VMH Magazine - April/May 2017 by VMH Magazine

MAGAZINE!

VMH

Wealth, Investing & You!

Vikki M. Hankins!

Don Jackson Stellar Awards Founder

Celebrates 32 Years

Dewanda Wise TV Series ‘Shots Fired’

Dr. Gavin Samms The E5 Core System & Your Child’s Education

Tamela Mann Top Stellar Awards Recipient; Her Encouraging Words Do Thoughts Dictate Success? Open Your Mind!

Victoria Rowell

Champion for Foster Care

ACHIEVE ‘UNSHAKEABLE’ FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

alexandra ni! evening wear

Model: Shante Armstrong Photo Credit: Kyra Rosa -www.kyrarosaphotographer.com Designer: Alexandra Ni - www.alexandrani.com

Simplicity, carried to an extreme, becomes elegance. ! -JOHN FRANKLIN

10. Unshakeable in Building Stronger Financial Security ! ! Tony! Robbins Tells You How

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

After interviewing fifty of the world's greatest financial minds, and penning the #1 New York Times best seller Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins returns with UNSHAKEABLE: Your Financial Freedom Playbook, a step-by-step playbook, taking you on a journey to transform your financial life and accelerate your path to financial freedom.

Review by Vikki Hankins

MASTER THE ART OF INNOVATION vikkihankins.net RECOGNIZE YOUR POWER

12.! Why PR Is the Future of

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Digital ! Marketing Many industry insiders say that search engine optimization is dying a slow and painful death. In its wake, they feel that public relations are the future of digital marketing. Why is that? Instead of focusing your efforts on search engine optimization, it’s time to start thinking about using digital marketing to enhance your company’s PR. by Wendy Dessler

! 16. 32nd Annual ! ! Awards Celebration ! ! Carpet Highlights

Stellar & Red

The 32nd Annual Stellar Awards held in Las Vegas, Nevada celebrated some of the strongest names in gospel music. With artist ranging from Da’ Truth, Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell and superstars Travis Green and Tamela Mann, this event was nothing short of stardom, fashion and inspirational song. First taped at the Arie Crown Theater and founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, the Stellar Awards is a show that honors gospel artist and industry professionals. by Vikki Hankins & Garry Jones

22.

33.

Are Fad Diets Good For Heart Health?

Mindset, The Economy, and !Traditional Thinking

! ! are longstanding retail stores falling like So, why ! Some aggressively blame technology dominoes? and its!inhibitors, such as the internet, people like Mark ! entities like Amazon, and !Zuckerberg, financial systems like PayPal. But the question has ! are they to blame, or does the fault lie become, ! with traditional ! business?thinking and methods of conducting !

It may be tempting to latch on to the latest diet fad like juicing or going gluten-free to lose weight or achieve other health goals. But when it comes to heart health, doctors say sticking with old standbys like fruits, veggies and olive oil is still the best approach. Reuters

by Vikki Hankins!

22. ! E5

curriculum - Economics, ! Engineering, Ethics, Expression, ! Entrepreneurship !

! ! ! ! ! ! !Interview! by Vikki Hankins

Too often, adults say they have high expectations for our children, yet do not encourage them to think beyond passing tests, graduating, and getting good jobs. That is not how the Zuckerbergs, Gates, and even the Oprahs of the world become who they are. !

34.

Carrie Steele-Pitts Foster Care Victoria Rowell’s High Tea Highlights Carrie Steele-Pitts Home presents “High Tea with Victoria Rowell” on Saturday, March 18 at 11 a.m. in the Four Seasons hotel. The High Tea is held to benefit the 129year-old Carrie Steele-Pitts Home (CSPH), one of the oldest child caring agencies for children in the United States. Photography by Alisha Davis & Lauren Harris

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Reggie Rock Bythewood’s Inspiration Behind ‘Shots Fired’ !

Pg. 30 Photographed by: Vikki Hankins

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! !! ! ! !! ! !! ! ! !! ! !! ! ! !!

Publisher! VMH Vikki M. Hankins Editor-in-Chief Vikki M. Hankins Journalist/Contributors Vikki M. Hankins Alisha Davis Garry L. Jones Wendy Dessler Dr. Alan Zimmerman (visiting) Photography Vikki M. Hankins Garry Jones Alisha Davis Lauren Harris Cover Photo Credits: Tamela Mann {Cover Feature): Courtesy of JL Media PR/ TV ONE Dewanda Wise (L. Insert): Vikki M. Hankins Dr. Gavin Samms (L. Insert): Courtesy of Perfect Pitch Media Group Victoria Rowell (L. Insert): Alisha Davis Don Jackson (R. Insert): Garry Jones

! www.vmhmagazine.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

DOES YOUR TEAM SUPPORT YOUR VISION?

_______________

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Publisher, Vikki Hankins Does your team truly support your vision? One of many things I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is the importance of ‘team selection’. As the visionary there are a number requirements one must keep in mind when selecting a team. The most important part of the team selection process is the attribute of ‘patience’.

Such things as anxiety, feeling overwhelmed and unexpected growth can cause one to rush the selection process. Rushing to fill roles in your company is a set up for disappointments, possible failures and the oversight of self-serving individuals. Those individuals that believed in ‘you’ and stuck around to put in the work with no pay, are generally a good selection as your business takes off. So what if your vision/business is scaling and you never had anyone to believe in you? What then? How do you determine who’s best for your company and who’s not? One sure sign is if a potential hire comes in talking dollars; more than likely these are the ones to ‘jump ship’ if the business suddenly slows or runs into a bump.

Pay attention to your ‘gut feeling’. In my opinion everyone is given the ability to discern; that ‘gut-feeling’ could very well help with your team selection. Granted, gut-feelings and discernment develop over time, but there are times when warning bells go off and we choose to ignore them.

Through experience, trial and error and ‘listening’ to that gut-feeling, I’ve come very far in deciphering the people that genuinely support my vision and those that do not. One way or another when it comes superficial interest or sincere support the truth will come out.

A final point I’d like to make for leaders is knowing ‘when’ to hire. Hiring too soon ends two ways: letting staff go; or going out of business.

Be careful of hiring too soon, it can cause your financial infrastructure to cave in, not to mention the awful feeling of having to layoff individuals. It doesn’t feel good for the employer nor the employee. If your vision becomes a successful reality remember to carefully select your team!

