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ARIANE KIRKPATRICK REAL TALK ON BUILDING HER EMPIRE $ 3.75 USD

SEPT-OCT 2015

PAULA PENN-NABRIT How We Home-Schooled Our Sons to the Ivy League

FAITH CREDIT UNION

Taking Care of Its Members and The Community at Large

ANITA BRADLEY Individualizing The Road To Recovery

2 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

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From the Editor:

Shelley M. Shockley

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n this edition of Phenomenal Woman we are exploring business and finance, and if you're anything like, me those are subjects I avoided during my formative years. In school, I would moan and groan because at the base of each of those subjects is math! Math and I were not good friends and it served as a regular source of confrontation between my mom and me. She poked and prodded and insisted on more math as I ducked and dodged hoping to finally be free. As is always the case – she won!

Today I wish I had taken a more serious look at math because my financial future could and would be a lot brighter. However, if I take the advice of Alisa Tyler, a guest columnist offering ways to a fiscally fit future, I can still find success financially. If you have, or are struggling with similar fears be sure to read her helpful tips.

As we have watched the economy shrink over the last several years, one of the key components to the revitalization of communities and regions is the reinvestment in these areas. We may not be able to do true investment yet, remember we have to become fiscally fit first; in the meantime we can invest in community agencies like Faith United Credit Union. Serving the Cleveland community for more than fifty years, Faith United has a new CEO and she's looking to assist more residents with their financial needs. The Credit Union offers more than a place to deposit your funds, but also resources to help you establish or reestablish credit and secure loans.

Supporting local businesses demonstrates a commitment to the community and helps neighborhoods grow and thrive.

Columnist Stephanie Phelps continues the conversation in “Destined for Financial Freedom,” offering tips from Leonie Dawson covering money management and financial freedom.

Pulling both subjects together is the cover story on Ariane Kirkpatrick, owner of The AKA Team, a group of commercial industry-related businesses with divisions including Construction Management, Safety and Environment, Commercial Clean and Waterproofing. Based on her vast experience, Kirkpatrick shares with us her inspiring stories of overcoming challenges and depicts useful lessons to entrepreneurs. In writing this story, Michelle Phillips Fay delves into the nuts and bolts of Kirkpatrick's extraordinary journey to success in a male dominated industry.

Moving from nuts and bolts we introduce you to Anita Bertrand Bradley, founder of Northern Ohio Recovery Association where she works to individualize and tailor recovery treatment to the needs of various populations. Additionally, Bradley hopes to reduce and/or eliminate the stigmas associated with addiction.

Traveling south to the state capital, we introduce you to author and entrepreneur Paula Penn-Nabrit. In “Morning by Morning: How We Home-Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League ,” Nabrit shares insights on how you two can educate your own children and develop a stronger family unit at the same time.

We also offer you a peek into the opening of the Gloria Pointer Memorial School in Ghana. This feature offers a little insight into the experience from two first time international travelers. The memories are wonderful, but their shared view on what each of us could offer to our brothers and sisters is compelling.

As with each edition we are prayerful that something within this publication piques your interest and adds value to your life. Grab your favorite beverage, kick your feet up and enjoy our latest offering.

Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome – reach out and let us know what you think.

Until next time, 4 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

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Beletu (Bele') Wondwossen

Founder / Publisher Shelley M. Shockley

Managing Editor Writers Shelley M. Shockley Ruby Lee Gamble A. Michele Garrett Kim Brown

Creative Bele’ Wondwossen

Cover Story: Michelle Phillips Fay Photo: Eric Benson Background Photo Wikimedia Commons

Contributors Marjorie Clark Michelle Phillips Fay Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew Stephanie Phelps Deborah Prince Kimberly Smith-Woodford

Guest Contributor Alisa Tyler

Advertising Sales ads@phenomenalwoman.me 216.702.0845 Phenomenal Woman Magazine A subsidiary of Atlantic Creative Productions 5247 Wilson Mills Road #141 Cleveland, OH 44143 © 2015 Phenomenal Woman Magazine. All rights reserved ISSN 2330-2534 (Print) ISSN 2330-2550 (Online)

Material may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form of this publication without prior permission from the publisher.

