In-Depth (January 2018)

About #In-Depth

#In-Depth is a spinoff of the volume

1 Pipers In-Depth series founded by Gino Terrell his senior year at Hamline University. Pipers In-Depth was a college magazine devoted to telling the true life stories of members in the Hamline community by going in-depth when featuring each Hamline Piper. The publication originated in December 2015 where the founder infamously put up his own money to fund the magazine when the school’s student media board didn’t initially fund it until after the debut issue received a fourth place honor at Associated Collegiate Press Best of Midwest Newspaper Convention for Best Nonweekly newspaper a month after its release. Pipers In-Depth published once more that school year for a May 2016 issue. Under Gino Terrell as Founder and Editor-In-Chief the publication went on to win 21 awards under his leadership. Awards include state, regional and national honors from organizations including Associated Collegiate Press, Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists and others. Ultimately, the “entrepreneurial journalist” Gino Terrell received the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Student Journalist of the Year honor for the execution of Pipers In-Depth. After spending 2017 writing features stories on a wide range of interesting people he decided to spinoff Pipers In-Depth with #In-Depth While #In-Depth has expanded its reach outside the Hamline community, this publication maintains its edge and inspirational storytelling that makes the “In-Depth” series a powerful magazine but in #In-Depth a new wrinkle is added with its lighter, more fun tone for the audience to enjoy.

About the Founder

Gino Terrell

Born in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota he was later raised in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The private college graduate from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota (the state’s oldest university) accumulated 37 journalism honors (18 wins, 19 finalists) across five publications for his reporting and photography, notably from Associated Collegiate Press, National Association of Black Journalists and Society of Professional Journalists. Before Pipers In-Depth he covered sports for his college newspaper The Oracle all while employed as an advertising assistant at Hamline School of Business and as a freelance reporter for two popular online nonprofit publications in Twin Cities Daily Planet and MinnPost, both professional news organizations based in Minneapolis. As an intern he landed bylines online at Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. KSTP TV (Minneapolis ABC News affiliate) and St. Paul’s number one newspaper Pioneer Press, accumulating 51 bylines (one shared) as a news intern. He also landed internships with national campaign AdoptAClassroom.org that was endorsed by musician Sheryl Crow, American Public Media Group, Hamline Midway Elders, Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal and Thomson Reuters.

Author’s Note

Hello, my name is Gino Terrell and I’m the Founder and original Editor-In-Chief of Pipers In-Depth . Returning to my favorite creation I’ve spun off Pipers In-Depth to #In-Depth #In-Depth is a collection of feature stories from 2017 (all features have been modified and updated through January 2018) and early 2018 that I’ve wrote, most originally appeared online in MCXV. These are stories that tell journeys about successful people from all walks of life. Its range is impeccable as it features people who have been throughout it all to those up-and-coming. The most common theme in this issue is seeing how these successful figures made a living doing what they loved. In addition to telling these wonderful stories this magazine also shares recent projects people have dropped in between 2017-18 and reveals why those projects are near and dear to their heart. With a splash of fun through entertaining stories this magazine also takes on a serious tone when figures who go “in-depth” to share triumphs and trials of their life. Through it all, my hope is you’ll enjoy this passion project of mine as I’ve written every article and laid out every page to create this spin-off called #In-Depth.

Gino Terrell

*2017 National Association of Black Journalists Student Journalist of the Year

Photography by Tawana Terrell

Photography by Tawana Terrell

The fastest woman alive: A look back at Carmelita “The Jet” Jeter’s career and charity

By Gino Terrell

Though retired, the three-time Olympic medalist continues to give back and spread her knowledge.

Carmelita “The Jet” Jeter, also known as “the fastest woman alive,” has had a career that keeps on giving. Having lent a hand to many foundations and organization she setup her very own “The Team Jet Track Clinic” to help better a path for kids ranging from 5-17.

Growing up in southern California Jeter wasn’t in a track club, having only done what was available in high school, and only played basketball in her yard outside of school. Understanding that access to things like this isn’t easy for kids who grew up like her is why she set up shop. Prior, she helped with “After School All Stars” a program where many celebrities and athletes like Kobe Bryant help broaden the horizons for low-income students.

While receiving compliments from parents about her clinic it’s not only because she’s teaching them health, fitness and track tips, she serves as a life role model to those children. She preaches the importance of making school a priority and having a plan “B” as well as a plan “C” in life. Along with that she shares the many lessons she’s learned from her personal life so they can learn from her experiences.

Because when it came to her life “it wasn’t the yellow brick road,” Jeter said.

The reason why this program runs so deep with Jeter is because it all started with a bigger picture. And that was to support her aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. With the help of Nike Jeter set a trend sporting hot pink spikes on the kicks she raced with in efforts to support breast cancer research. Even after the passing of her aunt in 2012, she continued to advocate for the cause amongst African American women and became an ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Los Angeles.

It was “based off love and the loss of someone,” Jeter said of her clinic. It wasn’t just about track.

Finding her passion with running

Growing up in house where her father had a basketball court in the yard and even painted a three point and free throw line her father’s house was quite the destination on Saturday nights. In her neighborhood it was the place to be to have fun and stay out of trouble.

Continuing with basketball she played in high school and that’s when her freshmen coach noticed how fast she was. Coach recommended she join track. At first hesitant, she figured to give it a try. Arriving to track with cornrows and high tops when she

Continue on

Becoming the world’s largest broker and CEO of his own celebrity booking agency is a career that naturally came to the former American Bandstand and Dance Party USA dancer.

“You know, I kind of fell into it. I didn’t even plan…didn’t even know there was such a thing as a booking agency,” Mike Esterman said. Coming up on 19 years working as a celebrity booking agent Esterman has made a name for himself as the Simon Cowell of celebrity booking for his candid, straight shooter approach. He’s the CEO of Esterman.com based in Washington D.C., an agency that collaborates with corporate organizations, clubs and average people who are looking to book music stars, actors or magazine models for events, product endorsements, television shows or other types of events.

In the industry for nearly two decades Esterman’s list of talent include the likes of Mario Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Enrique Iglesias, Flo Rida, Akon, Vivica Fox and a long

list of others that even comprise of talent not listed on Esterman.com.

Dancing into entertainment industry

In high school Esterman had a limousine company where he’d drive customers to clubs often. Those very same clubs he’d pick up customers is where he’d go back to visit on the weekends. Interested in the scene there was one thing he loved to do, and it wasn’t drinking or smoking.

“I’d go there on the weekends and dance my heart away, dance, dance, dance,” Esterman said, “because I was a little lighter and thinner in shape, I did the dancing for a while.”

World’s largest broker & celebrity booking agent, Mike esterMan continues his legacy

By Gino Terrell

a local club dance contest. Dancing his way around the entertainment industry he flew out to California and Philadelphia for tapings while also appearing on Dance Party USA.

“It was just for fun, no money,” Esterman said. “Just being a ham in front of the camera, I liked to dance.”

At age 16, Esterman appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand after submitting a tape showcasing his dance moves that once won him

Enjoying hanging around the entertainment scene he would help his local clubs out for free. Meeting celebrities and acting as a VIP guy in the club built him a network of celebrities. As a liaison to the club he’d help the celebrities who were booked by the club get checked into hotels. He first met actress and glamour model Carmen Electra then others such as “Blind Date” host Roger Lodge and dance artists such as Expose, Sweet Sensation and the Cover Girls.

“I’d make friends [with] people I was already dancing to and grew up with. So it was great working with these people in person, again it was no money but fun to be around,” Esterman said. “And the club owner loved me.”

A Q&A with “Hollywood Insider”

Tanisha LaVerne Grant

By Gino Terrell

She’s an award winning journalist known as the “Hollywood Insider.”

Tanisha LaVerneGrant participates in a questions and answers talking about her career after a busy weekend working the red carpet at the New York Emmy Awards, May 2017. Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Patti LaBelle, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart and Sanaa Lathan are just a few A-listers Grant has chatted with in front of the camera.

Gino Terrell: “You are known as the ‘Hollywood Insider,’ so tell me how does one from Chester, Pennsylvania reach this status?”

Tanisha LaVerne Grant: “Well first I’d like to say that being from Chester, Pa is not a sentence, judgement, or verdict on a whether or not a person gets to his or her desired dreams and goals. There are many places throughout the U.S and the world over that suffer the

same if not even greater challenges than my hometown. I will say that hailing from Chester, Pa has fueled me with drive, ambition, imagination and execution and those are just some of the innate and learned qualities that have contributed to my being a journalist who is known as a ‘HOLLYWOOD INSIDER.’”

G.T.: “When did you know you wanted to become a journalist?”

T.L.G.: “I have always had a thirst for knowledge, information, storytelling and oratory. I knew around age 10 that I would have a career that involved the aforementioned. Growing up in Chester and attending the oldest HBCU Cheyney University of Pennsylvania put me in close proximity to Philadelphia which is the fourth largest market in the television news industry.”

G.T.: “Was there anyone in particular you looked

up to or an event that motivated you to pursue this path?”

T.L.G.: “I had the opportunity to see African American on camera reporters and anchors like Lisa Thomas-Laury, Beverly Williams, Arthur Fennell, the late Sheela Allen Stephens, Ukee Washington, Ron Burke, Eleanor Jean Henley, Denise James, Vernon Odom and Renee Chenault Fattah who became a dear mentor to me when I came to WCAU NBC 10 as [an] intern turned assignment editor. These are the men and women who guided me through my early years in broadcast news. They pushed me, encouraged me and fought every day to keep African American stories in full view. I am grateful to every last one of them for the contributions they made to my overall growth and development as a journalist.”

G.T.: “You are a two-time pageant winner winning Miss Black Pennsylvania USA and Miss Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, can you reflect on what you learned from that experience and how it felt winning those titles?”

T.L.G.: “Winning those pageant titles as a young woman was very exciting. My dreams were validated. I had the opportunity to travel, serve as a spokesperson and goodwill ambassador for my University and the Miss Black Pennsylvania USA brand. I met some of the most amazing women, a few who I am still friends with today. But most importantly my pageant life really taught me time management and the importance of showing up prepared with all your essential tools in place.”

G.T.: “You were very active in college when it came to radio, television and film studies and eventually landed an internship with WCAU NBC 10 in Philly. How did this catapult your career and what did you take away from these experiences that have helped you get to where you are now?”

T.L.G.: “My internship at WCAU NBC 10 was definitely my entree into the television news and entertainment industry. It is the gift that keeps on giving! The greatest and most priceless take away is my becoming a self starter, a creative multi media story teller. I left channel 10 a solid journalist capable of curating content, separating and recognizing the difference between news, propaganda, slants and advertising. In the ever changing landscape of media be it in front of the camera or behind the camera I feel safe knowing I was taught such invaluable skills sets.”

G.T.: “What advice would you give to high school students who want to become a journalist like you? What career readiness path would you recommend?”

T.L.G.: “I tell all high school students and anyone who may be looking to enter the journalism field to study every aspect of this field from law and ethics to camera technique and

shining star teraj looks to turn artistic passion into philanthropy, “defy”ing all odds

By Gino Terrell

Growing up in Miami with seven siblings and a single mother is what ultimately inspired Teraj as an artist.

July 2017 Teraj dropped his single “We Got Each Other” a track featured on his upcoming album “Defy.” The title of the album “represents everything,” Teraj says, “defying the odds, overcoming every obstacle.” Before Teraj became a songwriter, dancer or a model, he first learned how to overcome challenges in life and saw this through his mother.

Teraj’s father passed away early so it was up to his mother to take care of him along with his four sisters and three brothers. Even on a $14,000 salary his mother pulled off “a miracle” Teraj says, explaining she raised them well in the inner city of Miami; and still to this day Teraj is amazed knowing all she did with what little she had. This internal strength combined with support from family helped him go further when practicing the arts.

So when did Teraj know we wanted to become an artist?

Ever since Teraj was a little boy he would draw and allow his imagination to take him where his artistic eye took it. When it came to coloring books Teraj didn’t like those because he’d rather draw the images than color something already created by someone else. Combine his early itch to create art with living in a city like Miami where he was immersed in an artistic culture, he was destined to become an artist.

“It evolved as I grew up. Acting, singing and dancing,” he said.

Singing was something he whipped out of the blue during a ceremony honoring Oliver Wells for his support with a performing arts program. While Teraj was into acting at the time, he realized singing created a special feeling.

“It was something that I never experienced before,” Teraj said. “I exposed everyone to this hidden talent that I had. From that moment forward, I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Afterwards he performed as often as he could. When he enrolled into Cornell University studying architecture and minoring in dance, he also joined the university’s iconic a cappella group, The Class Notes. While he learned of the culture of New York and brushed up on his vocals, he began writing his own music and when studying abroad booked shows overseas in Dublin, Paris and Rome. In New York, he performed as a regular at the Iguana Lounge in midtown Manhattan.

