We Are Morehouse Monthly: February 2018

WE ARE MOREHOUSE A Monthly Newsletter from the Morehouse College Young Alumni Engagement Program

Planting a Seed to Broaden Horizons Matthew Wulukau ’11 and Isaac Taggart '14 worked with generations of Morehouse Men to develop a sustainable Pan-African NGO; Planting A Seed International

February 2018

. . . & W E L L- G RO O M E D

Well-read, spoken, traveled, dressed, balanced, & now we add, well-groomed.

Intended to alleviate dr y, itchy scalp while keeping hair healthy & moisturized.

Exper tly made by a Board-Cer tiied Dermatologist, Spelman College c /o ‘96.

L I V S O.C O M

WE ARE MOREHOUSE FEBRUARY 2018

4 Young alumni create study abroad option

Meet Matthew Wulukau ’11 and Isaac Taggart '14 the co-founders of Planting A Seed International and learn about their innovative study abroad program.

20 Cooking with Chef David

Meet Chef David Thomas ’05 and enjoy his tasty and daring recipe for Okra and Seafood Stew; Soupakandia.

ON THE COVER Isaac Taggart ’14 and Matthew Wulukau '11, the founders and vice president and president respectively of Planting A Seed International.

INSIDE S. Lee Merritt ’05, one of the nation's staunchest and most vocal civil rights attorneys, was recently recognized as #8 on 'The Root 100' most influential African Americans ages 25-45.

Read more about him on page 29.

DEPARTMENTS 3 FROM THE EDITOR 4 COVER STORY 8 ATHLETICS 10 VOWS 12 BUSINESS 18 CLERGY 20 CREATORS 26 EDUCATORS 27 HEALTH & SCIENCE 28 LAW 30 PUBLIC SERVICE 32 TECH 36 ARRIVALS 38 "AND IN ALL THINGS THAT WE DO"

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Today's recurring gift to the Annual Fund sustains Morehouse's future for Charles ’30 GIVE TODAY BY CLICKING HERE INTERESTED IN BEGINNING YOUR CHARITABLE LEGACY AT MOREHOUSE? Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement today.

PHONE: (470) 639-0545

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FROM THE EDITOR >

H

appy Founder's Day! In February, we celebrate the founding of Morehouse College in grand style with the annual 'A Candle in the Dark Gala'. The gala is a glittering night that acknowledges black excellence and success.

This year, I'll be attending my 15th gala, and this year is also the 30th anniversary of event.

Reflecting on the event's purpose; fundraising for scholarships, led me to thoughts of how important attending was for me when I was a student. Over the years the specter of the evening hasn't waned one bit for me.

Morehouse's commitment to recognizing and highlighting the achievements of African Americans is inspiring. And the environment that it engenders and the culture that it creates makes it seem like celebrating these success stories are more the norm, rather than an anomaly.

We know all too well that black excellence is not an anomaly, and not something so esoteric and unachievable, but rather something so very real. That's the reality that I want my three year old daughter to live in, and the one that my wife and I are raising her in.

The Candle reminds of that reality year after year.

This month's WAM Monthly features are as diverse and interesting as our alumni population is. I hope you enjoy learning about what our young alumni have been doing.

Please continue to share, and email me story ideas or alums to feature in future months (joseph.carlos@morehouse.edu).

True Forever, Joe Joe Carlos ’04 Program Manager Young Alumni Engagement Program http://www.wearemorehouse.com

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Cover Story

Matthew Wulukau ’11 and Isaac Taggart ’14's NGO Plants Seeds of Opportunity and Growth Matthew Wulukau ’11 and Isaac Taggart ’14 are the president and vice president of Planting A Seed International, whose mission is to equip Liberian students with “ the educational resources needed to obtain a quality primary and secondary education.”

PASI’s goal is to “motivate, encourage and empower children through reading and incorporating enthusiasm while learning; offering free school supplies, books, educational scholarships and other classroom necessities for disadvantaged yet deserving students with educational resources.”

Matthew and Isaac, both of Liberian descent, started this journey toward PASI several years before the study abroad aspect came to fruition.

“In 2006, we were blessed with the opportunity to embark on a journey to Liberia West Africa for the first time. The visit was bitter sweet. Bitter because prior to our visit Liberia endured a 14-year civil war, which killed over 250,000 people, destroyed the vast majority of the country infrastructure and tremendously set back the country educational system and economy.

Being of Liberian descent we felt it was necessary to make an impactful contribution to our homeland.

In 2007 we created the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to reducing illiteracy amongst underprivileged students in Liberia West Africa by equipping them with the adequate tools necessary to receive a quality education.” said Matthew Wulukau.

Wulukau went on to mention, “Our goal is to motivate, encourage and empower children through reading and incorporating enthusiasm while learning; offering free school supplies, books, educational scholarships and other classroom necessities for disadvantaged yet deserving students with educational resources. Ultimately, we are striving to build energy efficient/eco-friendly schools, which will bring Liberia to the forefront of technology and sustainability.”

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Their love of country, and their commitment to ensuring that others are able to be exposed to the richness and beauty of Liberia, led to the development of PASI’s Liberia West Africa Student Enrichment Program. The Liberia West Africa Student Enrichment Program is a new service-learning program that works closely with the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership at Morehouse College. The program provides an opportunity for students to travel to Liberia and serve with PASI in a 9 day service trip, wherein they experience cultural immersion, live near the communities they’re serving, experience customs and most importantly deepen their connections to Liberia and its people.

Wulukau and Taggart enlisted the help of Julius Coles ’64, renowned scholar and diplomat, and the Director of the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership.

Coles previously served in Liberia with the USAID in 1972 and 1973 as a Senior United States Official, and provided oversight to the Aid Program in Liberia from 1973-79 when he was the Office Director for Coastal and Central West Africa. The former president of Africare, Coles received his M.P.A. from the Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, studied at the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Switzerland. He retired from the U.S. Government Foreign Services in 1994 with the rank of Career Minister.

“Having the privilege to work closely with Julius E Coles, ’64, has fostered our development in the social impact space. His expertise in the Foreign services has enabled us to successfully carry out our first service learning initiative to Liberia West Africa where 19 students plus staff joined us to conduct community service, distribute school supplies and collectively work together to help our vision come to fruition. This mission couldn’t have been executed without the help of Dr. Coles and some of our alumni who aided the students financially to participate in our inaugural trip.” Wulukau said.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Cover Story Coles felt that the inaugural trip was a success in a variety of areas, namely in broadening horizons. “In taking the students to Liberia in December of 2017 we discovered that most of these students had never traveled out of the United States much less to Africa. Therefore, the Liberia Fellowship Program gave these students their first opportunity to travel outside of the United States.” He went on to mention, “As a result of this service learning opportunity these students were able to visit an African country, learn about its history, study its culture and experience the culture firsthand as well as having an opportunity to contribute positively to two service learning opportunities working with underserved children in a Liberian orphanage and a rural community school.”

Morehouse professor Illya Davis ’89 was a faculty participant in the trip to inaugural trip to Liberia. His association with PASI, was borne of his responsibility to the students of Morehouse.

“I have been motivated by my Morehouse professors, many of whom were graduates of the college, to simply do for present and future students what had been done in support of my intellectual and social growth during my matriculation.” He added, “ Coles added, “The AUC students profited a great deal from the various visits to historical, cultural and educational institutions in Liberia. They came away with a better understanding of how important it is to help others who are less privileged than themselves.

They also had an opportunity to see what can be done to make small improvements in these peoples’ lives after they have received school supplies, book bags and other essentials and to see the major impact that these gifts can have on the happiness of the receiving children.”

While in Liberia, the Fellows were fortunate to meet with Liberian President Dr. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected woman president of any African country. Taggart remarked, “Our delegation of AUC students and Morehouse faculty were able to engage in a round table discussion with her about topics surrounding foreign policy, Liberia’s economy and more. This was pivotal because Madam Sirleaf is

Clockwise: Matthew Wulukau ’11, Isaac Taggart ’14, Julius Coles '64 and Illya Davis ’89

the first democratically elected female president of any African country.”