Produced and printed in OHIO, USA.

on the

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CONTENTS

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Gloria Pointer Memorial School opens in Ghana A family that learns together – stays together

PAULA PENN-NABRIT “Morning by Morning: How We Home-Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League”

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Simply Stephanie | Living in Destiny Destined for financial freedom

ARIANE KIRKPATRICK Real Talk on Building Her Empire FAITH COMMUNITY UNITED

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CREDIT UNION

ALISA TYLER

SIX SOUND MOVES FOR A FISCALLY FIT FUTURE

FCU Financial ANITA BRADLEY Individualizing The Road To Recovery!

R. Lee Gamble: Film Diva Movie Reviews

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Helping the community link personal financial growth to healthy neighborhoods

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Delicious Recipes

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Enhance Pasta Night

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The Gloria Pointer Memorial School before the ribbon cutting.

(Photo by Jeff Phelps)

Gloria Pointer Memorial School opens in Ghana Cleveland women give back; encourage others to do the same

By Shelley Shockley PWM Managing Editor

sense of purpose as well as a deeper appreciation for the wealth they enjoy in America.

vonne Pointer has often said she did not want her daughter, Gloria Pointer, to be remembered by the manner in which she left this world – instead she wanted the world to know the bright, happy girl who loved to go to school. It is only fitting students are now attending college with the assistance of a scholarship in her name and that a school in Ghana, bearing her name, will educate Ghanaian children.

Woodford always wanted to travel to Africa and feels it is a journey all African Americans should take so when “I learned Yvonne's mission has become a reality, this was a perfect opportunity to help celebrate her success and travel through Ghana.”

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This past August, Yvonne Pointer and “Team Enlightment” traveled to Ghana and witnessed the grand opening of the Gloria Pointer Memorial School. The school is the result of Pointer's commitment to creating a lasting legacy for her daughter and ensuring the dream of Anthony Tay, a young man who had lost hope until he happened upon an article telling the story of Yvonne and Gloria.

Two local women are members of “Team Enlightment” and they recently shared their experience with Phenomenal Woman Magazine. Kimberly-Smith Woodford and Angela Triplett made their inaugural trip to the continent of Africa as a part of the Team and each came away with a stronger

8 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

Triplett shared a more intimate understanding of Pointer's journey and her work as a close sister-friend, she says she has traveled with her on speaking engagements and has always been interested in the work that she does locally and in Africa. She chose to take the journey, “To support her and her work and it was a dream that I always wanted to do that I never thought I could achieve.”

Both women were genuinely moved by meeting Tay and seeing the work he has done in his village. Woodford said, “Here is a young man without hope that has reached out and has become an advocate in helping other youth overcome despair.” Equally amazed was Triplett, “one of the biggest highlights was seeing the work that he (Tay) is doing with the kids in the village. It was amazing, I was blown away.”

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riplett said she spent her trip shedding tears, noting they “were tears of joy and sorrow,” as she was happy to be there yet was devastated by the level of poverty. That she says was, “a life changing experience, one that made me more grateful and looked at my life in a totally different light.” As a result of her experience, she looks forward to sponsoring three little girls from the village they visited.

Triplett also encourages others to visit stating, “You can hear about it, but you need to go and to be a blessing.”

Angela Triplett is pictured with young people from the village.

(Photo by Fran Stewart)

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oodford said of her experience, “I am honored and blessed to have made the journey. I thank my husband, Kelvin, for making the trip happen.

There is a lot to be done in Africa, it is a lot bigger than I, but we find out little corner and chisel away at that in hopes of making a positive impact.”

Kimberly Smith-Woodford is pictured at a river in Ghana. These rivers are where the residents of the village travel to get water on a daily basis. (Photo by Fran Stewart)

If you are interested in helping to chisel away at the problems, the Gloria Pointer Teen Movement “International Brick Project” is an option. This is a continual fundraising effort where you can honor your loved ones or yourself with a nameplate in the Gloria Pointer Memorial School. For more information on this program and the efforts to bring running water to the Village of Antownkwa, call 216-999-8573.

Anthony Tay and Yvonne Pointer, the architects of this dream.

(Photo by Jeff Phelps) www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 9

A family that learns together – stays together

By Kimberly Smith-Woodford PWM Contributing Writer

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aula Penn-Nabrit is a hero within homeschooling circles across the nation. After all, this author, blogger, entrepreneur and Ohio mother of three sons, successfully did what many said should not be done. She pulled her boys out of private school and opted instead, to homeschool them.

Paula explains that the decision to homeschool was precipitated by a rather sobering situation. “Our sons were expelled from their private school because we were late with our tuition payments,” explains Paula. “When school administrators told us “We will embarrass them if you send them back before the bill is current,” we knew a return to that school was not an option we could exercise as responsible parents. And since we'd already tried public school, we didn't feel enthusiastic about that option either.”