As the first male to go off to college in his family he’s learned the importance of higher education and encourages others to seek higher learning as it has helped his career.

“That network was the most important part for me,” Teraj said. “Make sure college is one of your top priorities. It will definitely change your life.”

One connection that he didn’t see coming was his “in” in the modeling industry. While hanging out on a beach with his friends photos were taken that landed on social media. From those photos Seth London, professional fashion photographer, discovered Teraj. London reached out and not long after Teraj saw his credentials he took the bus to head to his first professional photoshoot.

Continuing to make a name for himself as a model he walked the runway during NY Fashion Week. After rocking top of the line brands such as Aeropostal, Calvin Kein, Hermès, YSL and Zara, Teraj later found himself getting booked for music videos

Fashion, music and film; Marla

lives out her dreams

Photography by Odessy Barbu

Guloien

By Gino Terrell

Her home’s showroom is decked with studio lights, four screen monitors to remind her how busy she is, pictures of celebrities such as Eve and Christina Aguilera rocking her clothing line and the interior design is spiffy enough to know this fashion designer lives by the motto of her clothing line “Glam Rock is a lifestyle. Glam Rock is an attitude. Be bold. Be who you are.”

Being prepared for the moment has led to a successful career for Marla Guloien; and in 2017 she showed no signs of stopping.

Music artist and founder of internationally known fashion line “GlamRock by Marla G”, is now sold in its exclusive online retail store, ShopGlamRock. With over a hundred celebrity clients, Guloien was making moves in 2017 with new products and updating the shop’s platform to Shopify, where consumers could purchase the brand via Twitter, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and Pinterest.

Genetic passion for music

The Canadian native grew up in a musical family stemming from her father’s side with her grandfather Paul Perry, a saxophone player with his own orchestra, her uncle PJ Perry, an award winning saxophone player and instrumentalist, and her father Nels Guloien, a timeless, talented drummer and executive producer to her first album.

“I believe in being prepared for the moment of opportunity and living with no fear of being your best,” Guloien said.

Throughout her career she’s done just that and it all started when she saw an opportunity to use her college project to jumpstart her music career. And through music is how she initiated her career in fashion.

How it all started Studying Communications at Simon Fraser University in Canada she had one final project before graduating, and there were three components to the project. Create a CD booklet insert, design a marketing package for a new artist and produce a stationary kit to start up. She thought to herself why not market herself as the new artist and try to start a career in music.

It took only six weeks to write the music for her first album. One week before graduating her father managed to connect her with the popular Canadian musician Miles Black, to help producer her album. After her debut tour in 2009 she published her first album “Marla Guloien” in 2010.

Singing at her grandparents’ anniversary, with over 200 people in attendance, Guloien remembers singing a song from Little Mermaid. “So incredible and encouraging,” Guloien recalls the moment. Her track “Take Bow” even came from a poem she had written when she was 12. Originally written for a class project only to hear her teacher say it wasn’t good enough for class, she kept that notebook and one day it was good enough to use as lyrics for her track.

Los Angeles 2012

Upon arriving in Los Angeles to create her second album “This is Me” she asked her one friend in the city who was the “absolute best photographer.” Her friend suggested Odessy Barbu. She emailed him. Barbu was at first weary because he didn’t take on artists who were just starting out.

“I would never say ‘no’ to someone I didn’t meet,” Guloien recalls Barbu’s email response. Thereafter meeting, the two have now collaborated for years for both fashion and film. He was the first person she met in L.A. Her album released in 2012 and she also released her single “Voicemail” under MarlaG Productions producing her first music video.

Expanding her career in fashion

After working on a short film project in Paris she returned to Los Angeles for a photoshoot. The photoshoot was for the album artwork of “This is Me.” There was one problem. She gained 12 pounds overseas and couldn’t fit her clothes. She thought quick

and decided to design her own jacket to wear for the shoot. Her first product appeared on “This is Me” (2012) album cover.

Two months later a stylist spotted her sporting her own threads. The stylist asked who designed her jacket and after discovering it was Guloien’s own creation she invited her to an exhibit. And that was how Guloien became a fashion designer. She followed her flow and began working full-time in fashion.

“One thing is always connected to the next,” Guloien said.

What made her clothing eye catching was how her products went against the grain. Her first customer was Nicki Minaj. Then along came Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Eve and others that compile her long list of over 100 celebrities. The internationally known brand has been spotted across many television shows, notably “The Voice,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Oprah,” “American Idol” and many others.

Having designed a collection of over 300 jackets and becoming known for this niche design style, it’s nostalgic for her to recall that even as young as five she was particular about coordinating her jacket. She recalls telling her mom she couldn’t wear a jacket on occasions, in Canada’s cold weather, when the one jacket she owned didn’t go with the outfit she wore.

Now designing clothes she applies all she’s learned over the years. Not just when it comes to coordinating, but going back to her studies as a Communications student learning about mass perception.

2017 and beyond

“I get this itch as a designer,” she said. “I understood how to craft a message with what I wore.”

Through clothing Guloien’s goal is the same as always, “identify void in market.” One way planned on doing such in 2017 was by extending her product lines to include plus-size collections.

Since the migration of ShopGlamRock to the Shopify platform in 2017, Guloien was introducing new services from her online storefront, including Facetime services for custom orders, Amazon fulfillment services, registered member events and more specialized customer care.

Customization of ShopGlamRock products is a six week process or less.

LIVE from House of GlamRock, (Guloien’s design headquarters and production zone) she is setup to be online with customers, manage the online store’s new arrivals and sales events. This space is also where she produces digital media, websites, branding strategy and marketing for her company, GlamRockStudios.

With “Don’t forget music” tattooed on her rib to remind this artist to always stay true, she won’t be a stranger when it comes to making her comeback to follow her first passion in music.

Annually speaking at her Alma matter to inspire college students one thing she tells them is an adage she’s applied throughout her career “if you can dream it, you can do it.”

For one to achieve their dream it starts with one simple thing, she says.

“Take it upon [yourself] to just get up in the morning and do what you love,” Guloien said.

And that’s certainly worked out for Marla Guloien.

Marla Guloien’s showroom (Photography by Marla Guloien).

By Gino

A rush of upbeat fun to get the dance floor moving is what “Give It Up” brings.

Teraj dropped his second single “Give It Up” October 27, 2017. The single comes after his debut single “We Got Each Other,” which released a few months before, and is leading up to his debut album “Defy.” On a Saturday afternoon, eight days after the release of “Give It Up,” Teraj takes five from a “crazy day recording” for a phone interview to talk about his then latest track that creates a tune easy to dance to.

The song was written a while back when Teraj used to hit up the nightlife scene. When going out he was also looking for someone that would standout, a special girl that could level up to his intensity on the dance floor.

“I’m a crazy dancer. It’s hard to match that vibration,” Teraj said.

Through his banger he states it best what type of girl he’s looking for on the dance floor.

“I pull you on the dance floor hoping that your skills are worthy/ You drop it down low, bring it back, come hither, work me/ Got me looking like James, feeling good baby don’t hurt me/ Now it’s my turn babe…” Teraj sings in one verse of “Give It Up.”

While every track on “Defy” is written and co-produced by Teraj he’s getting some help from his producer Danny Bobby. “He’s phenomenal,” Teraj said of Bobby.

Teraj...continued from p.7

back-to-back weeks. Music videos he appeared in include the following: “23” by Mike will Made It featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J, and “Stack It Up!” by Meek Mill and Alley Boy.

“Looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Teraj said about the way he exploded on the modeling scene.

Since shifting his focus on music Teraj said it all felt surreal when his first single released.

“I still have to pinch myself sometimes as it all feels so surreal,” Teraj posted on

Instagram after “Give It Up” dropped. This album will include songs listeners can vibe and dance to, says the Pop and R&B music artist. With a sound familiar to Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson mixed with contemporary and 2017 dance music, is what this “uplifting album” will sound like says Teraj.

While Teraj is always looking to do more, there’s one ultimate goal he’s working toward as an artist.

“Get involved in philanthropy,” Teraj said. And “bring back the voice that used to reach out and touch people. I want a fusion of those two components.”

A place where athletes with autism can flourish

By Gino Terrell

before he even has to say it, Teraj said of their match-made chemistry. Throw in that Bobby works fast and stays humble about his work Teraj is thankful the two have worked together.

Since Teraj has been locked in on his music career since 2017 the former dancer and model has learned something about himself when it comes to creating music.

“It’s an awesome way to express myself without showing restraint,” Teraj said. When it comes to putting in the work he’s so passionate about it.

“When I’m in the zone it doesn’t feel like work,” he said. He also doesn’t mind creating his own sound to create a different feel than other contemporary artists. With the feedback he’s been getting after releasing his first two singles, it leaves him speechless because of how well people have been receiving his music. “I can’t even put it into words,” Teraj said. “I don’t take it for granted.”

It makes people want to dance and people are calling it a banger, Teraj said.

Looking to create more music that’s fun and upbeat he’s showing people a different side of himself. Most people think of Teraj, the former real estate agent who once made appearances on Bravo network’s reality show “Million Dollar Listings New York,” as very serious, he said. For Teraj, there’s no better way to express this fun side of himself than through music. “

They vibe off each other and Bobby can tell what Teraj wants

“Give

Taylor Duncan has created a free-to-join program to support those with autism play baseball because Duncan himself faced the same challenges growing up.

Founded January 2016 when Duncan was 20, Alternative Baseball Organization Inc. supports teens and adults with autism by giving them a place to play baseball and a social outlet helping them conquer their challenges. Two years later, this program reaches neighborhoods in over 25 states. “It’s just absolutely amazing,” Duncan said. “I can’t wait to show everybody what we’re going to have to offer.”

At age four Duncan can remember being diagnosed with autism and as a kid who loved baseball he thought “I really couldn’t play.” Challenged to overcome his disability, he found support from God, his mother, teachers and others close to him and began playing the sport he loved, he said. In doing so, he was able to play an entire little league season. Experiences like this taught Duncan something about autism.

“Autism is not a disability, it’s a disadvantage,” Duncan said.

In 2012, Duncan returned to play slow pitch softball which inspired him to go on to coach in a men’s recreational league. Through the experience and seeking help from high level players, social skills such as how to communicate with people were lessons learned from the experience, Duncan said. Through it all, despite having autism he’s been able to pursue his passion, sticking with baseball.

“God’s been opening the doors,” Duncan said. “Every time a bad experience happens, I try my best to learn from it.”

In Alternative Baseball’s second

year in 2017 Duncan put together their biggest fundraiser of the year, the “Second Annual All-Star Game.” During this game players with autism play against professional athletes. Before their second event in the fall of 2017 the event was coming off a successful inaugural in 2016. The inaugural event brought together a talented list of people including the following: singer Timothy Miller who sung “God Bless America” and “The National Anthem,” former Major League Baseball athlete of the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals Brian Barton and Bryan Hoover, who’s best known as “The 38 Year Old Rookie.”

“They (members of Alternative Baseball) got to play against some of the best in the country,” Duncan said. It was “Absolutely amazing.”

The 2017 event was even more important as the organization was seeking nonprofit status and donations to help support the program. From the fundraiser, Duncan’s hope was to get enough funds to purchase more practice equipment, video technology for social media and to buy baseballs. Finding affordable baseballs is a need for this organization that has purchased all baseballs at a local location after finding out purchasing from E-Bay is significantly expensive. A connection with a sponsor to provide baseball’s for organization would help.

Through it all, Duncan is proud of what this organization has already accomplished in two years as they continue to grow and get attention from local news outlets spreading awareness.

“It’s amazing. I’m thankful God has provided me with this experience,” Duncan said. “It’s just a God send. It really is.”

Terrell

CELEBRITY STORIES

By Gino Terrell

Cindy Margolis scares Justin Bieber to death

“Justin Bieber got so scared. [He was] in horror.”

-Cindy Margolis

Cindy Margolis fell to the floor after meeting Justin Bieber but it wasn’t because she was a “Belieber” like her twin daughters.

During the MTV Awards about 3-4 years ago Margolis recalls her daughters asking if she could somehow get an autographed picture of Bieber. At the show, in which Margolis attended, Bieber had performed and later someone came up to Margolis saying Bieber wanted to meet her backstage in his dressing room and only her.

The two had met and Bieber excitedly took a photo with her. The photo was printed right then and there.

“You got to sign this for me,” Margolis recalls Bieber telling her.

The fact Bieber was asking her for the autographed photo shocked Margolis as the whole exchange came to her as a surprise but little did she know there was one more surprise in store for her.

“He said it was his grandpa’s birthday tomorrow and ‘he loves you,’” Margolis recalled Bieber telling her. “And that was like a dagger to my stomach.” Acting out her emotions she fell to the ground.