Professor Coles, an avid and experienced world traveler, feels that the work of PASI, a Non-Govermental Organization, and specifically the Liberia West Africa Student Enrichment Program is invaluable.

“During our stay at Morehouse College we were imbued with the idea of the importance of being a servant leader. We receive this admonition in our classes as well as the discussions that were often held in the night with our fellow students on the need to help and serve others in the community. PASI provides an opportunity for Morehouse students to work with an NGO that is international in scope and is providing Morehouse students and AUC students with the opportunity to extend the

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Cover Story concept of community service and servant leadership on an international scale.” shared Coles.

Professor Davis agrees and added, “PASI is an invaluable service to humanity and affords our students to make an existential excursion into the very wells of their being. The result will hopefully yield more individuals committed to the uplift and liberation of the oppressed peoples of the world.”

Coles feels that with the uniqueness of the program, it will have staying power because it fills so many voids. “Currently there are very few opportunities where Morehouse students can apply their leadership skills in a global experience. The PASI service fellowship program to Liberia provides this experience and should enable our students to apply their leadership and other skills to a real-life situation in one of the world’s poorest countries. This Program without a doubt will contribute to making them leaders in the global community.”

Programs like PASI and the student enrichment program, give Coles, Davis, Wulukau and Taggart the opportunity to donate their time, talent and treasure to Morehouse. It provides them the opportunity to ‘give back’.

“I support Morehouse because it gave to me and afforded me the life I live as a professor here at the College. It is a life free of regrets and filled with the hope that the future of humanity is encouraging because Morehouse continues to be in the service of producing graduates dedicated to service and sacrifice” said Davis.

Isaac Taggart who graduated 25 years after Illya Davis, and 50 years after Julius Coles, fully agrees about the need to support Morehouse.

“As alumni of Morehouse College, it is important to support our alma mater because we play a large role in determining the future and continued development of our institution. We give back by making financial contributions, which are in support of scholarships for deserving students who are short of funds. We

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have also supported Morehouse by implementing an innovative opportunity, which enables students to engage in service learning in Liberia West Africa.” Taggart said.

The most compelling aspect of the PASI story is the fact that generations of Morehouse Men who all graduated in different decades and in millenniums, worked together to create an opportunity for students to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in a culture that they were completely unaware of.

The selflessness that Coles showed in supporting the program was only bolstered by the methodical persistence shown by Wulukau and Taggart, PASI’s president and vice president respectively. Together, they worked to take an idea, and make it a memorable experience that will not only enhance the lives of those who participated, but all of those that they interacted with while in-country.

The example of generations of Morehouse Men working together for a greater good, should not be taken for granted or diminished in any way. The fundamental guiding principles that led each man to Morehouse in the first place, also inspired them to work together in the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood, to help others. Examples like theirs are the ideal.

To learn more about PASI, please visit, http://www.pasintl.org.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Cover Story

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Athletics

Valdosta HS hires Joshua Crawford '07 as new Offensive Coordinator

by Derrick Davis, Sports Editor, Valdosta Daily Times VALDOSTA — Fast, physical and well executed.

That’s the vision Valdosta High’s new offensive coordinator Joshua Crawford has for a unit that struggled with all three superlatives at times last season.

Crawford was approved for hire at the Valdosta City Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening, officially completing an extensive search conducted by Wildcats head coach Alan Rodemaker.

“I talked to the best programs in the state, the best offenses in the state, really, in the top three classifications, I looked at the top offenses,” Rodemaker said. “As I talked to people, names overlapped. The same two people that I trust throughout the state are talking about the same guys, so his name came up in many conversations.”

A Morehouse College alumnus, Crawford has built his coaching resume at a number of strong programs, including Greater Atlanta Christian and a one-year stint as offensive coordinator at six-time state champion Jefferson County in Monticello, Fla. In 2014, Crawford moved to south Georgia to take a position at Colquitt County, where he spent three years, two coaching outside receivers under offensive coordinator Sean Calhoun. In Crawford’s first two years, the Packers scored 1,387 points and won two state titles.

seasons, Crawford immediately expressed interest upon learning of the vacancy at Valdosta’s offensive coordinator position.

“Valdosta is a special place,” Crawford said. “To be here and have this opportunity, it really surpasses even those experiences at those programs.

“I’m really excited to be here.”

Rodemaker said he was blown away by Crawford in his first interview, naming his desire to be in Valdosta, his background as a coach, and his experience with quarterbacks as factors in making him the best fit for the job.

Crawford’s experience preparing and coaching against many of the opponents the Wildcats will face in south Georgia was just “icing on the cake.”

According to Crawford, his experiences at previous stops, under some really good head coaches, has taught him about the process it takes to build a champion.

When he and Rodemaker sat down for his interview, Crawford found his approach to the game fit with what the Wildcats are looking to do.

“When Coach Rodemaker and I had a chance to visit and talk, really found that our philosophies were aligned,” Crawford said. “I’m excited to be here. We’re both passionate about Valdosta football and bringing some of the excitement and fun about the offense.”

Following the 2016 season, Crawford accepted a position as Lee County’s receivers coach and passing game coordinator, helping the Trojans pile up more than 3,300 yards through the air en route to the Class 6A state championship.

Suffering from the effects of attrition due to injuries and graduations, Valdosta struggled mightily on the offensive side of the ball last season. Coming off the program’s first state title since 1998, the Wildcats managed just 189 yards of total offense and 18 points per game.

Despite winning a state title in three of the past four

Crawford said he’ll shape his offenses around his per-

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Athletics

sonnel, and All-Region 1-6A second team running back Rajae’z Mosley is sure to see plenty of work next season, but Valdosta’s current roster construction is pointing towards an offense that’ll likely throw the ball around more than in the past couple of years.

The Wildcats’ completed more than 65 percent of their passes two years ago at 172 yards per contest with 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Last season, those numbers dropped to 125 passing yards per game with seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions on a 53 percent completion rate.

Splitting snaps with two other quarterbacks, sophomore Tate Rodemaker showed potential last season, completing 44-of-80 passes for 565 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Sunday, he was named Top Quarterback at the MVP Camp held at Lowndes.

“Certainly just with the experiences in the places I’ve been, we’re going to look to throw the ball,” Crawford said. “But I’m very confident in the running backs we have here, so the running game is certainly going to

be important to what we do.

“We’ll be multiple. I think it’s important to do that.

Obviously, the biggest thing is, hopefully, when people look at our offense, they see an offense that’s fast, physical and executes.”

MAROON TIGERS BASKETBALL REMAINING SCHEDULE 2/17 ALBANY STATE 3PM (H) 2/19 FORT VALLEY 7PM (H) 2/22 CLARK ATLANTA 7PM (H)

ALL HOME GAMES AT FRANK L. FORBES ARENA

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Vows

Ajamu Baker ’01 married former Miss Maroon & White 2000-01, Hon. JaDawnya C. Butler on December 30, 2017 at The Georgian Terrance in Atlanta.

Among his attendants were Best Man, Ramsey Smith ’00 and groomsman Allan Smith ’00.

The beautiful ceremony included the happy couple being serenaded with a beautiful rendition of 'In A Sentimental Mood' by Melvin Jones ’01. The night continued with an authentic and booming second line from the Sabor Brass Band fronted by Clarence Levy ’99 (founder) and Edward Platenburg ’01. The wedding was photographed by Ross Oscar Knight ’01

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Ajamu is a Senior Manager for Mergers & Acquisitions for HARMAN International. Ajamu is an Executive Board Member of the Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program, Inc..

A graduate of the AUC Dual Degree Engineering Program, Ajamu earned his B.S. in Applied Physics, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He earned an M.S. in Mechancial Engineering from Tech as well, and later earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance and International Business from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Vows

Melbrey Eain Chappell ’11 married the former Sabrina A. Thompson on February 15, 2018 at the Clara Meer dock on Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park in Atlanta.

The intimate and beautiful ceremony was photographed by Joe Carlos ’04.

