2010-1022 Harlem Torch Magazine

A Decades-Long Outcry

HARLEM NIGHTS Experience the Jazz

Those Who Do The New Science of Mentorology

A GENTLEMAN MAKES THE DIFFERENCE w w w. h a r l e m t o r c h . c o m

PUBLISHER INFO CO-FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Keira Wesley-Busher CO-FOUNDER, PUBLISHING GROUP Alan L. Fuchsberg DEPUTY EDITOR Brauck Wesley-Busher Eli Fuchsberg FOOD EDITOR Paul Chisholm FEATURES

The Best Sushi in Harlem

WEALTH THERAPY速 Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr. MD/MBA COLUMNIST Davie Hill TOURISM SPECIAL Sheila Evans ASSISTANT TO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tyler Michael Busher HARLEMTORCH.COM CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Deloris B. Brown Allyne Spinner Johanna Herrera Marquel Parker

1960 Madison Avenue Between 125th & 126th Streets 212-410-0277

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PUBLISHING GROUP Alan L. Fuchsberg James Darrell Robinson Selina Wellington Clarence Wesley Peggy Wesley

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cover credits C o v er P hot o gra ph er J o h n n y R o d ri g u e z is well known for his work with Latin music superstar, Marc Anthony. An award-winning celebrity photographer, Johnny is sought after by some of the largest names in the entertainment industry. He has covered several magazines with his work.

On t he C ove r

A native New Yorker, Johnny‘s career in photography began five years ago as Marc Anthony‘s art director and exclusive photographer. As Johnny‘s natural gift developed through that experience he broadened his lens to a larger audience, from the fashion and music industries to commercial spreads.

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Cover shot on location at Mojo Harlem. Young models Nassir and Talib Muhammad in Brooks Brothers; Bentley wearing Devon Scott

F E AT U RE S C OVER S TORY :

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Fonzworth Bentley, The Gentleman Makes a Difference

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JOBS

AN D J U ST IC E Guest C ontribu tor T aw a n Davis on Harle m E con om ics

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T HO SE W HO D O

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The Science of Mentorology Geoffrey Canada, Steve Harvey, BrotherHood/SisterSol

H ARLEM N IG HTS

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Photo J ourna lis t R ud y C ollin s Ca p tures the Thrivin g U p tow n J a z z Scene

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Succee ding Th e Li on o f Harle m

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Shop the Designer Collections at

The Brownstone

24 East 125th Street | Harlem, New York | 212 -996-7980

www.thebrownstonewoman.com Princess Jenkins, Founder

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N E W D O O RS H air on M adis on

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O N T HE A RT S C E NE The Riverside Theatre 50 Years

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W ealth T her apy® Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr., M.D., M.B.A.

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E DUC AT IO N The Power of Education , Dr. Deloris B. Brown

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F ASHIO N

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L O C AL S TY LE Harlem Torch Street Scenes

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C HE F P AUL M E ET S M O J O ‘ S M OUNIR J ABRANE Nouveau Renaissance

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T HO SE W HO D O The Science of Mentorology Geoffrey Canada, Steve Harvey, BrotherHood/SisterSol

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D AV IE ‘ S C O RNE R W ee T he People

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H ARL E M S PIRIT UAL T O URS Sheila Evans

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Page 100 Chef Paul Finds His Mojo

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Lloyd Toone

“Massai Prince” by Lloyd Toone Size: H 36 W 18 D 24 Mixed Media with Show Soles

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Editor’s Note DON’T LET THE NUMBERS FOOL YOU WE’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY As Harlem becomes more diverse, so will the Harlem Torch.

Incidentally the numbers still tilt toward the majority minority and I am more compelled than ever to speak culturally in this issue. Two areas of concern that have prevailed in popular conversation lately, across the board, are environmental issues and mentorship. And we follow suit this quarter on the latter: mentoring. I‘ve grown quite aggravated by the many conversations that suggest single mothers and the absence of fathers as the major problem in our failing schools, prison pipeline and just about every other negative issue plaguing our community and urban centers across America. The statistics are dim, but don‘t let the numbers fool you, ―we‘ve come a long way, baby.‖ Now that mentoring has become the trending topic of today, the conversation around it pumps out unpleasant and ill-perceived ideas that could easily derail the movement. The chronic repetition of bad reports leaves such an impression on the mind that it can become accepted and internalized to lifestyle. Right expectation, instead, is the antidote for any human rise. But if we continue to report, in the ear-reach of our young people, the doom of the fatherless children – we open up the snare of justified failure at the starting line.

My hope is that we can stop talking about problems and be about the solutions at hand. Mentoring (Men – touring) is nothing more than a tour toward next steps for the purpose of viewing or inspecting – an experiential spree that temporarily intimates a particular route. The expectation and standard established for me growing up were naturally set. I didn‘t know statistics and I didn‘t have excuses, because the very presence of those around me announced excellence and possibility. Our lifestyle circle was a proud assertion that no previous condition was relevant to our aspirations.

Lest we forget, the Black community in America spent 400 years in slavery and has enjoyed just over 40 years of civil rights as citizens. Up from slavery, the culture has made phenomenal strides despite a system that didn‘t encourage fatherhood or honor family ties. Despite those odds the culture has risen to the top, however binding us with the data and blaming Black men is self defeating and racial degradation.

Fonzworth Bentley, our cover story, brings the message of mentoring by example, simply by standing out, standing up and ―living‖ the objective. And the other extraordinary features selected throughout this issue have made mentoring a life-long practice rather than a panel discussion or a fleeting trend.

Aside from our larger structural problems, in a country that has created widespread greed, overconsumption, and gross income inequities to a point where we have lost our equilibrium as a nation, Black Americans of this generation are the first generation with full civil rights

– so we are now collectively part of a new balancing act. When our parents and predecessors stepped into newly integrated schools and universities, and new jobs that opened to minorities for the first time, there were no mentors, guides or road maps. But there was hope, personal ingenuity, assurance, and a pride in excellence that came from a sense of purpose for the entire race. As Donna Rae Pearson, Researcher and Historian for the Kansas State Historical Society, points out, ―Our educational attainments have soared compared to where we were in 1964. But we are faltering according to the published ‗American Dream,‘ I think, because we have not figured out how to take full advantage of our new position.‖ There was no one to teach us how to function in our new position. Now that we have completed that cycle, we are all, as a nation, increasingly stepping into a ―new position‖ - this global-system.

In Harlem and in the world, all of us are wrestling to understand our position, despite race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic group or the injustices of the past. Mentoring is important in what Donna Rae Pearson calls the ―enviable sandwich generation,‖ however not to replicate old ideas and practices, but compel new ideas of unlimited possibilities. We have to prepare ourselves and the coming generations for the realities of the world as they exist without all the finger pointing. Now that we are ALL repositioning, we can move away from our divisions and join those like-minded through values and principles for the common good.

Our entire nation is guilty of the greedy, over-consuming, selfserving era, and now through the art of mentoring, each one of us can prod people toward self regulation. Mentoring is about giving more and better information to help everybody make better choices.

I am quite hopeful about the generation of my children, the young adults. They seem freer and more socially-conscious.

Perhaps their air of entitlement gives them the much needed confidence – the ―yes we can‖ spirit, to get us through this tough period to the next position. I am hopeful.

Thank you to our readers and supporters who have been patient with us as Harlem Torch also repositions.

HARLEM TORCH MAGAZINE | www.harlemtorch.com

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contributors

Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr. is the creator of the Wealth Therapy® system and wrote a book on the topic in 2007. He has a combination of clinical skills, academic training, and entrepreneurial experience that provide a unique combination of skills and talents to solve complex emotional, productivity and financial issues.

Dr. Jospitre served as a director at North General Hospital (a Mount Sinai Hospital affiliate) where managed and maintained the department‘s multimillion-dollar budget and seventy person multidisciplinary staff. He developed and implemented business plans to improve the overall quality of care and operating efficiency of the Department of Psychiatry. In 2008, he left North General Hospital to become the Medical Director of Citicare—a private clinic in New York City—working on new ways to provide outpatient healthcare services.

Prior to his career as a physician, Dr. Jospitre worked as software developer consultant and entrepreneur. He has written and produced several educational software packages that were sold commercially. His company, BrainMatriX, continues to produce a study tool for adult students.

Master Chef, Paul Warren Chisholm, mesmerizes us with more than a decade in the culinary industry.

His clientele, from corporate executives to the average patron, can‘t seem to get enough of his culinary designs, streaming by the hundreds to his Tastings in New York City. He received his formal training at the French Culinary Institute, honing exemplary skills in fine French pastries, unique sauces and soups, to masterful entrees and award-winning hors d‘oeuvres. After graduating in 1995, he furthered his studies at the Culinary Institute of America.

Paul‘s expertise lead to becoming the Executive Chef for the exclusive Town Tennis Members Club in midtown Manhattan. Other credits include working as a pastry cook at Tavern On The Green, a sauté cook for the Rainbow Room and Daniel’s, and brought fine dining uptown to Londel’s of Strivers Row, and to Spoonbread & Company. He also managed to make time to teach the trade to youngsters of the Children’s Aid Society. Most striking about his curricula vitae, however, is that his initial academic training was in Biology. He graduated from Virginia Union University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and went on to become a microbiologist in a medical lab unit in the military.

Chef Paul resolved to leave the Restaurant industry to expand his creative ideas for select clientele.

Rudy Collins (left), HTQ freelance photographer has been capturing great images in Harlem for decades. He was featured in the 2009 Spring Issue. Eli Fuchsberg (center) is a GenNext writer and great at uncovering new exciting issues in Harlem. He recently graduated from Washington University and will soon begin law school. Quayson Pierce (bottom photo) possesses a variety of skills. He has a keen eye for styling and put his natural, uninhibited talent to work from the beginning.

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A. David “Davie” Hill retired in 2006 after a forty year career as an insurance litigation investigator, specialist and expert witness. He is currently a columnist who has authored several articles for HTQ Magazine under the moniker ―Davie‘s Corner.‖ Although born in the Midwest, he has resided in New York for six decades. He was educated within the New York City and CUNY school systems and has made the Jamaica Estates area of Queens his home for the past thirty years. He was a Vice President with the Italian owned insurance conglomerate, Reunione Adriatica di Sicurta before founding his own investigation and consulting firm.

Having grown from humble beginnings, he has shared experiences and realities assuring one that ―he knows where he came from.‖ He is highly touted for maintaining relationships with friends and classmates dating back to grade school. He spends a considerable amount of leisure time keeping in touch with who he considers to be important people in his life. The maternal and paternal family trees of which he is apart depicts an impressive six generation display of family bond and togetherness He has gravitated to becoming a writer concerning socio-political issues since the dramatic downturn of the world economy. The emergence of Barack Obama as an important political figure has dominated his focus over the past year. His views are considered to be left of center but all issues are set forth with factual honesty and deliberation.

Dr. Deloris D. Brown grew up in an era when the rule for children was, "a child should be seen and not heard." At that time, educators believed a child was an empty vessel waiting to be filled by teachers. She remembers the desire to be expressive, bursting with brilliant and creative viewpoints. Today, as a public school administrator, she has built a remarkable career in education by making her students partners in their community of learning.

Dr. Brown began her teaching career in the New York public schools in special education at the primary level, and then moved on to teach English at Roosevelt High School in the Bronx, a school with more than 4,000 students. She quickly became one of the lead teachers in an English department with over 30 teachers.

As was typical of master teachers, many of the tougher at-risk students were assigned to her, and Dr. Brown taught some of the toughest. Her success was measured and proven by the progress of her students, many of who, before her class, had never read a book through from beginning to end.

Throughout a very impressive journey, with credentials ranging from a bachelor in English Literature, and Politics and Public Affairs to a Masters in Public Administration; a Masters in Education Administration and most recently a Doctorate in School Leadership, Dr. Deloris has developed her philosophy through "action research," not in theory, but by practice.

Harlem tourism columnist Sheila Evans is an author, narrator, actress and an educator with a M.Ed. With honors from The City College of new York. She has recorded several educational books, is a lifetime member of the famed Actors Studio and teaches “Acting for Animators” at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. She has appeared on stage, film, television soap operas and commercials. She has performed her one woman show, “A Lady in Love - The Essence of Lady Day in Cabaret,” and continues her journey in learning.

guest contributor Tawan Davis is the Head of Strategy and Development for the Harlem Fund. The Harlem Fund manages investments on behalf of community and non-profit organizations. Previously, Tawan was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and a private equity Investor with Prudential Investment Management. Davis holds a BA from Georgetown University, a Masters of Sciences from England's Oxford University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Every day, nearly four children die in the United States as a result of abuse in the home. Eighty percent of these children are under age four, and forty percent do not live to see their first birthday. Imagine if we lived in a world where everyone knew the signs of child abuse and knew what to do to protect children they believe are in danger?

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The Power of One™ could easily be used to describe its visionary, the tech-savvy, author, publisher and co-owner/executive manager of Hue-Man Bookstore, Marva Allen. Formerly cofounder of a multi-million dollar technology firm in Southfield, Michigan with multiple nominations for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurship Award, Allen now pools her expertise and numerous resources into Harlem.

In what seems to some like an old-fashioned effort with a new name, The Power of One is more like a combination of refined ideas that just may raise awareness and make a difference in Harlem economics. Marva Allen intends to open the dialogue that discovers just the right equation. ―You cannot do for one side of the equation what you don‘t do to the other,‖ Marva explains, ―There is something called an equal sign between two sides of an equation, and that equal sign is there for a reason.‖ The vast disparities between the haves and the have-not‘s drive Allen to activism. Her solution to equilibrium is, becoming the solution, and then connecting to friends and colleagues who are solutions, until the solution expands to balance out the equation.

The idea is pretty simple: Buy the Power of One card for $1.00 and receive discounts, VIP access and other perks when you spend, play and invest in Harlem. It seems small, however, it sends a message about community reinvestment, and it raises consciousness and brings likeminded people together. As Marva articulates, ―Necessity is the mother of invention, so when your back is up

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against the wall you get very, very creative. We are going through some tough economic times at the moment.‖ Suitably more passionate as she continues, ―The Power of One is intended to be an economic booster for some of the essential businesses in Harlem – what I mean by essential, businesses in the community that enhance the community and gives it quality of life. So The Power of One is a statement that says we can help ourselves, we have something to offer that we can transfer into financial health. The Power of One also represents solidarity, because one of things we have been conditioned to be is not trusting of one another.

Allen does not see this as the answer to Harlem‘s economic problems, but a statement that is another step toward the equal sign. ―We cannot be predatory business people anymore,‖ she explains, ―That‘s what has taken down Wall Street. And we can‘t lean more to one side - doing to one side of the equation what you don‘t do to the other. That‘s exactly what happened. Remember always to stay in balance, and that‘s good business, socially and corporately. We have created the children that are driving the social change. We have been so selfish, so self-centered, and narcissistic that we have driven our children to social entrepreneurship. This is a right thing, because the world has to come back to equilibrium.‖

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the distinguished panel of church clergy seated for the Reverend Al Sharpton’s 12th Annual National Action Network Conference at New York’s Sheraton Hotel, sat Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Senior Pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Jr. of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Newark; Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson of Concord Baptist Church Brooklyn; the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jr.; and Fonzworth Bentley.

Standing by on the sideline was the Reverend Al Sharpton, Bishop Charles E. Blake (Presiding Bishop of The Church of God in Christ) and the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, Sr. The morning panel session was entitled “The Black Church’s Assessment of the Public Response to African American Achievement.” Each minister took his turn speaking in the eloquence and profundity most commonly found in such high circles. Powerful proclamations were made regarding racism, leadership, social liberation and the African American as the conscience of America, stirring the audience with the familiar sermonic vocal inflection and the iteration of Dr. King while attaining the nod of their peers. And then, surprisingly, the closing statement and final voice, of all the impressive leadership on stage came unexpectedly but substantially in an oration of clever relevance and dexterity from Fonzworth Bentley.

In an initial apologetic tone, which basically indicated that somehow the church missed the memorandum with the updates for the manifold-information-tech-savvy new generation, Bentley sadly informed the audience that for the most part, the youth were not interested in the philosophy put forth. He asked the audience of whom he had apprehended by his opening statement, “Where are the youth, what are they doing? You see them everyday.” He further asserted a statement made by Cindy Trimm that the ears are the spiritual reproductive organs and then answered his own question. Pointing to his ears, he explained, “the youth are here, with their IPods, I-phones, video games, and if we are going to reach them – we need new artillery.

In order to win them, you have to be everywhere that they are.” He turned to the clergy and said, “Jesus said get out from the four walls of the church.”