!Vikki Hankins

BOOK REVIEW

UNSHAKEABLE

! !

By Vikki Hankins

In his new book entitled, UNSHAKEABLE, Tony Robbins provides reflective, well-rounded practical tips that are easily to set one on the road to financial security. He further expands on the various meanings of wealth.

!Below are a few pointers that I found to be helpful, regarding mindset and your money: ! "The single biggest threat to your financial well•

being is your old brain.” • "...if you fail to master your own psychology, you may ultimately become the victim of a costly financial self-sabotage. • In every area of life-whether it's dating, marriage, parenting the workplace, our health, our fitness, our finances, or anything else-we have a tendency to be our own worst enemy.”

!"The best investors are acutely aware of this need for

simple systems because they recognize that, despite their abundant talent, they can easily mess up in ways that could cause a world of pain! They understand that it's not enough to know what to do. You also need to do what you know.

!This is a very good book, my recommendation is that you purchase it, reflect and mediate on it. More importantly implement the advice that applies to you and your success.

!On another note, once wealth is obtained, it is my

belief that one shares his 'wealth' of knowledge with those earnestly seeking.

!After interviewing fifty of the world's greatest financial

minds, and penning the #1 New York Times best seller Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins returns with UNSHAKEABLE: Your Financial Freedom Playbook, a step-by-step playbook, taking you on a journey to transform your financial life and accelerate your path to financial freedom. No matter your salary, your stage of life, or when you started investing, this book will provide the tools to help you achieve your financial goals.

!Robbins, the world's #1 life and business strategist, has

coached more than 50 million people from 100

countries through his books and audio programs, and 4 million people have attended his live events.

!He is a consistent voice of

reassurance and positivity in uncertain times. In this book, he teams up with Peter Mallouk, ranked the #1 financial advisor in the U.S. for three consecutive years by Barron's. Together they reveal how to become unshakeable—someone who can not only maintain true peace of mind in a world of immense uncertainty, economic volatility, and unprecedented change, but who can profit from the fear that immobilizes so many.

!In these pages, through plain English and inspiring stories, you'll discover… ! • How to put together a simple, actionable plan •

•

that will deliver true financial freedom. What your 401(k) provider doesn't want you to know, and how a few simple steps can add a decade or more of additional retirement income to your savings. Strategies from the world's top investors on how to protect yourself and your family and maximize profit from the inevitable crashes and corrections to come. The fastest way to put money back in your pocket by uncovering the hidden fees and halftruths of Wall Street—including how the biggest firms keep you overpaying for underperformance. The core four principles that most of the world's greatest financial minds utilize so that you can maximize upside and minimize downside. How to master the mindset of true wealth and experience the fulfillment you deserve today.

!UNSHAKEABLE will not only help you take advantage

of the opportunities, but keep you from making the mistakes that cause people to settle for a life of far less than they deserve.

!All of Tony Robbins' profits from this book will be donated to Feeding America, the nation's #1 hunger relief organization.

Why PR ! Is the Future of ! Digital Marketing

By Wendy Dessler!

Many industry insiders say that search engine optimization is dying a slow and painful death.

!In its wake, they feel that public relations are the future of digital marketing. Why is that?

Instead of adopting a “Woe is me” attitude about the changes in algorithm updates constantly taking place in the search engine optimization game, you need to focus on the positive aspects of the way that the game is now being played.

!The opportunity has never been better to cash in on public relations in the digital marketing online arena. !Marketers and business owners have a unique opportunity to take the PR methodology and flood the Internet with your company’s message.

!Digital marketing, SEO and PR go hand-in-hand in the following ways: !Online and offline PR strategies work together as a cohesive unit. !You may not realize this but it’s true. Every piece of content that you create for your online strategy can be used in an offline capacity in one way or another.

!As an example, let’s say your company hosts a major networking event every year in your industry. This event is huge and all of the best and brightest talents in your field always attend.

!You can capture video of the event and do a number of !Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search engines do not like it

when marketers game their system. They continuously update their search engine algorithms on a large and small scale regularly to prevent online marketers and SEO experts from taking advantage of flaws in their algorithms.

!Now, anybody paying attention knows that online marketing isn’t going away anytime soon. But it is changing. !Instead of focusing your efforts on search engine optimization, it’s time to start thinking about using digital marketing to enhance your company’s PR.

!Don’t

misunderstand this message. Search engine optimization is not going away anytime soon. It’s here to stay.

different things with it. You can share snippets of video via Twitter, Facebook, or your other favorite social media site to draw more attention to the event while getting people excited. You can package the videos and market them online to other people in your industry that weren’t lucky enough to attend.

!Think of ways to use online content offline and vice versa. !Making the most of your content !As you begin to establish an online presence, you’ll have to

generate a great deal of content in order to get the attention of your target audience.

!It’s best to utilize this content and re-create it for multiple platforms. !An audio/video interview is a good example. You can share

!And as long as you’re willing to keep on top of it, it’s

the video with your market. Then create an audio version of the same content. You can then transcribe the video and share it in text form.

!On the other hand, PR specialists are beginning to offer

digital marketing. Are you taking advantage of this powerful phenomenon?

definitely worth it to attain first page rankings on Google and the other search engines. search engine optimization services to their customers. So the two methods of online advertising are beginning to emerge.

!And when they work together as a cohesive unit, companies can really take advantage of the full power of the Internet. !Cashing in on the Digital Marketing/PR/SEO Craze

!As you can see, public relations are clearly the future of !

Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama and Towering SEO who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition. You can contact her on Twitter.

Third Season Of Comedy Series ‘Mann & Wife’ Screening

Jadah Marie (Tosha) playing the Mann children. Terri J. Vaughn joins the cast as Daniel’s new Lieutenant and also directs an episode this season.

! Photography by Alisha Davis| !

“I have a passion, I really love doing this. I love coming to the set, I love early morning, I love the grind.” – David Mann

“If we reassure our kids at home, there’s really nothing that no on else can say to make them uncomfortable.” – Tamela Mann This season sees hilarious takes on visiting family, mistaken identity, school pressure, phony health scares, an embarrassing email leak and even a 1970’s cop show spoof. Guest stars include George Wallace, Antonio Fargas, Carl Payne, Victoria Rowell, Rod “Rod Man” Thompson, DC Youngfly, Blue Kimble, Vanessa Fraction and Brely Evans.

