA, Wells Fargo, Freddie Mac and Mortgage Bankers Association, will engage students, faculty, parents and the local communities on such topics as credit, student loans, savings, homeownership and opportunities in the mortgage profession. The center aims to improve the economic outlook of AfricanAmericans. “More than half of all African-Americans in our country rent, it’s a fact that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times that of a renter, and it’s a fact that that the median income for an African American household is $35,000 compared to the national average of $53,000", says Marcia Griffin, president/founder of HomeFree-USA, a HUD-approved homeownership development, foreclosure intervention and financial coaching organization. Burns concludes, “Credit scores can have an impact on everything from your loan terms to the size of the deposit required to acquire a mobile phone, so it’s critical that consumers take our quiz and become educated.”

come households. Home equity accounts for 53 percent of African-American wealth as compared to 39 percent for whites.” Homebuyers of the future will be more racially and ethnically diverse than those of the past. The JCHS reported that nonwhites accounted for 60 percent of household growth from 1995-2015. By 2035, it predicts that half of millennial households will be non-white. When communities of all sizes, colors, and economies succeed, so does America. While much of our nation has financially recovered from the foreclosure crisis that brought the loss of homes, jobs, businesses, and wealth, recovery has been uneven and left many communities behind. Those entrusted with leadership roles in the public and private sectors must agree that it is in our national interest to ensure that the recovery is inclusive and sustainable long-term. Broad access to mortgage credit still helps families and the national economy. Concluded Calhoun, “The goal must be to ensure that the full universe of creditworthy borrowers – regardless of where they live, including in rural areas, or who they are – have access to the credit they need to be able to secure a mortgage so that they can build their American dreams.” Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director for the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Chaene.crowell@responsiblelending.org .

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FINANCIAL ADVISOR Registered Investment Advisory Firm is currently expanding throughout Ohio. We are in search of Independent Investment Advisor Representatives. Must be self-motivated, professional and willing to take direction. If you have a financial or insurance back round we encourage your response. We work with Globally/ Recognized Money Managers. Strong Ethics and complete transparency with clients relationships is essential. Please contact: Hardiman Investment Management, Inc., @ 614-209-9748 or submit a resume via email to him4inc@gmail.com.

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FREELANCE WRITERS Do you love to write? Urban Trendsetters is growing and we are looking for writers. If you are good writer, love connecting with people and enjoy relaying empowering information, UTS is the place for you. Contact Sharon S. Gordon at 614-530-3870 for more information or send email to info@urbantrendsetters.com

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AUTO TRENDS The Only Two Black-Owned Auto Dealerships That Have Ever Broken the $1 Billion Dollar Barrier Being a Black entrepreneur that owns an auto dealership is a big accomplishment in and of itself, but surpassing $1 billion dollars in sales is truly a milestone! In 2005, Michigan-based Prestige Automotive Group, founded by Gregory Jackson, became the first Black auto dealer to surpass the billion-dollar revenue mark. In fact, their revenue that year was $1.67 billion in sales.

Falling on hard times Generating a billion dollars in auto sales every single year is very difficult for any auto dealership to do, and the two discussed in this article are no exception. Sometimes, because of heavy competition and even a national economic downfall, their annual revenues can drop down to as low as $300 or $400 million.

How he did it Jackson told Black Enterprise that he had always focused on customer service and sales performance to enable his dealership to zoom past the competition. He started out with a small dealership in Bob Johnson, founder of RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive Holdings; and Gregory 1993 using $150,000 of his life savings, Jackson, founder of Prestige Automotive Group are the only two Black-owned auto and eventually expanded to 13 outlets. dealerships that have ever generated more than $1 billion dollars in annual sales His hard work over more than 12 years finally paid off! performance.” He told the Michigan Chronicle, “Our Johnson's company consists of 35 autoservice is key. Each employee will be motive franchises and three HarleyBut he wasn't the only one to do it passionate and have a caring spirit, Bob Johnson, best known as the founder Davidson motorcycle dealerships in eight which will allow us to present a great of BET and Urban Movie Channel states. His dealerships are so successful automotive buying experience. In addi- (UMC), has also reached the billion dol- that it was recently ranked 19th on tion to the service advantage, we meas- lar milestone in the auto industry. In the Automotive News' annual list of “Top ure our success by attracting and retain- 2011, his Texas and Arkansas-based 125 Dealerships in the U.S.” and is curing loyal customers from every part of dealership, RLJ McLarty Landers Auto- rently the largest Black-owned automothe community, and executing a business motive Holdings, generated revenues of tive franchise in the country. plan that leads to outstanding financial $1.1 billion.

Don’t Drive Damaged Goods (NAPSI)—More than 725,000 vehicles driven on later was in Missouri, now with a clean title. I was U.S. roads every shaking, beday may be dancause I had just gerous, according dodged a bulto new research let.” North from Carfax. These Carolina, Misvehicles were damsissippi, New aged so severely in Jersey, Califoran accident, by fire nia and Georgia or flood that have the highest DMVs across the number of these country require potentially danpermanent title gerous vehicles. marks to warn peoCrooks also ple about the damseem to be age. Still, thoumoving and sands are back on Thousands of people are driving potentially unsafe vehicles—but reselling these the road in every vehicles in citstate, and worse, ies along the Imany of the owners may have no idea they’re driving 40 corridor, the research suggests. a rebuilt wreck. “Hundreds of thousands of people driving unsafe That’s because some unscrupulous sellers resort to vehicles is a serious threat to public safety,” said what’s known as “title washing”; that is, they alter Larry Gamache, Carfax communications director. “In the car’s documents. These criminals patch badly addition, anyone duped into buying one often pays damaged cars back together, erase documented evithousands more than the car’s really worth. Insisting dence of the damage and resell them to unsuspecting on a vehicle history report and mechanic’s inspection buyers in other states. Many of these cars are sold on first will help you avoid unknowingly buying a car free online classifieds sites, in busy parking lots and with major problems that crooks made disappear on other high-traffic areas. paper.” “I was shopping for a car for my daughter and arranged to purchase one off Craigslist that looked immaculate,” said car buyer Scott Liker. “The seller asked if I could pay cash and told me the vehicle had a clean title. I went to Carfax and was shocked to find it was issued a salvage title out of Florida. Within days, the vehicle was titled in Tennessee and a month

You can shop for used cars with confidence at www.carfax.com , where every car listed for sale comes with a free Carfax Report. Victims of title washing can contact their state’s Consumer Affairs Department or Attorney General’s office for help.

Regardless, hitting the billion dollar mark, even if just for one year, is a very noteworthy accomplishment! It's also noteworthy to mention that there are more than 50 other Black-owned auto dealerships in the U.S. that have never hit the billion dollar mark, but according to Black Enterprise, they have combined annual revenues of $8.7 billion and 10,156 employees, representing 18 states. For more details about Prestige Automotive Group, visit www.prestigeautomotive.com For more details about RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive Holdings, visit www.rmlauto.com

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