Photography by Johnny Rodriguez on location at Mojo Harlem and The Riverside Theatre New York City Stylist Carlton Jones | Makeup Artist: Romell Duresseau | Hair: Jackie Brown | HTQ on location: Brauck Wesley-Busher, William Q Pierce, Danielle Terry and Tyler Busher | Wardrobe for Fonzworth Bentley by Devon Scott & Miguel Antoinne | Young Models Nassir and Talib Muhammad dressed by Brooks Brothers Madison Avenue, NYC

Photography By Johnny Rodriguez Written By Keira Wesley-Busher Suit: Devon Scott

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“ELEGANTLY APPOINTED” - Fonzworth Bentley ―Clothing is language. Before you have opened your mouth, you have said so much. The suit is the international uniform for business for men and women. And what you need to know is that you are competing globally – that‘s not debatable.‖

Talib and Nassir Muhammad wearing ensembles by Brooks Brothers learn the art of style and etiquette from the “Gentleman,” Fonzworth Bentley in Devon Scott

A week later, uptown at the Mama Foundation in Harlem, Vy Higgensen and daughter Noelle arranged to have Bentley surprise their Gospel for Teens group during the Saturday rehearsal. Noelle began the usual warm-up and when Bentley ascended from the basement, visibly exposed on the staircase, the room exploded with teenage screams. It was evident that he possessed the new artillery.

Teenagers, 13 – 18, listened attentively as he shared his story of attending the VH-1 Fashion awards and how he branded himself by positioning himself with one of the top stars in the industry, all with three basic principles: manners, confidence and style with faith as the bond.

For the Fonzworth Bentley critics who only considered him as a flunky for Sean Combs probably never gained close enough access for true witness. He understood the importance of service but most importantly of civility. Good manners and proper etiquette are weapons of the upper class and not a sign of weakness, contrary to popular belief. Bentley refers to the time we‘re living in as ―the golden age of disrespect,‖ of which he never bought into. He shared with young people at The Mama Foundation, the summer he had to go to etiquette school by decree of his mom. By the time he went to Morehouse College, his eating habits were proper and he no longer used his fingers to escort food onto his fork. The etiquette lessons paid off and while visiting the home of Bill Cosby with one of the real Cosby daughters who was attending Spellman

at the time. He said he happened to be seated at the dinner table next to Dr. Cosby, ―and Dr. Cosby looked at me and said young man, I like the way you handle your cutlery,‖ he flaunted.

Bentley so well weaves his message with embellishing tales that its youth ingested. In 20minutes he made manners and integrity super cool. His methods are model-worthy, ―I‘m not just doing a song that‘s preaching pull your pants up. I will do a song called ‗Dressing‘ and it will be jamming. You‘ll see me dressed and doing my dancing, you‘ll see my clothing and say ‗that‘s cool.‘ So then they‘ll say, ‗I like that – I‘m going to get on that.‘ That‘s the way to get people to be part of the COLOURS movement, which ultimately is be the best you.‖ The COLOURS movement, or ―Cool Outrageous Lovers of Uniquely Raw Style‖ is Bentley‘s branding of style that he promotes through music and fashion. He explains, ―The album, the movement, COLOURS – ‗Cool Outrageous Lovers of Uniquely Raw Style‘ is essentially saying that there are different things that are cool, but the bottom line is you know COLOURS is the you being unique. We are wonderfully, purposefully and uniquely made, and the coolest thing you can ever be is actually who you are. But because people are being bombarded by so many different images and content across the board, influencing their cool, they are going this way and that.‖ The young choristers at The Mama Foundation sat mesmerized at one story of his beginning, which was a lesson on faith, honesty, proper attire, and manners, but adorningly

stated, ―I really wanted to go to the VH-1 Fashion awards. Fashion and music, who likes those things more than I do? So I got into the shower before work that day and put on my medium gray wool cashmere double-breasted suit, six inch cuffs, pink lapel, tie pin,‖ he says with speed and attitude as the teens go wild and he continues to describe his clothing by color and designer all the way down to the shoes and accessories. He then throws in the importance of proper attire matched to the occasion, the fact that he used no deception to gain entrance, but instead exuded confidence, which by faith got him to the fifth row. On a side note, he tells the young men in the class where to apply their cologne and in the same breath says, ―And ladies, when you put it on your wrists here, don‘t hit it together like this,‖ he demonstrates, ―it bruises the top notes. Advance your swagger.‖ Witnessing Bentley‘s dynamism on several occasions during the scope of our research, he demonstrated authenticity throughout – the outerwear is for performance, but within there is a real commitment to faith and purpose. He has starred in his own reality show on MTV, ―G‘s to Gents,‖ he has authored a book entitled, Advance Your Swagger: How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead, with book jacket endorsements from Russell Simmons, Cameron Diaz, Andre 3000 and Alan Flusser. He has appeared in a commercial for Tommy Hilfiger Jeans, ―Making the Band 2‖ on MTV, made cameos in OutKast videos and released his own COLOURS music video with Andre 3000 and Kanye West. All of this after graduating with a Bachelor of Science from

Morehouse College, working for Ralph Lauren in Atlanta and New York, a maître d' for a posh restaurant in the flatiron district of New York and landing his breakthrough job as Sean ―Diddy‖ Combs‘s assistant. Trough all of it he remains committed to the real mission of raising the standard and promoting positive images. He frequents schools to talk to the student body and maintains a thoughtful demeanor.

Over the decade, Bentley has continued to reinvent himself. However, this time there‘s a maturity in the mission.

Perhaps the natural evolution of a proper gentleman in his 30‘s. And to echo the mother of etiquette, Emily Post of whom

want the job, you have to dress like a prospect and not a suspect. What everyone needs to know,‖ he says, ―there is a different level of excellence needed in the world today.‖ Fonzworth Bentley has a social freedom that allows him the opportunity to interact with a mix of personalities. He is as comfortable in a room full of intellects as he is with the hip-hop generation. With a slight language adjustment, he is relevant in various arenas, recycling all the motivational concepts of self-help connoisseurs Zig Zigler, Napolean Hill, Dale Carnegie, and Joel Osteen-styled church inspiration, or any other abundant literature on personal empowerment with a hip-hop zing. ―Your thoughts yield your

Etiquette has gone through the wash cycle a bit over the decades. The ambivalence of what is proper comes by the various movements for equality and our move toward globalization.

Like whether or not a man should hold the door for a woman or stand when a woman enters the room to the suitable way to send a thank you note - email or snail. There‘s dating etiquette, formal dining etiquette, business etiquette, Web etiquette and even a proper standard for addressing police officers. For a time, standards loosened so much so that in some instances we were teetering on rude. Now that we have moral compasses and how-to‘s in folks like Bentley, the overly strict or too-lax practices are giving way to a standard of simple courtesy.

Fonzworth Bentley with the Reverend Alfonso Wyatt (seated left), Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York and Chairman of Twenty-first Century Foundation and the Reverend J. Lee Hill, Minister for Youth and Young Adults for The Riverside Church discuss youth issues during community dialogue.

Bentley takes his cues, ―Etiquette must, if it is to be or more than trifling use, include ethics as well as manners. Certainly what one is, is of far greater importance than what one appears to be.‖ He no longer drinks any alcohol for the mere intention of demonstrating a model life that others can aspire to, and he recently announced his engagement to long time girl friend and actor, Faune Chambers. They are planning nuptials in the very near future according to Bentley. The message has never changed, but it is now more seasoned with depth of reasoning, experience and statistics.

That message he iterates, ―Clothing is language. Before you have opened your mouth, you have said so much. The suit is the international uniform for business for men and women. And what you need to know is that you are competing globally – that‘s not debatable.‖ He speaks adamantly on appearance and excellence at every venue.

Tall, gracious and high spirited, and always, as he describes, ―elegantly appointed,‖ he sermonizes, ―When you go to an interview, whether its for a job or an internship, as soon as you walk through the doors, before you‘ve opened your mouth, before they‘ve looked at your resume, you‘ve said much. Excellence is imperative today. Even if you‘re interviewing for McDonalds, wear that suit, because 75 other people are interviewing, too. And if you

feelings,‖ he begins, ―Your feelings create your actions. Your actions, your behavior and your behavior become your habits. Habits will define your character and your character will ultimately get you to your destiny.‖ He‘s not quite a guru, but he does possess a certifiable skill. He doesn‘t consider himself a rapper either, but rather refers to his artistry as ―dissertation over instrumental.‖ All of it culminates into an intriguing subject that entices to further inspection.

The Bentley message is not only relevant to the hip-hop generation or Harlem, but across the board. In a world of the majority of particularly busy two-income families, or single working mothers, there has been a decline of that wonderful socialization vehicle called the ―family meal.‖ There is a generation of children, now entering adulthood, that grew up eating quick meals like sandwiches on the go, tacos or Chinese food out of cartons with no knowledge about their cutlery and other socially correct niceties. Manners and etiquette are no longer an economic indicator. Decorum somehow fell by the wayside for everyone. But there are the reverberations of an etiquette renaissance.

Private and charter schools are incorporating the teaching of manners into the curriculum and public relations firms are arranging personal etiquette for private clients. Mr. Bentley wants to ensure that his contemporaries and those coming behind him have a fair chance in the game.

Gone are the days of simply getting an education, and then a job and 401K plan.

Excellence will be the determining factor in this new world according to Bentley‘s ideas, ―Think of your goal. Now expand it. Expand it some more, keep expanding. Do you want to be an actor? Expand it. You now want to own your own studio and put out your own content.‖ Those are some of the tools Bentley uses to get his audience thinking about the possibilities. From the way one spends their down time, to their circle of friends – he says it all reflects attitude, and attitude is your brand. ―Start thinking about you as your brand,‖ he says. When you replace the word ―manners‖ and recast it as social skills all of life is affected. Right thinking, right social skills make the difference.

Mr. Bentley is the renewed vestige of Southern genteel meets urban sophistication. At times he tends to be a bit cliché, but it doesn‘t matter. He‘s covered enough ground in his self-made career to indulge one jolly story after another to prove there‘s quality in the details.

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Suit by Devon Scott and shirt by miguel Antoinne

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Harsh and cruel life experiences have led many of our young to believe that no one cares about them. Our vulnerable children are reaching for a lifeline. Your love and support are all they can count on.

The Chilling Facts: - 85% of Black school-age children are reading below grade level.

- Everyday in some cities, 1,000 Black children are arrested.

- In some cities, 80% of our boys drop out before finishing high school.

- Nearly 7% of Black babies are born to girls under the age of 18.

- 1 in every 8 African American males 25-29 is incarcerated.

- The number one cause of death for Black boys is homicide.

The National CARES Mentoring Movement is recruiting mentors in 56 U.S. cities. We are calling able adults to end the state of emergency among our young by becoming mentors and recruiting other caring adults to volunteer their time - just one hour a week. National CARES does not offer mentoring services; instead we encourage local leaders to raise awareness of the need for mentors and it’s benefits, and we recruit mentors for community youth-support organizations having difficulty securing Black men and women volunteers.

We are calling you! Please help to save a generation. Become a mentor. Organize a CARES MentorRecruitment Circle in your community. Or you can join the leadership of your local CARES Circle or start one. Let us work together. Let us link arms and aims. We have no time to waste!

Visit us online at www.caresmentoring.org or call our

Harlem CARES Mentoring Movement Manhattanville Station PO Box 3511 New York, NY 10027 917-740-4837

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Cosmetics

Skin Deep and Moore

Available at The Brownstone and Duane Reade Stores: Rockefeller Center 51st Street between 5th and 6th Avenues Across from Macy’s 35th Street & Broadway Chelsea 8th Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets The Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street 360 Madison Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets 661 8th Avenue at 42nd Street

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H ARLEM NEW DOORS | HAIR ON MA DISO N Written by Brau ck Wesley -Bu sh er, Ph otograph s by T . Mi chael

Rochelle answered her cell phone as she continued styling one of her clients. The call immediately altered the high-energy conversation just taking place moments earlier, which interrupted to a noticeably sympathetic air. She took an unusual pause, and the eavesdropping of the one-sided discussion revealed that someone had lost a loved one and Rochelle had suddenly cleared one of her weekdays to cater to the need of her client on the line. Humbled by such sacrifice, the client in the chair inquired further to discover that a mother had just lost a 20-something year old daughter in a tragic car accident. And the benevolence of this master stylist, in further analysis, took a therapeutic turn.

She‘s a committed wife and a typical suburban mom who carpools to dance classes and basketball games, but in the midst of Harlem, Rochelle Walters‘s apron switches to master hairstylist. The days are never dull. On her days off, she is busy making a name for herself in the competitive world of celebrity hairstyling. Her recent venture, ―Hair on Madison,‖ on the ground level of one of Harlem‘s beautifully restored brownstones on the corner of 126th Street and Madison Avenue is always packed out – familiar faces, too. Rochelle‘s popularity is probably due to the high hair IQ she has acquired over her years as a stylist and consistency in performance.

It‘s a far cry from her experimental beginnings in the kitchen of her home. She studied, watched and practiced to perfection, always believing she could do it better. Coupled with natural talent, Rochelle possessed eagerness and a drive to know all she could about real hair health, not just a shortlived salon look. She understands the science, the chemistry behind great hair and she expects those who work with her to hold that same expertise. Part of the salon magic of Hair on Madison, coupled with proficiency, is the synergy between stylists. And that synergy is quite intentional in Rochelle‘s selection process. She not only looks for talent, but great personality. The type of high-end clientele Hair on Madison attracts warrants an easy-going demeanor, according to Rochelle, ―We have to be able to socialize and relate to our clients. Our clients are here because they value our work, but they also feel good in the atmosphere here.‖ Anthony, a standout stylist at the salon, has been styling in Harlem for a decade now and his demeanor is joyously infectious. He comes with his own A-list of clientele for obvious reasons. On any given day, the salon is full of women, either in the waiting area, under dryers, in the style rooms, everyone buzzing and chatting. Women of all ages and hues, with short cuts or long flowing locks, leave with a new attitude.

Rochelle came up with the salon colors and design.

The effect is colorful but particularly minimal: wooden French doors bring a sort of elegance – but behind the French

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doors, leads to a special room that caters to women affected by alopecia or some other type of hair loss issues. For the most part, the interior provides efficiency for stylist and client – each area for a particular function. It all adds up to a phenomenal beauty experience.

H a i r On M a d i s o n 1974 Madison Avenue Corner of 126th Street New York, NY

R o c he ll e W a l te rs O w ne r/ Ma s te r S ty lis t

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www.sylviasrestaurant.com 328 Lenox Avenue | New York | 212.996.0660

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A Photo Journal By Rudy Collins

Jazz, one of our many contributions to the world, is alive and well in Harlem. The transformation from Big Band to Be-Bop, to the styles of Miles, Coltrane, Dizzy, and countless others can be relived in the Jazz clubs that are a part of the Harlem night scene. My exposure to this culture was at an early age. My uncle was a jazz musician, and my cousin and I were fortunate enough to have live music in our home while growing up.

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Harlem Nights Series | Rudy Collins

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Harlem Nights Series | Rudy Collins

Fast forward too many years to mention, and the music is kept alive by a cornucopia of very talented young men and women who grace us with their talent, and we are fortunate to have them.

Harlem Nights will bring you these venues, and you won’t be disappointed when you enter the clubs and become immersed in the cool, smooth tunes that will make your heart smile.

I started out in October of 2009 to do a photo essay of the Jazz Clubs in Harlem, and the Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club, managed by owner operator Kevin Walters, was my 14-year old prodigy Beka

first stop. Well, seven months later I’m still there every

Gochiashvili stops by Creole to

Tuesday night for what’s known as “The Evolution

test his skill alongside his jazz contemporaries. Young Gochiashvili is the youngest

Series.” Hosted by Trumpeter Igmar Thomas, the jam sessions are riveting, with young musicians, some world renowned, signing up for

winner of the Montreux Jazz

their few minutes of fame, playing with the ease of seasoned

Piano Competition and the

veterans. Miles, Coltrane, Monk, Dizzy, Blakely, Parker, must be

ONLY student in the pre-

smiling down on Creole’s every Tuesday night, starting at 9pm. You

college jazz division of the Julliard School of Music.

won’t be disappointed.

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Harlem Nights Series | Rudy Collins

Walking into St. Nicks Pub is like going through a time tunnel. One can feel the personality of the room, trying to make your way to the music, or to the bar. The crowd is mature neighborhood folk with a sprinkle of out of towners coming uptown to hear the real deal.

Everyone is friendly, staff is great. If you want to go back to when things were mellow and to a place that has history, proceed to St. Nick's Pub. Reservations not required.

For the culturally curious tourists and history buffs, Minton’s Playhouse is definitely a place to check out for the sake of nostalgia. After all, it’s known as the birthplace of bebop, where jazz legends Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Christian jammed and Thelonius Monk was the house pianist.

The landmark sign lights up the façade and the 40”s mural behind the stage remains intact, but those raw beginnings are tough to recreate. Right now, Harlem nightlife is gaining fierce competition and Minton’s should absolutely stay in the running. The crowd is mostly older and local – the music: straight ahead jazz. Experience it.

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CHILD STARS OF TOMORROW

The legendary Apollo Theater will light up the Holidays this season with a special edition of its signature program, Amateur Night, featuring the year's best Child Stars of Tomorrow: Best of the Best! contestants.

Known for launching careers for over 75 years from a nine-year-old Michael Jackson to a thirteen-year-old Lauryn Hill, Amateur Night continues to be a major platform for young talent to hone their skills and display their talents.

Don't miss this special evening as musicians, singers, dancers of all disciplines ages 5 -15 demonstrate why they are the best of the best and why they have what it takes to be the next Apollo Legend.