David Mann, Tamela Mann, Terri Vaughn (cast/episide director), Carl Payne

Roger Bobb, co-creator, exec. producer, director of Mann & Wife David Mann, Tamela Mann and company bring a new assortment of hysterical family situations and laughs in the third season of their hit Bounce comedy series Mann & Wife. All-new Mann & Wife episodes will premiere Tuesday nights at 9:00 pm (ET) through the spring on Bounce. Roger Bobb, co-creator, exec. producer, director of Mann & Wife

Real-life husband and wife team David and Tamela Mann star and serve as executive producers of Mann & Wife. The half-hour situation comedy follows their characters – newlyweds and second-chance sweethearts Daniel and Toni Mann – as they laugh and love their way through the ups and downs of life as a blended family, each with two children from previous marriages.

In addition to the show’s popular stars, Tony Rock is back as Daniel’s partner on the police force with Steven Wash (Daniel, Jr.), Amir O’Neil (Darren), Lauryn Kennedy Hardy (Terri) and

Mann & Wife co-creator Roger Bobb (House of Payne The Rickey Smiley Show) serves as executive producer and director of the series.

Mann & Wife has been a smash success, setting network records for viewership in both seasons. Bounce is the only emerging broadcast network producing original scripted series, w h i c h i n addition to Mann & Wife includes the current mega-hit drama Saints & Sinners and the p o p u l a r comedies In The Cut and Family Alisha Davis (VMH Magazine) Pictured w/ Cast Time.

it’s only natural to be drawn to such high levels of energy.

10 Qualities of an Effective Leader

!! by Dr. Alan Zimmerman !It doesn’t matter if you’re leading a country, a company,

a department, a team, a church, or even a family … leadership has NOTHING to do with title or position. You could be the President of a country or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and NOT be a leader.

!In truth, leadership has EVERYTHING to do with

behavior. If you BEHAVE in these 10 ways, you can and will be an effective leader.

!Of course, the leader may not always feel positive. That’s life. But as military genius Laz Tzu pointed out, “Leadership has been defined as the ability to hide your panic from others.” Or as we say today, “Fake it til you make it.”

!4. A leader accepts responsibility. !Unfortunately, it is all too common to see an ego-driven

leader take all the credit when one of her decisions works out well. But when one of her decisions proves to be wrong, she cannot be found, has nothing to say, or blames someone else for her failures.

!1. A leader does the right thing. !A poor leader focuses his energy on “sounding good.”

!A real leader, on the other hand, accepts responsibility.

!By contrast, a great leader not only knows what is right,

!5. A leader is a goal setter. !Invariably, great leaders are goal setters. In fact, you

And he spends a great deal of time on how he can spin a story so he comes out “looking good.” he also does what is right. He turns the courage of his convictions into action.

!2. A leader is more concerned with “we” than “me.” !Some “so-called” leaders are on an ego trip, seeking all the glory and hogging all the limelight. From their perspective, it’s all about me, me, me.

!It happens when a certain team develops a new product

that becomes a huge financial success, but you only see the CEO on TV talking about her vision and how her vision allowed this product to be developed. Shame on her.

!By contrast, when Jill Blashack-Strahan, President and

CEO of Tastefully Simple, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, she said, “I didn’t build this company. An amazing team of dedicated, passionate and loyal people did.”

!3. A leader demonstrates an unshakeable positive attitude. !In other words, he exudes energy. He displays enthusiasm. He projects cheerfulness. And it is nothing short of contagious. I’m sure you’ve come across some leaders like that. No matter what is going on, you’ve noticed that leader’s department or company is filled with people who are pumped up, excited, and connected. You may have even wished you were a part of his organization … because

When necessary, she’s able to say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry.” As President Dwight Eisenhower said, “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.”

would be hard pressed to point out any great leaders who simply wandered their way to success.

!Maury

Burgwin, the Chairman at the Institute for Management Studies, proclaims, “The best path to success is to script your desired outcome." And then, "To reach that desired outcome, script your tactical plan to get there. In my affairs I have a polished practiced script for everything I hope to achieve.”

!6. A leader has a passion for winning. !In other words, getting by is never good enough. A leader wants to win. He wants to be the best, produce the best, and bring out the best in others.

!That's why Daryl Flood, President and CEO of Daryl

Flood, Inc., is recognized as running one of the best, most successful moving businesses in the country. As he says, "Successful leaders follow best practices that garner the loyalty and respect of their employees, and one of those best practices is seeing their leader have a passion for winning.”

!7. A leader has a passion for winning WITH others. !20th century educator G. Arthur Keough knew that. He

wrote, "Greatness is not standing above our fellows and ordering them around. It is standing with them and helping them to be all they can be.”

This winning with others may be the very reason that the Mayo Clinic is considered to be one of the finest medical institutions in the world. They follow the philosophy of their founding leader, Dr. William W. Mayo who said, “No one is big enough to be independent of others.”

!8. A leader builds relationships. !That doesn't mean that she has to be buddies with everyone on the team or in the organization. That may not even be wise. But she has to build strong, positive, respectful, cooperative relationships with everyone possible.

!When

I asked Ed Caldwell, the Vice President of Protective Life, what accounted for his success, he answered, "I have been blessed with four mentors and bosses over the last 30 years who took the time to build a relationship with me, who gave me candid feedback on the differences between leadership and management, and provided specific guidance at key points in my career. Those relationships created what I consider to be the real turning points in my personal and professional development.”

!! !! ! ! PUBLISH YOUR BOOK

!9. A leader celebrates. !A leader doesn't wait for the sale-of-a-lifetime or a

miraculous business turnaround before he celebrates with the team. He knows that little things count. In fact, little celebrations can make a big difference.

!As psychologist Dr. Terry Paulson points out, "When

people are asked to consider what works, too many look for the big things -- those things that get measured and reported. But many times, it is the consistent little things leaders do that mean the most to their teams.”

!Or as Jill Blashack Strahan adds, “When we're all stressed out, that’s when we need to take the time to celebrate what’s right with the world and our business.”