A native of Birmingham, Eain is an account executive at Comcast Spotlight. He earned his degree in Marketing

in 2011, and later a certificate in Media Sales from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

The bride is a Premier Stylist at London's Richard Ward, and is based between London and the US. She completed two years of training at the Joshua Galvin Academy before joining the Richard Ward team to undertake further training under the company's in-house training program.

The happy couple will reside in Atlanta.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

The Price of Wine: Jaye Price '06 of Castleberry Hill's Wine Shoe knows his grapes and his people

By Gina Caison for Creative Loafing

"I wandered into Castleberry Hill’s Wine Shoe for the first time a few years ago, in search of anything but a bottle of oaky, oily Chardonnay. I was likewise weary of my standby Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, and Sémillon. Having been spoiled from years of living just a stone’s throw from St. Helena, California, in the heart of Napa Valley, I often grumbled at Atlanta’s wine scene, fancying myself a Paul Giamatti stranded in a sea of Merlot (but in my case, Chardonnay).

Upon entering the shop, I explained my dilemma to proprietor Jaye Price. With a warm smile and a complete lack of hesitation, he recommended—oh no!—a Chardonnay. I tried to be polite as he insisted that the terroir of this French-produced wine was a world away from what I despised in the California varietal.

I bought the bottle and imagined that I would taste it, hate it, pour it down the sink, or pawn it off on unsuspecting guests, and never return.

Two weeks later, however, I walked back into Wine Shoe in search of a second bottle. Price greeted me with, “Hey! We’ve got a new French Chardonnay in

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that’s got a compelling minerality. You’re going to love it!” I looked behind me; surely he was talking to someone he knew. And how did he know I’d even liked the first bottle? How did he even remember me after one visit two weeks prior? And that’s when I realized: Jaye Price knows his grapes and his people.

Price takes up big, energetic space. By contrast, his business, Wine Shoe (named due to a city typo on their business license), is an unassuming little spot, tucked between repurposed industrial lofts and well within the fiery, postmodern shadow of the new stadium. Price’s passion for wine, music, the arts, and Atlanta fills the shop, and it’s easy to imagine his other life as a musician: middle school music teacher, regular performer, and composer. He radiates enthusiasm, and the shop’s warm interior matches his personality.

Growing up in Anniston, Alabama, didn’t automatically grant Jaye wine-insider status. As he tells it, “Back in the day, I was playing saxophone with a group called

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business Jazpects here in the city. We would play these houseband gigs for fancy functions, you know, just a ‘stand in the corner and play standards’ kind of thing. One time at the end of the night, the people who hired us didn’t have the money to pay us, which can happen to musicians, and you gotta figure something out.

We were like, ‘We’re leaving here with something,’ so I got paid in wine — good wine. Now, at the time, I didn’t know anything about wine, but I took it home and really tasted it, and I thought, ‘This is interesting.’ And so I set out to learn more.”

He continues, “Maybe it’s because of my background, but I think of wine like I think of music. It has region, style, notation, time period. It allows us to enter into a new world. Wine, particularly here in the States, lets us travel; it lets us experience new places, new times. As an analogy, people say things like ‘I don’t like rap music’ or ‘I don’t like country music.’ But how do you know? Have you listened to it all? I think of wine in the same way.

You might think you don’t enjoy a particular grape—”

From there, Price got a gig at the since-shuttered shop WineStyles working under George A. Gore, one of the first African-American sommeliers in the U.S. “I was just George’s pour-guy, plating up cheese for pairings, cleaning up after the tastings, but he took me under his wing, made me taste, taught me how to pay attention to craft and production. And that’s where I got my wine education, learning from George.” After this unofficial apprenticeship, Price took a job in wine distribution, but it wasn’t his calling. “I wanted to get back to sharing the tasting of wine with people,” he says. “Real people, people who know about wine, and people who are just learning about it. Those are my people.”

“Exactly! Like Chardonnay! But you’ve got to taste, to listen, to get past your generalizations and preconceived notions and try new things.”

Price came to Wine Shoe in 2011 under the store’s original owner, Nora Wiley. He immediately began upping the shop’s educational outreach, allowing customers to experience the pleasures of wine without condescension or presumption.

While I was interviewing Price for this piece over a bottle of Venta Morales Organic Tempranillo, this spirit of education and inclusion was in full effect.

One young woman, so new to wine she was worried that she didn’t even own a corkscrew, came in looking for a bottle of “something red.” Price steered her to an easy-drinking, medium-bodied Grenache. Then another customer from London called to confirm his private tasting during his upcoming visit to Atlanta, going over the details of his preferences with Price in advance. “Is this normal?” I asked. Price laughed.

“Well, I don’t always have international guests calling, but yeah, this is what wine can bring together.”

“Like Chardonnay?” I interjected.

I suggest that wine can be intimidating. “Here in America, it’s a class marker, for sure,” Price agrees. “And that’s why I find the education component of my job so important. And I’m also still learning. People come into the shop all the time who have knowledge I might not, and I always admit what I don’t know. I can learn from them, too.” For Price, this learning and growing together is what will build Atlanta’s wine future, which he sees as driven by the city’s increasingly strong culinary reputation. But he’d also like to watch Atlanta’s wine scene evolve into a space where the wine can stand on its own.

To that end, Price also strives to bring variety to the city’s vino-scape. “People don’t often think about it, but the best winemakers are, essentially, small humble farmers.

It’s the folks who know their vines, their fields, who have spent thousands of hours on their craft. They don’t have to be big producers with famous names. I try to stock the shop with as many small-batch wines as possible.”

The average Wine Shoe wine is not going to be found at any area grocery store. But that doesn’t mean every wine has a high price point. The shop offers standbys and surprises, affordable options, and bottles for special occasions. There’s something for everyone.

Thanks to Price, over the past few years, my own California-induced snobbery toward the city has faded. The

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

Darren Hicks ’04 combines professional skills with personal interests for fulfillment Since graduating from Morehouse in 2005, Darren Hicks has been successfully chasing a number of dreams. The New York based financial analyst and business consultant, started his career with J.P. Morgan as an Equity Research Associate Analyst. Today, he’s the Director of LivSo, LLC, a black owned, female owned line of cosmeceuticals founded by his sister, Shari Hicks Graham, M.D..

Darren’s career path thus far has been an interesting journey, however when he arrived at Morehouse, he didn’t know which direction he was going to take.

“I truly didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career when I arrived at Morehouse. After getting a crash course in Investment Banking from my brother-inlaw and listening to Dean Williams' animated speech to new students about internships in New York, Finance was my move. Understanding how to evaluate a company and its publicly-traded stock seemed very practical to me. I wanted to be able to make thought-

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ful investments with my money.”

A native of Columbus, OH, Darren transferred to Morehouse from the University of Buffalo where he played football. However, Morehouse and Morehouse Men have had a major presence throughout his life.

“Morehouse Men have been instrumental in my life’s trajectory. My brother, my dad, and three of my first cousins graduated from Morehouse before me. The common thread is a meaningful part of our family's identity.”

Those Morehouse connections served Darren well, as a newly minted Wall Street analyst in the fall of 2005.

“When I was a young dude on Wall Street, I was grateful for guys like Gordon Johnson (c/o '02) and Alex Louis-Jeune (c/o '03) who looked out for me and ensured I avoided certain pitfalls. Terry Woodard (c/o '81) and Shaka Rasheed (c/o '93) were instrumental in fueling the dream of earning that coveted senior seat, a rari-

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business ty for African-Americans on Wall Street. Shout out to all my finance guys from c/o ‘05! The support has been crucial through the really good times '05-07 and really bad times '08-09. The support continues today.”

Though only a student at Morehouse for four semesters, the Magna Cum Laude grad made a sudden impact on campus and in the Division of Business Administration and Economics. At Morehouse, he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key and he won the coveted E.B. Williams Award for Finance as well as Top Junior Student honors. When asked about how well Morehouse prepared him for his career, the practical application and resourcefulness necessary to succeed, seemed to be most useful for him.

