Sophisticated Settings Lifestyle July 11 2015

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The Afro-American, July 11, 2015 - July 17, 2015 Photos by Rob Roberts

Lady Juanita Sims Doty, Lady Dr. Barbara L. Shaw, Lady Audrie Lawton and Lady Karla L. McCullough Teen Joshua White

Patricia A. Davis

Lady Audrie Lawton

Lady Sandra Clark

Teen Carmen Wilson, president, Dale City, Prince William County Chapter

Brig. Gen. (Ret.)Julia J. Cleckley US Army

Introduction of the Mayor

by Lady Joy Holland

Sonya Amartey

Lady Jacquelyn Heath Parker

Edward R. Harrison; Lady Brenda Dodd; Lady Brenda KellyNellum and Lady Drema Lee Woldman

Fred Tryon

Invocation

by TTA President LeZaire Reese

Serenity Steele

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser

Dianna Davis

Top Ladies of Distinction National Convention

Mary Grant Top Ladies of Distinction members, guests and honorees

The Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD) held their 39th Annual National Convention from June 24-June 29 at the Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel on Capitol Hill. Both ladies and teens, from the Top Teens of America groups within each chapter, amongst several dignitaries, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, participated in programs throughout the convention. Founder Lady Ozell Dean and past National Presidents: Lady Faye Bryant, Lady Jacquelyn Parker, Lady Dorothy Allen Chimney, Lady Peggy Lewis LeCompte, and Lady Jackie L. Pope along with the current National President Lady Audrie Lawton attended the national event.

Lady Audrie Lawton, national president and The New 13th National President Lady Drema Lee Woldman

Top Teens of America Speaker’s Contest participants David Earley, Josef Sorrells, Serenity Steele and Dianna Davis

The Razazz Band

Jordan Young, Kenedi Wright, Morgan Jones, David Early III, Tyrera Pratt and Leson Ebson

Gerra’ Gistand and LeZaire Reese

Posting of the Colors

Top Ladies of Distinction members and guests Top Ladies of Distinction

Asa Starling, Edgar Brookins, LaTrina Antoine, founding member Ozell Dean, Denise Rolark Barnes, Krysta Jones and Brenda Kelley Nellum

Former national presidents and Top Ladies of Distinction honorary member

Lady Hazel M. Cameron, Lady Kendra Gillespie and Lady Dorene Hurt

Derik Wusply and Destini Manuel

LifeTime Achievement Award recipient Lady Ozell Dean and Lady Audrie Lawton

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The Afro-American, July 11, 2015 - July 17, 2015

Church delivered a uplifting, fiery sermon which was readily The Baltimore City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored received by the audience.

People (NAACP), the civil rights, human services and advocacy organization, held its annual “Our Annual Prayer Breakfast is an opportunity for us to breakfast on May 9 at the Forest Park Senior Center on Liberty Heights Avenue. pause and give thanks for all of our successes and blessings,” The scheduled keynote speaker, Rev. Errol D. Gilliard Sr., pastor of Greater said Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Harvest Baptist Church was Baltimore branch. unable to attend, and Politicians, religious leaders and Rev. J. Kevin James Jr., a community activists were in attendance young minister from Rev. Kevin James took for this annual event.

Whitestone his sermon from I John Baptist 4:4, “He That is Greater Congressman John Sarbanes , Tessa Hill-Aston, president, is in Me” Baltimore City Branch NAACP and Bruce Bereand Carlton Gordon, and Rev. Albert Green

Eugene Clark, Joshua Harris and Del. Charles Sydnor

Tessa Hill-Aston, president, Baltimore City Branch NAACP, Joseph Aston and Jayne French

Firefighters Mike Jenson, chaplain, Gary Nelson and Kyle Caldwell

Councilman Carl Stokes, Father Ty Hullinger, Steven Golder, Roxie Herbekian and Gladys Burrell

Jay Smith, Lucinda Ware and John Cheatham, board member

Maxine Webb, Darlene Douglass and Joyce Sanders Kent Boles, Baltimore City Attorney, Tessa HillAston, president, Baltimore City Branch NAACP, Victor Clark and Alvin Gillard

Executive Committee Tyra Bristol, Ronald Flamer, Josephine Ball, Lenora Dawson and Carlton Douglass

Major Sabrina V.Tapp-Harper with Tessa Hill-Aston, president, Baltimore City Branch NAACP

Joyce Harrell, Derrick Lennon and Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki” Spector

Anthony McCarthy, Jacqueline Alexander and Adrian Muldrow, vice president, NAACP Baltimore City Branch

Tyree Huddleston, Derrick Compton, Will Hanna, Betsy Gardner and Glenard Middleton

Reginald Gordon, Vincent Reid and Darrell Truesdale

Priscilla Jones sang to the audience’s delight, “Thank You Lord for all You've Done for Me”

Hassan Giordano, chairman, NAACP Criminal Justice Committee

Photos and text by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

On May 16th, the show Triumph of Disruption: A Movement to Subvert took place at the Baltimore Museum of Art. This event was choreographed and directed by Kwame Shaka Opare. One may know Kwame’s performances from his touring with the

Broadway show STOMP, which started in 1998; he attained the lead role and became rehearsal director for two touring casts.

Moving forward with his experience in the performing arts Kwame founded (DishiBem) Traditional Contemporary Dance Group in 2003 to bridge the gap between traditional West African and contemporary performance

genres. This show, the fourth of which proved to be a riveting production, explored the current state of education for Black youth. Youth ages 12-17 from the DMV electrified that atmosphere with dramatic presentations, African, modern, and hip hop dance.

It was a lightening bolt

of thought-provoking entertainment.

Kwame, who played a History teacher of African Dance and American Culture, incorporated an inner city classroom-teaching atmosphere showcasing extreme disruption. We were treated to hot musical beats, singing kids, super energy from the cast acting out various scenes of distress in an urban school environment, and even received an impromptu visit on stage by local teachers.

The high-pitched action and

dynamic tempo were a catalyst for the juxtaposition of education coming out of the chaos and disruption of the urban classroom, to being moved into the success of children learning to learn even in extreme conditions. This was enthralling and an authentic attempt to open the viewer’s perspective.

I seriously felt as if I wanted to abandon my seat and join the cast on stage.

Amanten Opare aka DJ Kweek Dancer Diedre Dawkins

Kwame Shaka Opare and cast members Patricia Cruz, education director at Young Audiences in Arts for Learning Maryland and Kwame Shaka Opare giving special recognitions Sherry Hunt , soloist of The Empowerment Academy

Nana Yaa- Densua and Dr. Caleb Davis Singers of The Empowerment Academy

Performers of Triumph of Disruption

Triumph of Disruption cast ensemble

Karen Bradley embracing Kwame Shaka Opare The audience cheer the performances

Photos and text by DaRrell Privot

To purchase these photos and more visit the Photography page under the Arts and Entertainment tab on afro.com. To purchase this digital photo page contact Takiea Hinton: thinton@afro.com or 410.554.8277.