!10. A leader exhibits calmness in rough waters. !When Vaclav Havel became the first elected leader in the

new country of the Czech Republic, the citizens were uncertain of their future. So he told them, "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out.”

take your message to the next level

!And Larry Blakely, the Process and Improvement Director

at Ernst and Young, says, "When you're up to your eyeballs in alligators, it's hard to remember you're not there to drain the swamp. You're there to be a calming influence in the midst of the storms.”

!You may not be a born leader. But you can learn to be a leader. And a good leader … a great leader … an effective leader … exhibits these ten behaviors. Start using them now. You’ll be amazed at how well they work.

VMHPUBLISHING.COM

!! !

32nd Annual Celebration!

A Fashionably Packed Red-Carpet The 32nd Annual Stellar Awards held in Las Vegas, Nevada celebrated some of the strongest names in gospel music. With artist ranging from Da’ Truth, Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell and superstars Travis Green and Tamela Mann, this event was nothing short of stardom, fashion and inspirational song.

Gospel music lifts the spirit, carries one through hard times and gives praise. Blessed with the gift of song, people such as those honored at the 2017 Stellar Awards recognize their role in service and hold nothing back in sharing the aforementioned. First taped at the Arie Crown Theater and founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, the Stellar Awards is a gospel music awards show that honors gospel artist and industry professionals.

Some of the categories included in the show are: •Song of the Year •Artist of the Year •Music Video of the Year •Male & Female Vocalist of the Year •CD of the Year

•Choir of the Year •New Artist of the Year •Producer of The Year •Rap/ Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year •Children’s Performance of the Year

‘Stellar Award’s Hall of Fame nominee and multiple Grammy winner Fred Hammond kicked off the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebration with a dynamic performance that brought the packed house to its feet, featuring fan favorites including “We’re Blessed,” “Glory to Glory to Glory” and his latest Billboard Gospel charttopping hit, “Father Jesus Spirit.”’

‘The night belonged to one of the genre's fastestrising stars, Travis Greene, and gospel music superstar, Tamela Mann.’

Greene took home six Stellar Awards for his work on chart-topping album "The Hill." Honors include the much sought after categories: State Farm Song of the Year (“Made a Way”), CD of the Year (The Hill)

and Male Vocalist of the Year. Greene was also awarded Praise and Worship CD of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and the project was recognized for Recorded Music Packaging (Annie Stoll).

When accepting the award for Male Vocalist of the Year, Greene gave honor to artists who Photo Credit: Garry Jones/VMH Magazine have inspired him to perform. "Bishop Hez, Donnie, Fred, Marvin, Kirk, Israel, John P. Kee -- I do what I do because I've watched you my entire life. I adore you, I love you; I'm standing on your shoulders."

Mann set the stage ablaze with a powerful, spine-tingling performance of “God Provides” that transformed the annual Awards telecast into a bonafide praise and worship session. The fan favorite returned to the stage often to graciously accept six trophies: Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional CD of the Year, Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year, Artist of the Year, the Albertina

Photo Credit: Garry Jones/VMH Magazine

Walker Female Vocalist of the Year and Producer of the Year, also shared by Butler (Myron Butler, Kirk Franklin,Timbaland, Eric Dawkins, King Logan, Shaun Martin & David Mann).

During an emotional acceptance speech, Tamela encouraged the audience to have faith despite trying times. "Don''t worry about the White House, God provides" she said tearfully. “And to all these artists, I love you guys. I’m praying for all of us to make it. We can with the Lord’s help. We can make it.”

During the show Stellar Gospel Music Awards founder, Don Jackson bestowed a Stellar Awards Hall of Fame medallion commemorating excellence in their respective fields upon Tyscot Records founder, musician and pastor, Dr. Leonard Scott, record executive, writer/publisher relations, Catherine Brewton, gifted vocalist, songwriter, producer, musician and a r r a n g e r, F r e d H a m m o n d a n d g o s p e l m u s i c group, Mississippi Mass Choir.

Photo Credit: Garry Jones/VMH Magazine

The Mann’s

Tamela Mann performing onstage at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards

Photo Credit: Garry Jones/VMH Magazine

With great enthusiasm, Stellar Gospel Awards Founder, Don Jackson shared some exciting news with the packed-house, “I am pleased to announce the launch of Stellar TV — a 24-7 Gospel music entertainment network scheduled to go on the air the fourth quarter of 2017. Gospel music needs its own platform. Text “StellarTV” to 797979. We need your support.”

For more information on TV One’s telecast of the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv and connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using hashtags #StellarAwards and #Represent. For more information on syndicated airings of the show, visit www.thestellarawards.com.

Photo Credit: Maury Phillips, Courtesy of Central City Productions/TV One

Gospel Artise, Bobby Jones

Travis Greene’s "The Hill” and Tamela Mann’s “One Way” Earn Six Trophies and Myron Butler Rounds Out the Night’s Top Wins with Three Awards! Photo Credit: Garry Jones/VMH Magazine

Photo Credit: Maury Phillips, Courtesy of Central City Productions/TV One

Photo Courtesy of JL Media PR

Behind the scenes of red carpet media coverage by Vikki Hankins & Garry Jones for the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards.

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CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

“Traditional thinking never wins in a rapidly evolving climate.”

!! !! !! !! !Written by Vikki Hankins

A large number of businesses that have been around for decades, ranging from Macy’s and JCPenney to RadioShack and Office Depot, are closing at a record pace. People are quickly losing jobs, with families panicking and retail workers understandably concerned about how they are going to pay their bills.

business sector. Personally, I love some of the traditional practices in retail, but I also recognize the limitations that it places on the average person. With that said, I’ve embraced simple, easy, and less time-consuming ways of shopping and doing business, despite those that felt it couldn’t be done.

So, why are longstanding retail stores falling like dominoes? Some aggressively blame technology and its inhibitors, such as the internet, people like Mark Zuckerberg, entities like Amazon, and financial systems like PayPal. But the question has become, are they to blame, or does the fault lie with traditional thinking and methods of conducting business?

The economy is much more productive as a result of new ways of doing business that further involve community improvement, social change, and small businesses. While it has had an impact on some of the larger chain and brick and mortar stores, I wholeheartedly admire everyone who has an idea, works hard, puts it into motion, and succeeds as a result of internet tools like Facebook, Etsy, and personal websites.