“Morehouse may have lacked the curriculum to build hard finance skills (ex: financial modeling) but the College made up for it by forcing us to develop an attitude of commitment and resourcefulness. The kind of learn quickly / go figure it out approach to teaching by the late Dr. Mormon in Business Policy and Dean Williams in Seminar in Finance was training for the real world.”

After working for J.P. Morgan, Darren worked at New York based Evercore Partners where he was a Director, Senior Analyst. Darren credits the most rewarding aspect of his career was gaining autonomy. “Having my name at the top of a research report meant that I took complete ownership over the analysis and stock recommendations that I published. It was rewarding to make a non-consensus “call” (investment idea or forecast), have investors question me, defend the work, and have the market react favorably.”

Darren has teamed up with his sister a Dermatologist and 1996 Spelman grad to develop LivSo. In his role as LivSo's Director, Darren is responsible for developing detailed revenue and profit forecasts as well as the strategic path to reach near-term and long-term objectives. He leads business development initiatives to broaden the reach of the brand, stimulates digital engagement and sales conversion as well

as digital content creation with specific educational and branding goals.

His work with LivSo is fueled by being fulfilled.

“I’m going to go full-on cliché here - we only have one life to live and I wanted to spend more time doing the things I actually enjoy. I learned a lot in 11 years of banking but I became uninspired and the culture was draining. I wanted to combine my professional skills with my personal interests. I hit both with LivSo. LivSo is a black-owned, female-owned line of products (informally, cosmeceuticals) focusing on scalp care. My sister, Dr. Shari Hicks-Graham, M.D. (Spelman c/o '96) created the line from the ground up to meet a major void she noticed while running her Dermatology practice. I jumped at the opportunity to apply what I have learned to help build a business, a family business. LivSo has allowed me to stretch myself creatively as well, which has been really important. I believe in the products. I use them. I believe in ownership, particularly black ownership. It is the next level. No looking back.”

In addition to his work with his busy career, Darren has consistently and generously donated to Morehouse.

Over the years, he has been very active with the Manhattan chapter of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association, and he feels that giving back to Morehouse, ‘can’t be discussed enough.’

“I think the spirit of financial giving is largely absent from Morehouse's culture. Financial gifts are uncomfortable to discuss sometimes, but at Morehouse, giving back can't be discussed enough. I believe in Morehouse's mission, so I give back without hesitation. My wife and I make a financial gift each year because we think it is important to be included in the stats and help bring that gift-giving culture along. I know Morehouse is special and I want to keep it that way.”

To learn more about LivSo, please click here: www.livso. com.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

Cultural Spectrum SME: Sam Beresford ’04 The Marketing executive shares how Morehouse has guided his path Sam Beresford ’04 is a self-described “aggressive consumer of the cultural spectrum”. That’s a necessary and useful moniker for a marketing executive on the make like Sam. Currently a Senior Strategist in the Atlanta offices of AKQA, Sam’s career in Marketing has been quite a journey, but his passion for the field started as a child.

“Nike commercials. Watching them as a kid, I didn't have a clue about what went into making them, but I thought, 'Whoever does that, whatever that job is— that would be cool to do one day.’”

The Charlotte native worked in sneaker stores in high school, which intensified his interest in Nike, that eventually led to an internship in Beaverton after his junior year at Morehouse.

However, his post-Morehouse path leading to AKQA has been in his words ‘winding’. “…after a winding but valuable post-college path– Teach For America, retail management, magazine writing, sales & marketing in fashion–I finally found my way into an advertising agency. It was what is now a rare opportunity: working at a full-service shop, on a client that wanted pretty much all of those services.

It was a tremendous education, exposing me to the range of what goes into marketing brands and developing campaigns, and most importantly, it gave me a clear sense of what part of that world interested me the most—the people who get to constantly ask 'why?'.”

At AKQA, Sam develops marketing strategies for a variety of diverse clients. “I develop strategies that recognize a fundamental truth about marketing— your brand isn't what you say it is; it's the sum of all the ways in which customers experience your brand.

So I help companies think through exactly what they want their brand to impart to customers and how it should be expressed–consistently, beautifully, mean-

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ingfully–in all the places and ways customers experience it. These brand 'expressions' include apps, websites, and other digital products, content, visual design, tone & voice, and retail experiences, amongst many others. I work at AKQA, an "innovation and experience design agency", where we do this kind of work for clients like Delta, Chick-fil-A, and The Masters. The most exciting work I'm doing right now is developing a framework for a global brand to use in making critical decisions about nearly every aspect of their customer experience—how the brand looks, feels, sounds, and even what it smells and tastes like to customers. It ain't quite making Nike commercials, but in a nice full circle moment, I did work as a brand planner for Nike Women at my last gig.”

Throughout his career in marketing, Sam has worked for Hannon Hill, JWT Atlanta, BBDO and Moxie. His career success can be traced back to what he learned at Morehouse.

“I came away from Morehouse knowing how to work in ways that I'd never had to before. How to prepare, how to collaborate, how to polish, and dare I say, how to hustle. I learned the value of making mutually beneficial connections that ensure everyone's product better. Back in Wheeler Hall, there was no love for being unprepared, pulling less than your weight, or getting in the way of learning; there was no glory in being a bum.

Those same rules apply everywhere I've been since, even when people around me sometimes don't realize it. I'm incredibly grateful that I learned them at 830 Westview Dr.” During each career move, and throughout his post-college path, Morehouse Men have been a constant.

“At every step of my professional journey, the friends I made–the brothers I gained–at Morehouse have been been my 'small council'. In considering career moves, pondering entrepreneurial ambitions, and even just asking for a second opinion or a new angle, these are the men I've turned to for advice, guidance, expertise, and when I don't even know I need it, occasionally a

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

Sam Beresford ’04

kick in the ass. And beyond my crew, keeping up with the accomplishments, moves, and launches of other Morehouse Men in my field and in other arenas– technology, finance, education, government & public service–constantly reenergizes and inspires me.”

Being a non-black student at an HBCU comes with a host of challenges. However, Sam’s Morehouse story has not been defined by his race, but rather his experiences, and the relationships that he’s cultivated over time.

“As a minority at the school, my Morehouse experience was inherently unique, but the color of my skin ended up being a footnote in my Morehouse story.

The bonds of friendship that were formed literally within days of arrival at LLC in the fall of 2000 and in subsequent years have become some of the longest-lasting and most important, enriching most relationships in my life.”

Fully understanding the power and impact of supporting his alma mater, Sam has been a consistent

Morehouse donor as well. In addition to monthly recurring gifts and affinity giving, Sam has also spoken to classes and been a frequent guest panelist or lecturer “I primarily support Morehouse financially, with a recurring monthly gift that's split between the Myron Burney Endowed Scholarship and the King Chapel Restoration Project. I stopped by the Admissions office frequently in school as my recruiter became a mentor to me. When Myron, a '98 grad and another Admissions team member, found out I was from North Carolina, he gave me a warm welcome and always looked out for me from that point on: in the office, on the yard, and every year at Homecoming. He died in a tragic car accident a few years ago, and the scholarship fund in his name provides scholarships to Morehouse students from the Carolinas that are working towards a career in education. I've also come back to the Department of Business Administration from time-to-time for case competitions and creative boot camps and to speak to a few classes, though I admittedly wish I could support more in this way.”

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Clergy

Spotlight: Rev. Otis Moss III, D. Min. ’92

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Clergy With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality.

preaching gift has made Dr. Moss a popular speaker on college campuses and at conferences and churches across the globe. He is highly influenced by the works of Zora Neale Hurston, August Wilson, Howard Thurman, Jazz, and Hip-Hop music. The work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the pastoral ministry of his father, Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, have been primary mentors for his spiritual formation.

Dr. Moss is part of a new generation of ministers committed to preaching a prophetic message of love and justice, which he believes are inseparable companions that form the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As part of his community engagement through Trinity United Church of Christ, Dr. Moss led the team that came up with the “My Life Matters” curriculum, which includes the viral video, “Get Home Safely: 10 Rules of Survival” created in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death at the hands of Ferguson, Missouri police.