In her book, “Morning by Morning: How We HomeSchooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League,” Paula shares her nine-year journey of homeschooling and why she and C. Madison made such a bold decision back in 1991. Then, it was nearly unheard of for African Americans to take part in what was considered, an “unusual and controversial style” of 10 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

teaching. The move paid off as their twins Damon and Charles, both attended Princeton, and their youngest son, Evan, went to Amherst College and then to the University of Pennsylvania.

Paula believed their strategic approach to homeschooling would allow her family the opportunity to excel academically and holistically (spiritual, intellectual and physical) while increasing their family bond. “We were always a closely-knit unit, by design. C. Madison and I entered into our marriage intentionally focused on “becoming one” and as our sons were derivative of that relationship, sibling rivalry was never a big issue.

Homeschooling, while not part of our initial plan merged perfectly with our entrepreneurial, “do for self” mindset,” Paula said.

In the state of Ohio, parents have the right to choose the path of their child's education. There's public, private and parochial schools, known as traditional education. Then there is the unconventional method of homeschooling that is defined by “The National Center For The Study of Privatization In Education” at Columbia University, as when a family decides to teach their child at home and a parent assumes responsibility for the formal instruction of his or her child.

Continued on next page...

Today homeschooling is becoming more mainstream.

As many school districts struggle with failing grades, more parents are turning to home based learning as a more viable choice for a quality education. And a growing number of African American families are taking notice. Currently in the United States, 2.4 million children are being homeschooled.

Of that number, 220,000 or roughly 10 percent of those students are African Americans according to the National Home Education Research Institute. And the numbers are rising as parents are weighing in on the benefits of homeschooling.

For Paula, “Our sons are now all in their mid 30s and with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that homeschooling afforded them the opportunity to develop holistically (spiritually, intellectually and physically) with minimal interference around issues and conflicts of race, ethnicity, gender or socio-economic status. As I observe our sons' commitment to c o m m u n i t y, I s e e t h e b e n e f i t s o f homeschooling under the daily, hands-on influence of their father who functionally occupied a Christ-like role in our home and in their lives. I have no doubt we would have always been a closely knit unit, but homeschooling plus entrepreneurship blessed us with a unique opportunity to spend massive amounts of quality time in one another's presence.”

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TO ADVERTISE EMAIL TO: ADS@PHENOMENALWOMAN.ME or CALL 216-702-0845

For more information about her books including, “Morning by Morning: How We Home-Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League”: check out www.telosinc.org Paula's blog and additional writings can be found at www.PaulaPenn-Nabrit.com Facebook: Paula Penn-Nabrit Twitter: @PaulaPennNabrit

Author Paula Penn-Nabrit

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Simply Stephanie

Living in Destiny©

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Destined for financial freedom As they say, “the struggle is real.” For women who don't have their financial houses in order, life can indeed be daunting and our dreams allusive. Today, thanks in part to technology we have more flexibility than ever to manage the delicate balancing act of work and family.

Similarly, entrepreneurship is offering untold opportunities for those who understand the importance of financial freedom and adeptness in business.

According to Fortune Magazine, only 27 business women control one trillion dollars in stock market value. These are the women who have soared to the top

By Stephanie Phelps but there's room for plenty more. In fact, Inc. Magazine PWM Contributing Writer reports that the number of female start-ups almost doubled between 2009 and 2014. Still, that same article reveals the disproportionate number of start-ups by women is dwarfed by those of men. So, the call for financially savvy women who are also adept in business is needed more than ever before!

Pay equity is still at bay and a large percentage of women, mostly those who are single parents, live in poverty. Education is key, yet too many women with young children are delaying a college education to until some distant and unknown time in the future. Financial acumen and business savvy can offer a saving grace, and there's a lot of advice and information out there, just for the asking.

To be sure, writing on money and finance is not my forte. In fact, growing up, there were no women in my family who were especially financially savvy or who ran their own business. I can't think of any neighbors, distant relatives either. In fact my grandmother was the only woman I knew who lived according to strict budget planning, but only out of the necessity of being a widow who still had a young child to raise although she herself was middle-age by that time.

It's no wonder that I didn't realize the importance of financial freedom, entrepreneurship, or even money management until later in life. Today, I realize I'm not alone and that many women grew up as I did. We were advised to get an education, to graduate from a college or university just in case, so we did. In large part we only had a semblance of a plan on how we would use it or how much money we would make.