The internet has opened a wave of opportunity for oppressed thinkers that longed to have a hand in sales and creativity, often in the form of new inventions. Born out of zealous ambition, Facebook, along with social media platforms such as Twitter, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, connects the globe in ways that were once unheard of, and at record speed. Place these platforms at the fingertips of entrepreneurial spirits and it should come as no surprise that competitors for brick and mortar stores have emerged, often on an entry-level basis. With ideas no longer oppressed, gatekeepers are being pushed aside and the status quo centering on the chief financial officer level of big businesses has changed.

What we have here is the rise and fall of two very powerful forces—a modern day David and Goliath.

The old way of thinking that can often yield resentment towards social media, technology, and e-commerce practices has to become more open and inviting to everyday innovators. It can be difficult to accept that old habits or methods of thinking are being put on the back burner, but I’d rather let go of a thinking pattern than see those around me suffer the consequences. It’s never too late to learn new things; it’s an integral part of life. No matter one’s age, upbringing, or familiarity, when you open your mind, you are opening yourself to a world outside of yourself. Learning to accept the new norms and let go of the old ways of doing things is important, as it ultimately affects those around you, as well as the economy.

When you have an untouchable mindset, you begin to fail. It may not be quite as evident at first, but as time progresses, onlookers are able to see the failure. In the sales department, general managers often can’t determine why the quota is not met and why their local store location is threatened with closure.

Traditional thinking never wins in a rapidly evolving climate. When an executive is stubbornly set on making an old system work in our modern-day, tech-savvy world, it sets everyone beneath them up for failure. This can come in the form of low sales, job loss, and more.

Time has brought about new ways of watching movies, communicating, and paying bills. Each of these daily rituals can be done online, and the same is true in the

BEGIN WITH AN IDEA AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING ELSE

E5 CORE INTERVIEW BYÂ VIKKI HANKINS

Dr. Samms thank you for Genesis innovation Academy and your efforts to "improve scholars to be the creative, criticalthinkers who prosper in the 21st century."

!Vikki Hankins: Technology is a leading

force in the global economy, based on data and analytics it will remain this way for well over two decades. How does your school train and prepare children for the highly competitive job market in technology?

!Dr. Samms: Our E5 curriculum (economics,

e n g i n e e r i n g , e t h i c s , e x p re s s i o n , entrepreneurship) explicitly focuses on innovation, which means we expect scholars to apply core subject knowledge in creative and relevant ways.The use and understanding of technology is a key component of that strategy. For example, all Genesis scholars will learn how to code. But coding itself is not the goal. Coding is a way to apply math, science, and logic principles to create (or Engineer) something new - an app, website, video game, etc. But that is not enough. What scholars create, in any area, cannot simply be interesting to them that would be a hobby. For Genesis scholars to compete in the 21st century they must learn to create what others find valuable - a solution to a problem, an answer to an important question, or an idea that improves lives or changes the world. If you can solve problems people care about, you can compete.

ECONOMICS ENGINEERING ETHICS EXPRESSION ENTREPRENEURSHIP DR. GAVIN SAMMS

Photo Courtesy of Pitch Perfect Media Group

"A GOOD JOB TODAY MIGHT BE DONE BY A COMPUTER TOMORROW. TOO OFTEN, ADULTS SAY THEY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN, YET DO NOT ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK BEYOND PASSING TESTS, GRADUATING, AND GETTING GOOD JOBS. THAT IS NOT HOW THE ZUCKERBERGS, GATES, AND EVEN THE OPRAHS OF THE WORLD BECOME WHO THEY ARE." Â -DR. GAVIN SAMMS Vikki Hankins: Should parents be concerned about the education of their children in public schools? If so, what approach should they take to aid in improving student performance?

!Dr. Samms: Parents have to be concerned because the extreme focus on testing is stifling the passion, creativity and spirit of innovation that our children were born with and need to develop to succeed in the 21st century economy. I have found very few parents, teachers, school administrators, or district leaders who think the testing focus is a good idea, but many feel trapped by policies they did not make. Parents need to run, not walk, to any school that has figured out how break free of the bondage to test-taking and have our children engage in actual critical thinking and problem solving. Our children have to pass the tests, but not at the expense of deep understanding. Genesis expects scholars to solve problems that require them to do more than figure out which answer to select on a multiple choice test.

!Vikki Hankins: Traditional parenting teaches children to become doctors, lawyers, and teachers; is this hazardous to young minds striving for these careers?

!Dr. Samms: Those professions are honorable. We should be proud if our children aspire to excellence in any of them. If a child possesses a gift for teaching and is excited about pursuing it, then we should be encouraging. We should not instead push them to be an engineer or programmer because those fields are more in demand. Ultimately, we should be most concerned about our children tapping into their unique skills, gifts, and passions so they can become who they are

called to be and not who we (or society) want them to be. We should not put any child into a job "box". A good job today might be done by a computer tomorrow. Becoming a job title is too limiting for the 21st century. We should not ask what you want to be, but who are you, what energizes you, what interests you, and what problems do you want to try and solve.

!Vikki Hankins: Silicon Valley is branded for breeding

innovative, creative, tech-based thinkers; Mark Zuckerberg being the most famed innovator. What do you feel is your greatest challenge in helping scholars understand that they too can have exceptional careers that stem from engineering and innovation?

!Dr. Samms: Convincing the adults. Children follow

our lead. If you fill them with hope and possibility, they will begin to believe it. If you expect greatness from them, they will pursue it because they will not know anything else. Too often, adults say they have high expectations for our children, yet do not encourage them to think beyond passing tests, graduating, and getting good jobs. That is not how the Zuckerbergs, Gates, and even the Oprahs of the world become who they are. Getting a good job is about choosing the safe path. Innovators are the opposite. They take risks to pursue a great idea, a passion, or a calling, even when others tell them they are crazy or that what they want cannot be done because nobody has ever done it. We have to train our children to have the courage to reach for greatness, and to treat falling short, not as failure, but as an opportunity to learn, regroup, and push for greatness all over again.

!Thank you for speaking with me.

WEALTH YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE RICH

Written by Vikki Hankins

Wealth; how is it obtained? Is it for a select group of people or does everyone have access to the finer things in life?