Dr. Moss is the former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, his first pastorate, where the church grew from 125 members to over 2,100 disciples during his tenure.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College who earned a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. He returned to Yale in 2014 to present the famed Lyman Beecher lectures. The three-day event included an in-depth discourse on the subject of “The Blue Note Gospel: Preaching the Prophetic Blues in a Post-Soul World.” The lectures, which demonstrated a homiletic blueprint for prophetic preaching in the 21st century, were the foundation of his latest book, Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World: Finding Hope in an Age of Despair, published in 2015.

Dr. Moss was named to the inaugural Root 100, a list that “recognizes emerging and established African-American leaders who are making extraordinary contributions,” according to the publication’s Website. Honorees range between ages 25 to 45 and their accomplishments and successes transcend media headlines or statistics.

With a unique gift to communicate across generations, Dr. Moss’ creative Bible-based messages have inspired young and old alike. His intergenerational

His earlier publications include: Redemption in a Red Light District, and The Gospel According to the Wiz: And Other Sermons from Cinema. He co-authored The Gospel Re-Mix; How to Reach the Hip-Hop Generation with three other contributors, and Preach! The Power and Purpose Behind Our Praise, with his father, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. His sermons, articles, and poetry have appeared in publications such as Sojourners Magazine and The African American Pulpit Journal. Those works include: Power in the Pulpit II: America’s Most Effective Preachers, Joy To The World: Sermons From America’s Pulpit, Sound The Trumpet: Messages of Hope for Black Men, and The Audacity of Faith: Christian Leaders Reflect on the Election of Barack Obama. His work has also been featured on Huffington Post, Urban Cusp, and The Root.

Dr. Moss is an ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ. He is on the board of The Christian Century Magazine and chaplain of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Child Advocacy Conference.

He is married to his college sweetheart, the former Monica Brown of Orlando, Florida, a Spelman College and Columbia University graduate. They are the proud parents of two creative and humorous children, Elijah Wynton and Makayla Elon.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Chef 's Corner: Chef David Thomas ’05

David Thomas ’05

Chef David Thomas ’05, was born in Philadelphia, but spent the majority of his life in Houston, Texas.

It was there, at 14 years old, that he decided to be a chef. He fell in love with the kitchen by way of community service, as a means to stay out of trouble as a teen. He met his mentor, Joseph Hopkins, at a soup kitchen, and continued to work for him in the years to follow. Chef David culinary inspirations include his grandmother and his mentor Chef Joseph. Chef David's recipes are also inspired by his time traveling with circuses; he spent summers as a youth traveling the country with his aunt who was a circus performer. Southern Fusion is his favorite cuisine, and his favorite thing to cook is a Collard Green Soup, that has been passed down through his family for generations. While at Morehouse, David Majored in Sociology and was a Member of the "House of Funk" Marching Band and Jazz Band, SGA, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

OKRA AND SEAFOOD STEW (SOUPOUKANDIA) A Senegalese predecessor of Louisiana-style gumbo SERVES 6-8 FOR THE VEGETABLE BROTH: 12 cups fish or vegetable stock 4 cups thick-sliced okra 3 bay leaves 2 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped FOR THE SEAFOOD SOUP: 6 tbsp. palm oil 4 tbsp. fish sauce 1 large eggplant, cut into large chunks, or 4 small Thai eggplants 2 habanero or Scotch bonnet chiles, slit in half lengthwise 24 mussels, cleaned and debearded 16 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Cooked white rice or Brown rice, for serving

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Instructions Make the vegetable broth: Bring the stock to a boil in a 6-qt. saucepan over high heat, then add okra, bay leaves, and onions. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until okra is very tender and stock has reduced by one-quarter, about 1 ½ hours.

Make the seafood soup: Add the palm oil, 3 tbsp. fish sauce, eggplant, and chiles to the vegetable broth, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soup has thickened and okra falls apart, about 30 minutes.

Add mussels and shrimp; cover pan, and cook until mussels open and shrimp are cooked through, about 4 minutes.

To serve, remove from heat and stir in remaining fish sauce and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls, and serve with rice or fonio.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Corey Richardson ’01 pens children's book "We Used To Have Money, Now We Have You" is a bedtime story told from a dad's perspective. Inspired by real life events living in a home with with his wife and two young daughters, Corey Richardson tells a humorous and kid-friendly tale about the joys of parenthood tempered by the realities of the sacrifices that parents make when raising children.

It's currently available for $.99 on Apple's iTune's store (https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1346205443) and for Amazon's Kindle (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079PJKYC9). It will be available for Android users shortly.

Corey Richardson is a member of the Morehouse College class of 2001 with a BA in Political Science. Originally from Newport News, Va, he now lives in Chicago with his wife, Simone, and his two daughters, Portia and Quincy where he works in advertising research and strategy. Corey is also a contributing writer with Very Smart Brothas and you can read his blog at FatherlyNoir.com. When he's not being a dad or making an ad, Corey can be found standing over a grill and wondering just how he got there.

Quincy, Simone, Corey and Portia Richardson

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Shomari Wills '05 publishes "Black Fortunes" The astonishing untold history of America's first black millionaires -- former slaves who endured incredible challenges to amass and maintain their wealth for a century, from the Jacksonian period to the Roaring Twenties -- self-made entrepreneurs whose unknown success mirrored that of American business heroes such as Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, and Thomas Edison.

While Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, and Will Smith are among the estimated 35,000 black millionaires in the nation today, these famous celebrities were not the first blacks to reach the storied one percent. Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of smart, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success.

Black Fortunes is an intriguing look at these remarkable individuals, including Napoleon Bonaparte Drew -- author Shomari Wills great-great-great-grandfather -- the first black man in Powhatan County (contemporary Richmond) to own property in post-Civil War Virginia. His achievements were matched by five other unknown black entrepreneurs including: • Mary Ellen Pleasant, who used her Gold Rush wealth to further the cause of abolitionist John Brown; • Robert Reed Church, the largest landowner

who became in Tennessee;

• Hannah Elias, the mistress of a New York City millionaire, who used the land her lover gave her to build an empire in Harlem; • Orphan and self-taught chemist Annie Turnbo-Malone, who developed the first national brand of hair care products; • Madam C. J Walker, Turnbo-Malone's employee who would earn the nickname

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Shomari Wills ’05

America's

''first

female

black

millionaire''

• Mississippi school teacher O. W. Gurley, who developed a piece of Tulsa, Oklahoma, into a town for wealthy black professionals and craftsmen that would become known as the Black Wall Street.

A fresh, little-known chapter in the nation's story -A blend of Hidden Figures, Titan, and The Tycoons -- Black Fortunes illuminates the birth of the black business titan and the emergence of the black marketplace in America as never before.

Shomari Wills is a journalist. He has worked for CNN and Good Morning America, and has contributed to New York Carib News and Columbia Journalism Review. He received an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College and a graduate degree from Columbia University, where he was named a Lynton Book Writing Fellow. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Published by Harper Collins, "Black Fortunes" is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and where fine books are sold.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Jash'd Belcher '99 EPs "A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love on Election Night", debuts at Sundance

Datari Turner Productions premiered its sixth film at Sundance: A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love On Election Night. Attending from the film were stars Omari Hardwick, Meagan Good, Jay Ellis, and Dijon Talton; director Qasim Basir; writer Samantha Turner and producer Datari Turner. The film debuted in the NEXT category, a class of films at the festival that take an “innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling.” The sold-out screening at Park City Library earned a standing ovation and plenty of buzz, capping off a whirlwind weekend of various press interviews, photo shoots and events.

A Boy. A Girl. A Dream is set on the night of the 2016 Presidential election, when “Cass” (Hardwick), an L.A. club promoter, takes a thrilling and emotional journey with “Free” (Good), a Midwestern visitor. She challenges him to revisit his broken dreams – while he pushes her to discover hers. .