“Bieber thought it was real,” Margolis laughed. “Justin Bieber got so scared. [He was] in horror.”

Kim Kimble

Names first celebrity Client

“I was hustling in the beginning... doing barber cuts, curls, manicures, pedicures, whatever you needed...while I built my clientele.”

-Kim Kimble

Who was the first celebrity Kim Kimble worked with?

Before Kim Kimble created hairpieces for Halle Berry on B*A*P*S* (1997) she did many things beforehand where she worked with celebrities.

“I was hustling in the beginning,” Kimble said. “I was doing barber cuts, curls, manicures, pedicures, whatever you needed I was there. I was busy, hustling to find a way to get paid while I built my clientele.”

But can you guess who her first celebrity client was?

ran all eyes noticed her blazing speed. She began to love it and saw it as a sport where she can get more attention from her father as her brothers all played basketball including Eugene who went on to play professionally.

“I liked the fact that I did something else,” Jeter said.

While she had the talent and was receiving college offers she began to notice that academics were holding her back from opportunities.

“I didn’t take the classroom seriously,” Jeter said of her mentality then.

With a GPA slightly above 2.0 and barely passing the ACT she didn’t get the scholarships she felt she deserved but caught a break on a fiveyear scholarship at California State University.

When she found out that grades could have her ineligible to compete and that she could lose her scholarship that set off a light bulb in her head. Having made an Olympic trial in 2004 she made sure her grades were up to par to compete.

“Every life lesson I learned came from things I did. [It helped me] push and want to do better,” Jeter said.

Becoming “The Jet”

She became an icon on the Dominguez Hills track and field squad as the school’s first U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier and would graduate from the university with a degree in physical education. Making a name for herself in high school and college the name “Carmelita Jeter” spoke volumes. But when it came to the pro’s she made a named for herself as “The Jet.”

“Everybody started calling me that,” Jeter said.

And it stuck because she became the third fastest woman in history in 2009 after setting a championships record clocking a 10.67 on the 100 meter. An accomplishment that came after what she called a failure when she received a bronze during the 2009 World Championships when she was the favorite to win.

“I was running off of anger, pain, frustration,” Jeter said. But when she finished the race she was as emotional as can be.

“I cried, I screamed, rolled around, kicked my feet. I was very proud of myself,” Jeter said.

Through that performance she learned a valuable lesson she continues to tell others to this day.

“Its okay to fail,” Jeter said. “Everything comes out of failure just make sure you learn from it.”

What it takes to be a “great” professional athlete

“To be great it has to become your lifestyle,” she said.

“You have to be a student at all times...Its not easy, it was harder to stay number one than to get there.”

Part of her lifestyle included a pre-performance ritual she did to make sure she was at her best by the time she lined up. This included having oatmeal, bacon, sausage and potatoes to make sure her stomach wouldn’t be empty. She also watched Mike Tyson’s documentary to give her an edge when she lined up. “So much truth to it,” she said of the documentary that motivated her.

While she’s received many awards throughout her career including the 2012 Los Angeles Sports Woman of the Year, her favorite was being a recipient of the Jesse Owens Award which is the highest accolade in the sport, given by USA Track & Field to the outstanding U.S. female track and field athlete.

Given an award named after an iconic African American hero in athletics was a proud moment, Jeter said.

“My first celebrity client was technically Wesley Snipes,” Kimble said. “He walked into the salon to get a manicure. So Wesley was the first celebrity that I even touched,” Kimble said.

Then one of her goals was to produce beauty shows. Her hustle worked as she currently stars in her own reality show L.A. Hair on WE tv.

Get to know more about Kim Kimble on pg.

“That man was amazing and to have my name on a plaque with his name, it was like ‘mom, I made it,’” Jeter said. “My highest honor.”

What Now?

This past November Jeter has officially retired from track and field. She’s currently in the process of writing a book that will reveal her experiences.

As of lately, she’s been busy continuing to give back to the community. Whether it was a toy drive in Compton where she beat Master P in a foot race or getting ready after her interview last for a “tee time” in Los Angeles where the track runner with hoop skills showed off her skills on the green in a celebrity golf challenge, “The Jet” is always quick to give back to the community.

Continued from p.6

video editing. We are in a time where owning your intellectual content is critical to making sure our stories are told and the only way we can continue to do this is to safeguard our brands with knowledge of how the media machine works.”

G.T.: “For you what does it mean to be a symbol as one of the most prolific journalist out there that the black community can relate to?”

T.L.G.: “I am prolific only if being prolific means taking an enormous amount of pride in my work and wanting to tell accurate stories of African American contributions and achievements in film, television, art, music, fashion and literature.”

G.T.: “How did it feel when you received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by People Building People and the “Entertainment Correspondent of the Year” by Brown Woman media?”

T.L.G.: “Receiving awards by “PEOPLE BUILDING PEOPLE” and “BROWN WOMEN IN MEDIA” reminded me that my journey is about community. It is about collective work and responsibility! I was filled with joy because working as a freelance and independent entertainment correspondent is difficult terrain to navigate, so having my work and my efforts acknowledged was a wonderful gesture that continues to inspire to me to push my brand forward.”

G.T.: “Do you remember your first celebrity interview? If so, who was it with and how was the experience?”

T.L.G.: “One of my first celebrity interviews was with director Melvin Van Peebles. I was over the moon! Melvin Van Peebles blazed the trail for independent filmmakers with his 1971 controversial “ blaxsploitation” film “SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSS SONG” that was later redone by his son Mario Van Peebles. Mr. Van Peebles is an icon. He was giving in his interview with me and I was thrilled that he trusted me enough to engage in dialogue. My interview with him will out live us both and that is what this work is about. It is about leaving a blue print and legacy that can be passed down from generation to generation.”

G.T.: “You’ve taken people through red carpet shows, premieres and award shows interviewing some of the most prominent figures in the industry. After all the hard work you put in throughout your career what’s the most rewarding part of your journey now?”

T.L.G.: “The most rewarding part of my journey now is understanding there is always room for me to be made better as a journalist and to maintain an old newsroom standard of fact checking! Journalism has changed. It is faster and not as cohesive as it should be. The world overall moves so much faster. However, I still remain dedicated to

carefully creating and distributing my content. I believe in substance and knowing my audience can count on me to deliver entertainment news that is a fully developed story is also very rewarding.”

G.T.: “You’ve gotten to do some acting in your career in various roles on projects with ensemble cast with the likes of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, 50 Cent, Mo’Nique, Bruce Willis and Duane Martin. For you, what is it like having the opportunity to work with some of these figures doing what they do? And is there a memorable set story you’d like to share?”

T.L.G.: “It is always great to work with people who are giants in their craft. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were wonderful to observe when I worked with them on ‘Righteous Kill’ both were kind and open to teaching and sharing. Robert De Niro actually took me by the hand and helped me to my mark which was a narrow beam that served as bar counter that had to walk across in stilettos when I portrayed a cocktail waitress in ‘Righteous Killl.’ Great memories there for sure.”

G.T.: “You’ve got a great deal now doing all you do but is there something new you are looking to try next in your career or do more of?”

T.L.G.: “I just want to continue evolving my brand as entertainment journalist. While I don’t know what the future holds I am doing my absolute best to stay on message as culture keeper and story teller. I know there is something truly remarkable coming down God’s pipeline for me and I am determined to be in position when it comes.”

alvester Martin talks ties With the jackson’s and dropping debut albuM-Mixtape

“love Me or leave Me”

By Gino Terrell

Waking up hearing himself mentioned on E! News the morning of September 25, 2017, was special to Alvester Martin. Alvester was coming off a weekend where he experienced the best gig of his career. And it was at the family estate where his idol Michael Jackson grew up. Alvester was a wedding singer for Siggy Jackson’s, son of Jackie Jackson, wedding. “There’s so much magic in that house,” Alvester stated and rehearsing their prior to his performance he drew a compliment from Katherine Jackson that had him speechless. “You have such a beautiful voice,” Katherine told Alvester.

For Alvester, the Jackson family has been serendipitous in his career. With the singer’s debut album-mixtape “Love Me or Leave Me” releasing a month after that gig it’s just confirmation his singing career is on the right track. After all, in 2012 he did tour as the lead vocalist in “Man in the Mirror,” a tribute production for Michael. He also wrapped up his dancing career as a featured dancing partner alongside Beyoncé performing a tribute to Michael during the 2014 Video Music Awards and that same week he was booked as the male lead in Michael’s posthumous music video “A Place with No Name.” But even before then, Michael had inspired Alvester since the age of two and he has photographic evidence to prove it.

Childhood Aspirations in Arts

In the kitchen being a “badass kid” he was emulating moves from Michael’s “Billie Jean” music video. Mimicking Michael’s dance moves with a towel he wound up getting his shoe caught in a kitchen tile while making a turn. He ended up breaking his leg and in an early childhood photo he’s spotted with a cast on his leg.

Growing up in the Carol City neighborhood in Miami he was raised by his grandparents who had tunes of late 80’s and early 90’s music playing throughout the house. Growing up in not the prettiest spot in town the family members living in his household more than made up for it, he said. Named after his grandfather Alvester Martin I, he’s taken on

the saying and value he learned from him. “If you gone do it, you got to be the best damn one,” Alvester cited his grandfather’s saying.

With standards marking “good” seen as only “okay” in his household, that mentality paid dividends in the long run. Taking ballet lessons at age five it wasn’t until he was 14 when he reached his breaking point. Enrolled in New World School of the Arts his high school and modern dance instructor said Alvester wouldn’t make it as a ballet dancer.

“The worse you could tell me is that I can’t do something,” he said. “You don’t know what you just did.”

Neysayers don’t discourage Alvester, quite the opposite, it fuels him to prove them wrong and since that day Pandora’s box was open Alvester went full fledge with ballet.

Becoming a professional ballerina at age 16 he was living up to his household’s standards as his talents earned him a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet Company. After graduating, Alvester was booked for roles with several major ballet companies around the world.

Lessons Learned from the Arts

Being involved in arts helped build character for Alvester. While his peers were partying, he was practicing and perfecting his craft. Even while graduating in the top 10 percentile in his class, he realized that college isn’t the only option for people to grow because from his experience arts gave him discipline. “It gave me a tenacity and a yearning,” he said. An “Imma keep going until I make it happen” attitude.

That was something he picked up as early as age 11. Wanting to perform in the church choir he wanted to leap frog the children’s choir. After asking the pastor if he could do such, he sung for him to prove he was ready to sing with the big boys and his pastor was impressed.

“You just got to work hard for what you want. The worse they can do is say ‘no’ and that’s only one ‘no,’” Alvester said.

Those principles strongly apply to the entertainment industry as “it’s a daily chair

of approval,” Alvester said. Having already instilled in himself the drive and work ethic it was just a matter of capitalizing on opportunities and continuing to grow. But just as grew up a big fan of Michael to only have so many gigs with the Jackson family, its apparent to him this was God’s plan all along.

My family “say I came out of nowhere” with artistic talent, Alvester said. “But God put me here with a purpose.”

Making a name dancing commercially

Dancing commercially wasn’t part of Alvester’s plan but when an opportunity came he made the most of it which landed him gigs dancing behind Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez.

So how did it happen?

When he followed his then girlfriend who moved to Los Angeles he was looking to make some side cash to afford studio time to further his singing career. Through an acquaintance of his girlfriend he learned that by dancing he could make a few dollars. An agent signed him right on the spot because of his friend’s word and Alvester’s look.

When auditioning for a spot to dance behind Beyoncé he was going against 1,000 other boys, he recalls. There was also another challenge; he was inexperienced when it came to hip-hop dancing. Still, he went through his normal routine of talking to God as he does before every audition and performance. Before the audition he thought one thing to himself.

“I can’t fuck this up,” he said. During the audition he did what he knew best, be himself.

“I just did me and me was enough,” he said.

For him, Beyoncé and Debbie Allen were two people he looked up to when he was in the entertainment industry.

“Those two women are so profound because they love what they do and get it,” Alvester said. They understood that “art makes a big difference” and that it “speaks volumes.”

From that point forward the rest was

“God’s the best ! Let’s invest,” Mr. Barbershop Man turns his shop’s motto to a lifestyle

By Gino Terrell Photography by

Gino Terrell

Owner of King Milan’s Barbershop made the most of his second chance and continues to give back; and it all started with a set of clippers.

Milan Dennie, 34, first set up shop in his hometown Gary, Indiana when he was 22 before relocating to St. Paul, Minnesota December 2014. His shop’s motto “God is the best! Let’s invest!” rings true to him. Growing up poor and seen as a statistic he turned his life around and continues to give back. For instance, he runs free haircut promotional events for grade school students and looks after the kids who come as regulars.