!It is my belief that tools are available ‘for’ everyone,

but not ‘to’ everyone. What I mean by this is that ‘tools’ such as computers, books, technology, information is out there ‘free’ to use. Inventions are not invented exclusively for one group of people, but instead for people period. The issue with ‘tools’ involves affordability, knowing/learning, researching and prioritizing.

!Starting out as a book publisher my work has evolved and placed me in a position of teaching, business savvy people how to capitalize on there natural abilities. People from all walks of life, some of which live in poverty land on my doorstep. Believe it or not, some of them have skills that can make them very, very wealthy but they simply don’t know how to use them or need to improve their mindset. Which brings me back to my original topic - wealth.

You have what it takes to make you rich - your mind, your talent, belief, investing, developing a system and narrowing your target audience/market will get you where you should be.

!Calculated steps, removing distractions and thinking

ahead not just ‘in the moment’, are also core ingredients to stronger finances. Trending items, such as purses, watches and a nice car are all good, but is it the best investment as you build? Let’s say you own and operate a growing e-commerce company selling fashion designed by you, do you:

!a.

purchase more fabric for a critical upcoming fashion show to display your designs? b. purchase a new car that you’ve been eye-balling?

!Investing in building your company/wealth would be to purchase more fabric for the upcoming fashion show that aids in branding, visibility and more interest/buyers of your work. Whereas, the car is great and you should (continued on pg. 28)

THE FORMULA

DISCOVER THE NEW YOU!

WWW.VMHMAGAZINE.COM

Are ! You Powered by Purpose?

! !

Funmi Osinubi|

If you’ve ever been disregarded during a presentationyou need to read Scott Deming’s Powered by Purpose. If you are wondering how to gain an online audience, you should read Powered By Purpose. If you are a business owner looking to leave a positive lasting impression on customers and employees, not reading this book could determine whether you succeed or fail at this goal.

Powered By Purpose is an important read for so many individuals in and outside of the business world because it teaches that self-awareness and a commitment to your value system is step one towards authenticity- that magical and instantly recognizable element that draws readers, customers, listeners and even friends.

Scott Deming’s Powered By Purpose is really about self-expression. It’s about realizing who you are, what values you silently live with daily and letting that inform every action and every choice. It’s a how to manual to making sure your message hits and lands. It gives you the map – Start with your values.

Deming handles this book like a good teacher should, striking a balance between his roles as a pubic speaker, a businessman, and an author. He diligently delivers practical crash courses within each chapter. First you will learn how to take a hard look at yourself to identify your own values through key questions, critical thinking, and insightful quizzes. He follows with strategic examples that resulted in company cultures that either failed or succeeded. By the end of the book you will not only know how to identify your own values. You’ll also get instructions on how to turn your value system into a culture, how to maintain that culture, and how to get your message out to the right people in the right way to ultimately achieve your purpose.

!have it, however, you must remember ‘timing’. If you are (continued from pg. 26)

in the building stage and have not generated enough capital to feel comfortable, it’s best not to buy that new car just yet. The time will come for you to live comfortably, if not wealthy.

!I am aware of the fact that a number of people are born into

poverty, but the list is endless of those with ambition that are now very, very wealthy who were also born into poverty. These people set the example on ‘tools; available for everyone, whether we make it a goal to find and learn how to use the tools is where the problem lay.

!I had to use $50 from a friend to start my first company as

a fictitious name (least expensive registration), but I dug deep to learn, find the resources I needed to grown and refused to spend money on frivolous things such as the latest fashion. More important to me was investing my earnings in equipment/technology that would produce more money. Along with strategic thinking, developing my skills and testing what works and what doesn’t work, I’ve successfully grown my company. Bootstrapping all the way, I know from first hand experience, everyone has what it takes to live a financially comfortable life.

Like any good teacher, Deming takes every opportunity to impart knowledge on his key topics as well as topics somewhat related. He sacrifices some clarity and brevity with his unwillingness to leave anything out so the book’s flow is at times inundated and long winded. But as we would for our beloved instructors, we can overlook this with a simple gratitude for the wealth of advice and pearls of savvy wisdom packed in this book. Deming puts forth his own value system even in the way he chose to craft it.

So here’s what you do: Purchase Scott Deming’s ‘Powered by Purpose’. Read it with a stack of post it notes in hand. And when you are finished place it visibly on your bookshelf because you’re sure to be back to it again and again on your journey of self expression, sound decision making, and genuine fulfillment in the face of greed and distraction. To learn more about Scott Deming and his work visit: www.scottdeming.com

www.boldswim.com! Catering to Women All Over The World

Valencia Warren Writing & Imagination Made Her Dream a Reality

Interview Conducted by Vikki Hankins

!! !

!VMH: What was your greatest challenge in getting your manuscript published? Also what is your advice to other writers?

!Valencia: My greatest challenge was making sure that

VA L E N C I A WARREN, the

author of Hood Royal, is a young woman that grew up in a rough neighborhood on the south side of Atlanta, Georgia. Although she’s seen a lot of crime and high profile violence she refused to be just another statistic. Going through a lot of up’s and downs Valencia put her heart and soul into her writing and pushed forward into making it into a reality.

passion especially when I was going through something emotionally. That was my get away to another world. My characters are created by however I'm feeling at that moment.

Being the seventh child of eight, all Valencia ever dreamed of doing was getting her book published, becoming a successful author, and making her parents proud. Valencia has always put her best foot forward and making Hood Royal Were one of her greatest success. Valencia’s goal has always been to send a message, no matter what situation you run into, no matter how many disappointments always push forward towards your biggest dream and never ever settle for less.

my publisher was who they said they were because anyone could talk but your work shows it all. Making sure I didn't put my life /manuscript in the wrong hands. My advice to other writers would be go after your dreams don't just sit on it. Even if you fail get back up and try again because it doesn't mean it's over.

!VMH: What can we expect from you as an author/ writer in the near future? !Valencia: In the future you can expect more books and more films. !VMH: Good Royal, how did this book come about? !Valencia: One day I was sitting in a room and I was writing. My character name was royal but my book didn't have a title. So after reading what I had wrote as far as me describing my character and I said she good and she'd like to be treated royal so I called it hood

royal.

Here’s what Valencia had to say regarding her writings, her new book and advice to other emerging authors:

VMH: What moves you to write? And how is it that you create your characters?