A Boy. A Girl. A Dream is written by Qasim Basir and Samantha Turner and produced by Datari Turner. Executive producers are Meagan Good, Omari Hardwick, Jash’d Kambui Belcher, Jamal Chilton, Tim Weatherspoon, Louis Steyn, TJ Steyn, and Phil Thornton.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Location! Location! Damon Phillips '96 manages film and television production on-campus Atlanta has become a hotbed for television and film production. With the tax breaks that Georgia has approved, production space has popped up all over the area. In fact, in Fayette County, Pinewood Studios is the largest movie studio west of the Mississippi. To that end, the colleges and universities of the Atlanta area have seen a surge in filming on-campus. Morehouse is no stranger to this phenomenon.

In the fall of 2017, Damon returned home to lead the project started by former Director of Strategic Communications, Cathy Tyler, and current Director of Web and Social Media, Kara Walker in the previous year. He inherited a newer program that had already experienced some success including filming of BET's "The Quad" and the Oscar nominated "Hidden Figures".

For Damon, this role has been in essence, “his experience coming full circle.”

“In the Fall of 1991, I arrived at Morehouse as an eager and excited freshman from Detroit Michigan majoring in Mass Communication. I had convinced myself that I was the next Shelton “Spike” Lee ‘79.

Mass Communication was the funnel for future Morehouse filmmakers, broadcasters, and music producers in the 70’s and 80’s. The majority of classes were held at Clark Atlanta University until… the fall of 1991 when a decision was made to end Mass Communications as a major at Morehouse??

We were given two options, (1) Transfer to a school that had a Mass Communications program or (2) change your major and remain at Morehouse. I opted to stay and change my major to Marketing with a minor in Education. It was the best decision I could have made.”

This is Damon’s second role at Morehouse. He worked for years as the Assistant Director of Alumni Engage-

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ment, working under Henry Goodgame ’84.

“Working with Director of Alumni Engagement, Henry Goodgame ‘84 for five years as assistant director taught me about the magic of Morehouse. One of the biggest career lessons I learned from that experience was how to manufacture miracles. How to produce stellar results with little resources. A few of those miracles include the introduction of social media for the college and the redesign of the Morehouse College Homecoming Tailgate Experience. “With faith, a lot of hard work and a dedicated team, anything is possible” Damon said.

Before Damon arrived at Morehouse however, the Morehouse luminary in Detroit, Charles Neal ’64, was very instrumental in his college decision.

“Charles Neal ’64 was the catalyst to making me rethink my college choice. For over 30 years, Charles Neal was solely responsible for Morehouse men coming from the state of Michigan and specifically the city of Detroit. He recruited me by telling this story: “in 1817, when the university of Michigan was founded, they did were not thinking of you, in 1855, when they launched Michigan State University, you were not on their radar. However, in 1867, when they founded Morehouse College, they knew that the great grandsons of slaves would need to place to get an education and you were on their mind. They built a school just for you.” Damon shared.

Damon added, “Morehouse men have been primarily inspirational as it pertains to my career. I could name a number of Morehouse Men who inspired me. I worked for a short period of time with The Caleris Companies, owned by alumnus Jim Hawes’ 64. He has been a dedicated partner with the College for years. He showed me the reality and responsibility of being an entrepreneur and sparked my desire to own my own company.”

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

Damon Phillips ’96

As many Morehouse Men will attest, resourcefulness is a common theme, and not any different for Damon.

“One of the skills you pick up quickly at Morehouse is resourcefulness. Whether it is finding money for a project, tuition, or your Spring Break trip, you become amazingly skilled at finding resources to address any challenges you are facing.”

Damon also mentioned the importance of possessing confidence.

“Confidence is a trademark of Morehouse Men and while often being confused with arrogance, we are taught early on that we can do anything with put our minds to and our hand on. Many young men come to this campus unsure of their abilities and promise; it was transformative for me to live and learn in a place where you are continuously filled with support for and expectation of success.”

Managing the college’s television and film production schedule is a departure from Damon’s previous roles,

but he feels that he’s been preparing for this career path since he arrived at Morehouse.

He added, “My career has been a long winding road full of rich and diverse experiences. In this current role, seeing our campus featured on movie screens and televisions; knowing that we generated much needed resources for the College is immensely rewarding. I think showing our students the other side of the entertainment business helps to inspire them to believe in their possibilities.”

Ever the proud alum, he is also a staunch supporter of Morehouse.

"I continue to serve my alma mater because it is a place where a young man can find his space in the world and leave here armed with the skills, compassion and experience to improve the communities his life touches. We get the chance to witness them grow into change agents, movement builders and thought leaders.”

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Educators

Q&A with Levar L. Smith, Ph.D. ’02

The experienced world traveler and Political Science professor is challenging minds and educating Morehouse Men of the future

Levar Smith, Ph.D. ’02

What led to work in your field?

I have always had a fascination about the world and finding creative ways of being a part of it. To me traveling to Spain and studying abroad in Ecuador before arriving to Morehouse offered me a window to the world that few inner city youth are fortunate to experience. I initially came to Morehouse as an International Affairs and Spanish major with the intention of becoming a diplomat. My comparative politics course with Dr. Hamid Taqi and studying human rights at the University of Cape Town in South Africa following my junior year inspired me to seriously pursue academia as a career. I wanted to become part of shaping the way that future Morehouse men would live and contribute in the world— It was a dream and an honor to replace “the old man”

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as a professor of political science.

How instrumental have Morehouse Men been in your career trajectory?

This is such a tough question because Morehouse men have been at the cornerstone of shaping my life and academic career. In fact, I open up my Contemporary African Politics course with critical readings from Dr. King, Howard Thurman, and Ambassador Howard Jeter to illustrate the profound intellectual foundation set by Morehouse men. As an African American man with the unique privilege to teach about Africa, I believe that I am at the center of breaking down persistent ra-

(Continued on page 35)

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Healthcare & Science

Isaac Karikari, M.D. ’02 makes a difference one life at a time Isaac Karikari, M.D. '02, is a neurosurgeon with a special interest in treating both kids and adults with scoliosis and all other spine conditions, which includes spinal stenosis, herniated disc, spondylosis and spondylolisthesis.

He performs surgery on spine tumors and provide general neurosurgery. His passion for medicine was cultivated from his experiences as a kid growing up in west Africa where access to health care was lacking. He has been blessed with great mentors in neurosurgery (Allan H. Friedman, MD) and orthopaedic spine surgery (Lawrence Lenke, MD, and Keith Bridwell, MD) who equipped him with phenomenal surgical and clinical skills. More importantly, Isaac takes great pride in being able to provide compassionate care to all of his patients. Since every patient is unique in their own special way, he designs each treatment to meet each patient's needs to ensure excellent outcomes. Isaac takes great joy in being a surgeon as it allows him to give back and help people during their most difficult times.

He is part of a team of spine orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons that offers a full spectrum of spine surgery options, including disc replacement to relieve pain and swelling, complex reconstructive surgeries for scoliosis, and procedures to remove spinal cancer lesions.

EDUCATION MD, Duke University School of Medicine, 2006 RESIDENCY Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, 2007-2013 FELLOWSHIP Orthopaedic Spine Deformity, Washington University in St. Louis (Missouri), 2014

Isaac Karikari, M.D. ’02

His research interests include determining the critical factors that impact clinical outcomes in adult and pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Moreover, he is interested in studying the biology of bone fusion and regeneration, with the ultimate goal of being able to develop new ways to treat complex spine disorders without having to do complex and invasive surgeries.

Please make a gift to Morehouse today. http://giving.morehouse.edu We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 27

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Law

James Moffett ’04 Associate, Adams and Reese LLP, New Orleans James Moffett '04 joined Adams and Reese in 2015 as an Associate in the firm’s New Orleans office and as a member of the Transactions Practice Group.

Practicing law since 2009, James focuses his practice on public finance law, economic development and government relations, in which he assists local governments, political subdivisions, and private companies access the capital markets through the execution of Tax Exempt and Taxable Bond transactions, as well as New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) transactions.