Fistful of Mercy is the union of three celebrated musicians - Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison. The group came together to write the deeply, melodic and willfully groovy new nine-song album entitled As I Call You Down.

www.apollotheater.org

THE SALON SERIES

FISTFUL OF MERCY Presented by AEG LIVE Wednesday, November 17 at 8:00 PM

Want to become an Apollo legend? Want to grace the stage where Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson all performed? That big break you've been waiting for could be coming soon!

253 West 125th Street | New York, New York, USA Box Office: 212.531.5305 The Apollo's annual programming is made possible by lead support from: The Coca-Cola Company, the Edward and Leslye Phillips Family Foundation, the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bloomberg, and the Neuberger Berman Foundation.

Additional generous support is provided by public funds from the following government agencies and elected officials: the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Inez E. Dickens of the 9th Council District, and Speaker Christine Quinn; and the State of New York: Senator Bill Perkins, Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Dr . De lo ri s B . B ro wn | E DU C AT I ON

By Dr. Deloris Brown Ann Braxton, a hard working devoted mother began noticing the maturing needs of her energetic young son Trevor who seemed to be losing focus on the importance of school. Ms. Braxton, a concerned parent, made an appointment to speak with her son‘s guidance counselor about his lack of attention to homework and other academic tasks. Not wanting to lose him to the enticement of the street–smart kids that attended Anderson Middle School, she quickly sought the advice of her son‘s counselor.

Mr. Mendez calmly assured her that her son‘s behavior was somewhat common, but not at all acceptable. He promised to be on the look out for any assistance that the school could provide in the form of a character development or academic program. A few months later in the school year, Ms. Braxton, a newly divorced single mother of two, received the following message from her 6th grader‘s school:

Congratulations Ms. Broxton! Trevor has been selected to participate in our Schoolbased Academic Mentorship Program (SAM).

As a participant in SAM, Trevor will be matched with an academic coach who will mentor him towards academic excellence.

However, before he is completely enrolled in SAM, we need your consent. Please sign the consent form and instruct your son to give to return it to his teacher. Please note that an orientation has been scheduled on Friday at 6PM. The purpose of the orientation is to provide you with an opportunity to learn more about SAM. During the orientation your questions will be answered and you will have an opportunity to meet Trevor’s academic coach, Mr. Wellford Smiley, a retired math teacher.

The letter seemed to be an answer to prayer, although she had mixed feelings about allowing someone else to invade her small family circle. While Trevor was the oldest, and Tiffany was only in kindergarten, she wasn‘t quite sure if participation in SAM was going to work for her. After all, her ex-husband was still visiting with Trevor every other weekend and repeatedly warning him about the consequences of a bad report card. Yet, it didn‘t seem to help improve his academic outlook. So, she decided to attend the meeting, but first she would make a list of questions to take with her.

Like Ms. Braxton, many parents want the best for their son or daughter.

However, many times most parents are between two opinions when they are asked to hand over their child to an unknown person. The parent sometimes feel as though the mentorship will be an invasion as he/she hands over little Johnny to an

Over time research consistently reveals many benefits to those youth involved in mentorship programs.

However, there are some components that are suggested as best practices. By evaluating the elements of a schoolbased mentorship program a parent may learn a great deal about its goals and objectives which may help with the decision of whether or not to give consent. While there are many tried and true mentorship programs, in 2008 The National Mentorship Center has provided an informative research based article titled; The ABC’s of School-Based Mentoring; Effective Strategies for Providing Quality Youth Mentoring in Schools and Communities.

The article gives schools some guidelines to consider which will answer some of the critical questions that parents will want to know such as:

Mentoring champions Harry Belafonte, Charles Grodin, Matilda Raffa Cuoma and Maria Cuomo-Cole joined New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein in sounding ―Mentoring Recruitment Call to Action‖

at Harriet Tubman Learning Center (PS 154) in Harlem.

Verizon representatives were also present to help announce the Verizon grant to expand the program in East New York, Brooklyn, Syracuse and Queens.

Mentoring USA, founded by former first lady of New York, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, is an effective, early-intervention mentoring program to prevent school dropout. By providing mentors at schools, community centers and foster care agencies, Mentoring USA helps children, ages 7 to 21, improve their self esteem, through financial literacy training, nutrition and wellness, and biasrelated anti-violence education. The Mentoring USA model has proven to be effective in helping a child to reach his or her full potential. When each child is matched with a trained, caring, adult volunteer mentor on a one-to-one basis, the child‘s grades improve, school absenteeism minimizes, and children gain confidence and hope for the future. ―The three pillars of support for children are the home, the school, and the community.

When one of these pillars is broken or dysfunctional, the child suffers. We are grateful to Verizon, in these challenging times, as they support Mentoring USA‘s expansion efforts in New York City,‖ said Matilda Raffa Cuomo. ―Verizon mentors have been working with P.S. 154 students for over a decade,‖ said Jim Gerace, Verizon President of the New York Region. ―Building on the tremendous success of the P.S. 154 program, we are proud to be able to support the expansion of the program throughout New York City and int Central New York and look forward to many years of continued partnership.‖ ―Mentoring USA is making a difference in the lives of our students, and I want to thank Matilda Cuomo for her leadership in establishing such a wonderful organization,‖ Chancellor Klein said. ― Thje students as P.S. 154 know firsthand the valuable and inspirational role mentors play in helping them build self esteem, make positive life choices, and succeed in school. We are thrilled that Mentoring USA is growing - and that even more of our kids will be able to benefit from mentors.

Harlem students presented a memory book to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. In attendance were, left to right: Verizon Mentors, Harry Belafonte, Susan L. Taylor, Charles Grodin, Pamela Belafonte, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Chancellor Joel Klein and Jim Gerace.

Student Referral: How does a student get selected to participate; what is the criteria for selection;

individual who has volunteered to participate in a program that is designed to bring about a personal relationship with THEIR biological child. While some parent‘s feel that the mentor or stranger make take their place as the child‘s hero. Yet, others welcome the opportunity to have some additional positive comments that echo the same messages about education, drugs, gangs and other vices that can have a tremendous impact upon lifealtering decisions made by a developing young adult.

While mentorship programs may be new to some parents, it is clearly an old concept.

According to Wikipedia, The origins of the mentoring movement in the U.S. can be traced to 1904. Ernest Coulter, formerly a journalist, took a job at New York City’s first juvenile court, and was distressed to observe the harsh fate of children in the court system.

Recounting one child’s story to a group of businessmen and professionals at a 1904 meeting of the Men’s Club of New York City’s Central Presbyterian Church, he said: "There is only one possible way to save that youngster: to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be his big brother, to look after him, help him to do right, make the little chap feel that there is at least one human being in this great city ... who cares whether he lives or dies." Coulter recruited 39 volunteers at that meeting, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program was born. Over the years, it grew to 500 chapters nationwide, and became the largest and best known mentoring program in the country.

A research titled; Study in the Learning Environment (SMILE) which included 525 students from 19 schools revealed that although the results differed across gender and age, youth receiving a mentor improved over those not receiving a mentor. The areas these youth improved in were self-esteem and social relations with peers. The pre and post survey results were reported by parents, teachers, mentors and the youth themselves.

Who makes the decision to refer a student How will a student be introduced to the concept of having a mentor? Who will speak to the student about it?

Additional strategies discussed in this informative article includes sections on Recruiting for School-Based Programs; Participant screening; screening for safety Additionally, several worksheets are available for school administrators that can also be a quick overview for parents. Some worksheets include a clear overview of the duties of the program coordinator and those of the school liaison.

This information becomes very helpful when the mentorship program is taking place as a partnership between the school and another agency. Other sections include a detail overview of how a program should clearly outline the mentor‘s responsibility to the youth and to the agency.

This responsibility should be written in such a way that it clarifies the overall purposes of the mentoring program. In other words, if a parent gives consent, he or she may be able to determine at the end of the program if a specific outcome was achieved.

For additional information about mentoring please visit the following websites: (1) Mentoring Programs for Children of Single Parents: www.singleparents.about.com/od/parenting/tp/ youth_mentoring_programs.htm (2) Big Brothers Big Sisters www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org (3) The ABCs of School-Based Mentoring www.hamfish.org

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Simply Put… Jazz - we play it, we teach it, we write it, we dance it, we sing it, we present it, we photograph it, we film it, we produce it, we archive it, we record it, we broadcast, we commission it, we celebrate it, we love it, we share it.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People® What is the Big Band Era? Featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra March 26, 2011, 1pm & 3pm, Rose Theater

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and host Ted Nash introduce families to the big band repertoire of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and more. Even 75 years after the big band era, scholars and fans – not to mention swing dancers – agree that this was the period when jazz reached its peak, not only of popularity but of musical greatness.

Bobby McFerrin The Rose Theater November 12-13, 2010 8pm If you know McFerrin only from his blockbuster hit, "Don't Worry Be Happy," you're in for a delightful surprise. He is easily the most playful and quite possibly the most innovative of all 21st century vocalists – not to mention the most unpredictable. You never know where a McFerrin performance will take you – he could start with a bebop riff and wind up in a Bach fugue, detouring through blues and reggae along the way.

Chick Corea The Rose Theater January 20-22, 2011, 8pm A stunning showcase of this multi-award winning jazz man of many parts, whose compositions and bands cover all the stylistic grounds from bebop to soul jazz to fusion to Latin jazz and the avant-garde.

Chick Corea, performing for the first time with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, will enjoy a rare opportunity to show off his big band chops and illustrate his dynamic sounds in the expanded canvas of the extraordinary Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Dianne Reeves The Rose Theater

SWING UNIVERSITY: SPRING 2011 Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University offers a deeper understanding and appreciation of jazz through adult education classes for everyone from novice to aficionado. Insights and expertise are shared by award winning jazz scholars and historians who have witnessed the history first hand. As well, these courses offer the rare opportunity to learn about jazz from the musicians themselves.

Spring 2011 classes include: • Jazz 301- with Phil Schaap • Free Jazz- with historian/record producer Ben Young • JAZZ 101 with Phil Schaap • BeBop- with Jazz Lincoln Center Orchestra trombonist Vincent Gardner

www.jalc.org/swingu

February 10-11, 2011 8pm A Valentine’s Day weekend special!

She is the voice of our era – a Sarah Vaughan and an Ella Fitzgerald for the 21st century, and is the only person to win a GRAMMY®. for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings. Dianne Reeves' voice is big and beautiful and amazingly lush, and what she does with it is even more remarkable. Nothing could prepare you for the overwhelming experience of Reeves in concert. If you've been, you'll want to go back, and if you haven't, it's a treat that you owe yourself.

Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center | Broadway at 60th Street | NYC

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Photography by Johnny Rodriguez

With each moment, the audience is hurled into overlapping zones piloted by Daniel Beaty as he moves through the many changing moods of six characters in his one-man assembly of ―Through the Night.‖ The multiple fragments in his monologues easily add up to a complete collage of extraordinary eloquence in which all are invited to investigate the complexities of Black manhood. Beaty‘s ability to communicate the various feelings and atmospheres, gradually revealing the force of each character‘s emotion brilliantly translates a profound message. At times his multifaceted reflections bring feelings of joy, and in an instant overwhelming sadness lumps up in the throat and then in a poetic crescendo indicts our conscience. ―Your thoughts will get the best or you,‖ Beaty recites as he moves from monologue to riveting rhyme, ―Sometimes my mind, he tells me, ‗You will never be enough. Why even try? You know it‘s gon‘ be tough, look at where you live, broken hopes and broken dreams. At night you lie in bed and scream the silent screams of a bastard child without a father as a guide, there‘s no daddy by your side…give up first before life tears you down‘,‖ and from the areas of personal despair and pain, there is climactic hope, ―I define my destiny…well I say, run, Black man, run. Run to your children, hold them tight, help them make it through the night. Run, Black man, run, be more than you think you can, be a Black man, take a stand.

And when you make it through, reach back and help another Black man do what we all know must be done.

Run, Black man, run, a fatherless child I may be, but I won‘t let doubt get the best of me, because I decide who I 36 choose to be…‖

Harlem’s Art Beat Keira Wesley-Busher

It is the 50th anniversary year of The Riverside Theatre and Daniel Beaty’s run of “Through the Night” is one of several celebratory experiences produced by the theater; among “An Evening with Women of Excellence in the Arts,” which featured Sonia Sanchez, Carmen de Lavallade, Hope Boykin and Eisa Davis; and the September 13 gala with Dr. Bill Cosby, Patti Austin, Ashford & Simpson, Arthur Mitchell and Ray Chew.

Daniel Beaty, Ivy League educated, award winning actor, singer, writer, and composer personifies the legendary arts movement derived there and it’s promise to continue their mission to serve as a catalyst by providing access to compelling, high quality arts programming that reflects the cultural diversity in New York City.

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Photography by Rudy Collins

As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, The Riverside Theatre hosted four exceptional women in the arts: (left to right, from second seat) Eisa Davis, Sonia Sanchez, Carmen deLavallade and Hope Boykin for an intimate discussion.

Michaela Angela Davis (Left) who helped navigate the chance-of-a-lifetime glance into the most intimate thoughts and experiences of her guests hosted “An Evening with Women of Excellence in the Arts.” Sonia Sanchez, renowned poet, playwright and professor, urged everyone in earshot never to give up on their dreams. She said that she didn’t always know exactly what she’d become, but she knew that she’d be somebody special. Eisa Davis, Pulitzer Prize finalist, playwright, actress and singer, spoke of her experiences and the moment she realized that, in her work, she was not performing to “get” from her audience, but to give of herself and her gift. Sharing stories of their journeys in the world of dance, Carmen deLavallade, dance luminary, choreographer and actress, along with Hope Boykin, member of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

Harlem’s Art Beat

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Harlem’s Art Beat

Credit: Rudy Collins ©

Joining in the fall line up of fundraisers, The Riverside Theatre Celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Some special guests pose for a group shot from left to right: Arthur Mitchell, Ruby Dee, Chuck Jackson, Joyce Dinkins, Carmen DeLavallade, Valerie Simpson, Bill Cosby, Mayor David Dinkins, Congressman Charles Rangel, Nick Ashford, Alma Rangel and Jewel Kinch-Thomas.

For a first annual gala, The Riverside Theatre in celebration of its 50th anniversary did a fine job. It was Harlem glamorous and genuinely inspiring, themed ―From Legacy to Promise.‖ Organizers had enough clout to pull some pretty good attention-getters, Bill Cosby as emcee and co-chairs Mayor David Dinkins and George Wein were pretty good names to attract some donors. Honorees Ashford and Simpson, Arthur Mitchell and Carmen DeLavallade attracted a fair share of arts patrons to come out for the night.

Bill Cosby dazzled with comedic brilliance, which made for a smooth night of fundraising, sparing the long speeches that typically bore audiences. The night began with a red carpet reception and moved into the Riverside Theatre for a two and a half hour presentation that included performances by Alvin Ailey dancers, an excerpt by honoree Daniel Beaty of his one-man show, Through the Night and a very special music presentation

by Grammy Award winner Patti Austin. There was a good mix of politicians, business leaders and artists present for the evening. Congressman Charles Rangel attended with his wife Alma, legendary actor Ruby Dee, The Jacob Fuchsberg Law firm filled a table, Uptown Chamber of

Commerce President Lloyd Williams and Harlem Business Alliance Chairman Walter Edwards were also there.

The fun part of the evening came after the theatre presentation when all the guests moved into the assembly hall for what was originally supposed to be a rooftop dinner dance but rain commanded a quick modification.

Dancing began before the three-course meal was finished as the Apollo Theater‘s Ray Chew struck up his band, playing R&B standards that rocked the place. The salmon entrée probably sat a little too long, but the open bar and dancing made up for the food. Quickwitted DeMarco Morgan, of WNBC-TV news, served as co-host for the evening and helped keep the crowd laughing.

Originally named the Cloister Theatre, The Riverside Theatre was founded in 1960 on the belief that the arts can be a transforming power in peoples' lives and is committed to serving as a catalyst for cultural connections and social change.

Highlights from the past ten seasons have included: the Katherine Dunham Tribute in honor of her 96th birthday; the Clark Terry Tribute hosted by the late Ossie Davis, with special guests Bill Cosby, Arturo Sandoval, Dianne Reeves, Nicholas Payton and Jon Faddis; the screening of The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow, in collaboration with Thirteen WNET and the National Council for Community & Justice; and the play Woza Albert!, in association with New Heritage Theatre.

"The Riverside Theatre, in this 50th year anniversary, honors our past and those artists who have brought engaging and powerful, inspiring work to our stage," said Jewel Kinch-Thomas, Executive Director of The Riverside Theatre. "From Legacy to Promise recognizes the foundation laid and aspires to be instrumental in shaping the new voices of captivating dance, theatre and film."

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THE UGANDA ART PROJECT Algernon Miller in the studio hanging his first commissioned work created by the women of Uganda from more than 100,000 “Obama Beads.”

Last Spring, Algernon Miller, in search of new green art ideas, attended NYC Go Green. One of the vendors‘ booths with jewelry and other fashion accessories made of paper beads captured him.

These were no ordinary beads, they were ―Obama Beads.‖ The beads had been handmade by the wives of soldiers in Uganda from printed literature used in the last presidential campaign.