!Valencia: Writing has always been my

Order Your ‘PageTurning’ Copy of “Hood Royal” at Online Retail Stores

SHOTS FIRED - Fox TV Series Inspired by Gun Violence and the Case of Trayvon Martin, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood Produced the Fox TV Series, ‘Shots Fired’. Here are highlights of the turnout from a screening of the show:

Dewanda Wise (Mother of Lost Son in Shots Fired)

Jill Hennessy (Mother of Lost Son in Shots Fired) Reggie Rock Bythewood, Producer

Egypt Sherrod Q&A Moderator

Mike Jackson Guest Appearance

Joseline Hernandez Guest Appearance

Da Brat - Guest Appearance

Tithing My Personal Growth

Commentary by Garry Jones

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. -1 Corinthians 13:11 Author/Speaker Garry Jones

!Growing up I was

required to attend Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. This was a must in my grandmother’s home. I attended church but didn’t know the politics of the church. When my brother and I attended we would gather with our friends and have a good time. My brother was the Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school and I chilled and did my own thing.

!The only thing I got excited about was making sure our

class won the banner of offering and the banner of attendance; I was always a competitor. My grandmother always provided money for us to put in church. When I tried to spend the money before church, the neighborhood owner of the store wouldn’t allow me to buy anything because he knew the money I had, was supposed to be used to put in the offering plate – R.I.P. Mr. Fuller.

!I used to hear people in the neighborhood talk about how

preachers only wanted money to pay for their Cadillac and their homes. During that era I also noticed, when invited to dinner, the preachers normally ate better than the children of the household. They got the biggest part of the chicken and you couldn’t eat unless they ate first. I also heard they slept with all the women in church and some members in the church would dislike each other for one reason or another. These things didn’t come from my grandmother but instead from the people in the community.

!After I joined the church I was given those same envelopes

that people put their money in. When church commenced the ushers would pass the plate around for tithes and offering. I would put my money in the plate while some people put their money in envelopes. I always wondered why people put their money in envelopes – that was the craziest thing to me. I thought I was a thither when I put my little money in church. I didn’t know any better but soon I would come to understand what tithing and offering was all about.

!As I got older I begin to learn more about the church. I

learned tithes and offering were needed to pay the church bills, to make us comfortable in the winter and summer, do outreach ministry in the community, help others in need and

made provisions to keep the church grounds looking good. The money was also used to pay the preachers their salary.

!The scriptures say, “Never tie up the mouth of an ox when it

is treading out the grain; let him eat as he goes along and in another place. Those who work deserve their pay.” I thought about Pastor Aaron L. Parker because when he preached you could feel the anointing on him and he also teaches at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. I paid close attention to Malachi 3rd chapter, verse 10... “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in.”

!Noticed it said God would pour out a blessing not the preacher. My attitude was once I pay my tithes I cared less about what happens to the money because I don’t look for man to bless me I look for God to bless me. Don’t get me wrong when I joined another church I was reluctant to pay tithes. It was shocking to find out my pastor didn’t talk about tithing much and the church only took up one offering. I think this made me comfortable and I was able to enjoy service without wondering whether or not the church was going to take up an offering for the building funds, the pastor anniversary, and etc.

!Keep in mind, tithing doesn’t mean you are going to get a

big paycheck in the mail or someone off the street was going to bless you with a lot of money and some cases that may happen but God will bless you if you are a cheerful thither. If you are reluctant to pay your tithes you may as well keep the money in your pockets because you didn’t tithe willingly; you have to trust God. It took me over 40 years to trust God with my money or his money.

!I do think God gives us common sense with tithing. If we are getting ready to be put out of our house and we have a choice to pay your mortgage or rent or be put out, I think I would pay my rent or mortgage. The fact that you want to tithe and can’t tithe is a blessing within itself. God knows the heart. I know this is contradicting what I just said about trusting God to provide a way but beware of the preachers that only speak on prospering – you don’t see yourself prospering, you only see them prospering.

!The Holiday season is here and money may be short in some households. The children and grandchildren are going to be depending on you to break them off with a little something. The electric bill is normally high during this season. What are you going to do? My suggestion is trust God and pray about your situation because every situation is different.

To learn more about Garry Jones, his work or to book him for your next event visit: garryljones.com

CYBERSECURITY

Cause for real alarm?

Around the world bank accounts are hacked, websites are infected with malware and crimes are committed through the cyber world. Should everyday people take this as serious as someone running for president? Does it call for 24/7 online security? Or is it a matter of being proactive and learning how to recover?

!Because precautions seems to arise surrounding cyber security, I took the liberty of providing a few random facts and statistics from recent reports by Cybersecurity Ventures and Herjavec Group.

!Cybercrime cost estimates have risen from $400 billion in early 2015 to $6 trillion by 2021. !This year, the Microsoft Secure Blog reported that The World Economic Forum estimated the economic cost of cybercrime to be $3 trillion worldwide. That was a sixfold jump in cybercrime damage estimates in just one year.

!Cybersecurity Ventures predicts cybercrime will continue rising and cost businesses globally more than $6 trillion annually by 2021.

!“The biggest victims of (cyber) crime are in the most developed economies, including the U.S., China, and Germany,” says Adam Segal. “Indian companies are also highly victimized.”

!Herjavec

Group: the editors at Cybersecurity Ventures have compiled some of the most compelling cybercrime statistics from the past year, which help frame

the evolving threatscape faced by consumers, businesses, and governments globally:

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Every second, 12 people online become a victim of cybercrime, totalling more than 1 million victims around the world every day. Identity theft is now the fastest growing crime in America. Cybercriminals produced malware at a record rate of 230,000 new malware samples per day in 2015… and the 2016 figures are expected to be worse. Consumers globally lost $158 billion to cybercrime last year. 75 percent of the top 20 US banks are infected with malware. Ransomware attacks have risen an astonishing 300 percent in 2016. 85 percent of senior security pros believe that more than 50% of IoT products are insecure.

How does one protect themselves? Based on research Herjavec Group is a good start. The site also shared informational reads (books) from “the editors at Cybersecurity Ventures” that helps educate. Cyber security is a very serious topic; growing a lightning speed. Visit Herjavec Group and Cybersecurity Ventures’ to learn more.