Since joining the firm, James has become a registered lobbyist and assists in maintaining the legislative agenda for a diverse range of clients. James uses his legal skills and political acumen to effectively lobby and advocate on behalf of his clients’ interests.

Prior to joining Adams and Reese, James was an economic developer, focusing on the attraction and retention of private sector companies throughout the southeastern region of Louisiana, and led job creation efforts within advanced manufacturing, energy, international trade, digital media, biosciences, and emerging environmental industries.

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Randall W. Jackson '99 Partner, Boies, Schiller, Flexner LLP, New York Randall Jackson '99's practice focuses on government and internal investigations, white collar defense, complex civil litigation, and regulatory compliance. Widely considered one of the best trial lawyers to come out of government service in recent years, he served as lead or co-lead attorney in 17 federal trials, including some of the longest and most complicated recent federal trials.

He has also briefed and argued numerous appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals.

Named a “Rising Star” by the New York Daily News, Randall has been cited in a variety of publications as a force in the courtroom, including Forbes, Bloomberg, and the New York Law Journal. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, he led numerous sensitive investigations and prosecutions that spanned the globe. At the time Randall left the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he was a senior member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, where he conducted a number of joint and parallel investigations with the FBI, the SEC, the CFTC, the IRS, and other agencies. Over the course of his career as a prosecutor, his work included securities fraud, accounting fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, public corruption, various tax crimes, terrorism, and international narcotics trafficking.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Law

S. Lee Merritt, Esq. '05 is a social justice activist and attorney barred to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, federally in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, and US District Court of the Northern District of Texas.

Attorney Merritt leads a high profile practice with clients involved in international events including the tragic Dallas sniper attacks of July 7, 2016, corporate discrimination cases, viral police brutality matters and several cases associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Attorney Merritt is emerging as an influential new voice in the fight for Civil Rights throughout the country by bringing a passion for social reform and a commitment to speaking out on inequities while practicing law.

Attorney Merritt enjoys a reputation for dogmatic determination and ensuring a just outcome for his clients beyond mere monetary compensation.

Merritt is a Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended law school in Philadelphia, PA at Temple University's James Beasley School of Law where he received several commendations for trial advocacy as part of the National Trial Team. He was also recognized for his acumen in persuasive writing as an inductee to the Temple Inn of Courts. He began his legal career as an associate of the Cochran Firm before going into private practice.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Merritt worked as a school teacher and basketball coach. Merritt is also a spoken word artist, public speaker, mentor and proud father.

His commitment to social justice is born out of his own experiences and inner city upbringing. Merritt is committed to the reform of the justice system in America and is using his practice to effect lasting change for underserved and underrepresented communities..

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Public Service

Segun Idowu '12, Running for MA State Representative A lifelong resident of Boston, Segun has spent much of his 29 years fighting for the betterment of others.

He is the son of working class parents: Tayo – an immigrant who became a city employee and successful entrepreneur; and Rachel – a daughter of Malden who served as a former representative for Local SEIU 888 and is a retired city employee of over 20 years.

A longtime resident of the Roslindale and Hyde Park neighborhoods of Boston, Segun is a proud product of the Boston Public Schools. Following his graduation from Boston Latin Academy, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and honors from the Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key Societies.

Segun’s advocacy work began as early as high school, representing Boston Latin Academy on the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC). In college, he would go on to balance his studies with leadership roles in student government, campus religious life, and administrative accountability.

Following his 2012 graduation, Segun decided to learn how government works from the inside and joined the office of then-District 4 City Councilor Charles C. Yancey. After two successful years as a legislative aide building relationships, reviewing and authoring policy, and addressing constituent concerns, he transitioned to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. At the Institute, Segun was able to forge new partnerships with community organizations. These partnerships ensured that the Institute invested in sustainable, local businesses and extended the opportunity for traditionally underrepresented groups to access its educational programs.

At the same time, Segun also organized the Boston Police Camera Action Team (BPCAT) in 2014 with fellow high school graduate, Shekia Scott. The mission of the community group was to further accountability and safety in Boston through the mandatory use of police body-worn cameras. Segun and his

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Segun Idowu ’12

team built relationships with community organizations and leaders, as well as engaged a vast number of fellow Bostonians, in order to explore the issues surrounding the tools. In early 2015, BPCAT released a report proposing policies for the use of body-worn cameras. As a result of their efforts, Boston began a yearlong mandatory body-worn camera pilot program and policy in September 2016. For the city, it was a powerful example of what ordinary citizens can accomplish when they come together around a shared cause.

Segun was also elected to serve as the 3rd Vice President for the Boston chapter of the NAACP. He also chairs their Political Action and Criminal Justice Committees.

In these roles, Segun managed the much heralded and research intensive report card project that assessed the city’s efforts and results in addressing systemic disparities.

To learn more about his campaign and to learn how to donate, please visit, https://segunforma.com/.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Tech

Meet Rashaun Williams ’01: An Investor Connecting Athletes And Entertainers To Tech

by Rosa Otieno for Blavity.com Rashaun Williams is an experienced investor, advisor, and entrepreneur. He’s started a company with hip-hop icon Nas and developed deep ties in the sports and entertainment world.

Rashaun is starting a fund called the MVP All-Star Fund with Manhattan Venture Partners. He envisions a future where athletes and entertainers can provide innovative black businesses with financial support to grow and thrive.

We had the opportunity to speak with Rashaun Williams.

Find out how he is using over fifteen years of experience to give back to his community.

Blavity: What motivates you? How do you measure success?

RW: There are two things. The first focus is investing in some of the fastest growing tech companies in the world and helping those companies grow. My second focus is helping athletes and entertainers in the inner-city get exposure to technology and investing.

I’ve been doing that for 15 years.

Blavity: Did you ever think you’d fail?

RW: I started from failure. I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I’m sure you’ve read the news. When I was a child it was worse. I came from an environment where drugs and gangs were in high volume. I was the only one from my neighborhood to graduate from college. I was running away from that so my perspective is different than most. I was motivated to get away - to escape selling drugs and going to prison was a win for me. I never imagined failure because I

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Rashaun Williams ’01

was born into it. I rose out of that and I haven’t turned around since then.

Blavity: What problems does your business solve?

RW: I recently joined Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP) as a general partner of the MVP All-Star Fund.

The problems that they solve are clinical. The goal is to give our community access to the fastest growing unicorns in the world. Prior to the All-Star Fund, there was no place that our athletes and entertainers could go to get a portfolio of unicorns all at once. Another problem the fund solves is diversification. The All-Star Fund helps clients access a diverse portfolio instantly.

We also do research on the top unicorns in the world.

We have some of the top analysts in the space doing research for our clients. There are not a lot of places you can go to for that.

Blavity: With your career excelling at this rate, how do you balance life with your career with your personal life?

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Tech RW: There is really no distinction between my career and my personal life anymore. I worked to blur the lines for over a decade. When I am educating athletes and entertainers about investing in technology and about careers in technology I do it as a person and a friend. Professionally, I do the same thing. I’m helping my investors get an education and have access to the hottest names in Silicon Valley. Those two things are one in the same for me.

Blavity: What's Nas like? Did you fan out when you met him? Are you a fan of his work?

RW: It was amazing. I’ve worked with 20-30 artists that are like Nas. The relationship I had with Nas went a little deeper than some of the other guys because we created a venture capital fund. There are 20-30 other guys I work with and we are just doing deals. For me, it’s great because it’s a part of my overall thesis. I’m trying to bring the leaders in sports and entertainment together and let them get involved in the technology industry. I actively seek out guys who have expressed interest in tech and offer my expertise. I help them become investors, raise capital and fund companies.

Working with Nas was amazing because he is one of the most real MCs of all time. He’s a very smart guy.

He’s multi-talented. He’s not just a great artist but he’s conscious, woke, community-oriented, entrepreneurial and genuine. I have this saying, “If I won’t do it for free, I won’t do it for a fee.” I feel like Nas and I share that sentiment.

Blavity: What's the best advice you've ever received?