Growing up in Gary, Dennie lost his father at a young age and grew up with an ill mother. During the time the city thrived off working in the steel mill, he experienced the opposite given his circumstances. He remembers going back to school without a fresh cut or new clothes like his friends.

“We got our school clothes after school started,” he said.

While his older brother worked at Little Cesar’s he brought Dennie his first set of clippers at age 11.

A barber asked Dennie to show him what he could do on his older brother’s hair. After his successful audition he made $5 per haircut. The barber provided Dennie equipment that he allowed Dennie to chip away at as he made $5 per haircut. Eventually, he was debt free and at age 19 enrolled in a barber school.

However, before enrolling in school he suffered a setback. From ages 14 to 18 Dennie served 2-and-a-half years in and out of the juvenile center and department of corrections. After serving his time he thought to himself “I’m not going to spend my adult life trapped into the system.”

Determined to get back on the right track he walked 30 blocks to barbershop school every day, he says. The journey paid off when he received his license.

“It taught me to work hard,” he said. I’m thankful that I made it.”

As a young barber serving the community he was raised in, he was able to connect with his clients. Changes in the area were evident with abandoned steel mills and the rise of unemployment and crime rates. Dennie did his part by making sure the kids he trimmed up stayed on the right path. He first made sure those kids were staying on top of their grades.

He remembers when one grade school student told him he was getting C’s. “Don’t settle for less, especially when it comes to you,” Dennie told him. From there on he saw changes. Through the years he graduated high school, went off to college at a nearby university and after graduating he worked in the school’s athletic department and as a professor, according to Dennie.

“If I never told him that where would he be?” Dennie asked. With no children, Dennie treats each child as if they are his own.

“They need to be taught from the leaders in our community,”

he said. “A leader that teaches them there’s another way. They need to see that you don’t have to resort to illegal activities to make a living or be impressive in your community.”

Beyond giving the kids a little guidance, he applied what he calls “ethical marketing,” to give back to the community. Since 2005 he’s been running an annual tradition.

Inspired by his past, he kicked off an event where he gave free haircuts on Labor Day before kids went back to school. With a line so long it extended out of the shop, he made sure the event was catered and paid all of his barbers for the work. At the start he wasn’t acknowledged for his efforts, however, he continued the tradition because he knew it was the right thing to do.

“The most I got was a pat

on the back,” Dennie said.

Years after continuing the tradition it started to catch on and get in the local newspapers.

King Milan’s Barbershop LLC expanded to the North Star state, December 2014. He didn’t want his co-workers in Gary to be out of a job so he took financial responsibility for both shops until he was able to sell it to a fellow barber.

Operating in St. Paul Dennie still applies his ethical marketing motto and provides guidance to the children that come in his shop. While running the 10th annual free cuts day in 2015, first in St. Paul, he was accompanied by television cameras and media coverage. The media attention helped him bring in donations. Dennie recalls a person running into his shop in tears and giving a donation

because they admired what he was doing. Labor Day 2016 King Milan’s gave away well over 300 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and tallied a total of 313 free haircuts in St. Paul alone. His shop in Gary also kept the tradition going as well.

“Mr. Barbershop Man” is what the kids call him, who frequently comeback to give him hugs.

In 2017 not only did Dennie keep the tradition going and make his annual event even bigger he received a new jacket. A jacket from Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins that read “Milan:

Master Barber, Minnesota Twins,” after they named him an alternate barber for the baseball club. Coming from poor beginnings many thought he would end up in jail or the cemetery, says Dennie. However, he was determined to change and his life story shows why it’s important to invest in children.

“Anybody can change,” Dennie said. “I take it as my responsibility. I treat these kids as mine.”

When it comes to children Dennie has applied his shop’s motto to his lifestyle.

“God’s the best. Let’s invest.”

acting out his passion on stage, he’s rasheeM ford

By Gino Terrell

Rasheem Ford is making a living by doing what he loved most as a child, acting.

Straight out of college Ford starred in his first national tour performing as a co-host in Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance! He has an international tour under his belt as a cast member inKorean fairy tale Sunfish: A New Musical and appeared in numerous local theater projects such as West Side Story, Rent, Sister Act and other titles.

Performing has been a hobby of his since he was a toddler growing up in Long Island, New York.

The arts scene “it’s everywhere, literally, in the backyard,” Ford said.

As a kid he would act out what he saw on television or live performances in front of his family members. He not only acted, as a kid he sang in his church’s choir practicing a skill he thanks his father’s side for blessing him with.

Singing the ABC’s and dancing at age nine has prepared him for today, as well as going through auditions at age 10, which had given him a feel for the industry early on, says Ford.

“New York is the perfect outlet for” learning about performing arts, Ford said. “You learn about work ethic.”

but when you actually get it you’re really excited,” he said. Not only would he co-host Sesame with colleague Kayleigh Shuler, he was given creative control over his newly developed character.

“It was boom,” Ford said. “Your first national tour and you get to originate a role.”

Using every experience as a learning experience, touring was a learning curve he picked up. He learned to take care of himself by making sure he maintained good health on the road to perform many shows in a short time span. Learning other facets of the industry is an interest of Ford who would like to explore directing with his goal to be “well rounded in all aspects.”

The ultimate goal, like many actors, is to perform in the prestigious venue an hour away from his hometown, Broadway.

I want to “be successful doing what I love,” he said.

In high school he continued performing in local community shows and picked up dancing again, learning ballet. While appearing in numerous theatrical productions he landed his first national tour after graduating from SUNY Cortland. In the middle of a dancing session he stepped out of the gymnasium he was in to answer a phone call. So shocked he got the part he even asked the caller, “are you serious?”

“You hope to get things

The triple threat with talents in singing, acting and dancing looks for roles that suit his skills and that he can relate to. Building on his strengths, he has realized that being a good listener has paid dividends for him as it is a trait that’s helped him be the team player he is, which is crucial when collaborating with other actors.

Returning to a familiar country, Ford played Tiny Joe Dixon in the play Dreamgirls during a Korean tour in 2017. Throughout Ford’s life he has been able to make a career out of his childhood passion, something he urges aspiring actors to do as well.

“If you truly have a passion for it, do it,” he said. “Never give up. Never stop learning.” Check

Photography by Mark Bradley Miller

Continuing the family tradition

celebrity hairstylist Kimberly Kimble turned her talent into a “Kimpire.”

The celebrity hairstylist, beauty expert and entrepreneur is known for running her salon on WE tv’s reality show LA Hair, currently airing its fifth season. The third generation hairstylist launched a digital series Kimbleize Me in 2017 and has her own line of professional salon products. She rose to fame for her work with high class celebrities such as Halle Berry and Beyoncé and continues to serve a long list of celebrities.

“I fell in love with hair because seeing the reaction after I got done with clients was very fulfilling,” she said.

Discovering her passion in fashion

Growing up in Chicago Kimble has memories of accessorizing clothing on dolls when she was two years old. It wasn’t just hair Kimble loved but it was fashion as a whole. She’d also cut out images and build her own magazine from the scraps.

“I like the fashion, I liked the hair. Like Janet [Jackson] and Madonna’s hair…I was already obsessing over hair at a young age,” she said.

From her mother and grandmother, she learned how to style hair.

“I thank God that I had these two wonderful women in hair to learn from,” she said.

During high school she went to beauty school and afterwards enrolled in college. The plan was she’d start off in hair and work her way to fashion. With school on week days and using her dorm room to style hair on the weekends she was already building

her clientele. After her first semester, she decided to go all in and pursue her career, thinking she’d later go pick up school. Bouncing from jobto-job and ending up where she is now, she hasn’t had time to go back.

“I went full blown and it hasn’t failed me yet,” she said.

At age 22 she entered the entertainment business and later went on to create hair pieces for Berry in B*A*P*S (1997). After carving out her niche in hairstyling she became well known for her work with celebrities including Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears and a long list of other Hollywood A-listers. Just as she liked crafting her own magazines with her favorite styles as a child, professional magazines such as Essence and Vogue featured her styles in print internationally.

Being a reality star, LA Hair (2012- )

One of her goals when she was in the industry was to produce beauty shows, but she never thought she’d personally be in one running her salon Kimble Hair Studio. When the opportunity came she did not blink and prayed on it.

“When I prayed about it God said it was going to happen and I knew it happened for a reason,” Kimble said.

WE tv’s LA Hair has had a solid following through its five seasons. With Kimble’s salon being in the spotlight at all times she mentions there are “ups and downs.” One being the opinions of viewers who may disagree with decisions Kimble makes while running the salon. Knowing her decisions that’s

Enter the “Kimpire”: Creating a lifestyle out of creating hairstyles

By Gino Terrell

in best interest of her salon may not please all her viewers she’s learned how to roll with the punches. What makes it all worth it is hearing from fans how much the show inspires them.

“They follow it to a ‘t.’ I never imagined [that],” Kimble said. “It’s a blessing to have this opportunity to inspire so many people…I’m proud of LA Hair, what it has done. We have loyal fans that are supporters and they keep me going. We have the best fans in the world.”

The Kimpire

The third generation hairstylist wants the tradition to continue and eventually reach her future grandchildren.

“Everything I do is related to hair,” Kimble said.

Her brand has branched out far beyond her salon to a line of hairstyle products. In 2017 Kimble said her hope was her then 17-year-old son, who is also her only child, can one day run the family business. Her son has interest in other areas such as basketball and planning to go off to college to major in business, however, Kimble is hoping that he can take interest inthe business side of things as she wants to pass down her “Kimpire.”

“I think I convinced him ‘you

don’t have to do hair but you could be the CEO,’” Kimble said. “This is something that I’ve worked on for years and it’s really for the future of my kids, grandkids.” For those inspired to go into hair

Kimble recommends that they follow it if it’s truly their passion and seek guidance from a mentor.

“If you feel like you have a natural talent for that I feel like you are headed in the right direction, and it’s something you actually love. You gotta love it to do it. Don’t let the money motivate you because it will become a job,” she said.

Everyday Kimble steps foot in her salon she’s happy because she’s not going to work, she’s coming in to do what she loves.

Joram Mutenge writes entertaining, “painfully honest” book revealing personal college experiences lacking relationships

By Gino Terrell

Through a collection of true stories this author creates a situational “self-help” book when it comes to relationships in college.

Now a junior at Luther College Joram Mutenge writes about his early college experiences when it comes his “unsuccessful relationship adventures” in his book “Lonely Boy 21: The Sorrows & Regrets of Being Single in College.” Mutenge’s project is ongoing posting a story every Saturday. The first 10 stories in his collection will be available online as the rest of his planned total of 15 stories will be available once the print version of the book is sold. Each story is 100 percent true with the only thing being different is Mutenge changing the names of the characters, he said.

“The whole idea [was] I wanted to write an honest story so, as Kevin Hart says, you can laugh at my pain,” Mutenge said.

With this book being a “self-help” book there’s a twist in his style of writing this genre.

“I give you something to look at and say ‘this isn’t right’...I’m not telling you what to do,” Mutenge said. “Each story is a situation. ‘Hey, this is what I did.’”

Each chapter is a true situational story Mutenge encountered and from there readers decide what he should have done.

Opening the book Mutenge writes: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my college years it’s that being nice doesn’t always pay, in fact, it rarely pays.” Through the stories Mutenge writes readers will get a glimpse at exactly what he means as he’s a believer in the adage “nice guys finish last.”

“That is so true,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s the truth. You have to know truth hurts.”

Citing a saying from George Orwell, in which he also quotes in his book, that after the age 20 no one cares if you’re nice and from experience he’s learned how to deal with this by staying true to himself rather than doing what he feels is popular or people pleasing. Before he learned this lesson he acted differently.

“I was trying to portray an impeccable image of myself. I wasn’t true to myself,” Mutenge said.

Since last month Mutenge has been dropping chapters of his book on a weekly basis and has ran into people that can relate. One reader told Mutenge his stories are “painfully honest,” but while the book may tell hurting truths the style in which he writes reflect his fun, “happy-go-lucky” personality where the stories aren’t depressing, they’re funny with stamps of truth on it.

Just as Mutenge performs poetry in a similar style to poet George Watsky, they talk about hard lessons they learned in life but in a funny way that entertains people. While Mutenge provides entertainment with his book he’s hoping to offer a little more to people.

“This is a way to opening up the message,” Mutenge said.

A message showing no matter how many students on campus may fake they are in a good place many are struck in unhealthy relationships or can’t get in relationships, he said. With this book’s collection of stories it serves as an icebreaker to spark conversations on this topic.

“It gives them a form of courage to speak for themselves,” Mutenge said. This book “intends to open your mind.”

While Mutenge continues to write chapters in his book he’s found it to be a “cathartic” process.

“I write these stories to see what situations I can avoid,” Mutenge said. “It gives me a third eye to see what I could have done better.”