With further inquiry, Miller met vendor Kathe Kexel who shared the story of their project. In a humanitarian effort, the Go Green vendor, Kathe, had collected posters and literature from the Obama campaign, which would have otherwise been discarded, teamed up with Ugandan artist, Sanaa Gateja, to set up an enterprise that might help empower the women of Uganda. ―This novel and humanitarian effort excited me because of the manner in which the beads were fabricated – they were made from recycled materials and the function liberated women through the free enterprise system,‖ Miller recalls thinking. He said he could barely sleep that night, ―All I could imagine was this idea that could link and extend the dynamic of world artists and artisans across global borders to create large-scale ‗green‘ works of art.‖ And in a matter of weeks, The Uganda Art Project materialized. Communicating mainly by telephone and email the Uganda team completed the first commissioned work of art and shipped it to the New York studio. With magnificence, 110,000 ―Obama Beads,‖ hang 8ft. by 10ft in a wavelike pattern of shimmering light.

The basic idea was to create a kind of ‗optical illusion‘ intimating change similar to an ophthalmologist eye chart. That first initiative turned profitable in numerous ways, besides the obvious recycling benefit. The cost of fabrication provided a living wage for 40 women, and the series of works will be in an exhibition titled ―Global African Project‖ curated by Lowery Sims, in November 2010, at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York.

While studying African Art and Pharoanic Egypt early his career, Algernon Miller became aware that Language, sometimes hidden, was part of the function of African art and textiles—art, not just for the purpose of adornment. He then realized that uses of geometry were often signposts—not merely some form of abstract patterning. Miller explains, ―This represented a sort of economy of ideas— no waste — a door to another ethos which, through the use of symbols, one object could have a layered meaning like levels of

Harlem’s Art Beat

consciousness.‖ He believes that what you see depends on your frame of reference. According to Miller, together, these components had a special function within the culture. Seemingly very different from what we experience in our commodity driven society. Consequently, Miller‘s intent to create his own language as a kind of synthesis of all of the above while expressing a part of his American experience becomes the historical/political dynamic of his artistic drive.

Algernon Miller became a major player in the Black Arts movement of the late 1960‘s. He was commissioned throughout the 70‘s to create monumental sculpture for public works including the Tree of Hope for the city‘s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration, which was tribute to the famous tree plated by Bill ―Bojangles‖ Robinson that stands on the center island at 131st Street and Seventh Avenue. Miller‘s artistic innovation with metal lathe took him to the international scene where his work was esteemed for its unique visual style. His work maintains it strong socio-political and historical expressions, but has evolved into architectural plans, models and public art. Miller‘s most recent public project, the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Circle at

Central Park North and Frederick Douglass Boulevard initially raised some eyebrows because of Miller‘s conceptual expression. The memorial incorporates quilt patterns that slaves ―may have‖ used on the Underground Railroad to help with escapes. Some historians argued that there was no hard evidence for the quilting, however Miller held steadfast to his artistic interpretation. Cocommissioned artist Gabriel Koren‘s eight-foot bronze statue of Douglass now stands in a plaza of quilt patterns in granite all conceptualized and designed by Miller.

Miller‘s work has been exhibited at Haven Gallery, Bronx, NY; Tribes Gallery; Taller Boricua Gallery; Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; the New Museum; and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Lowery Sims, former director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, regards Miller‘s capacity for relative and culturally significant creativity, ―No matter in what arena he chooses to participate, whether public art or gallery installations, Mr. Miller brings forth a special kind of inventiveness and depth of idea,‖ conveys Lowery, ―He seems to lead the way in cross-pollinating and germinating innovative entrepreneurial initiatives that are, at once, ‗green‘ and humanitarian.

Algernon Miller is the site designer for the Frederick Douglass Memorial Circle located outside the northwest corner of Central Park at Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Central Park North (110th Street). The memorial is a unique teaching landscape with a 60 ft. fiber-optically-lighted bronze constellation fountain, a 30-ft. bronze wagon wheel fence, custom-designed bollard tops and manhole covers. The raised quilt geometry functions as seating. The heroic scale bronze sculpture of Douglass that stands on the circle is co-commissioned by artist Gabriel Koren.

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Dr . Ja cq ue s Jo spit re , Jr . , M D, MB A | We alt h T he rapy ®

® The heart of the Wealth Therapy system can be captured with the phrase ―IKEA Retention.‖ IKEA stands for steps of the behavior modification process: •Identity •Knowledge •Evaluation •Adjustment And, the accumulation of money comes from the ability to retain it in three ways: Primary Retention: Save More Than You Earn Secondary Retention: Protect Your Assets Tertiary Retention: Invest Wisely

By Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr.

the prior installments of Wealth Therapy, we talked about getting a handle on your use of the two most important resources: time and money. Initially you had one perception of how you utilized these resources. Then when you were asked to take inventory of your activities, there was probably a shift in what you saw with concrete evidence in hand. Think about how interesting it is that each of us needs to document our activities to better understand ourselves. If we have incomplete information about ourselves, imagine the limited view we have of the world.

Recently there have been a lot of news reports on lawsuits against certain investment banks for their role in the financial crisis that started in 2008. One of the allegations was that a bank misled investors by offering a financial product that was designed to fail. The bank, in turn, insisted that the investors purchasing these financial products were sophisticated people who had the ability to understand the risks of investments.

At the same time, the bank was able to get an expert rating agency to say that the investments were good, despite the inherent risks; giving the appearance of being safe and conservative financial products.

Let me give you an analogy to help you better understand what happened. Let‘s say that we were in the movie business. We typically think about movies in simple ways, where you have the opening title, the movie itself, and the closing credits. Now I‘m going to create new ―movie products‖ where I will take five martial arts movies and divide them into the opening titles, fight scenes, and closing credits.

I create new movies made up of those respective movie clips. I then hire a few critics to review these ―movie products‖ to say that they are wonderful films: great storylines, realistic animations, strong cast, etc. They rate them all at five stars while in reality, they are not deserving of those scores.

These ―movie products‖ have the same casts, production crews, directors, etc. but are very different experiences. Where consumers might actually be interested in looking at the fight scenes, there would be little interest in viewing the closing credits (the scrolling names).

I now offer you ownership of the movie clips of closing credits. I have the biggest names in Hollywood in the list, and the movie got five stars. Regardless of the names and the rating, this is not a movie that anyone would pay to watch. In other words, this synthetic asset has no real inherent value and was designed to fail.

Novel financial products were created by packaging mortgages of people who were clearly going to default on their loans. Rating agencies inaccurately reported that these were good investments when they were not. Billions of dollars were poured and lost into these toxic assets while a few opportunistic bankers made substantial profits.

The moral of the story is to: bite the coin; taste the stew; kick the tires; do the math; open the box and see it for yourself. Clearly understand what you are getting yourself into whenever you make an investment. It is scary to think that ―expert‖ investors could have been so easily fooled by these swindlers. If they did not understand it, then they were gambling. And, if they did understand it, then they were irresponsible. Either way, there was no excuse for the so called ―experts‖ to have been fooled by the swindlers. But it has happened before, and of course it will happen again in the future.

Photo: John Ricard

FINANCIAL

Wealth Therapy® is a registered trademark of Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr. Copyright ©2008. All rights reserved.

People can get angry, insulted, offended, embarrassed, etc. when you ask a lot of questions. The need to please others, to be liked by others, or doubt your ability to understand something can all be barriers to your pursuit of complete information. If you are being pressured to make a transaction, then you really have to question it. In every deal, you want to have a clear sense of how each person is making money. If something isn‘t adding up, then you are missing key variables.

Develop the ability to manage your own finances and learn to monitor the work of others. Learn to apply your understanding of ―value‖ in making wise investment choices and have the confidence in yourself to ask for clarity when you need it. The swindlers took advantage of the relaxed attitudes and approach of the ―intelligent‖ investors. You work too hard for your money to let yourself be fooled.

When it comes to investing, there are two numbers you need to worry about. The first one is the return on your investment; for every dollar you put in, how many do you get back. And the second number is the probability of the return; what are the chances that things will really go as promised. The inspection process is making sure that these two numbers are realistic.

When you are investing your money in a company, you are giving someone else resources that they use to provide more value to their customers and/ or to more customers. If the company is able to efficiently use your investment to produce value, then the company will prosper and you will get a return on your investment. If the company is unable to create additional value with the use of your investment, or they are unable to work efficiently, then the company will falter and you will get a poor return on your investment.

A good Certified Financial Planner can help you lay out an investment strategy that will help you accumulate wealth. But even after getting this advisor, you still maintain the responsibility of understanding the recommended investments in terms of risks and benefits. There are many options for investments including:

Stocks

Fractional ownership of businesses.

Bonds

Loans to businesses.

Mutual Funds

Organizations that focus on managing assets including but not limited to stocks, bonds, derivatives, real estate and currencies.

Real Estate

Properties with or without buildings.

Other

Currencies, Derivatives, Art, etc.

In my opinion, investing wisely comes down to a few simple questions:

Getting In: What is the quality of this investment?

Is the growth path clear?

Is there a gap between perception and reality?

Does the story behind this gap make sense?

Getting Out: Was my goal reached?

Was my perception on or off?

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D r . J ac que s Jos p i t re, Jr . , MD , MB A | We a l th T her a py®

FINANCIAL

Getting In:

Is the growth path clear?

What is the quality of this investment?

Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds I use the following lines of inquiry to measure the ability of an organization to deliver a quality service and/or product in a consistent manner.

Base – The potential number of qualified customers who can

Value Focus – The organization makes giving their customers value a top priority. In aligning themselves with what the customer most desires, they organize their resources around serving those needs and therefore are aligned with demand.

Passion – They care about the work that they are doing and feel that it is important. This passion fuels the constant refinement of the product or service. The pursuit of quality satisfies each person‘s personal needs as well as that of the customer.

Vision – The leaders of the organization have a good sense of what direction the company should go in. The leaders are able to synthesize the market‘s evolving needs with potential solutions that address those needs.

Plan – The leaders of the organization have a focused realistic plan that they have successfully conveyed to all members of the organization. That plan outlines how resources will be efficiently used to deliver value to the customer. The plan is the blueprint that coordinates the efforts of different parties to function as a single entity.

Efficiency – The organization is able to use resources in an efficient manner to deliver a product or service that the qualified customer can afford. If the selling price is not below the perceived value, then the company will not have sales.

Integrity – The people in the company have the ability to do what they say they are going to do. When you have a team that can make good on its word, then you have a higher probability that they will be able to deliver on the plans outlined.

All of this work will give you an estimate of the ―Probability‖ or chance that a company will perform as expected. That is why many investment experts recommend that independent investors focus on industries they know. Having some background knowledge makes it easier for investors to evaluate the above mentioned characteristics of an investment.

If you are guessing and hoping that the price of your asset will go up after ―making an investment‖ then you have not made an investment, instead you have taken a chance (also known as gambling). Investing is about doing your homework beforehand and realizing your gain at the moment you get into the deal.

Cashing out of the deal becomes a simple formality.

The homework involves reading and talking.

Go to the companies‘ websites and read what they have to say about themselves and their businesses. Look at investment sites and read what other people have to say about the companies and their products and services.

benefit from the product or service in a reasonable timeframe is substantial. Ideally, the product or service will become a commodity.

Awareness – Are there few people who really appreciate the full inherent value in the potential investment? At the same time, is there a reasonable timeframe within which this awareness will spread to qualified buyers?

Is there a gap between perception and reality?

Price is less than Value – When you calculate the expected value of the asset (current assets minus liabilities plus projected future earnings), is it below the current asking price? If no, then you should not invest. If yes, then this is a potential investment. I say potential because you would want to compare different investment options to each other to figure out which would be the best choice among a pool of potential deals.

What is the timeframe to close this gap?

Realization – How long will it take for the price to match up with the value that you have predicted? Is this in line with your financial goals?

Does the story behind this gap make sense?

Does it add up? – If you have a high quality product or service that is priced below its value, then why is that the case? Is there a misperception about the quality of the organization? Is there a misperception about its growth path? Do the stories make sense?

Look at feedback sites and see what customers have to say about the companies.

Talk to people in the industry and learn what their perceptions of the companies are, and where they fit in their respective industries. If you are interested in investing in an industry you know little to nothing about, then consider hiring an industry expert for a few hours to get their opinion of the company and the industry. Some experts will be happy to share their knowledge if you take them out for a nice lunch. When you are considering investing in a new business, you might also consider working or volunteering in that business, or a similar one, to gain an insider‘s knowledge of the industry before investing your money. This may sound like a lot of work, and it is. But it can also be fun if you treat it as an exploration, and work with a team of family and friends. No matter how you do it, you will always find the pain of doing the work before you invest is a lot less painful than trying to recover your money after it is lost in a bad deal.

The bottom line is to be confident in your approach and to do your homework when investing your money. Even the ―experts‖ may not do their homework when it comes to your money.

Just like you can‘t have someone else exercise for you, you can not leave someone else in charge of your money. They may execute things on your behalf, but be clear on what is happening with your funds. And, if anyone gets upset at your questions, then you should really consider replacing him.

In the next article, I will focus on getting out of your investment and the ―probability‖ of things happening as you expect.

This publication provides general concepts and theories in the subject matter. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial, medical or other professional services. If expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability, loss, or risk which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the concepts or theories of this work.

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The Final Frontier

Written By Tawan Davis

President and First Lady Obama. Oprah Winfrey and Bob Johnson. P Diddy and Jay Z. Ken Chenault and Dick Parsons. These remarkable success stories seem to have quieted the conversation about economics and race in contemporary America.

Still, even if we have to start the conversation in a whisper, you and I would admit that economics remains the greatest lasting struggle for African American equality in the United States.

Credit: Ben Heine ©

Our courageous forbears besieged and defeated the highest institutional and legislative barriers to Black electoral and civil access.

A mere 55 years and 8 presidents ago, the landslide election of a Black man with an ethnic name, divorced parents and a father who was not even a US citizen seemed more improbable than Buzz Aldrin‘s tip-toe across the moon.

While many Blacks of that period could not even register to vote, today Blacks are a decisive voting bloc in almost every statewide and national election.

Few Democratic Senators, Governors and no Presidents can be chosen without major support from African Americans, giving the community broad influence in who finally holds office.

With electoral influence has come civil progress. Few major universities, restaurants, hotels or airlines dare to exercise the kind of overt discriminatory practices that were

common through the 1950s and 60s.

When they do, the legal, financial and publicity recriminations can be crippling.

Things are not perfect, but President Obama‘s official limousine, ―the Beast‖, is far ride from Rosa Park‘s Montgomery bus.

The Current Context: Time is Money Unfortunately, electoral and civil progress has far outpaced economic advancement. Although the modern American economy is roughly 400 years old, the new African American economy is only about as old as the post civil rights era – roughly 40 years or so. And as we know, time is money.

Consider that in much of the country where African Americans have resided, there were 350 years in which Blacks had little to no access to the ways that people make, save and control money.

For the first 250 years, there were no wages, savings accounts, unionization, wills, inheritances, or pensions. For the next 100 years, most Blacks faced nearly insurmountable barriers to purchase land, assume mortgages, join stock exchanges, own stock, or preside over major corporations.

Trillions of dollars of potential intergenerational wealth was lost. If I had given each African American $2 at the signing of the constitution that he or she could pass on to their children and achieve the stock market long-term average return of 6-7%, each African American family today would have $80,000 $90,000 in savings, putting them on par with the rest of the nation. That‘s $3.5 trillion of potential wealth lost!!

This collective lack of net worth has to be the starting point of any conversation about Black economics.

Tawan Davis | Harlem Economics

Bill Clinton said this to George Bush about the 1992 recession during that year‘s campaign, but Black America has known it all along. From 40 acres and a mule, through Affirmative Action, to the occasional push for reparations, the limited access of Blacks to wealth creating possibilities has loomed as the highest bastion of race-based inequality.

This is why difficult economic times like the present leave African Americans disproportionately vulnerable.

A recent study by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University concludes "the wealth gap between white and African American families has more than quadrupled over the course of a generation; the racial wealth gap increased by $75,000, from $20,000 to $95,000; and, at least 25 percent of African Americans have no assets."

According to the U.S. Census data, "white household median net worth is 10 times that of Black households. The median net worth for African Americans was $11,800 compared to $118,000 for whites."

African Americans are three times as likely to have taken on a high-priced sub-prime mortgage and multiple times more likely to experience foreclosure. Black businesses are four times as likely to fail and nearly twice as likely to be without healthcare.

God Bless America, but God help our pocketbooks and wallets!

The challenged economics of the Black community is rooted in a resource gap.

Predominately African American communities lack the resources necessary to catalyze entrepreneurial and commercial activity. To be clear, economic growth is not based solely on money within the community, but on the ability to attract investment based on unique opportunities.

The key to growth will be to identify and activate latent assets in the community that have inherent value and can attract investment and partnership. Latent assets are assets or resources that are not optimally utilized but which have the potential to spur economic activity. Three main categories of latent assets are real estate, human capital and financial liquidity.

Real Estate – Location! Location! Location!

The first latent asset is real estate. Journey through urban America and you will discover concentrated pockets of well-located but underutilized real estate.