RW: The first day I arrived at Morehouse I had to memorize a quote by Benjamin E. Mays. I’ve taken this advice with me. “It’s far better to dare for mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, although checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor souls who know neither glory or defeat.” That to me is saying to swing without fear. Strike out. It’s ok to lose.

It’s far better to try to accomplish something amazing than to never take that risk at all. For me, I’ve been living my life that way. There’s no one else that does what I do out here. That’s why I can say “here’s

the blueprint”. I’m mentoring a dozen young people to come after me and do the same thing.

Blavity: What advice would you give your younger self?

RW: I would have become an investor a lot sooner in my career as opposed to an advisor. The blueprint for me is Robert Smith. He’s the richest black man in America. He worked at Goldman Sachs and then started his own firm. Now he is the richest black man in America.

I would have started investing much sooner as opposed to helping other people invest.

Blavity: How do you feel when you're the only black person in the room?

RW: I’ve always been the only black person in the room.

I’ve also been the only young person, the only person from the south side of Chicago, and the only person who listened to hip-hop. There were a lot of firsts for me. It was easier for me to handle the stress than other people I’ve met. I was fortunate enough to be educated at Morehouse. Morehouse instilled a real sense of pride in all of their students. I learned about black empowerment and my history. That experience provided me with the inner strength to walk proudly and stand on the shoulders of my ancestors. I was never insecure of who I was. Now I am not the only black person in the room and I am creating opportunities for others.

Blavity: Outside of venture capital, are there other professional endeavors you'd like to explore?

RW: I have a non-profit called the Kemet Institute where I teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

I’ve been teaching in inner cities, churches, and schools for over 15 years. I also mentor a group of young investment bankers and technologists. I teach them what I know and help them get their careers to the next level.

We meet every month to exchange ideas and build a strong network.

Blavity: Defend or refute: The tech industry values diversity?

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Tech (Continued) RW: The tech industry values innovation and profits.

I think individuals value diversity but only a select few. Wall Street and Silicon Valley do not value diversity. The tech industry is focused on efficiency. If a diverse candidate comes and offers innovation or financial returns then great. A diverse candidate will not always be valued, though. The focus should be creating opportunities for diverse candidates to bring innovation and financial return. Diverse candidates need the opportunity to compete with everyone else.

They shouldn’t be put in an environment where they cannot drive innovation or returns.

Blavity: What are your biggest obstacles?

RW: I have a big task ahead of me. I am trying to get black tech funded in early stages so our people can compete and have financial returns for investors.

Other communities have family and friends they can rely on to raise the money. They can afford to quit their jobs and take risks on their companies. I want to figure out how to source and finance black tech.

Blavity: How can a regular Marcus or Kayla get to

your level?

RW: I worked on Wall Street to develop a skill set.

I worked in one of the largest firms in the world and learned how to invest. I would tell others to develop their skillset, do their analysis, and understand how things work. Eventually, you can transition over to this career. I would recommend going out and becoming an expert and eventually, people will come to you.

Blavity: Who do you want to make proud?

RW: I work behind the scenes. I never want the attention or focus. I want my investors to have great returns on the companies we invest in together. I also want entrepreneurs to build amazing businesses for the community. I want to make my people and my community proud.

Rashaun helps fund technology that will empower black millennials. He also offers free mentorship and advice to diverse, Silicon Beach-based startups and active investors.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business (Continued) wine club at the shop invites local distributors in for tastings with members before they select their wines for the month. It’s easy, social, and brings together a wide swathe of the city, from retired Spelman professors to young professionals in from OTP. Starting in January, Price assumed ownership of the shop. Now, he’s looking to open up even more educational events and pair his knowledge of music with his knowledge of wine.

But what is this man who seemingly does everything — playing music, scoring films, teaching kids, owning a wine business — drinking now? I ask. He takes a sip from his glass, smiles slyly, and says, “Don’t let anyone tell you what to drink.”

Point taken, Price. Now, I’ll have a bottle of that French Chardonnay.

We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 34

Wine Shoe, 339 Nelson St SW. 404-220-9042. www. wineshoeatlanta.com.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Education (Continued) cial stereotypes that have been perpetuated by both groups. Being introduced to Africa by Morehouse men like Luswazi Vokwana, Kevin Sangudi, Arize Agumadu and Mlungisi Rasmeni taught me to develop a critical awareness about the social, political, and economic diversity of the continent. As my professor during my tenure at Morehouse Julius Coles provided early mentoring while in graduate school— we currently lead the Oprah Winfrey International Scholars Program to South Africa annually. From a personal perspective, there are too many instances of Morehouse men standing in the gap for me at various points in my life that have allowed me to stand at the lectern.

How did your Morehouse experience prepare you for your career?

Morehouse not only gave me the ambition to create a dream but the determination and skills necessary to make it a reality. The academic foundation I received here in every class allowed me to succeed at every phase of my intellectual development. I was able to learn about African Politics and International Affairs in rigorous seminars led by Dr. George Kieh, Augustine Konneh, and Dr. Hamid Taqi which prepared me for graduate school at the Sam Nunn School for International Affairs at Georgia Tech.

In courses taught by Dr. Ida Rousseau Mukenge in Sociology and Dr. Gloria Da Cunha in Spanish, I learned how to deconstruct my own western biases and develop the cultural competencies that would benefit me later in my academic research on democracy and development in Africa. While Morehouse provided me with the intellectual tools necessary to succeed at life, the personal lessons I learned from all of thebold and ambitious brothers around me made a first-generation high school graduate and foster youth understand that my circumstances had no impact on outcome of my life; that with hard work, perseverance, and amazing bonds of brotherhood that I would become a college professor. Morehouse gave me to power to believe in myself, to expect to win at all levels, to remain accountable for my actions, and to stand strong when facing adversity.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?

Teaching is a ministry, a calling. To engage in deep intellectual exchanges with my students and bechallenged by their ideas of how the world should be remains one of the most profound reasons for choosing academia as a profession and the most rewarding aspect of my career. We remain, in the words of Paulo Freire “unfinished products” in the sense that as we educate our students, we are being pushed and prodded about how to influence and change the world around us. My students affirm my calling daily, as their dispatches from their work experiences in the US Foreign Service, at the World Bank, or in graduate or law school draw attention to the power of teaching others by becoming examples of black excellence. As a professor, I pride myself on teaching by investing myself in the lives of my students, by challenging them to think beyond their current circumstances, to find ways to build bridges to their professional and personal futures through committing themselves to a life of learning.

In your world travels, what been the most compelling thing that you’ve learned ?

Vulnerability. There is strength and power in being open to new experiences. Travelling globally forces me to use all my senses to gain awareness of where I am, but also who I am. By becoming enveloped in the world, by moving in unfamiliar places I have gain power and authority over my own life.

Vulnerability rests at the heart of every person, but for Morehouse men specifically the willingness to go out and see the world, to believe in their ability to invest in a world which belongs to them demands a vulnerability that few people tackle head-on.

Where will you be in twenty years?

Wheeler Hall. Room 307.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Arrivals Mackenzie Victoria Freeman

Noah Wilkerson

Van Freeman ’05 and his wife Cortana are the proud parents of a daughter, Mackenzie Victoria, born on February 11, 2018.

Sherrod Wilkerson ’03 and his wife Adriana are the proud parents of a son, Noah, born in January.

Please send pictures and information about your newborns to joseph.carlos@morehouse.edu

REMAIN ENGAGED. REMAIN INFORMED. JOIN WWW.CONNECT.MOREHOUSE.EDU TODAY! • GROUPS • EVENTS • JOBS • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 36

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"AND IN ALL THINGS THAT WE DO" On February 12th, 1988, Spike Lee '79's second film, "School Daze" premiered. Shot at Clark College, Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and Morehouse, the film still stands as the quintessential film about black college life and one of the best films ever about college life. For many young alumni, "School Daze" and NBC's "A Different World" played a major role in their decision to attend Morehouse.

In honor of the film and its amazing lecacy, We Are Morehouse Monthly thanks Spike Lee '79 for the vision, the story and the amazing enduring importance not only of the film on its face, but further the film's themes, tropes and topics.