Catch up on the early chapters of “Lonely Boy 21: The Sorrows & Regrets of Being Single in College” on wattpad.com

a M odel and a grease M onkey, tabatha i shares her story

By Gino Terrell

Cars and cameras are two objects that correlate with Tabatha I’s two careers.

Working as a mechanic parttime since her high school days she began modeling shortly after posing for her senior pictures in high school. Continuing the two careers brings together two of her passions, working with cars and being in front of a camera.

In 2017, Tabatha had a four-page spread in Surreal Beauty Magazine. Seeing herself printed on those pages was rewarding.

“It made me excited and want to do more work with paper print,” Tabatha said. “I love physical copies.”

Not only did she get a kick out of seeing herself, her family and friends got ahold of copies of the magazine to see a girl from Keyser, West Virginia get a little more successful. Coming from a town with a population slightly under 5,500 people in Keyser, Tabatha’s hometown is a 19-minute drive away in Burlington, West Virginia which is an even smaller town with a population under

200. Tabatha appreciates the opportunity she has in front of herself to serve as a role model.

“I love showing that a small town girl from Keyser, West Virginia can do good by herself,” Tabatha said.

During Tabatha’s senior photo shoot she caught the eye of an individual. In addition to her modeling, doing her own hair and putting on her own makeup is what prompted one to invite her to enter a bikini contest for a car show.

After entering that contest she continued to pursue modeling as it gave her a special feeling.

“I love glamour,” Tabatha said. “It makes me feel like I can be myself in front of the camera.”

With the help of her agent Jesse L. Green, Tabatha has appeared in a Manhattan Fashions promotion directed by Topflyght Entertainment, Jay Wilkens’ music video “Twerk Something” produced by Mr. Topflyght and three film credits that include: Midnight Macabre (2017), Killer Campout (2016) and Milfs vs. Zombies (2015). Looking to do more video work

in front of the camera to expand, Tabatha says modeling itself is a handful but she has the passion to live up to the profession. Her challenges range from traveling for work, bending to perform the poses that are asked of her and keeping up with the latest trends. With the exception of her appearance in Surreal, Tabatha continues to do her own makeup and hair while assembling her own wardrobe. In the process, she has to alter her look from job-to-job. Motivation plays a huge role in becoming a model, says Tabatha. Meeting new people and accepting what others say when critiquing her comes with the territory. All in all, the small town girl who describes herself as “outgoing, friendly and fun” plans to further her career in the industry while staying true to her values by refusing to take nude photos. Going off to a larger market city and perhaps one day producing a magazine herself are long terms goals she’s open to pursuing.

Even 19-minutes away from her hometown the girl has been taken out of her small town but Keyser hasn’t been taken out of her. With a passion for cars, Tabatha still works on the side as a mechanic going from putting on her makeup to look good for the camera to changing headlights and car batteries for vehicles.

“Other than looking like a pretty model I can get dirty,” Tabatha said. “And I’m not scared to get dirty.” One thing she’d like more than anything else is merging her two passions for cars and cameras by modeling antique and muscle cars.

With traveling a part of her job, in 2017 she was eyeing a 1994 Toyota Supra to help her continue to go places, just as she’s done while pursuing her career. Always keeping her eyes on the prize she brought that car the very same way she’s bought in to her career as a model.

From fat school girl to Miss Beverly Hills, she’s fitness guru Elina Shaffy

By Gino Terrell

As an overweight girl sick of boys teasing her curvy and voluptuous body, this then 11-year-old decided to commit to cleanse.

“Boys would look at me, laugh and make fun of me,” Elina Shaffy said. “I decided I would not be the fat girl in class.”

This was the first step to a lifetime commitment. Devoted to staying smart and beautiful she also became physically active participating in ballet and tennis growing up in Beverly Hills, California. A figure that was once target practice for mean school boys later became the body that cracked Shaffy into a top 100 list model search in the world.

Through fitness, Shaffy has created a name for herself doing what she loves most, taking care of her body. While she continues to work out twice a day, cardio in the morning and weight training in the evening, the selfproclaimed “bad ass” who’s “very driven” helps others with their health for living. She’s turned her passion for fitness into a career opportunity where she helps many clients, including celebrities, as a fitness guru, nutrition consultant and life coach. Making a name for herself, she’s added the title of Miss Beverly Hills to it. As a Persian she took pride in having a title not only in her hometown but in a city with a large Persian population.

It was an “excellent fit,” Shaffy said. “I was the most ideal person.”

As Miss Beverly Hills she was an ambassador to a city she already knew the culture to calling Beverly Hills a “town that is so much more in-depth than beautiful people, cars and architecture.”

Before falling in love with this role she was named the spokesperson for Michelle Obama’s “Shape Up America” campaign, a program raising awareness for healthy eating and physical activity.

For Shaffy, helping others is the most rewarding part of her journey serving as a role model and “giving back to the community.” After working closely with Mike Torchia on the campaign, Shaffy said he took her under his wing and the two look forward to doing

On a daily basis, she’s pushing her clients to better their health. One of her most inspirational clients is Hollywood producer Jon Peters. Shaffy saw him when he was 40 pounds overweight coming off a major surgery. While she gave him the blueprint, Peters took the initiative to follow through and lost 35 pounds.

“It struck a cord for me,” Shaffy said. I was helping “children struggling with the same thing I struggled with. It was a wonderful thing to be involved in.”

“I look at him with awe,” Shaffy said. “He probably looks better now than he did 30 years ago.”

Stories like Peters is why Shaffy loves her career. “Not many professions inspire, transform and empower,” Shaffy said. “They put all their trust in [me]. Working out, eating [healthy] but mainly its mental… having the will, determination, tenacity and desire to overcome.”

Shaffy’s admiration for Peters, just shows how far she’s come. Once an overweight girl who made a commitment to better her health, she found a passion in fitness

and along the way helped others to achieve the very same mental commitment she made. She stays low-key and admits she doesn’t do a lot of social media but the cover girl who once appeared in a national commercial for Beverly Hills based fashion designer Amir is also the founder and chief designer of high-end athletic line, ES Sportswear.

“I’m going to be a phenomenon,” Shaffy said. “It’s a matter of time before reaping the benefits.”

Being able to carve out a career in her niche has been “incredible,” Shaffy said.

“I would not have thought this would be a means to a career [but] I knew this made me feel good,” Shaffy said. “If you are passionate about what you love everything will fall into place.”

She encourages everyone to make a living following their true passion.

“It’s a lovely feeling,” Shaffy said. “Do what it is that makes your heart stomp.”

Hip Hop artist Tory Vanz goes 11 Q’s

By Gino Terrell

He’s not just making music, he’s starting a movement.

Minneapolis Hip-Hop artist Tory Vanz talks about his love for music, reveals his alter ego and how he’s a part of a musical movement. In a digital interview he goes 11 questions with Hidden Valley Culture.

Gino Terrell: When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?

Tory Vanz: I fell in love with hip hop when my father taught me his raps and used me as a addlib for the track then it took me to freestyles at the lunch table with the homies.

G.T.: How did you get your rap name?

T.V.: It’s really my name lol but my alter ego is Zipaveli Austin the veli inspired by PAC

G.T.: What the name of your movement? How many people are in it?

T.V.: “DOUBLE F” Family First is the movement kid that’s the name and don’t where it out n we deep it’s levels to this shit like any family I say I’m the head of the movement but it’s more of a conglomerate

G.T.: How would you describe the sound of your music to someone who has not heard it?

T.V.: A mix of everything because I’m influenced by life and all forms of music period

G.T.: As an artist where do you draw your inspiration?

T.V.: I’d have to say PAC, Jay-Z, Jadakiss, fuck so many the list goes on I mean Bob Marley music in general gives me inspiration

G.T.: Why do you love reppin the 612, Minneapolis? And how would you say growing in the Minneapple has influenced your music?

T.V.: My people moved here for music shit this is music most music is created here I love here I’m born n raised here being from here made

me who I am and ready to grow we’re a culture melting pot at least Minneapolis n twin cities in general.

G.T.: What’s the purpose behind your music? Your underlining message.

T.V.: My purpose really to be able to express myself artistically without judgement and freedom of expression is powerful and dangerous too but to listen and watch art and no matter what it is learn perspectives is amazing and scary sometimes because people are so different yet so similar G.T.: In modern rap so many artist now days try to sound the same and it seems mainstream artists are now scared to be themselves. What about your unique style do you believe sets you a part from others?

T.V.: Dog I’m just trying to be me. Tory Vanz. And when I feel different, I’m Zipaveli Austin. Call it what u want I make trending music and music that’s not because I enjoy it all. I set myself apart by being me and not being afraid to say I’m me

G.T.: Where can fans find your music?

T.V.: Right now SoundCloud.com/toryvanz & subscribe to my YouTube FamFirstdoublef also my like page on fb Tory Vanz hit that like button keep up with me also follow me on IG Tory_Vanz

G.T.: For people just now coming up to speed on your music, what tracks do they definitely need to check out?

T.V.: Chances (frank sinatra) ft neno and “doubt it” remix, my wave and I got a new joint bout to drop called legendary

G.T.: Where do you see your movement?

T.V.: Not sure yet but we on one I promise

G.T.: Tell me about the video you dropped

[summer 2017]?

T.V.: Aw man doubt it remix the shit is just hella organic s/o by boy Ramsey from Comp_Keyz I love them dudes over there they put in work on the beats the camera work whatever fuck with them boys the some youngins on the come up fr gotta lot of respect for the dudes n go watch that shit imma put it on YouTube but that bitch going crazy on fb right now hit that like button and check that joint out

Double F is all I got to say family first we here to stay. I’m out, peace.

*Q&A courtesy of Hidden Valley Culture

Internet’s marvelous pioneer Cindy Margolis: How she shaped today’s digital world & beyond

By Gino Terrell

While raising her three children the one thing Cindy Margolis amplified is the number one thing that drives her crazy, the internet.

Cell phones, apps and a reliable device digitally telling time to her children, to the point her children can’t even read a traditional Roman numeral clock, at times Margolis wishes technology advances would slow down. Although her kids have come across Margolis’ name in history textbooks having neighbors like A-list comedian Kevin Hart and a close friend in Gwen Steffani, whose son wrote and composed a song to impress Margolis’ daughter, Margolis’ own kids don’t even realize how big she is. Internationally known as “The Queen of the Internet” she was a trailblazer playing a key role in how the internet is shaped today.

“To make history, that was quite an honor,” says the woman who holds a Guinness Book of World Records title, one that’s been retired called the Most Downloaded Woman In History. “I was part of an era where we changed the world…I was close with Steve Jobs…he [was] a genius who basically changed the world…I could not be more blessed.”

There’s one pet peeve that bothers Margolis the most: The idea that someone can be a celebrity overnight and that after getting that 15-minutes of

fame they are set for life. This is a mindset younger people today, like her children; believe with technology bringing answers to their fingertips as soon as they demand it, Margolis explained.

“I need them to know I worked my ass off,” Margolis said. “There’s no such thing as an overnight success.” Margolis did more than just work, she was innovative.

“When the name Cindy Margolis is spoken, remember these three B’s… She is beauty, brilliance and one iconic brand,” Facebooks Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg once said of her.

To reach these heights she’d had to overcome adversity. Through struggles and failures is how one becomes to know who they are, Margolis says. Through trials in life is what prepared Margolis to position herself for her big break and it took work to sustain that success.

And if anyone knows how to sustain success digitally it’s the woman with an Online Webster Dictionary word “Margolian” which means “to self-create opportunities through extraordinary feats on the internet.”

Cindy Margolis is also the President of theSeen, an online social entertainment employment network partnering with Google to help launch stars.

Cindy’s Childhood

Raised by a single mother right outside Los Angeles in San Fernando Valley, California Margolis learned to take on responsibility as early as age six. As the oldest of two, she also looked out for her younger brother.

“I was really the mom and dad of the house,” Margolis said. Adoring public figures such as Marilyn Monroe whom she “had a whole room dedicated to her” Margolis had aspirations to join Hollywood. Living right next to Los Angeles she felt her family and the “stability” she built gave her a support system to make it. When her big break came, she was ready.

Breaking the Internet

Since she was already modeling she decided to intertwine that for a class project in a business 101 course as college student enrolled at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Working to the last minute she realized she could use photos of herself modeling lingerie for her business project, which she came up with an idea to make sexy greeting cards with brief phrases as the project was simple.

“If you had a business what would it be?” Margolis said.

After standing up in front of class presenting and handing out her greeting it was the start to a business.

Shipping out the businesses cards after her mother quit her job, she, Margolis and her brother would stay at home and answer phone calls from customers calling about the greeting cards as the home phone number on the back of each card was presented as a business number.

When this became a hit, she was later getting hired to model for posters. Appearing in over 100 different posters she became the biggest selling poster super model, labeled “America’s #1 Pin-Up.”