Some of our communities have not been meaningfully revitalized since they were decimated by riots of the 1960s.

Still, the past decade of urban revitalization has shown that resources are attracted to valuable underutilized property within historically Black communities. The long-term goal is not to displace existing community members or merchants, but to spur the kind of real estate investment activity that creates sustainable economic activity and value.

Human Capital – Ordinary People The second latent asset is human capital.

Black America often experiences drastic underutilization of people resources.

Chronic underemployment persists despite high population density and relatively lower wages, which traditionally attract business investment.

The nation‘s unemployment stands at 9.5%, while it is 18% among African Americans and 26 % among Harlemites. African Americans are 40% more likely to experience unemployment at a given point in time, and especially during an economic downturn. The first challenge of human resources is getting people to work.

Further, the African American community must be more aggressive about leveraging personal and informal relationships into commercial connections. Mary Maxwell Gates served on the Board of Directors of United Way with two of IBM‘s Chairmen and CEO‘s. Mrs. Gates‘ 1980 conversation about her son, Bill‘s, young company bridged Microsoft‘s early relationship with IBM. How else would the struggling Seattle start up get its software into the PC‘s of the Westchester computing goliath? As we know, it‘s who you know.

Lastly, institutions that bring together people who live, work and worship in the community are well positioned to partner in ways that pool resources.

Churches, sororities, fraternities, lodges and other institutions that have a long term interest in the community can activate latent networks as well as directly catalyze economic activity.

The Institutional Imperative African Americans spend a higher percentage of their incomes than other Americans, yet make significant financial contributions to local organizations such as religious, community and fraternal institutions.

This means that Black churches, lodges, fraternities, sororities and universities often form pockets of unencumbered financial liquidity and have long term interests in the viability of the community.

These institutions often fail to invest in ways that would economically catalyze the community because they lack the access and the expertise. Also, many overestimate the amount of funds needed to formulate long-term investment strategies that would benefit the

Guest contributor Tawan Davis is the Head of Strategy and Development for the Harlem Fund.

The Harlem Fund manages investments on behalf of community and non-profit organizations.

Previously, Tawan was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and a private equity Investor with Prudential Investment Management. Davis holds a BA from Georgetown University, a Masters of Sciences from England's Oxford University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Financial Liquidity – Venture Capital Revitalizing real estate, putting people to work, and activating networks can only work to catalyze economic activity if there exist viable enterprises with the potential to thrive. Creating those enterprises requires risky up-front investment. This is where cash and investment expertise become a challenge. The lack of financial liquidity seems a perennial barrier to entrepreneurialism in the Black communities.

In 1956, as the 26 years old son of a 4-term Congressman, Warren Buffet raised today‘s equivalent of approximately $800,000 from friends and family without taking out a loan and by contributing a mere $100 of his own money.

Today, African American entrepreneurs put up house, home and years of savings to collateralize high-interest loans in support of a single enterprising idea. If that idea stumbles, their one chance for financial independence goes with it.

To move forward, African Americans must focus on personal, family and institutional liquidity that can be invested both traditionally and in community-enhancing ventures.

communities that they serve.

For these institutions, the key is to understand that they need not move alone. Partnership is the way.

Their ability to seed ventures positions them well to attract partners and acquire the expertise and access needed to optimize their investment. This has been the basic model of America‘s endowments and institutional investment funds for a couple hundred years.

Furthermore, the ability to repeatedly seed nascent commercial ventures within the community catalyzes growth and innovation while spreading the entrepreneurial investment risk. By financing multiple smaller ventures, there will be room for the inevitable occasional poor investment outcome.

Public Policy In an address to Members of Congress and participants attending a Congressional Black Caucus meeting, Bob Johnson, founder and former Chairman of BET, referred to the statistics cited above as a "wealth gap Tsunami threatening African American families."

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Tawan Davis | Harlem Economics

Johnson offered several public policy suggestions on how to close the gap. While some of Johnson‘s suggestions were problematic in their devising or implementation, two were timely and implementable.

First, Johnson suggested that the Federal government significantly reduce or defer taxes on the income or economic gains from investments in Black-owned companies. This is the other side of my Institutional Imperative.

The institutions within the community may provide the seed capital, while potential investment partners outside of the community would have a tax incentive to participate in ventures. This will give businesses a raw profit incentive to seek, partner and invest in viable businesses in the African American community. It will also provide the investment rationale of offsetting some of the perceived risk of investing in Black businesses by predictably fixing a portion of the return into the tax structure.

Johnson also suggested that the Federal government create a Treasury-backed fund to securitize short-term borrowing or emergency loans to African American businesses. Since liquidity is a perennial problem of Black start-ups, this would incentivize banks to extend credit to burgeoning African American businesses and offset some of the perceived risk by having the added security of a treasury backed instrument.

Public policy is best used to target the liquidity problem, while the other latent assets must be activated from collective private initiative within the African American community.

Great strides have been made for the civil and electoral rights of Blacks in America. Still, the economic condition of the African American community trails far behind the other advancements and behind the rest of the country.

Although many social and cultural explanations have been proffered, the most impactful variable has been centuries of systemic economic disengagement. The solution is to focus on latent assets within the community and activate them to attract investment and catalyze economic activity.

The major burden lies on institutions within the community, strategizing to attract investment partners and influencing public policy to create incentives to bolster investment in the African American enterprise.

To be honest, getting Obama elected will prove to have been much easier than getting Black America out of debt, into work, and in control of its economic future.

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The Science of Mentorology

Taylor comes from a stable home. He doesn‘t get into trouble, however he has no idea what he wants to do in the future. He is talented but lacks focus. Johanna has had a troubled childhood, but is gifted nonetheless. She comes from a home with English as a second language and she was often left home alone as a child to govern herself while her mother worked two jobs. Despite low school attendance, she is considerably bright. Joaquin has two working class parents who care about him, but he has a learning disability that wasn‘t properly diagnosed as dyslexia until almost middle school, which brought about some frustration and anger issues. He also lives in a neighborhood where, despite good parenting, there is a high level of negative street influences.

What could help Taylor with his focus and help Johanna with structure? How can Joaquin work through his impediments? The science of Mentorology asks the right questions, more by theory than just the facts. How do we get there? What are the variables and by what method?

Maybe one thing the experts can agree on now, and that is, our objectives cannot be met without first establishing clear methods for reaching them. No Child Left Behind established an extensive set of standards to reach without a sound methodology for attainment. The science of Mentorology is strategic design mentoring that creates inventive solutions, tailored to help young people become more confident, resourceful, ambitious and goal oriented.

There are core principles for each strategic design, but no more cookie-cutter programs. Mentorology reaches deeper bringing forth better results. Many mentoring concepts have birthed over recent years.

Mentoring is not some new trend; it has been practiced throughout time. Generations have passed on knowledge in every culture – it‘s about the circle of life and the passing of knowledge to succeeding generations – sharing traditions, skills and knowledge. Somehow, we looked up and there was this huge generational wedge – a disconnect. As the world around us continues to evolve, the key is to continually find ways to stay relevant while staying connected to historical wisdoms. A very impressive mentoring movement is underway; celebrities are on board in addition to us commoners. Once we get down to it, the passing of knowledge is pretty instinctive. We simply connect, appreciate individuality while inspiring a need to know in our mentees through storytelling, experiences and activity to help develop a kind of wholeness.

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The Science of Mentorology

Mentoring now, is more than picking up a young person, grabbing a frank and catching a ballgame. It‘s become a social imperative.

Recording artist Patti Austin is a big proponent of Mentorology. Her collaboration with The Over My Shoulder Project, a national mentoring initiative that uses music to raise mentoring awareness, which we found most pointed in content, innovatively describes Mentorology as an art form: ―The art of mentoring teaches us to instinctively engage and ask: ‗How can I help design this person to be high-performance? How can I help design this person to become solid enough to last a lifetime? What do I see that this person can be?‘‖ They look at mentoring the same way they would any design project – ―We take the underdeveloped space and guide it to greatness. Their key guiding principles are to 1) constantly recalibrate and engineer with trusted team to unlock potential; 2) eliminate all evidence of emptiness; 3) strip away confusion; and 4) scrub away errors to make deprived atmosphere disappear. So far, they have made a small impact on the mentoring scene.

The larger clarion call for mentoring was made by President and First Lady Obama. In 2006, Program for International Student Assessment measured the applied learning and problem-solving skills of 15-year-olds in 30 industrialized countries, the U.S. ranked 25th out of the 30 in math and 24th in Science. However only 40 or so years ago, during the 1950‘s and 60‘s, the U.S. dominated the world in K-12 education. According to data compiled by OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), a global committee on government and policy, the United States ranked overall, #33 in reading, #19 in math and #22 in science, globally. For the leaders of the free world, that sent a message. We had missed something along the way.

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The Mentoring Center (TMC) based in Oakland, California, in its 16-year existence, has put together an extremely in depth design for strategic mentoring. One such example in the center is The African American Male Transition Program, again, with core principles that make up a methodology: 1) Why Do We Act the Way We Act; 2) Who Are We Really: The Foundation of Human Culture, Conduct & Purpose; 3) Life‘s Developmental Process: Manhood, Responsibility, Perseverance; 4) African & African American History and Cultural Precepts; 5) The World of Work and Personal Industry; 6) Character Development and Life‘s Purpose; 7) Transitioning Back Into Society and 8) Practical Application.

Perhaps even more impressive is TMC‘s ―Positive Mind Group‖ designed ―Transformative Mentoring‖ that works with at-risk youth ages 14-25 in what they describe as ―an intentional, structured, systematic and corrective intervention focused on personally transforming the attitude and mental framework of a disrupted human development cycle.‖ What a phrase!

Transform the mental framework of a ―disrupted human development cycle‖ – in simple terms – new perception, right thinking. Their programming is quite extensive even to the curriculum for training the trainer. Mentoring now, is more than picking up a young person, grabbing a frank and catching a ballgame. It‘s become a social imperative – for youth development and in the workplace.

Hundreds of mentoring programs have taken off recently. Susan Taylor, Essence Magazine editor emeritus, retired from the magazine to focus on a national mentoring initiative, National CARES Mentoring Movement. Now in 56 cities (locally, HarlemCARES), and growing, she has used her influence to bring awareness to the value of mentoring. Taylor has stated clearly on many occasions, ―It makes no sense to sit around and blame the parents for what they‘re not doing. Any member of the Black middle class who complains about the behavior of today‘s youth but fails to reach back and help them is forgetting how previous generations sacrificed for them. If the mother is addicted to drugs, if the father is incarcerated, it‘s the responsibility of the community to protect the children. That‘s what mentoring is – a call to us all to be the protective shield for vulnerable children.‖ Brotherhood/SisterSol, also highlighted in Those Who Do, based in Harlem, acclaimed and proven effective in the mentoring methods and innovatory mentoring group deservedly worth mention is Abyssinian Baptist Church‘s Blue Nile Rites of Passage Program – both programs have been running for more than 15 years with masterful approaches.

Mentorology by design, as science, has the probability to measure things as subtle as the forces that govern our moral choices and the thought processes that underlie unconscious actions. Armed with such understanding, methods easily lead to effective outcomes that can upturn our human development.

The mentoring call is for all of us, we are all teachers and lifelong learners. Even in big business, as industries battle skills shortages, corporations have honed in on mentoring processes.

Dr. Ian K. Smith, MD, popularly known for Celebrity Fit Club and The 50 Million Pound Challenge poses here with ABC Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts in support of the mentoring campaign launched by Steve Harvey.

Top right, Abyssinian Baptist Church’s Blue Nile Rights of Passage program has successfully mentored young people and families for more than 15 years with a unique holistic, faith-based approach.

Left Center, Brotherhood/SisterSol Co-founder, Khary Lazarre-White poses with Al Sharpton during one of the organization’s fundraisers.

Within 15 years, Brotherhood/SisterSol has grown into a leading youth development model for Black and Latino youth.

Steve Harvey with some young mentees during the four-day and three-night mentoring weekend at his Dallas, Texas ranch. He selects 100 boys, grades 8-11 from around the country to participate. Held annually around Father’s Day, Harvey and his wife Marjorie have begun to take their vision nationwide and expand it to include young ladies.

Photo by Johnny Rodriguez

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Philanthropy comes in all forms and sizes, the simplest acts of kindness can yield tremendous results. Our “Those Who Do� highlights for this issue include Geoffrey Canada, BrotherHood/SisterSol and Willie Mae Anderson, everyday people in the community who selflessly give of themselves to accomplish the extraordinary.

T ho se Who Do | Ge o ffr e y Ca na da Writte n by Brauc k We s l ey - Bus he r

T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of the Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, tells a story of a man with goldfish that died in the night because the tank's generator had stopped. He awakened to a tank of dead goldfish and wondered if they had screamed in the night with a cry the human ear could not hear. That's the way it felt in Harlem‘s public school system, specifically speaking, District 5 – the cries drowned out, and nobody with the power to help could hear the frequency of the screams.

After living in Harlem for more than a decade, the overwhelming hopelessness began to eat away at my optimism. There seemed to be a negative contagion that weighted down the strongest of God's children. This negative contagion was in the schools in our district; it was on the corners in front of the neighborhood Pathmark; and around our favorite places to dine. There seemed to be many Band-Aid solutions from the abstract ideas of those too far away to understand the severity of the abysmally oppressive conditions facing the community. On the other hand, individuals close enough to understand, with the influence to make changes, were easily tainted, where the least bit of opportunity turned to self-preservation and vain pursuits. So the at-risk remained silenced still.

In steps Superman, a sort of kinsman redeemer, who is acquainted with both sides of the equation, Geoffrey Canada. Canada, education reform champion, calls that negative contagion described above ―contamination,‖ and he‘s radically committed to reverse the downward spiral. He appears to be on the right track with what New York Times writer Paul Tough called one of the largest social experiments of our time. Unless you‘ve been living under a rock, chances are you‘ve heard of Geoffrey Canada and his Harlem Children‘s Zone. He‘s been on CBS 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, several articles have been written on him and his work in The New York Times, President Obama mentions duplicating Canada‘s Harlem Children‘s Zone across the country, and so on.

Canada‘s womb-to-tomb mission, The Harlem Children‘s Zone, stretches for more than 100 blocks in Harlem, serving at least 10,000 children, is perhaps one of the most aggressive, comprehensive agendas to right the educational and economic disparities in United States history.

His ideas, which stem from his own experiences, from a young streetfighting kid in the Bronx, to a predominantly white college in Maine and graduate school at Harvard, to the visionary who has an intimate and intrinsic experience with all variables and sides, constructs the fine details to tear down the strongholds of the disenfranchised. He begins with Baby College – at the child‘s beginning in the womb. Baby College, a parenting skills program, teaches expecting parents strategies for brain development, discipline, health and safety. The next step in the zone is the preschool level and then the lottery for the charter school, pre-K through 12, and college entrance.

Pictured left to right Mrs. Yvonne Canada, the Canada sons, Jerry and Geoffrey, Jr., Geoffrey Canada, Marjorie Harvey and Steve Harvey as the close out the first annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala. The organization raised over $1 million dollars toward efforts to expand Harvey‘s mentoring program nationwide. Denzel Washington, pictured left, donated $1 million to the foundation that night.

Canada said in an interview that he plans to create a safety net in the zone with educational, social, and medical services so tight that children in the neighborhood can‘t slip through.

Although it‘s too soon to see overall results, those most closely connected to the issues can definitely identify with the problems – and the solutions, which seem obvious – needed only someone with enough power to implement them and consistently stick with it. Canada addresses many cultural entanglements that an outsider would never be able to see. That‘s why, as that sort of kinsmen redeemer, he had to be close enough to the problem to understand it – but connected enough to the power to fix it. Besides, the laborious task of fundraising to serve the community is an awesome undertaking.

The new movie, ―Waiting for Superman,‖ a documentary about America‘s failing public school system, features Canada as one of its leading subjects. John Legend wrote the movie‘s original song, Shine, with lyrics so fitting: ―They wait to plead their case, unknown cast aside. I love to see their face, can we spare the light? Are we afraid to see the prisoners of yesterday? These beautiful minds, trapped inside.

Bring them back to life….Let them Shine… Can't eat if we don't feed them. Can't read if we don't teach them. There's no line if we just hide them. Don't just let them die.‖ Geoffrey Canada has won several awards for his efforts. And probably one of the most moving moments was the experience of Denzel Washington and Steve Harvey with Geoffrey Canada as their honoree – a very ―Those Who Do‖ moment. All of whom have made commitments to the empowerment of young Black men.

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A major supporter of Brotherhood/Sister Sol and their 2010 Paul Robeson award recipient, 83-year-old legend, Harry Belafonte first met co-founder Khary at the home of Essence Magazine luminary, Susan Taylor. He says that he has never done anything out of ego, “We have the gift of choice, that‟s why I do it,” Mr. Belafonte says of his commitment to service and community. “It began with my mother standing in a tiny little room in Harlem when I was a little boy, when she came in and in her silence I asked, “what‟s the matter mom?‟” he shared with his audience, “And she said nothing and I asked her again. She turned to me and said, „Harry, never let them win. Never let them win.‟”

T ho se Who Do | B ro t he rHo o d/ S ist e rS o l

The logic is quite simple and brilliant.