Armed with degree in hand, we were expected to marry for love, raise a family and use our paycheck to purchase consumer products. Too many of us didn't use those paychecks to our best economic and financial advantage. Mostly, we spent; on home furnishings, clothing for ourselves and our children, we bought cars, gave to charity when we could, and perhaps traveled some. Before we knew it, we were 40 with little to show for it.

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To be sure money management and financial freedom can be challenging. Similarly entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It can be daunting to say the least. It's certainly not for everyone.

So what can we do to better position ourselves as we endeavor to gain financial security and financial freedom so that we are more on par with our male counterparts?

Of course there are the exceptions, the women who invested their money well. There are those who started businesses early on and reaped the rewards. There are many of us, who as Maya Angelou said, now know better and are ready to do better. It's not too late. We just need to know what to do.

If you're just getting started, here are some tips from author and entrepreneur Leoni Dawson.

1. Know your BIG Why and What – Dawson says it's really important that you know your reasons for wanting financial freedom 2. Keep learning about money and investments 3. Spend less of what you earn and be wary of consumer debt 4. Set yearly and monthly goals 5. Talk about money more If you already have some amount of financial savvy and freedom, share the wealth, pun intended. Help another woman learn what you already know. Take a look around.

There are plenty of us who are in sore need of mentors, role models and, yes, sponsors. We are destined to be better.

Simply,Stephanie 12 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

Follow me on Twitter @livingindestiny Email: SimplyanotherlookwithStephanie@gmail.com

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COVER STORY - Ariane Kirkpatrick

Ariane Kirkpatrick:

Real Talk on Building Her Empire

By Michelle Phillips Fay Contributing Writer Phenomenal Woman Magazine

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Photo Credit Pages 14-18 Eric Benson

14 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

erriam-Webster's dictionary defines an empire as “a very large business or group of businesses under the control of one person or company.”

Northeast Ohio native Ariane Kirkpatrick is the owner of The AKA Team, a group of commercial constructionindustry related businesses.

Her company generates close to $25 million in average annual receipts. Kirkpatrick is at the helm and maintains a controlling interest. By definition and design, she is building an empire. With close to three decades of varied business experience to talk about, here's what she has to say:

On Becoming an Entrepreneur “I didn't know really what I would have, but I knew I was going to own a business.”

Kirkpatrick grew up in a predominantly-black neighborhood at E. 100th Street and Cedar Avenue in Cleveland, and she credits her community with providing her with a “spirit of entrepreneurship.” Everywhere she looked around her beloved neighborhood she saw businesses, mostly retail outlets, which were “owned by people that looked like me,” she describes. “I thought I was going to be an entrepreneur,” Kirkpatrick says, “because it surrounded me.” In preparation, she subscribed to Black Enterprise Magazine while still in high school.

On Being a Minority in Business “Did I think that I was going to have all of these trials and tribulations? No. Did I think that I was going to get discriminated against so much? Maybe a little bit. But I really didn't pigeonhole myself [or say] I can only do this because I'm female or I can't do this because I'm black.”

In 1969, Kirkpatrick was only five years old when she and members of her nuclear family participated in a neighborhood boycott of the local McDonald's franchise because the corporation did not allow blacks to own its franchises. Her mother, a school teacher, taught her that “we have to fight for the rights, so that blacks can own businesses,” and she further instructed: “Being black was never a hindrance. It was positive. It was [an] asset,” Kirkpatrick recalls. Her father helped to reinforce those lessons by being one of the first black car salesmen in Cleveland, working for now-defunct Central Chevrolet on Cleveland's historic Automobile Row. If you were growing up in the Kirkpatrick household, civil rights activism was not optional: “It wasn't like something that we had a choice to do. She [mother] instilled it in us. … It was expected of us. It was expected for us to stand up for our race.” Perhaps that is why the diminutive Kirkpatrick does not shy away from a fight as she competes toe-to-toe in the male-dominated construction industry.

Today, Kirkpatrick's company is designated a FBE (female business enterprise) and an MBE (minority business enterprise).

And what does she think about such classifications? “If the FBE and MBE happens to help along the way, that's fine,” she states. However, Kirkpatrick explains that “we just recently started putting that on our business cards … [at] first I refused to [do so] because I wanted to be recognized as a great construction manager first, a great construction company.”

On Overcoming Pre-Qualifications for Doing Business “You may have some obstacles.”