Reaching such heights she appeared on “The Price is Right” and would frequently appear as a guest on other shows.

Before making television appearances she would guarantee that show would reach its highest ratings. And she didn’t disappoint. She’d send an email blast to all fan emails she had on file from her website to let them know when she was making a television appearance. Just like that she’d spike those shows ratings.

“I was the first celebrity to have a website and do selfpromotion,” Margolis said. “I helped agencies shape

where they are today.”

When she appeared on Howard Stern’s show and named dropped her website it would crash.

Before the turn of the millennium Margolis was downloaded 70,000 times in a span of 24 hours, which landed her a spot in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records.

Raising Awareness for Infertility

Margolis lit up Hollywood starring in her own television show the “Cindy Margolis Show,” making an appearance in the first installment of the “Austin Powers” hit movie trilogy and landing other gigs that put her on both the silver screen and on television sets in front of millions.

her life on her reality dating show “Seducing Cindy.”

Posing for Playboy with a purpose

Throughout her rise to fame Margolis prides herself for never stripping down as she was clothed for every photoshoot. But after years of rejecting Hugh Hefner’s

request to pose for Playboy she decided in 2006 to do it, but it was only to go toward a cause close to her heart, infertility.

children has noticed a generation gap. As the kids refer to anything pre 2000 as the “olden times” they don’t get the cult classic movies Margolis shows them such as “Austin Powers” or “Clueless.” Margolis also notices extreme frustration from them when it comes to having issues connecting to “Wi-Fi” or when she’d take their phone away as they place so much value on a mobile device.

It may seem a little ironic that the person who took the internet to such heights and the only woman Vanity Fair listed in “The 100 Most Influential People Who Developed And Shaped The Internet,” to think that internet advances should slow down. However, it’s only so millennials like her children understand traditional values such as communication, patience or even something simple like an old fashioned handshake.

In fact, on August 16, 2017 she had her 25-year anniversary with her manager Neil Cirucci. A commitment the two

made with a simple handshake with no contracts or paperwork ever involved.

“Let’a face it, 25 years in a business relationship in Hollywood is unreal: 25 years without a written contract is unheard of. We’re not just business partners, we’re best friends,” Cirucci said. “Cindy is about as down to earth as she can be. While her beauty is obvious, her self-deprecating sense of humor is always at the forefront. She doesn’t take herself too seriously at all.”

While Margolis’ children may drive her “stir crazy” at times, she loves them and they’re all she talks about.

She’s “the best,” Cirucci said. “She loves her 3 kids dearly Nicholas, Sabrina and Sierra…and they, in turn, adore her.”

Using the internet to her advantage when it comes to her children she reminds them what’s helped them live where they are now.

“This is the house the internet built,” Margolis tells her children. “I don’t want them to ever forget there’s a whole [different] world out there and you’re lucky.”

While she was becoming more and more of a household name, she was having problems off camera with infertility. While taking shots on daily basis, up to three times a day, hoping to overcome her infertility she later went public to address the issue. While working on a project a makeup artist told Margolis people were thinking she was taking drugs as her husband was giving her shots in the bathroom.

She decided to open up about the issue on “Entertainment Tonight” and was the first celebrity to bring awareness to this issue in Hollywood and sparked a movement after an uncut episode where she opened up about her experience.

“I never thought my sperm would be talked on ‘Entertainment Tonight,’” Margolis said. She further helped raise awareness for infertility becoming the celebrity spokesperson for “National Infertility Association” Resolve.

Margolis was able to have three children, her eldest son using in-vitro fertility treatments and twin daughters who came from a surrogate mother. In 2008, she published a bestselling book “Having A Baby…When the Old Fashioned Way Isn’t Working” to further share her experience. She also mentioned this aspect of

“It made men wake up,” Margolis said of being featured in Playboy, as it referenced that 65 percent of the time infertility is a male problem.

While Margolis never posed nude on camera for money or fame she stayed true to herself as she didn’t make a penny off appearing in Playboy. She donated all proceeds to fertility organizations. It helped 30 women and three families named their daughters after her, Margolis said.

Losing her brother While Margolis may appear to be living a fantasy she deals with adversity as like everyone else. The hardest hit in her life occurred three years ago when she lost her younger brother Cory.

“I loved him more than anything. He was there for every triumph,” Margolis said.

The tragedy is a life lesson Margolis and her three children are learning from as it changed all their lives as the two siblings were very close.

“I never dealt with something like that…it changes your life [especially] an unexpected sudden death,” Margolis said.

Cory is survived by his wife and two kids.

Cindy’s innovative but old fashioned The single mother that raises her three millennial

STARS TALK REALITY TV

Cindy Margolis: Dating reality show “Seducing Cindy” was traumatizing

Fox Reality Channel’s highest rated series took six months to a year for Cindy Margolis to recover.

The reality show that ran for eight episodes was about Margolis, at the time recently divorced, searching for love with 24 contestants competing to be the one. “Seducing Cindy” ran for one season in 2010 on the now nonexistent channel. Margolis declined to sign on for a second season because of how devastating the experience was for her contestants, and was even harder on her, she revealed.

This was “not reality at all” it was more of a “psychological experiment,” Margolis said. “They don’t know what they put these guys through.”

With 24 men all under one roof, there was no television sets or phones to call anyone outside the house. They also had to shower outside.

While Margolis was searching for love during this stage of her life she requested no contestants to be under 30 to avoid the “cougar” image. However, the network decided to cast nearly half the contestants under 30, as contestants ranged from ages 18-71.

With the entire crew all men, Margolis was the only woman on set for eight weeks. There was also another kicker which made Margolis realize this was not reality at all. She was told who to choose and who to eliminate at the end of each episode.

“Every decision was made for who’s good for TV,” Margolis said. There was also soundbites used in episodes of her saying “I love you” audio dubbed in scenes to further fix the show.

What made the experience devastating for Margolis was an episode that staged a serious car

By Gino Terrell

accident. This shook up many of the contestants as they saw an ambulance take Margolis away. And the deal breaker was who loved Margolis enough that they’d give her their kidney and they were all willing to do such.

And when it came down to the end of the show she felt contestant Brian Domingo, 46, was the perfect guy for her but instead she was told to choose young model Leighton Stulz, 24.

So what happened afterwards?

“As soon as it was over he was pulled away. They told him he was ‘not allowed to ever speak to Cindy,’” Margolis said. The experience was so traumatizing for contestants that a psychiatrist was on set, says Margolis.

“I do believe they loved me,” Margolis said.

This was unlike television as Margolis was not portraying a character, in reality television this was an image the show was giving her. With edits and being told what decisions to make it was nowhere near an accurate depiction of her.

“It killed me more than it killed them,” Margolis said. She wanted to apologize to her contestants for going through that experience but couldn’t contact them. After the show was over she started missing all the attention she became accustomed to receiving but as time passed Margolis researched and saw that the final contestants moved on and found their true love.

“They all ended up fine but I’m the only one still single,” Margolis said. “No one’s knocking on my door.”

So it almost worked out for all involved.

There’s one key lesson this reality star has learned with age. “Everything happens for a reason,” Charrisse Jackson Jordan said.

Currently starring in Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac she was requested to join the cast because of all the work she had done as a basketball wife. Married to Eddie Jordan, former NBA player and Washington Wizards head coach, Charrisse was busy doing work within National Basketball Wives Association. There, as president of Behind the Bench, she helped raise millions of dollars for charity and nonprofit organizations such as Knock Out Abuse Against Women, Men Against Breast Cancer and N Street Village among others.

While she was making a name for herself she was asked to join the cast of Real Housewives of D.C. However, she declined when her husband didn’t approve. When Potomac came around she helped cast the show which brought her to that opportunity when they said “you’re like the glue to the project.”

When she broke the news that she’d be joining the series her husband Eddie said they would probably divorce. “That was like whoa,” Charrisse said.

While going forward with the project has led her into a midst of a divorce she’s using her opportunity to inspire people who watch the show. But it does come with a challenge. She realizes her true image is not going to be reflected. The self-proclaimed “positive woman” who raises her son and daughter doesn’t even like drama but understands that’s not the side the network wants to display as drama is seen as the tool to drive reality television.

“It’s like a cat and mouse thing,” Charrisse said. I’m really the “voice of reason… I’m not a negative person.”

Being comfortable with who she really is helps her through this process.

When it comes to Charrisse, the person, she believes it boils down to three traits which are spiritual, empathetic and kindhearted. These traits and values are things she’s picked up growing up in Somerset, New Jersey.

Charrisse Upbringing

Growing up as the youngest of eight she received a lot of attention with her siblings like additional parents to her. This upbringing showed her what it’s like to be spoiled, she said. Throw in five older brothers she’s picked up a thing or two for them as well.

“Let’s just say I know how to get myself out of a jam,” Charrisse said.

Not only did she learn how to defend herself with help from her brothers she also discovered she was a good sprinter as that trait ran in the family with her brother on cross country. She was so good that in middle school she could compete against high school girls in track. But when it came to competition she found her joy in cheerleading and it just so happened that when she became a mother she’d coach her daughter’s cheer squad.

Always doing well in school she also took initiative to learn beyond the classroom setting exposing her to learn what it’s like to run a business through Future Leaders of America before going off to college at Morgan State University. These skills would later help her when she became an NBA housewife.

Eddie Jordan

Before Eddie became an NBA player Charrisse knew him when he was a “broke” college

Real Housewives of Potomac star Charrisse Jackson Jordan talks challenges, inspiring reality TV audience

Living life without limits and pursuing her passion is what Thee Jenny Valdes does best.

Valdes is one of the six background dancers for Pitbull, famously known as “The Most Bad Ones.” The former Miami Heat dancer joined Pitbull’s tour last fall 2016 while keeping up with her 3.920 GPA as a student at Florida International University before graduating spring 2017. In 2017, she appeared in Pitbull’s hit music videos “Options” and “Jungle,” while also making her ESPN debut performing during the 2017 MLB All-Star week. The Miamian with family roots in Cuba has accomplishment much by pursuing her passion in dance. “I’ve just always tried to expose myself to different things and do the best that I can,” Valdes said. Doing many things is something she had always done as a child

involved in student government, playing basketball and volleyball, while dancing on the side. After learning the basics of dance she joined “Junior Jam,” a program for kids to dance for NBA’s Miami Heat. After graduating from high school she made the official Heat dance team. Two years later, she danced for music artist Prince Royce who opened for Ariana Grande during her “Honeymoon” tour in 2015.

Along her journey there’s one thing that’s helped Valdes move forward with her dance career.

And that’s goal setting.

“Goal setting has literally helped me stay on track and figure out what it is I want to accomplish,” she said. “If you don’t know the direction you are headed towards, [then] you don’t know what you are working towards.”

When she brought in the

2017 New Year on stage with “Mr. Worldwide” during “Pitbull’s New Year’s Resolution” on FOX, she experienced her goal come to fruition. New Year’s Eve 2014 she first worked at that event as a model with the goal to perform on stage, she did just that the following year with Prince Royce. Her next goal was to perform with “The Most Bad Ones” and after making the squad fall 2016 the rest was history.

“Being a goal oriented person really helps you to accomplish your long term vision and basically make your dreams come into reality,” Valdes said. “It means a lot for me to accomplish my goal, but this is not the end. It is only the beginning.”

While she’s moved through the ranks with her dance career, her main priority is and always has been school.

“Honestly, for me school comes first. My dancing is on the side,” said Valdes, who graduated high school with a GPA over 5.4 finishing top percentile in her class. “Education is key, knowledge is power; and from there is how you grow.”

Balancing college with her dance career is difficult Valdes admits, but “doable.” After performing in front of thousands on stage she spends her nights studying in her hotel room.

“When I’m on the plane I’m studying [and] trying to get Wi-Fi to do homework,” she said.

Although the balance may be challenging there’s someone that crosses Valdes mind that motivates her to continue and improve what she’s doing.

“The second my niece was born she made me see life from a different perspective,” she said. “Every time I wake up I want to try to be a better person and set an example for her to be a better person.”

Her niece has also made her want to be a role model, which is a role Valdes wants to play for other kids as well. After graduating May 2017 one of her plans was to work with kids to show them how they can pursue their passion and become successful. She’s done having helped launch Edyoucare a nonprofit that does exactly what she wants to help kids do, seek and be exposed to limitless opportunities.

“Kids are the future and if you don’t teach them who else will?” Valdes asked. My niece “made me realize that it’s not about me but what I’m going to leave behind as an individual. What can people learn from me? What can I do to make the world a better place?”

What keeps her living up to those expectations is a quote from Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Leading by example, the one thing she wants others to remember about her is how she lives limitless. Just as she demands high expectations for herself academically, she continues to devote the same energy in pursuing her passion in dancing and wants to inspire others to do the same.