Take the next generation of young people; create a nurturing safe space, like home. Set high expectations, provide guidance, expand their horizons, teach them the value of their history and promote education all with loving guidance and consistency – exactly as a family model should – and you have the

Brotherhood/Sister Sol. Khary Lazarre-White and Jason Warwin, the quintessential demonstration of Those Who Do, conceived and carried out the first steps of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol Program while they were seniors at Brown University. What began with a group of fifteen disaffected youth on the Southside of Providence, Rhode Island, has turned into one of the leading youth development models in the country.

Occupying a unique perspective that reconciles both sides of the equation, Khary and Jason, with an intimate understanding of the issues that face youth growing up in disadvantageous circumstances and also a view of the solution, revamped the tools needed to unravel the web of poverty. After finishing at Brown, and after successfully turning around the lives of 14 of the 15 young men they had taken on as mentees, they returned home to New York to further the model. The original 15 participants in Providence were initially found deeply disaffected, they had been entangled in gang life, involved in selling drugs, and they didn‘t go to school. All but one reportedly made a complete turnaround. That was 15 years ago and hundreds of success stories have since been recorded.

Brotherhood/Sister Sol holds fundraisers throughout the year. Their annual benefit honors individuals who have made an impact in the fields of art and social justice. Celebrating their 15th year, the 6th annual benefit (pictured left) honored Harry Belafonte, Professor Charles Ogletree and Exmeralda Santiago.

Pictured above left: Khary Lazarre-White (Cofounder, Executive Director Bro/sis), model/actress Joy Bryant, CNN’s Roland Martin, literary icon Esmerelda Santiago and Harvard professor Charles Ogletree.

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T ho s e Who Do | B r o t he r Ho o d/ S is t e r S o l

BREAKING DOWN GENERATIONAL STRONGHOLDS Next Time: This innocent country set you down in a ghetto in which, in fact, it intended that you should perish. […]

The limits of your ambition were, thus, expected to be set forever. You were born into a society which spelled out with brutal clarity, and in as many ways as possible, that you were a worthless human being. You were not expected to aspire to excellence: you were expected to make peace with mediocrity.

- James Baldwin for The Fire

Alumni of “The Lyrical Circle” above Frank Lopez, Enmanuel Candelario and Frantz Jerome share their spoken word, “Mother is God in the Eyes of Children.” They have branched out from Brotherhood/Sister Sol to incorporate The Peace Poets, a New York community-based arts collective that also creates safe space for inner city youth to express themselves artistically and discover their true potential as people and leaders.

Center left, Co-founders Khary Lazarre-White and Jason Warwin pose with honoree Professor Charles Ogletree .

From Convent Avenue to Yale, Brotherhood/Sister Sol alumnus Zora Howard, New York’s first youth Poet Laureate, pictured left recently started her freshman year at Yale University.

One of the performers at the annual benefit, she brilliantly spoke on the misfortune of trees being cut down on her block in Harlem – without protest or concern. Zora was one of many diverse participants of the program.

The logic is quite simple and brilliant.

Take the next generation of young people; create a nurturing safe space, like home. Set high expectations, provide guidance, expand their horizons, teach them the value of their history and promote education all with loving guidance and consistency – exactly as a family model should – and you have the

The ―Brotherhood‖ officially incorporated in 1995 and began again with about 45 young Black and Latino males. They were housed in a public school in East Harlem, Central Park East. Over the next few years following, they grew and developed their program, eventually expanding to their own space and adding the sisterhood. It is with great intricacy in the details that make up the design to disintegrate destructive thinking and transform the mental framework to an industrious one.

Brotherhood/Sister Sol concentrates on key issues with consistent and intensive mentoring that contain self-awareness, educational achievement and leadership development, bias reduction, sexual responsibility, political education and social justice, sexism and misogyny, Pan African and Latino history and experiential global awareness. Their international study program takes Brotherhood/Sister Sol students to places like Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Dominican Republic and more, where they study the culture, history and politics of those places traveled. Those types of experiences expand their view far beyond the confining space of their neighborhoods and transform their posture for a lifetime.

So phenomenal are the components that make up the organization, it is difficult to capture it all in brief. The various student groups are joined together by gender, age and chapters with a finely-tuned curriculum that fosters critical thinking, practical skills for negotiating modern life, leadership competence, conflict resolution and development for service projects in the community. Groups are exposed to new ideas through wilderness retreats, college tours, cultural performances, and intensive study programs. Creative and self-expression is always encouraged in their safe spaces – and on several occasions, highlighted through various outlets that have been created by the organization. One such outlet is the Lyrical Circle, which produces extraordinary oratory.

The Directors Circle is currently made up of co -founders Khary Lazarre-White and Jason Warwin, and more recently, Dr. Susan Wilcox also uniquely designed to ensure continuous improvement through what they call, ―deliberately egalitarian and consensusdriven. That leadership structure trickles down through the entire organization, unfolding foundational values of community, collaboration and equity.

Brotherhood/Sister Sol. Over the years, the organization has attained quantifiable results well above the city averages.

Reportedly, of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol alumni, 88% have graduated from high school compared to 34% of black males graduating citywide. Less than 2% had a child before graduating high school compared to the New York City average of 9.4%. No alumni are incarcerated compared to the staggering national stats that one of every three black men ages 20-29 are under the supervision of the criminal justice system and finally 95% of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol alumni are either working full-time or enrolled in college.

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol model has been recognized nationally and received awards from Oprah Winfrey, Brown University, the Ford Foundation, Abyssinian Development Corporation, The New York State Department of Education and RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Their success has continued with members achieving and excelling ian all documented outcome areas. Because of the program‘s success, the leadership team has been invited to share their expertise with institutions that include Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Ford Foundation, Heinz Foundation, 21st Century Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The City College, the National Principal Leadership Institute and others. Their graduation record is impressive, even more so, the colleges their participants are attending or have graduated from – including Columbia University, New York University, Brown University Yale University, Howard University, Clark Atlanta, and several SUNY and CUNY schools in an abbreviated list.

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THOSE WHO DO | Miracle on 110th St.

Miracle on 110th Street

By Sheila Evans A miraculous story about Cathedral Parkway Towers, a housing complex ideally located in one of Harlem‘s safest and wealthiest communities, Morningside Heights. Its residents are predominantly African American and Hispanic American, and it is tenant managed and owned by members in good standing of the United Tenants Association of Cathedral Parkway Towers (UTACPT).

There is speculation that tourism has had a great influence on today‘s burgeoning real-estate market in Harlem. Some of the first whites to begin moving into the area were Europeans in the tour business, with dual citizenship. They appreciated the gorgeous topography, landscape and stunning architecture of Harlem. Yet long before tourism officially came back uptown, Cathedral Parkway Towers (CPT) was under development.

Built across from The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on 110th street, (aka Central Park North and Cathedral Parkway) and 109th street, Cathedral Parkway Towers, a two building complex is perfectly situated between two Subway Lines, and the M4 bus runs straight up Madison Avenue and across 110th street. Two other buses come very close to the property and Broadway is only two blocks West. The neighborhood is also fortunate to have three parks in close proximity, Riverside Park, Morningside Park and Central Park. With the Cathedral and Con Edison as close neighbors, the area is relatively quiet with occasional sirens on route to St. Luke‘s Hospital, which is St. John's neighbor on the North side. Additionally there are several other

major institutions in the neighborhood including, Columbia University, Barnard College, Union Theological Seminary, Riverside Church, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Bank Street for Early Childhood Education and the Manhattan School of Music.

To see how this miracle of tenant ownership of such a valuable property came to pass in 2005 we need someone who was there from the beginning to share the history. Meet Mrs. Willie Mae Anderson, Tenant Manager of Cathedral Parkway Towers. She along with her staff, Angela Rooks, Lolita Lowe, Gwendolyn Connor, Carey Solomon and Kathy Rooks oversee a Two-Tower Mitchell-Lama property comprised of 309 affordable rental units on Manhattan‘s Upper West Side.

Mrs. Anderson was the second tenant to move into CPT and talked about its development over lunch at Freda‘s Caribbean and Soul Food restaurant on Columbus Avenue and 109th Street. Eating peas and rice, she recalled the beginning days of the Mitchell-Lama Program offering developers tax credits and government funds to build lower and middle income housing.

The idea was to renew the neighborhood while embracing many of those already living there. The buildings would remain ‗affordable‘ for at least twenty years, after which time they could be sold on the open market. As with most government ventures, there were many forms and various stipulations involved.

In order to build, the community had to be invited to development meetings in an advisory capacity.

Mrs. Anderson said, ―At that time, this kind of real-estate development was happening throughout the city. It was a great investment deal with an even greater return, after twenty years, when the properties could then be sold to private investors who could then rent at market rents.

The Morningside Renewal Council held meetings for what was to become Cathedral Parkway Towers. With the general partners, construction of the two building complex with a garage on each side, began in 1973 and was completed in 1975.

By 1976 the United Tenants Association of Cathedral Parkway Towers, Inc. (UTACPT Inc.) was formed in order to engage in a rent strike over construction and property management concerns. Mrs. Anderson, one of the UTACPT leaders was assigned to collect rent during the strike. Tenant Percy Lambert was a young attorney representing UTACPT and as things heated up, a resident, Gwen Scott suggested that Fred Wallace, a super sharp African American, Harvard lawyer also be tapped to represent UTACPT, Inc. After Mr. Wallace wrote the Tenant Participation Agreement (TPA), he was relentless in making sure that UTACPT got everything they were entitled to according to the agreement. Mrs. Anderson says, ―UTACPT is the only group to use the TPA. When the dust settled from the ‗7A‘ rent strike, Cathedral Parkway Towers became ‗tenant managed and operated‘ with the grace of GOD.‖ This meant those working in the building in any capacity including the superintendent, custodial workers and door receptionists were tenants. Mrs. Anderson says that several of them went to school to secure proper credentials to manage the property. Although, she was reluctant to go to school, she decided to go anyway, getting her sales person‘s and broker‘s licenses and several management certificates, helping to make her one of ―Those Who Do.‖ Along with the right to manage the property came the tenants right of first refusal to purchase the property, when it came up for sale 20 years after signing the TPA. In 1997, UTACPT decided to exercise its right to purchase the building, which was more than a notion. A great sum of money had to be secured. Tenants held several fundraisers to defray legal costs. Sadly that same year Fred Wallace passed away suddenly, and it looked like the end of a dream. Wallace had such a brilliant mind that some feared it impossible to move forward without him. However, he had forged a great path and with GOD‘S help, plans moved forward miraculously.

In 1999 the purchase got underway and pieces of the façade fell! A cluster of bricks fell mainly into the courtyard (where children usually play) and no children were playing at that time, and no one was hurt, another miracle! As a result, all of the bricks had to be checked and it was discovered that every brick had to be replaced, costing more than 2 million dollars. Things appeared to take another turn for the worse.

UTACPT decided not to close on the property until ALL construction issues and repairs (and there were several) were resolved. Legal disputes ensued over property turnover matters. However, the bricks falling turned out to be a blessing because the general owner did not want to pay to have them replaced making the purchase somewhat easier for UTACPT. During this tenuous period, The Divisions of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) our supervising agency was very supportive.

After our 20th year our legal woes began. Our Mitchell-lama protection had expired; UTACPT‘S lawsuit to compel the original developer to honor his contract to sell Cathedral Parkway towers to UTACPT was draining everyone.

The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) came forward with a funding plan for UTACPT, a borrower with no credit rating other than its more than 20 years of mercurial management and operation history of the complex to rely on.

The Community Preservation Corporation and the City Pension fund believed in us. Among other things, their financial support allowed us to gain ownership of the complex, receive enhanced vouchers from HUD, keep us in the Mitchell-Lama program and begin the needed repairs and improvements that will help keep us affordable and competitive in the years ahead. Without their support many of the long time residents would have lost their homes.

UTACPT has an elected board of directors all of whom volunteer and are devoted to the complex. As board members have gotten older, often their family members run for their board positions. Mrs. Anderson encourages families to participate in our activities. She treats tenants like family and the office acknowledges all familial events, funerals, weddings and more. The community room is always busy with holiday parties for children, and/or various receptions and celebrations.

There is a scholarship fund that was instituted by a UTACPT leader, Douglas Owens, to make sure that high school graduates living in the complex receive a scholarship award.

Mrs. Anderson has also cultivated a relationship with the community and annually the complex hosts The Martin Luther King, Jr. Democratic Club’s annual A ug us t ga t h er i n g .

S ev e r a l community leaders and politicians have attended over the years including Council Woman Inez Dickens, Congressman Charles Rangel and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In 2005 there was a big celebration in our court yard celebrating what was called the ―Key To Cathedral‖ – A notice went out saying: Congratulations fellow owners of Cathedral Parkway

Towers! Yes, this apartment complex now belongs to all of us…every tenant as a member in good standing of UTACPT. Your cooperation through years of hard work, relentless effort, legal action and negotiations has resulted in our dream of ownership and increased responsibility for our future successes.

There are many important deceased participants who struggled for these gains including Mrs. Fannie Moore, for whom a memorial celebration is held annually. Other names of those who have passed on include Mary and Douglas Owens, Fred Wallace and Edith Pennaman.

They can all rest in peace knowing that their work was not in vain. Mrs. Anderson says, ―It's a miracle and GOD has been with us every step of the way."

More recently, CPC closed a $4.5 million loan, making Cathedral Parkway Towers one of the first developments financed under CPC‘s Green Financing Initiative in which CPT has recently added energy efficient upgrades. Cathedral Parkway Towers has also received an Energy Smart Loan from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) & Weatherization Funds from NY State to finance cost-saving energy retrofits. The New York City Pension Funds provided permanent financing.

We had a Dream! – A Thirty Year Dream and CPC along with many others have made our dream a reality. We are a FIRST! Due to their investment, a group of tenants with humble incomes own one of the largest pieces of real estate in the country. Absolutely miraculous!

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Photo Essay and Words by

Once a year, Harlem really comes alive with excitement and pride when The African American day parade is celebrated. The theme of this year‘s parade was Working

for Unity, Justice and Economic Empowerment. The first official African American day parade was held in September 1969 in Harlem.

The first Grand Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. would be proud to see how the parade has grown.

The parade route starts at 111th Street and ends at 136th Street on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. The parade is the perfect occasion for friends and families to join together and celebrate African American culture. The African American Day parade is classified as a National parade and attracts local politicians, organizations and bands from 12 states. WM Omawale Clay (special assistant to New York State Senator Perkins ) kept the level of enthusiasm high marching with the FREEDOM Party organization.

Special guest Councilman Charles Barron attended and campaigned for Governor Paterson‘s position. It was a very special day and the weather was parade perfect. For info in the parade contact Parade Chairman Abe Snyder or Vice Chair Tamara Norman at 212- 348-3080.

WE CARRY our memories- ancestors and our history- -with us in parades and in our hearts and minds everywhere where we go. The Freedom Party (above left) marches in the African American day parade giving tribute to Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

New York State Senator Bill Perkins (directly above) greeting an adoring resident of Harlem as he marches - after taking the 30th Senate District in a landslide securing another term representing Harlem, parts of the Upper West Side and a part of Washington Heights.

(left) WM Omawale Clay fires up the crowd with and City Councilman Charles Barron and Attorney General Candidate, Ramon Jimenez – Councilman Barron is seeking the governor seat.

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Muslim sisters in white contrast beautifully with child - move in unison with style , grace and elegance in the 2010 Annual African American Day Parade.

Lisa DuBois has designed series of postcards on Harlem Landmarks and statues

PHOTO ARTIST

Photography by Rudy Collins

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Photography By Jimi Sweet

Next season you can expect to find many elements of surprise. Bold prints, muted tones and smart tailoring added to the season’s sleek and sophisticated designs will give you that gotta-have-it sensation.

Stylist Atiba Newsome

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The modish black and white palette gets edgy with a graphic pattern resembling jagged diamond facets.

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SUPER COOL Fashion converging with function is particularly welcome this season.

Wearing neutral elements doesn’t mean that there’s no room to sparkle.

HEEL LOVE The right shoe at the base of a structural dress serve as a strong foundation.

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Enigmatic hemlines and dresses that bare as much as they conceal have the “It� crowd smitten.

Model: Grace Bol @ Boss Models | Makeup: Romell Duresseau | Fashion Assistant: Aisha Rae Creative Director: Brauck Wesley-Busher | Special Thanks to Tony Everett at H&M

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P ho to gra p hy by Alo n n a Co le

C he f Pa ul C hi s h o lm | M O JO H AR L EM

Fresh figs stuffed with blue cheese on an arugula and candied walnut salad, or cornbread panzella with tomato, cucumber and basil or sexy grits with woodland mushrooms? Well, it‘s not exactly your typical Harlem soul food cuisine, but strangely delicious, and a sure sign that change has begun. ―I love soul food,‖ explains Mounir Jabrane, owner of Mojo Harlem, ―but I can‘t eat soul food everyday, although people do.‖ Mounir, intimately called ―Moun‖ by his friends, says he started dining out in downtown restaurants and discovered many great people also dining there. When he inquired about where they lived, to his surprise many of them said they lived in Harlem.