Are Fad Diets Good For ! ! Health? Heart

!! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - It may be tempting to latch on to the latest diet fad like juicing or going gluten-free to lose weight or achieve other health goals. But when it comes to heart health, doctors say sticking with old standbys like fruits, veggies and olive oil is still the best approach.

To see what kind of diet patterns might be the most heart healthy, a team of doctors and researchers examined results from more than a dozen previously published nutrition studies. Taken together, all of this evidence shows the best regimen for heart health includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, the study concludes.

“There is a great amount of misinformation about nutrition fads, including antioxidant pills, juicing and gluten-free diets,” said lead study author Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness in the division of cardiology at National Jewish Health in Denver.

“However, there are number of dietary patterns that have clearly been demonstrated to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease,” Freeman said in a statement. “There is growing consensus that a predominantly plant-based diet that emphasizes green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruit is where the best improvements are seen in heart health.”

Based on the scientific data available, nuts in moderation, extra-virgin olive oil and lean meats can also be part of a heart healthy diet, Freeman and colleagues report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

To help avoid high cholesterol, one risk factor for heart disease, the study authors also recommend skipping or limiting eggs and other oils like coconut and palm oil.

Even though U.S. dietary guidelines released last year removed previous recommendations to limit cholesterol, the current research review still advises against eating too many eggs because they are associated with higher cholesterol levels in the blood.

Coconut oil and palm oil may be trendy, but there isn’t much data to show they’re healthy for routine use, the study also concludes. Olive oil does have proven benefits, but should be consumed in moderation because it’s high in calories.

When it comes to antioxidants, another diet fad, there’s no evidence that supplements can help the heart and some evidence that they may have harmful health effects. But the science does support eating whole fruits and vegetables to get these nutrients.

Juicing, too, may not be as good for the heart as whole fruits and vegetables if people end up drinking too many calories, the researchers note. Juices without added sugar may, however, make sense for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables.

“The problem with juicing is that many individuals who drink these tend to consume more calories from added sugars (fruit, yogurt, milk) than they realize,” Dr. Daniel Rader of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia said by email. He wasn’t involved in the study.

Gluten-free diets that avoid ingredients like wheat, barley and rye are necessary for people with celiac disease or gluten allergies, but don’t have proven benefits for anyone else, the study concludes.

It’s possible that fad diets avoiding gluten without a medical reason to do this might appear to be successful because people who try eating this way to improve their health also do other things that are healthy like getting plenty of exercise and sleep and avoiding smoking and junk food, said Alvaro Hernaez, a researcher at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona.

“They feel better because of the general improvement in their lifestyle habits,” Hernaez, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.

Fads diets, especially those that load up on meat or restrict too much food, should be avoided, said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the study.

“We would all benefit from eating fewer foods that come from animals such as ham, beef, cheese, butter and pork, and eating a lot more plant foods,” Heller said by email.

! !

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2mBgBKW Journal of the American College of Cardiology, online February 27, 2017.

THE ‘HIGH TEA’ HIGHLIGHTS The High Tea is held to benefit the 129year-old C a r r i e Steele-Pitts H o m e (CSPH), one of the oldest child c a r i n g agencies for children in the United States.

The High Te a , a n elegant tradition started by CSPH in 1963, is hosted by actress/director/philanthropist Victoria Rowell, CSPH’s spokesperson. The event featured a live hat auction from well-known hat milliner Susan Morehead. CSPH will honor Congressman Robert Cortez “Bobby” Scott (D VA) for his efforts in fighting for quality early, secondary and higher education for children. The featured musical guest will be urban jazz harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet. Harpist Lisa Handman provided music. Award winning multimedia journalist and former CBS 46 Anchor Gloria Neal served as Mistress of Ceremony.

For the past 5 years, Rowell has served as ambassador and spokesperson for CSPH. She revitalized this elegant tradition started by CSPH in 1963 to raise awareness about and funds for the historic orphanage and its commitment to care for and develop future leaders and prepare them to reach their highest potential.

“Without highly committed agencies and devoted care givers like those at CSPH, individual like me would never know that they can pursue their dreams,” said Rowell. “I encourage the Atlanta community to support Carrie SteelePitts Home because it has cared for nearly 27,000 souls who needed someone to love and guide them.”

“This year marks the 129th year that Carrie Steele-Pitts Home has been providing a home for our community’s most vulnerable children,” said Dr. Evelyn Lavizzo, executive director, CSPH. “We welcome the support of the Atlanta community to help make a difference in the lives of youth who live in foster care at Carrie Steele-Pitts Home. Let’s celebrate the beginning of spring with family and friends as we work together to continue our mission of providing a safe, warm place for youth who are already world weary.”

The Carrie Steele-Pitts home programs include highly successful educational initiatives for its youth, including comprehensive guidance for postsecondary education and career training. In addition, CSPH partners with some 20 Atlanta public schools and several colleges and universities to implement educational programs that prepare youth for life skills, vocational careers and higher education learning. As a result, CSPH youth have successful achieved a 100% high school graduation rate and have been honored with various awards a n d scholarships, including a G a t e s Millennium Scholars award, with the majority going on to attend a higher learning institution.

Sponsors for the 2017 CSPH High Tea are: Chick-fil-A, AAR Aviation, Dr. Lula Powell and John and Ursula Tatum. CSPH acknowledges the generosity of the Four Seasons Hotel and florist Tony Brewer and Company. Additional sponsors are welcomed.

Actress/director/author and philanthropist Victoria Rowell (“The Young and the Restless,” “Law & Order,” “Diagnosis Murder,” Marry Me for Christmas, Dumb & Dumber, Home of the Brave), who is a former foster child is a longstanding supporter of children who live in foster care and is dedicated herself to the mission of the CSPH and to the global mission of child welfare. During a recent CSPH event addressing Mayor Kasim Reed and other distinguished guests Rowell stated, “I want Atlanta residents and communities around the country to know what is possible for youth who live in foster care. I can personally share that their future has no boundaries when they grow up and live with kindness and true support.”

If you want to share CSPH’s commitment to ensure a bright future for young people by becoming a sponsor please contact: Evelyn Lavizzo, PhD, executive director, CSPH at 404.691.5187 or via email at evelyn.lavizzo@csph.org.

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