“If you do what you love it’s not work,” Valdes said. “And if you are passionate about it not only are you going to help yourself and be happy, but you’re going to impact others while doing it.”

Spreading a little kindness to spark change, “America’s Best Dentist”

Dr. Karen Fields-Lever

By Gino Terrell

Every day she prays she’s serving as a “change blazer.” National award winning dentist Dr. Karen FieldsLever made it her mission to “be the change” she “wish to see in the world.” Living up to Mahatma Ghandi’s quote, she’s set up her own practice “28 to BRUSH,” launched a mobile segment to provide service in underserved areas in Chicago and remains active in the community by volunteering at day care centers to help children.

Named “America’s Best Dentist” in 2016, for Dr. Fields-Lever it all started with education.

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan she was raised by two parents with bachelor’s degrees who were always “pushing” her “to the limit.”

“Education is key to success,” Dr. FieldsLever said of the family’s value of education. Always doing well in school she went on to enroll at Spelman College where she received her Bachelors of Science in Biology Pre-Medicine graduating with honors. Later, she enrolled in Dental School at Howard University College of

Dentistry to earn her Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Her education didn’t stop there as she went on to complete her residency at Yale University.

Now residing in Chicago, married with two kids, she’s been able to relax on Friday’s where she can spend quality time with her family on the beach during the summers. But that does not mean for one second she’s stopped going above and beyond her duty.

As a child Dr. Fields-Lever admired how “pristine” and “professional” the clinics she visited were. Looking to recreate that quality and then some, after practicing for six years when she had the opportunity she opened up her own practice in 2014 called “28 to BRUSH” Dental Studio in Forest Park, Illinois.

The unique name comes from the 28 teeth people brush before and after their wisdom teeth.

“It’s truly one of a kind,” Dr. Fields-Lever said of the name. “It’s a fun name, easy to remember.”

Not only is it a dental studio with

just a fun name, it’s one that has their clients smiling when they walk in.

“We have people who truly love us,” she said. As “we truly cater to our patients.”

The goal of setting up shop was to create a dental home for African Americans to feel comfortable and feel like they are a part of a family. While her mission was accomplished, she decided to launch an element to her service to further give back to her community. This element was a mobile dentistry.

Since 2016, her business would come to the community. Helping needy areas in the inner city of Chicago, they provide oral health access by visiting community centers and schools.

“At first, it was a bit eye opening…and then it became a special experience as it was a hands’ on view of what was needed,” Dr. Fields-Lever explained of her initial visits.

Doing work as a booking agent

While Esterman was building his rapport with the club’s VIP guests’ people would approach Esterman about getting the celebrities he was hanging out with booked for events. Being the plug to his network, the celebrities he was helping offered to pay him money.

“I was like ‘naw, naw. I’m just a friend. I’m just happy to help you and when you come back in town I get to hang out with you again,’” Esterman said. “They were like ‘no, no. We have to pay you something because if someone else was booking us we’d have to pay them so we might as well give you the money.’ So that’s how it started.”

Fast-forward to 2018 and now Esterman is approaching his 19th year in the industry. Technology in this day and age has helped Esterman book clients all over the world. However, the internet has added a major challenge.

“It has created a world of confusion. A world of scammers,” Esterman said. “Anybody can act like they are somebody they are not.”

When offers are too good to be true it signals to

Esterman that its typically a scam. In most cases, Esterman does not know of the scams until the scammers have made off with the money and the buyer finally comes to Esterman reporting to him the situation. While Esterman can’t make it up by giving them a discount to book the talent they intended to, as it’s obviously not his or his talent’s problem, Esterman attempts to track down the scammers for the buyers.

“I’m always vetting and fixing other people’s problems,” Esterman said. “We try to help the buyers as best as we can.”

When he’s not helping buyers address scammers he’s busy with his regular booking duties and attending requests. While his buyers can range from corporate businesses to parents who want a celebrity for a bar

mitzvah, Esterman says bookings and calculating rates is never a “one size fits all thing.” Factors such as a celebrity’s interests, schedule and location all impact rates. Esterman has to keep an open line of communication between the celebrity and the buyer to make sure everyone is getting what they want.

by all inquiries through the talent to give them final say to avoid speaking on their behalf. With many responsibilities Esterman points out that the main challenge is staying the course throughout the entire process.

“It’s very time consuming. Its got its ups and down. You have to have thick skin of being able to ride that mental wave,” Esterman said. “One thing ‘oh my God its great deals on the table’ but…the fat lady doesn’t sing until the money hits the bank.”

Esterminute radio show

Telling entertainment news is an interest for Esterman, one that he sees a void in. While many shows cover celebrity gossip Esterman is looking to establish a radio show that takes people behind the scenes of the businesses side of the entertainment world.

“Nobody has really done something on this world…the business side of it,” Esterman said.

Esterman has heard of other booking agents in the field who take their buyers along the ride to sugar coat things but when it gets down to business say things popped up. Avoiding this whole scenario is why Esterman’s candid approach is well respected.

“A lot of people say I’m like the Simon Cowell of the booking business because I’m a straight shooter,” Esterman said. “Most respect the fact that ‘hey, you are not wasting my time.’”

When working with average people who don’t have the experience as a professional booker he goes the extra mile to explain to them how things work and provides them realistic options.

“A lot of people want a Rolls Royce for Ford Mustang money, you just can’t do that,” Esterman said.

While Esterman keeps it real with his potential buyers, he always runs by requests to his celebrity talents. He knows what his talent wants to hear based on his relationship with them but runs

“I like the fact that you can get some information that only I usually see behind my desk or across my computer but it’s never going to be something that’s really public; so it’s great to hear these stories that’s ‘wow’ how much has been offered by so and so to do what? A lot of the average people would not know that.” Esterman’s first choice for hosting Esterminute. com is his client and close friend Lopez. Hoping to be around doing what he’s doing for at least another 10 years Esterman, as an eligible bachelor, hopes to find greater pastures in settling down when meeting the love of his life. For the kid who danced his way into the entertainment business and fell into a career doing what he loved he’s added to the Esterman legacy. A legacy larger than the family’s owned business of over 45-years in the Esterman Estate Jewelers; it’s the legacy that represents the family’s values in “honesty and integrity.”

“Other booking agents come and go,” Esterman said. “I pride myself on the fact that I built a good name, been around for a long time and I’m still here.”

Young Mike Esterman (right) in a newspaper clipping with Dick Clark dated 8/5/1988. Longtime friends Mario Lopez and Mike Esterman.

Mike Esterman with Snoop Dogg and Snooki.

Looking to get in contact with Mike Esterman? He’s only one email away at mike@esterman.com

Mike Esterman...continued from p.5

Dr. Karen Lever-Fields... continued from p.28

To date, this portion of her business reaches 16,000 students. “Us being able to serve 16,000 students pushes healthcare and I’m proud of that,” she said.

Continuing to push for oral health initiatives Dr. Fields-Lever continues to actively be involved in the American Dental Association, Illinois Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry and International Association of Orthodontics.

Ultimately, she received a letter informing her she was named “America’s Best Dentist” by the National Consumer Advisory Board.

“I was elated,” Dr. Fields-Lever shared. “It’s a bit of pressure, but it is a great reminder.”

Even with all she’s accomplished with her successful award winning business and involvement with dental organizations, she volunteers a ton to further give back to the community.

Donating her time she teaches the importance of proper oral care in early childhood. She’s spread these teachings to day care centers like My Little Angels and Montessori Spanish Immersion. Also partnered with Minority Student Organization of Triton College, together they went beyond educating students on health care by showing them potential career options in the field. Always pushing her business and philanthropy to the limit is why she received Chicago Scholar’s 35 under 35 Leadership Award as it recognizes business success and outstanding civic activity throughout Chicagoland.

“With the honor they asked us to be mentors so I loved that I could lead in that capacity,” said the doctor who also contributes and supports organizations such as KLEO Center, Urban Initiatives, Breakthrough Ministries, Spelman Alumnae Association and is a member of Jack & Jill – Western Cook County Chapter.

While Gandhi’s quote “we must be the change that we wish to see in the world,” resonates with Dr. Fields-Lever, the member at Fellowships Missionary Baptist Church prays on a daily basis that’s she’s serving that purpose.

“If I can spread a little kindness then I know I have started the process of change,” Dr. Fields-Lever said.

Charrisse Jordan Jackson... continued from p.25

student, Charrisse says. He was a friend of her brothers. The two met each other at her family’s home and when crushing on Eddie she found out he was married. Charrisse always told herself there’s three no’s when it came to whom she dated. They couldn’t have children, be a professional sports player or have been married, she said. But when Eddie separated from his wife all three of what she thought were “three no’s” went out the window.

As a child I been able to adapt to all people, Charrisse said.

And while having to being immersed in the NBA culture was a “nightmare,” with having to travel and move around, she was able to make the most of it using her platform for charity. Above all, she’s enjoyed motherhood raising her children Jackson and Skylar.

“My kids are amazing. I have the world’s greatest kids,” she said. “Two very strong, intelligent great kids people would love to have.”

What’s Next?

Charisse will continue to stay involved in her community whether its charity work or serving as a judge for Miss New Jersey USA pageant. With Real Housewives of Potomac continuing on Bravo pinpointing what the show will reveal about her is difficult.

“Things get edited. You don’t know what it looks like when it comes out,” she said. With that said she most definitely wants people to tune in and no matter what footage is making the cut she’s the same person she’s always been whether it’s raising her children or helping through her leadership and charity work. “I’m a good person doing good things,” she said.

Alvester Martin III... continued from p. 13

history and he further diversified his experienced by dancing in films such as Stomp the Yard (2007) and Leave it On the Floor (2011). He starred in Vivica Fox’s 2017 Lifetime reality show Black Magic.

“Love Me or Leave Me”

Going back to his longtime passion in making music his debut project “Love Me or Leave Me” released October 18, 2017. The project focused on aspects of his life including relationships that has changed his life.

“It’s like my journal,” Alvester said.

After making a name for himself as Alv3ster he’s now going by Alvester Martin to honor his late grandfather who passed away two years ago who had also helped him as his assistant manager. The man who taught him he had to be the best at whatever he pursued lives on through Alvester’s legacy and is why he goes by Alvester Martin III to let everyone know who he was named after. Covering everything that shaped him into who he is today he just wants people to hear his story and is giving this album-mixtape to his fans for free. After fans take a listen he understands there are two outcomes that are going to come from it, hence the name of the project.

“I vomit everything I was going through…at the end of the day I finally accepted myself. I don’t need validation because God loves me,” Alvester said.

Andra Knox holding his latest book of poems “Young Adult”(photography by Gino Terrell).

Andra Knox’s “Young Adult” now available.

Cast

, director & TV One talk importance of telling “When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story”

USA Swimming look to teach next generation of African American children to swim

By Gino Terrell

By Gino Terrell

Shemar Moore: CBS S.W.A.T. “will change the network game”

By Gino Terrell

Gino Terrell Photography

Gino Terrell Photography

Gino Terrell Photography

Deceit, vulnerability and manipulation to the max have never been acted out better on TV One than in “When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakey Story.”

This TV One original film stars Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland as the vulnerable exotic dancer Falicia Blakely, Lance Gross (Why Did I Get Married? & Deuces) as a pimp name Dino, who is Falicia’s predator, and Tami Roman (Basketball Wives) as Falicia’s unprotective mother Stacey. Making her directorial debut is actress Tasha Smith (Empire & ATL).

This filmed based off a true story tells the dark side of how men preying on vulnerable women can send them down the wrong path. When Falicia falls in love with Dino she’s willing to do anything for him to seek his love, even when Dino can go from 0-100 in a blink of an eye.

One scene Falicia brings home $400 after a night of work. While she thought it was a come-up a headbutt from Dino told her otherwise. The abuse didn’t stop there, Dino jumps back to nice guy mode with a thumb brushing her face and a kiss to deceit her into thinking he loves her. Falicia feels she deserved the blow and from there it only gets worse.

TV One, the cast and crew talked about the importance of telling this black narrative during a private screening at the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Convention. The cast also reveals challenges taking on characters that were the complete opposite of them in real life.

“TV One has a lot of courage and a lot of faith to do this movie,” Smith said. “This story is a story we need to see and discuss at home with our children. There’s so many young kids out there going to the strip club trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.”

Smith having been a stripper in the past relates and respects the hustle for exotic dancing women, her focus is revealing the predators influencing those women to go into prostitution. In the case of Falicia Blakey she’s serving a life sentence for committing murder, a path she went down because she was manipulated by a predator.

Lil Mama as Falicia Blakely

Taking on the role of Falicia was a challenge for Kirkland as there were times she wished she could make the right decisions for her character. Working

Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland speaking of TV One’s “When Love Kills” during the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Convention in New Orleans (Gino Terrell Photography).