Less than two years old and Mojo Harlem has become the place to be uptown.

On any given night, there is a full house and if you enjoy celebrity sightings, you are sure to run into a familiar face. My first visit there, we ran into Hue-Man bookstore owner Marva Allen and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young. Other nights have seen very special guests, from Governor David Paterson with his secret service guys to actors Felicia Rashaad, Barbara Montgomery, Alfre Woodard and Don Cheadle.

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Mounir moved to Harlem from North Africa with the expectation that it would be like what he had read of the Harlem Renaissance days. Instead, he has become one of the trendsetters of the new Harlem renaissance. ―I always believed there was a highly sophisticated customer in Harlem. You just need places where you can give them what they need,‖ Mounir articulates with a rhythmical accent. Of course with sophisticated diners it‘s not only the food that appeals, it‘s the service. ―I ask experienced people why the come back to Mojo and they always tell me it‘s because of the details. For instance, when people leave the restaurant, you open the door for them. When you see them coming, there is always a special greeting.‖

My first glimpse of Mojo Harlem was an American Express commercial with Law and Order star S. Epatha Merkerson introducing the restaurant. It was quite an impressive piece and piqued my interest. When I first arrived, my initial impression of the décor was Moroccan; however, Mounir adamantly corrected me insisting that everything in the place was inspired in Harlem. Besides the name Mojo, that is, which was inspired by Quincy Jones.

The menu items were curiously good. It seemed to have an international flair. I was especially taken in by the sexy grits. Mounir told us his secret was to use cream rather than butter and the mushrooms give a surprising edge. Mojo is now open Mondays. Mounir says that it is just as busy Monday nights as it is on a Friday.

On to the décor, it is little influenced by the classical symmetries of Moroccan models, running to an unruly improvised style of middle eastern-mod-deco meets urban, none more idiosyncratic than the menu combinations, yet somehow, it makes for a very cozy atmosphere.

In fact, Mounir said they had to move the sofa out of the small sitting area near the window, because guests would settle in all night. That‘s one reason Mojo never takes reservations. They can‘t estimate the waiting time for a table.

Customers tend to linger. ―The restaurant may be packed,‖ Mounir explains, ―but in Harlem, when people are finished eating, they sit and talk. We just get used to that and adjust to it.‖

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Monday nights are special with live jazz and half priced bottles of wine with dinner. ―We are growing up with our customers. I discovered that many people don‘t know about wine, they ask for chardonnay because that‘s what they know.

We begin to introduce our customers to better wines and we grow with our customers.‖ As more and higher end restaurants move to Harlem, it brings a different type of customer welcomed by restaurateurs. Mounir loves the fact that more restaurants are roosting in Harlem. ―More restaurants will bring people from outside Harlem,‖ Mounir believes.

Every aspect of Mojo, Mounir has taken from his creative databank. He built the restaurant from scratch, out of what used to be an old bodega. He said there were no floors, no walls, no electricity or plumbing. So everything from theme, to design, menu and service was conceptualized there from nothing but an idea. And it has been a winning combination. To do all this it‘s likely just the Mojo of Mounir Jabrane. At first encounter, he presents himself as a the coy flirtatious host in a charming unthreatening way. As he explains it, he wants all his guests to feel special. ―One night was climactic from me,‖ ‗Moun‘ remembers, ―there was a customer, 87 or 97 years old, born in Harlem, she told me that I made her feel like she was 16 years old.

That made me feel that I had accomplished something.‖

C he f Pa ul C hi s h o lm | M O JO H AR L EM

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Harlem is one of the hottest tours on the planet and has the highest recognition of any neighborhood in NYC. If you say Harlem almost anywhere in the world speaking almost any language, people have a clear sense and vision of the place and those that made it famous – and Harlem Spirituals/New York Visions has done its part in putting Harlem at the top of the tour charts. arlem Spirituals/New York Visions is a tour company that has literally been driving business INTO Harlem for nearly thirty years.

Many Harlem churches and restaurants greatly profit from visitors rolling into the neighborhood on buses or in limos, thanks to the company founded in 1981 by a Frenchman named Lucien Corcos.

Corcos apparently had an appreciation for Harlem and enjoyed its history and beauty. He also had a passion for its music. Muriel Samama, his last assistant before he passed away, became the owner of Harlem Spirituals.

With a natural instinct for business, Muriel has an ever-expanding vision for the company. She added 'New York Visions' to the name Harlem Spirituals, to launch the company into new directions. The company now offers a variety of tours in other areas including Brooklyn, The Bronx and Niagara Falls. She recently decided to include Brooklyn churches to the Sunday morning Gospel Tours, a good move for repeat visitors.

Harlem Spirituals/New York Visions currently offers assorted tours including Champagne & Limo tours, Soul Food and Jazz and much, much more.

Years ago, Erika Elisabeth was appointed to head up the group department. Erika handles global sales and marketing and oversees some of the promotion for the Harlem based ARC choir, and their music, to venues outside the USA. Muriel has deep compassion for this group. Along the way a Wednesday Harlem Gospel Tour was added featuring the ARC Choir. ARC stands for Addicts Rehabilitation Center. The choir members are recovered drug addicts, happy to be alive and pleased to sing praises to GOD. Acting in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer is Muriel's sister Dominique Shemtov. Soft spoken and astute, Dominique shoulders a great deal of responsibility and pitches in with operations whenever necessary. She quietly appears to know all aspects of running the company.

Written By Sheila Evans

Sheila Evans | Harlem Tourism

Muriel's assistant, Emilie de Melo, understands the nature of tourism. She is cool no matter what crisis crops up on busy Sunday mornings, getting the job done politely and efficiently. She manages operational tasks resolving all kinds of issues, even mechanical coach problems like busted microphones and broken airconditioners.

Many tour factors are beyond human control, especially weather and traffic conditions.

Yet, regardless of problems that may surface during a Harlem Gospel Tour, they‘re quickly solved and soon forgotten once the gospel music begins. It‘s all - good in the house of GOD. Not all tour guides who tour Harlem, live in Harlem although several of us do. Yet one thing that most of the Harlem Spiritual Gospel Tour guides have in common is a genuine love and respect for Harlem. The staff monitors tour reviews, and guides receiving the most favorable feedback are called the most. However, in addition to stellar guides, one of the keys to the company‘s success is offering tours in many languages.

Europeans speaking several languages is quite common.

Americans speaking several languages is not. In the past, Americans did not need to speak foreign languages because work was plentiful here in the land of opportunity. Add to that easy travel to gorgeous exotic places within the boundaries of the USA and speaking other languages were simply not necessary. That is quickly changing as the economy becomes more and more global. In short, most foreign speaking guides in NYC tend to come from other countries often giving tours in their native tongue. In fact, speaking another language is more often than not a good reason to become a tour guide. Peggy Taylor and Glen Fisher Page are rare exceptions to the language rule. They are African American tour guides who are multi-lingual. What made Peggy and Glen choose to learn to speak foreign languages?

Glen speaks German fluently and reminisced about driving his Chevy as a touring vehicle for Harlem Spirituals back in the Corcos days. He says he always had an interest in German film and German people. In addition to being stationed in Germany while in the military, he lived in Austria for 3 years as a Fulbright exchange teacher and studied at the University of Vienna. He does tours primarily in German and English, although he also speaks French, which he studied on his own. Glen likes to end his tours singing either Johnny Mercer or Cole Porter songs.

Peggy, who hails from Alabama, speaks French, German, Italian and Spanish.

She is currently studying Russian. She learned to speak French while living in Paris for twelve years and still loves lounging around in outdoor cafes. She learned German through her operatic studies wanting to become a coloratura soprano. Peggy learned Italian from an Italian lover and jokingly says she wouldn‟t mind having a Spanish or Russian lover to help her master those languages today. She once told me that lovers are the best teachers of languages, you tend to learn much faster when love is involved. Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, German Opera? Peggy and Glen share a love for music perhaps music is a key to having a good ear for languages.

Over time, the company has been in several locations around Times Square. It is currently located at 690 Eighth Avenue between 43rd and 44th streets and recent renovations have expanded it to two floors including a gift shop! The Internet is still a new frontier and Muriel is all over it. Gone are the days of touring in Glen‟s Chevy. Gone are the days when tourists were afraid to go above 96th Street. Now on a typical Sunday numerous buses, each holding as many as fifty-five passengers may be heading uptown.

Harlem is one of the hottest tours on the planet and has the highest recognition of any neighborhood in NYC. If you say Harlem almost anywhere in the world speaking almost any language, people have a clear sense and vision of the place and those that made it famous – and Harlem Spirituals/ New York Visions has done its part in putting Harlem at the top of the tour charts.

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Book Review

Required Reading Alfonso and Ouida Wyatt’s first compilation of life expressions

On page 7, the Wyatts ask a series of questions, “What do you do when you are a stranger to yourself? Can you be sure that what you say about you is the truth; or do you tell yourself convincing lies in a desperate attempt to fool truth?

Where do you turn for honest feedback when everyone around you has bought into your manufactured false image? What happens when you have more nagging questions about yourself than reassuring answers?

Who can comfort the real you?” Soul Be Free is a collection of poems and ideas, conceived by Ouida and Alfonso Wyatt, that can alter the way we see ourselves. It may change the way we see the world by compartmentalizing the soul‘s journey on earth. Sections broken down by design, beginning with The Mind, that jolts the reader on page 8 with, ―What‘s on Your Mind When You Are out of Your Mind?‖ The book continues through ―The Issues,‖ ―The Relationship,‖ and concludes with the last section of the book, ―The Soul.‖ The reader may open to any page and suddenly see their own face, which challenges us all to unfurl our authentic selves by exposing the reality of our inner life. Each poem reaches into territory that lies beyond our conscious experiences that provokes thought. With each thought, and each poem, there is biblical scripture that sends a clear message in Soul Be Free that all the journey – with each act – the answers rest only with God the Creator. But in setting the soul free, the journey must be, to shake us loose through issues and relationships, through ideas and enlightenment, to healing and wholeness.

Authors Ouida and Alfonso Wyatt have been married for more than 35 years.

These first collections of artistic collaboration are prime examples of genuine poetry of the spirit. Alfonso is a renowned public theologian, role model, mentor and national speaker on issues that impact children, youth, families and community health. Ouida, an artist, Psalmist and writer completes the union.

The opening stanza on page 63 reads,

“His spirit a light that consumes the world’s darkness and His sprit a gift to one and all Sing my- soul sing.”

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hile Congressman Rangel remains the favorite given his constituents‘ loyalty, his experience, and his large war chest of funds, Harlem Torch curiously asks, ―Who‘s got next?‖ As candidate Vince Morgan puts it, even Charlie Rangel‘s ―loyalist supporters are questioning how much longer he has left to go. And most of them will admit that that this is the twilight of his career.‖ The question remains, who is the candidate most capable to replace the esteemed Congressman?

In February of 2010 the House Ethics Committee concluded that Rangel violated House gift policy by accepting reimbursements for a trip to the Cayman Islands. Other charges against Congressman Rangel include occupying multiple below-market-rent apartments, fund raising for a center that will bear his name using congressional stationery, and not paying taxes on rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic. As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; whose responsibilities include jurisdiction over all taxation and other revenue-raising measures, his actions have been highly scrutinized.

Last March, Congressman Rangel temporarily stepped down from the Ways and Means Committee amidst requests from other Democratic leaders to do so.

Despite the allegations, many in Harlem didn‘t want to see the Lion go out like that. His supporters believe that someone who has served Harlem so long and given so much should be able to choose when to step aside and pass the baton.

Congressman Rangel claimed that he was willing to step aside but does not currently see anyone worthy to replace him. Furthermore, the twenty-term Congressman‘s experience and connections in Washington could still prove useful in this trying time. Rangel‘s accomplishments include the creation of the Harlem Empowerment Zone, bringing $300 million in government funded loans to Upper Manhattan; helping to end South African Apartheid; obtaining Medicare funding for New York City hospitals; and helping to provide low-income tax credits, just to name a few. Congressman Rangel remains vehemently opposed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and as a symbolic gesture has introduced bills into Congress to re-instate the draft.

He believes the burden in fighting the wars has been disproportionate, and if we are to remain at war the responsibility should be felt evenly across society.

The fact that there were so many candidates in the primaries it helped Congressman Rangel, the incumbent, as the voting split amongst his challengers. Additionally, the jovial, immaculately dressed, straight talking senior statesman maintains great sympathy and support in Upper Manhattan.

While this may not be the end of Charles B. Rangel‘s tenure as Congressman, the challenge of four candidates for his seat may mark the beginning of the end. While no one can replace the Lion of Harlem, people are beginning to look for his successor.

By Eli Fuchsberg

WHO’S GOT NEXT When Charles B. Rangel replaced Adam Clayton Powell Jr. as Congressman in 1971, Nixon was president, Shaft was playing in theaters, and Michael Jackson had not yet launched his solo career.

Now, the embattled stalwart faces his toughest challenge in forty years. Amidst controversy, the 80-year-old Congressman has stepped down as Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Smelling blood, candidates Joyce Stanley Johnson, Jonathan Tasini, Vincent Scott Morgan, and Adam Clayton Powell IV all took a shot at the coveted Congressional seat.

Who is most capable to fill the shoes of the Lion of Harlem? How will the next chapter read after this 40+ years of Harlem politics? The Harlem Torch takes an inside look at the next possibilities, out of those who have already thrown in their hats.

Top picture shows Harlem’s Gang of Four: David Dinkins, Percy Sutton, Basil Paterson and Charles Rangel. Insets left to right challenged Rangel’s congressional seat: Adam Powell, IV (pictured on right side of C. Rangel and the late Percy Sutton), Joyce Stanley Johnson, Jonathan Tasini and Vincent Morgan.

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Congressional Race

Powell, who‘s famous father lost the Congressional seat to Rangel forty years ago, previously challenged Congressman Rangel in the 1994 Democratic primary where he lost by almost two to one. Now, Powell is stronger, with sixteen more years of experience under his belt, including the past ten as Assemblyman for the 68 th District of New York. Powell maintains solid support in East Harlem and benefits from a high level of name recognition generated by his father and his own service.

Powell asserts that Upper Manhattan is experiencing a depression, not merely a recession. He believes that the best way to improve the economic conditions is through stimulus from the federal government and focusing support for small businesses. A vocal proponent of rent stabilization, he wants to broaden rent-stabilization laws to protect commercial leases as well as apartments.

Powell believes that small businesses are the driving force of new jobs and asserts that, “This is something that the empowerment zone missed; unfortunately the empowerment zone just brought in a lot of big box stores, and actually displaced many of the small businesses in Harlem.”

Powell‘s campaign manager maintains that the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone has been in power long enough for a dent to be made in unemployment.

Powell‘s other priorities include moving the location of Major League Baseball‘s 2011 Arizona All-Star game in face of what he calls that state‘s ―anti-American‖ immigration laws, creating environmental equity, and improving schools through fiscal equity. Powell is not afraid to go against authority or use the legal system. He is currently involved in two environmental lawsuits: one against former Governor George Pataki, and the other against Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Powell has faced legal issues of his own. In 2008 he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. The incident resulted in Powell being found guilty of driving while impaired, which is considered a traffic violation and not a criminal offense.

His driver‘s license was suspended for ninety days, he was fined $300, and ordered to take a drunk-driving course. The New York Post Reported that, ―Powell called the cop who arrested him a liar. ‗When cops lie, anybody can be guilty,‘ he said.‖ (His sobriety test from the night in question can be found at youtube.com should you care to judge for yourself.)

Nonetheless, Powell remains the biggest challenger to Congressman Rangel and ranks second in the Harlem Torch‘s informal polling. He claims that Congressman Rangel is no longer the powerful leader he once was and hopes to answer the question of who will succeed Rangel on September 14th. In an interview with In Sight Nueva York, Powell said, ―I don‘t mean this in an arrogant or cocky way but I think the race is between Congressman Rangel and myself.‖

The biggest challenge facing Vince Morgan is that you probably don‘t know who he is, which is unfortunate considering that he may just be the passionate, energetic new leader our district needs. The one-time staffer to Congressman Rangel is chairman of the 125th Street Business Improvement District and has spent five years as a community banker. The enthusiastic candidate was teary eyed when announcing his candidacy for the congressional primary in April.

Although Morgan has never previously run for major office, he claims that any experience he lacks as an elected official is more than made up for in his real-world experience, ―We need less of the politics in the equation and more of the real-world experience…I think that my experience actually surpasses some of the elected officials who only have experience running for office every few years.” Morgan notes that his job as a community banker - finding opportunities to invest in affordable-housing projects, the small-business community, and social-service organizations - would prove valuable as a congressman.

Morgan believes that the first step in solving many of Harlem‘s problems is to collect and analyze the data to see what works, and what doesn‘t. Morgan acknowledges that he would vote the same way as Congressman Rangel ninety-nine percent of the time, the difference he sees is in making sure that the money coming back to the district is properly utilized. Morgan says that of course he will vote to increase school funding, but that it is also important to then be in the district and at the schools as the money hits to make sure it supports initiatives that make sense.