Lance Gross on the red carpet before a private screening of “When Love Kills” during 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Convention (Gino Terrell Photography).

with Smith helped put her acting in perspective.

“Most times we become the hero in hindsight when we have 20/20 vision,” Kirkland said. “Once I learned from Tasha to go from moment to moment an actress and not to judge the character it was important for me to just be in the moment and as difficult as it was I felt it was important to make that sacrifice.”

Taking on this role Kirkland was abused physically and mentally when the cameras rolled on set so Kirkland thanks the cast for refraining after scenes were shot to help her get through an acting experience she felt was “emotionally draining.” Even so, Kirkland is glad she came on board.

“If I didn’t take the time out to come on board and tell this story, then somebody else would have; but I don’t know if they would have the same passion as I have for our women and be able to deliver and tap in as an actress…to tell the story as it actually happens,” Kirkland said.

Lance Gross as Dino

Typically playing characters that coincide with his real life personality, Gross in this film plays his first dark character.

“The way he play Dino make you wanna call on Jesus,” Smith said. “He’s so evil.”

Having an opportunity to portray a villain was a challenge Gross wanted to experience but

Tami Roman, National Association of Black Journalists President Sarah Glover and Tasha Smith on the red carpet (Gino Terrell Photography).

Gino Terrell Photography

Gino Terrell Photography

was often overlooked when it came to those roles, Gross said.

“It was something that I never stepped into. You know me as a nice guy,” he said. “This was something that I was really intrigued by…I’ve always wanted to play the villain.”

When close friend Smith gave him the call, he knew he had a director that would be in full support of him making this transition. Not only did he go to a lot of strip clubs to get a glimpse of this character but he reached out to people he knew back home who were very similar to Dino as Gross grown up in Oakland, California.

There was one person in particular that motivated him to help tell this story. “I have a daughter myself and it just made me know that I needed to go home and love my daughter to the best of my ability,” Gross said. Understanding predators like Dino can take advantage and manipulate many types of vulnerable women it was an obligation for him to tell this story to protect young girls, Gross explained.

Tami Roman as Stacey

After reading the script Roman noticed Falicia’s problems were stemming from a generational curse. Acknowledging herself as a mother as someone who’s very “handson,” the first thing she noticed was she needed to separate herself from Stacey.

Noticing this made her realized that there are many mothers like Stacey around.

“This is really happening in households,” Roman said. “Stacey [is] a mom who was young who had a child who now has to make decisions for that child but doesn’t really understand how to make decisions for herself. And that’s prevalent, right now today.”

Holding parents accountable is a takeaway from this film, says Roman, because decisions parents make effects the children. The most important thing for a parent is to be “available” for their children, says Roman.

Importance of Black Media Outlets

Having an outlet to tell these stories such as TV One is must which is why people should support black media outlets, TV One’s then NewsOne Now Host and Managing Editor Roland Martin explained.

“If we do not have black owned media we literally will be begging someone else to tell our own stories,” Martin said. “You will not have movies like this made on other networks.”

Gino Terrell Photography

USA Swimming looks to boost the number of African American swimmers and three Olympic stars lead the way.

With African Americans not knowing how to swim still an issue in the black community three Olympic medalists look to inspire and teach the younger generation. These three being Maritz Correia McClendon, Cullen Jones and Simone Manuel. These three also discussed the lack of coverage of their sport, challenges they face as black athletes in swimming and the future of swimming on a panel alongside Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn hosted by ESPN’s Michael Eaves at the National Association of Black Journalists 2017 Convention in New Orleans. McClendon, in 2004, became the first African American to make the U.S. Olympic Team and was the first African American athlete to win a medal in swimming. Jones is a four-time Olympic medalist who became the first African American swimmer to hold a world record, which he done during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he brought home a gold medal. Manuel, also a four time Olympic medalist, is best known as the first black woman to win gold in an individual event which she done during the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio.

Each of these three swimmers has gotten more media attention as they are black athletes who became “the first black” in their respective accomplishments.

“It’s an honor for us to be Olympic athletes… but it’s also the icing on the cake of us being black athletes and being role models in our communities,” McClendon said. While this rings true for Jones as well, being the first black swimmer to do things is at times bothersome for him.

“It shines light on a problem that our community has,” Jones said.

Pushing to teach more African Americans to swim

Attempting to push initiatives to get more African Americans to swim is something they are doing as 64 percent of children that demographic don’t know how, McClendon cited.

in the water because of their fear. This was also Eaves experience as he learned swimming because his mother pushed him to do such but swimming in the deep end and treading water still scared Eaves as it was a fear he got from his mother.

“That’s why so many black people don’t swim because somebody in our family is scared of water so they told us to be scared,” Eaves said.

Along with parents burdening their children with their fears there are three common reasons why African Americans stay away from water which include over lagging, parental backing and physical appearance, Jones said. However, it’s critical to overcome those fears to learn how to swim because it’s a “life-saving skill,” he said. After all, before Jones was an Olympic medalist he was a fiveyear-old boy who nearly drowned to death. While his father knew how to swim his mother did not but he learned at an early age just to have the skill and he later took it much further.

“You don’t have to become us in order to learn how to swim. The most important thing is to learn how to swim,” Jones said. “It’s a lot like riding a bike; once you learn it you know it for life.”

“When you hear statistics like that…we are three swimmers who have Olympic medals, that’s a platform we can stand on and shout even louder,” McClendon said. “We want to inspire the next generation so we see a ton more black athletes on the pool deck.

“We have a lot of young athletes looking for a sport to do. Why not try a life changing sport called swimming.”

Through Jones’ “Make A Splash” initiative he’s had parents refuse to allow their children

While they are continuing to break down fears in the black community to get more children to swim they are making progress. The number of blacks not knowing how to swim dropped six percent and that encourages Manuel. “It all starts with learning. You learn how to swim; you grow a love for the sport. You grow a love for the sport and you might make it to the same level as us,” Manuel said. “It’s getting there slowly but surely…there’s progress upwards.”

Future of Swimming

In 2000, and in 2004, there was only a “handful” of black swimmers competing to make the Olympic team, McClendon said, but in 2016 it was different. “I went to the tryouts in 2016 and I was like ‘oh, wait a minute. I need more hands,’” McClendon said. Just like how Tiger Woods inspired a wave

of African Americans to pick up the sport of golf, Eaves said Reece Whitley could be that guy for swimming. Whitley was named the 2015 Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year after earning a silver medal FINA World Junior Championships; so with three successful black Olympic medalists who have paved the way for him those swimmers on that panel are excited to see what the 17-year-old will do.

“He has a huge smile. [All the media attention] it doesn’t faze him at all. He’s Reece Whitley,” McClendon said. “He takes it in stride and I think it’s because he’s seen the stuff that we’ve done before.”

The young star certainly made quite a first impression on Jones.

“The first time I met him I shook his hand and he gave me a hug. I was like ‘I love this kid,’” Jones said of Whitley.

Whether Whitley’s superstar talent will boom diversity in swimming is contingent on the media’s coverage. With swimming not being a priority sport to large media outlets on non-Olympic years, its crucial USA Swimming go the extra mile to push his brand.

“USA Swimming has to promote him and we have to take interests of it,” Washburn said.

As far as the young phenomenon taking off or, any young athlete for that matter, Manuel spoke after the panel for a brief one-on-one interview sharing what it takes to be a successful young athlete.

“For young rising stars and added pressure on them, I definitely say really do your best to ignore some of the outside distractions, that might be some social media…you got to stay focused and stay grounded and really work hard to achieve your goals and dreams,” Manuel said. “Do your sport because you are passionate and you love it.”

Focusing on how she’s done it she credits her support system.

“I always say that swimming is a journey and I didn’t want to be done in 2016 and that’s why I continue to swim,” Manuel said. “My swimming is not perfect and I still love it and that’s what keeps me motivated. When I don’t have the same love for the sport that’s when I’m going to be done.”

Cullen Jones

Simone Manuel Maritz Correia McClendon

Shemar Moore has more similarities to S.W.A.T.’s Lieut. Hondo than people may think.

Longtime Emmy award winning actor best known for his role as Malcolm Winters on Young and the Restless (1994-2005) and as Derek Morgan on CBS’ Criminal Minds (20052016) will be making a return to television. This time around Moore will be the lead playing the infamous Lieutenant Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson. On a panel after a private screening of S.W.A.T.’s pilot Moore revealed he’s finally doing what’s in his heart, he said at 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Convention.

“For 24 years I’ve made the most of what’s available to me. Now I’m doing what’s in my heart and what’s moved me,” Moore said. “I call this a dream job [but] what I’m not supposed to tell Hollywood, [and] Thank God and I deserve that they’re paying me but my spirit was like ‘I’d do this shit for free.’

“I believe in the potential.”

Being a black lead on a television show with a black executive producer in Aaron Rahsaan Thomas who aims to tell diverse stories is what intrigued Moore, he said. While FOX has been ordering more diverse shows with black male leads Morris Chestnut’s Rosewood was canceled last spring after two seasons and both 24: Legacy staring Corey Hawkins and Shots Fired starring Sanaa Lathan were canceled after one season. With S.W.A.T., Thomas is confident they will show networks why diversity in storytelling is a must.

“Hollywood hasn’t necessarily had the best track record with sustained attention to diverse storytelling but the idea right now is to be so successful, so good, that it’s really no alternative but to hear these stories,” Thomas said.

For Moore, he’s playing a character he could somewhat relate to. Born in east Oakland, California Moore understands the perspective of those living in the hood from family members of his that’s remained there that he often visits. As someone who wants to see an end to racial

S.W.A.T.’s Executive Producer Aaron Rahsaan Thomas speaking after a pilot screening at 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Convention (Gino Terrell Photography).

Shemar Moore (Gino Terrell Photography).

injustice performed by police he sees that with his character Hondo.

In the story Hondo is from south Los Angeles and after growing frustrated with injustices between the police his father inspired him to become a detective to create a solution.

“He didn’t become a cop to sellout, he became a cop because he believed he could change the perception of how blue and the justice system was looking at home,” he said. “So there’s similarities that I feel that I have that I can bring to the table in my life…I can relate to what Hondo is doing.”

While his mother didn’t like how dark Criminals Minds was Moore was surprised of her reaction when he said he’d be playing Hondo in S.W.A.T.

“I said ‘mom, I have a big ol’ gun now.’ She’s like ‘yeah, but you using that for good,’” Moore said.

Bringing a black hero on television has motivated Moore as

he’s been active in the gun range, gained 12 pounds weightlifting and undergoing training with L.A.P.D. S.W.A.T., San Francisco S.W.A.T. and SEAL Team Six. Listening to stories from officers in those fields has helped him as well.

“They’ve been in the trenches. They done killed some people; they’ve seen some people die all for the sake of protecting us. They done lost their brothers and sisters. They are physical specimens so the stuff I’m doing in the gym is not to be cute, it’s to give it integrity,” Moore said. “As much as we want to entertain you, we want the men and women in blue who are training us to look at that…we owe them some respect.”

This very same passion and dedication from Moore is why Thomas knew Moore was a perfect casting.

“At the end of the day you know he’s going to bring it,” Thomas said. “That dedication and that

passion are two combinations you don’t get with everyone. With him, you get [it] in abundance.”

With the show having permission to shoot anywhere in Los Angeles the plan is to take advantage of that to tell many stories reflecting on the cities diversity, Thomas said. In addition, this show provides a different experience that viewers are accustomed to watching in a cop or mystery murder show.

“Instead of a case per week we look at it as an adventure per week,” he said.

Plots will focus on tracking down people rather than starting with a murder and figuring out along with the cast who did what.

“We’re going to give you your steak and your potatoes and then we’ll give you your greens…that’s the DNA of the show,” Thomas said.

“When you watch S.W.A.T. you’re going to have a good time but it’s going to be laced with something that you can identify with and

it’s going to open your mind.”

The realness of this show will be unparalleled to other action shows on networks, according to Moore. He’s also hoping this show can be a catalyst to cease racial injustice.

“Hopefully, we can prevent more people from getting hurt by creating a compassion and humanity and a little more of an exhale to create a little more unity with S.W.A.T.,” Moore said.

Normally playing a ladies man, Moore assures fans will see a different side of him in this show.

“From action to cut I’m a bad man,” Moore said. As a show, he’s confident the entire cast and crew will pull off making S.W.A.T. a buzz worthy show.

“Not only is S.W.A.T. going to be a hit…it’s on white ass CBS,” Moore said. “We are going to change the CBS game, the network game.”

S.W.A.T. premiered November 2, 2017.

(Gino Terrell Photography)

(Gino Terrell Photography)

Gino Terrell Photography

Sheila E Opens up Prince Tribute Super Bowl LII Week in Minneapolis ahead of Morris Day And the time and the revolutio

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Gino Terrell Photography