Morgan, who is married and has two young children, wants to make affordable daycare so that mothers can work. He is also a proponent of charter schools, but not at the expense of public schools. Morgan has come out against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is in favor of immigration reform. Morgan is also supportive of campaign-finance reform and other measures to make running for public office more equitable.

The congressional hopeful has been running a ‗grass-roots campaign,‘ which he says is code for having no money. However, Morgan claims that you don‘t need a lot of money to run a successful campaign. He believes that the most important thing in campaigning is going out there, shaking hands, and talking to people. “The biggest thing I have going for me is that when I meet people, they understand that I have what it takes to do what we need to do.”

Fortunately for Morgan, New York‘s 15th congressional district is geographically the smallest in the country. He claims that after forty years the district is ready for a change and that the constituents can best be served by Rangel stepping aside and helping him hit the ground running in Washington.

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HARLEM TORCH MAGAZINE INDEPENDENT POLLING REFERENCE*

Rangel

Powell

Morgan

Tasani

4%

Undecided

27%

32%

6%

Johnson

6%

25%

Rangel Powell Morgan Tasani Johnson Undecided

27% 25% 6% 6% 4% 32%

*This poll is for reference only and is not statistically significant. The sample size was under 100 likely voters randomly selected from the 15th District.

I spent my weekend walking around Upper Manhattan handing out lollipops to anyone willing to discuss politics with me. While many people can be shy about their political inclinations, nobody can resist candy. People are concerned about what is happening in government.

VOTE! Make Your Voice Count! If you are over the age of eighteen and not registered to vote, you can download an easy printable registration form at RockTheVote.com or find one at www.elections.state.ny.us. You can also call 1-800-FOR-VOTE to request a voter application. Registration forms must be mailed by August 20th to vote in the primary election and by October 8th for the general election. You can Also Register in person at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act.

Joyce Johnson did not make a formal announcement about her candidacy. Instead, she quietly filed her election papers on April 20th. She is the former president and CEO of the Black Equity Alliance, and has served on a number of political campaigns.

Johnson was the New York State Coordinator and Field Director for the Obama America Presidential primary election campaign. Joyce Johnson has previously run for Assembly in 2002 and City Council in 2005. Her priorities include making equal pay for equal work, changing the No Child Left Behind education policy, and supporting immigration reform while humanely closing our borders.

Labor activist Jonathan Tasini is a long time member and past president of the National Writers Union. He has written numerous articles and books on labor and economics including, The Audacity of Greed: Free Markets, Corporate Thieves, and the looting of America.

Tasini believes that “It’s all about the power of the workers in the workplace to make a fair country.”

He supports raising taxes for the wealthy, and creating a singlepayer healthcare system. He believes that we should allow private firms to buy into the Medicare system, so they can take advantage of its lower costs. He is also a proponent of merging Medicare and Medicaid, which he says would eliminate unnecessary duplication. In 2006 Tasini ran in the New York Democratic primary for US

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The one-time Jets football player and founder of New Horizon Church in New York is the only candidate running in the Republican primary. Reverend Faulkner spent thirteen years as senior pastor of the Central Baptist Church and is heavily influenced by Christian values. Faulkner is against abortion and opposed to the recently passed Healthcare Bill. Faulkner believes that the use of expensive and wasteful emergency room visits should be discouraged; instead, he claims that we need more “community based health care infrastructure,� and to educate the public on healthy lifestyles.

Reverend Faulkner recently completed his first marathon and is an advocate of exercise and healthy eating. Faulkner is not in favor of increasing taxes for the wealthy. He supports philanthropy and public service, but in a free-market fashion, and does not believe people should be forced to do the right thing. As reported by the Daily Caller, Faulkner also hopes to be on the Conservative Party and Jobs Now tickets in addition to the Republican ticket, so that his name may appear on the ballot three times.

Whichever candidate Reverend Faulkner faces in the general election will certainly prove challenging given the heavily Democratic district.

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B Y A . DA V ID H IL L | D A VI E ’S COR N ER

There is no mistake in the title of this article folks. Wee describes the small, miniscule, and damn near irrelevant position that the people now hold insofar as controlling our destiny is concerned. We might as well be non-existent because the powers that be, who actually control things, have not been listening to our prolonged cries for help. The word we is a misnomer for it is not we who determine anything. In fact, we are overlooked, bypassed, excluded and used like an old practice instrument.

The people simply don‘t have any real say so and as such, the proper designation that should be applied is ―wee;‖ Yes, I mean smaller in stature than the Lilliputians of Gulliver‘s Travels fame. The evidence is clear based upon what is happening right under our noses.

By A. David Hill forefathers declared their independence and crafted an extraordinary Constitution that set out a clear message about the value of humanity and the right to freedom, justice and liberty.

The text began with the words, ―We The People‖. Those words had profound meaning that inferred a focus, a vision and a right for us to pursue happiness.

Further, there was at least a pretense that all Americans were included. Let‘s leave for later discussion the fact that some inhabitants were not even considered as more than property at that time. Not everyone was actually included in their thinking but that is a horse of another color!

The synergy and power that developed from solidarity then has since lost impetus and meaning. This has manifested itself in many ways.

America should now have some clue that voting has less meaning. In the year 2000, our votes were hijacked by deception and slight of hand because of something called ―hanging chads.‖ The majority vote didn‘t decide anything. The magic show began when the election was decided by a hand picked Supreme Court that anointed George W. Bush as our sovereign.

This eventuated into the most costly contrivance to ever befall the America.

Wee (The People) should know by now that our needs and requirements will languish on the back burners of the socio-political and economic agendas. It seems that we are like that non-descript and old reliable friend who was always available at a beckoned call. He/she was good for a bootycall but you didn‘t want to be seen in public with them.

Wee don‘t mean a damn thing to the powers that be except for our value as a ticket to ride. Those who lounge on top have substituted partisanship, greed, prejudice and a devil may care attitude for truth, justice and consensus. Every other day the media informs us of the self inflicted moral and ethical challenges that so many of our representatives face. In too many cases, it is obvious that our interests are not being represented at all. Wee are pretty much on our own.

Wee are reduced to being caricatures clinging to the lower rungs of life‘s ladder struggling to survive.

Our nation was built on the sweat equity of the American ethos. We toiled to develop what was once a barren wilderness into today‘s megalopolis. There were common causes and desires that ultimately led to advancement and emancipation. Even slavery was eventually (legally) eliminated pursuant to President Lincoln‘s drafting of the ―Emancipation Proclamation‖ in 1863. True, it took more than one hundred years to implement. In many ways, there is still work to be done in this area some 150 years later. But, what is a couple hundred years amongst friends? In today‘s America, you take what you can get, when you can get it; because we surely ain‘t gettin‘ much anymore!!

he skyline that we see when we cross a major bridge or causeway leading into any of our major cities is the result of collaborative efforts. By hook and crook, we have previously pulled together and established a way of life that is envied world wide. In a little more than one hundred years, after evicting the Native Americans from their place as the progenitors and caretakers of this land, America became the manufacturing center of the world. By the second one hundred years, America became the number one ―Super Power‖ on the planet. The effort of people pulling together created opportunities that allowed us to become the worldwide beacon of hope.

Sure, the rich have gotten richer and there has always been an imbalance between the classes and races. But, at least the bones that were left on the table for the ―plebes‖ in the past had some meat on them.

Today, wee are only apportioned scraps and only when rioting in the streets might eventuate.

Many of our people are floundering, living in fear and waiting for some other shoe to drop. Wee are losing hope directly related to job loss and medical coverage deficits. As President Obama recently stated, ―No one should go broke because they can‘t afford medical coverage‖. Yet, every day, people are going without medication or cutting doses in order to stretch it. People are dying because of insurance company, banking, Wall Street and governmental failings. For too long, life and death situations have befallen wee.

Last January, Dr. Bobby Phills, PhD, Director of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida wrote an interesting piece on the ―Wisdom of Wolves‖. He stated, ―I now have a much better understanding of why wolves are so successful and why we fail so frequently.

Maybe we need to pattern ourselves after wolves.

Teamwork pays long-term dividends‖. His piece was actually based upon the introduction from Wisdom of Wolves by Twyman Towery.

In this dissertation, the wolf is described as a constant visualization of success that has been programmed into its genetic makeup. According to Towery, ―wolves have mastered the technique of focusing energies toward the activities that will lead to the ultimate accomplishment of a common goal‖. Each wolf is apart of a team whose individual function is delineated and cohesive within an overall game plan. ―Because of training, preparation, planning communication and a preference for action, the wolf‘s expectation is always to be victorious‖.

That type of thinking is what previously made America great. Our leaders are stripping us of opportunity and causing collapses of the American dream and desire to work together towards common goals.

It is difficult to tell where wee stand these days. The struggle to survive is far greater than it has in recent memory. I remember being poor but I was OK. Anyone who wanted to work could always get a job. That is no longer true.

Based upon one‘s own energies and proclivities, one could experience upward mobility, only limited by institutionalized barriers to upward mobility. By contrast, the government now boasts about the ―great news‖ that our economy added 290,000 jobs during April of 2010 according to Secretary of Labor, Hilda Soliz. This figure is supposed to signal an encouraging sign that America is headed in the right direction. Sadly, it is the best pace for recovery in four years. At the same time, the unemployment rate climbed from 9.7 to 9.9%. Remember, we lost eight million jobs since the recession began during the last Bush administration.

At the same time, I seem to recall that the price of health care, if at all affordable, prescription drugs, energy, residential rentals, food items, gasoline, and other living expenses are not decreasing in cost. And please inform me as to why the Republicans fought the passage of health care reform legislation for tens of millions.

Be it known that the aforementioned Social Security Administration is funding twenty four million dollars for new electronic medical records processing for our Congressmen and Senators! Don‘t take my word for this as the information is verifiable by accessing the SSA website. These funds will be derived from the projected savings generated by withholding cost of living increases for 2010 and 2011 in social security benefits from the elderly. A $2.00 increase on all Medicare prescription benefit copays will supplement this piracy. If you wish to get further annoyed, while the elderly members of our society are being denied requisite support revenues, Congress has voted itself another 3% salary increase!!

Recently, wee have been adversely prejudiced by the extremely controversial decision rendered by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision relative to corporate political donations. Contrary to all sensibility and in direct detriment to the common good, the court gave the right for corporations to buy their way into Congress, the Senate and any other political office. The court R. Collins opined that domestic and foreign Photo R. Collins corporations should have the right to donate, without limits, any dollar Despite the economic doldrums that faced the amount to sponsor political candidates for public current administration when they took office office. Of course this opens a wider door to eighteen months ago, President Obama and coercion and Lord knows what else. Al Qaeda no Congressional Democrats single handedly longer needs to hijack planes to perform overt stopped America‘s economy from getting worse. terrorist acts. They can simply sponsor one of They are putting Americans back to work. As of their own candidates and do their damage from the writing of this article, there have been three within the ranks regarding any issue of interest to consecutive quarters of sustained economic them. With the advent of more and more home growth. Despite the devastating effects that the grown radicals being exposed, we can foresee that economic problems have had, the Democrats these types would fit quietly into a very have enacted preventative measures without the dangerous niche. help of their Republican counterparts. Since President Obama was vocal about his Obama‘s election, the GOP has consistently disappointment with the Supreme Court‘s provided inaccurate information within their decision while addressing it during his State of messages regarding the economy. Some GOP the Union address. It was noted that one of the leaders even admitted to being hopeful that nine Justices in attendance at this annual President Obama would fail in his effort to save convening of Congress made physical gestures us. That is certainly not the Wisdom of Wolves. demonstrating his disdain for the President‘s As another example of the total opinions. This is an act that has never previously disregard for the populace at large; according to taken place. Total disregard for the position of the Trustees for the Social Security the President of the United States seems to have Administration, ―there will not be a cost of living become more common place.

At a prior increase for the next two years in social security convening of Congress, a member of Congress benefits. The Congress (Republicans and actually called President Obama a liar from his Democrats alike) say that an increase is warranted seat in the audience as Mr. Obama was because of the losses in gross national product …‖ addressing the Congressional body. The hush and surprise that followed was shocking.

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We e T he P e o p le | D A VI E’S C OR N ER

We cannot in good conscience overlook the most recent passing of a law in Arizona that was so audacious that people all over America took to the streets to protest its enactment. Basically, the law gives any police officer in Arizona the right to demand verification of citizenship from any person who might be deemed to be other than a citizen. The only required criteria for making a suspect provide proof of citizenship is the officer‘s application and interpretation of ―reasonable suspicion.‖ To those of us who have been victims of the ―Driving While Black‖ phenomenon, the law inherently expands the use of racial profiling as an investigative ―tool‖.

I can still envision Rev. Al Sharpton marching down an Arizona street during early May along with thousand of protestors in opposition to this new law. I also recall that the Phoenix Suns (NBA) basketball team wore uniforms emblazoned with the words, ―Los Suns‖ across their chests in protest. There is a current threat to future championship NBA games being held in Arizona because of this law. We should be mindful that Arizona refused to make Martin Luther King‘s birthday a recognized national holiday in 1990.

As a result, they lost the opportunity to host the National Football League‘s Super Bowl game. Two years later, Arizona reversed their decision and was awarded the hosting of the Super Bowl in 1992.

Of importance to wee is the controversy surrounding the administering of ―Miranda Rights.‖ Attorney General Eric Holder voiced a couched opinion relative to relaxing this law concerning its application to terrorist suspects. The arguments between pro and con advocates center on whether or not terrorists are entitled to the protections offered by the law. It is my belief that if we are to offer unbiased, fair and proper adjudications within our courts, all laws should apply to all people regardless of venue. There are enough findings based upon Miranda Right invocations that administering them does not deter suspects from providing useful information. I see the suspension of these rights for anyone as a potential for abuse, especially to those who endure traditional prejudices. Martin Luther King once said something to the effect, ―Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere‖ and I agree.

If you can spell Halliburton, then you can spell culprit.

Isn‘t that the organization ex-Vice President Cheney headed?

Hmmmm!!!! Is that the same Halliburton that is currently involved in the controversy and potential litigation that is resultant from the devastating April 20th oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico? The potential losses to the fishing industry and ancillary dependents within that region are just another tragic episode borne of complacency and incompetence at the top. The residual suffering will be borne by and the costs will land squarely upon the shoulders of you know who.

Wee are losing our jobs, our health coverage, our homes and our faith in the American way of life. Our children are moving back home because quite simply, they can‘t make it out there.

College graduation is no guarantee that a job will be available upon graduation. These young folks will become the first generation of Americans who will not achieve more than their parents. Wee cannot afford to relinquish liberties any more than already endured.

For sure, the next abuse or dropped ball situation lurks just around the corner. Guess who is going to foot the bill for it? Wee The People!!!

There are enough findings based upon Miranda Right invocations that administering them does not deter suspects from providing useful information. I see the suspension of these rights for anyone as a potential for abuse, especially to those who endure traditional prejudices. Martin Luther King once said something to the effect, ―Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere‖ and I agree.

- Davie

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Look out for the Harlem Torch Magazine Street Team. Harlem style is as diverse as its cultural mix.

Show us what you are wearing. Tell us what you are doing. On your way to an event or an audition - we want to know.

Penelope Dow Nouveaux Harlem, meeting the right people and making the right connections. She‘s borrowed the best from several eras and made them her personal statement.

Photography by Alonna Cole

Dane Danzy and Penelope Dow Well put together on a Sunday afternoon in Harlem reminiscent of ―When Harlem was in Vogue‖ days. Strolling down the avenue after services at Abyssinian in route to dine with friends.

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Charisse Higgins and Rayon Richards Leaving Harlem‘s new waterfront park on the Hudson. The perfect day for courtship.

Deacon James Ford Born in Harlem during the 40‘s, Mr. Ford maintains that timeless classic style.

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David His style inspiration is simple and comfortable. He loves his individual sense of style and seldom follows the latest trends.

Milady Pichardo Brunch at Hudson CafĂŠ with friends.

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EDUCATION

Jan Cook, Esq. and Allison LewisSmith, Esq. attend mentoring benefit

Phyllis Hailstock and daughter, Saadaiyah Smith

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Mrs. Forbes, Cheryle Willis, Reverend Dr. James Forbes, and Jewel Kinch-Thomas.

Rochelle Hill of Harlem CARES Mentoring Movement, Princess Jenkins, The Brownstone and Susan Taylor.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, NYC Councilwoman Inez Dickens, Walter Edwards and Alan Fuchsberg, Esq.

Congressman Charles Rangel and Cornelius Ricks at Gracie Mansion.

EDUCATION

Mayor David Dinkins with Sonia Sanchez holding autographed copy of her new book, ―morning haiku.”

Tyler Busher, Congressional candidate Vincent Morgan, Brauck Busher

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Fox5 Good Day New York‘s Mike Woods and Brauck Wesley-Busher Gracie Mansion

Altagracia Moguel, President Mary Walton Children‘s Center with Maxine Lewis and Nicole Baker Fulgham, Teach for America.

Former classmates Janet Wood and Darryl T. Downing reunite at opening night reception.

Marva Allen, Princess Jenkins, Keira Wesley-Busher, Eduardo Urreta, Brett Wright, and Verizon associates.

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Restoring the Romance

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