Kirkpatrick shares that when she first started out in business she had plenty of obstacles, ranging from credit issues to knowing how to approach banking properly to the inability to secure a line of credit. And even when faced with potential business clients dissuading her participation based upon her perceived “mom-and-pop” status, she used their list of pre-qualifications as a checklist, and slowly eliminated all of the barriers to establishing a client relationship. Kirkpatrick emphasizes that, in her opinion, pre-qualifications for doing business are not designed to keep you out. Instead, she says: “I educated myself on what I needed to do. I learned how to accomplish it. I decided not to give up. … I love when I have a challenge.

That's when I have my best fight!”

On Success and Business Growth

“Don't think like a small business, think big. Just think big.”

Kirkpatrick started her first construction-related business, AKA Construction, in January 1995, specializing mainly in residential construction projects.

She hired and supervised construction workers and sub-contractors, and also performed some of the work herself. Kirkpatrick came to know the building codes inside and out, during the seven years she purchased, rehabilitated and resold residential properties. Today, as a minority-owned, unionmember company, generating close to $25 million in average annual receipts, The AKA Team (formed in 2009) is meeting with even greater success than its predecessor.

It touts marquee commercial projects such as The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Medical Mart Convention Center, the Flats East Bank and the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority Administration Building, among others. Presently, Kirkpatrick and her AKA Team Construction Management division are managing a $70 million renovation project at ThistleDown Racino, along with a nationally-known construction outfit, The WhitingTurner Contracting Company.

Notably, she has also entered into her first joint venture agreement with Turner Construction Company and Regency Construction Services Inc. for The Cleveland Clinic's Lakewood Hospital project.

Kirkpatrick is intent upon building a solid reputation for excellence as she grows her business.

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COVER STORY - Ariane Kirkpatrick

Kirkpatrick (center) discussing plans with AKA Team

On Failure and Transitioning “While I was sitting in the accountant's office, he had this computer and we were sitting there and we saw the first plane hit the World Trade Center.”

In January 1999, Kirkpatrick opened a delicatessen called the Corned Beef Warehouse. What possessed her to go into the restaurant business while operating AKA Construction? In her own words: “To me, it was so black to own some brick and mortar.” And that would make sense if you grew up surrounded by black-owned businesses as she did. The Corned Beef Warehouse was not the first Kirkpatrick business venture to fail, but it may have been the hardest to stomach. In recalling the experience, she says: “That was the hardest business I've ever, ever had in my life. But it taught me so much.” Kirkpatrick explains: “I was really trying to make the restaurant work. And I remember being in the accountant's office, trying to learn about profits and loss and my balance sheet – [be]cause I knew I wanted to do it, but I never really took business classes – so I was just making that turn with the restaurant … And then 9/11.” The blow was devastating to her carry-out concern. Kirkpatrick shares that “what people don't really realize about that [event is] how that really affected small businesses everywhere because 16 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

people were afraid to go out.” Kirkpatrick's first concern was for her country, she says, “and then I realized – 'Ooo, you're losing your business.'” When she got to the point where she had “17 cents in her pocket,” she decided to close the restaurant. “That was pretty tough. Pretty tough,” Kirkpatrick says wistfully.

On Building Her Empire “I think of Pepsi Cola [with] all these different holdings. … I really model my company [after] the big boys. One step at a time . … “[N]ow we are truly an employer of choice.”

The AKA Team is a full-service firm, offering quality preconstruction to post-construction management and general contracting services. However, Kirkpatrick does not allow this designation to set a limitation on what she can achieve. Started in 2009, it has grown into four business units organized around core construction industry sectors: Construction Management, Safety and Environment, Commercial Clean, and Waterproofing.

“Since, we've grown, I've realized that I wanted to have different divisions … to position myself better [in the marketplace] … and [to create] the opportunity to sell percentages,” she elaborates.

And with this recent

restructuring:“It's finally coming together, and it's working. And I'm really proud of it, because I have a vice president in each division and we're able to really concentrate on it and be successful. It really works,” Kirkpatrick beams. In fact, she boasts that she is now“ able to give like the big boys [large construction companies] do.” The AKA Team offers its employees benefits, a retirement program, and a health and wellness program. And Kirkpatrick, who survived a stroke and heart attack in December 2014, is doing more than just “talking the talk” on health and wellness. She wears her FitBit personal fitness device daily as she “walks the walk” to underscore her mantra– “I'm all about this healthy lifestyle.”

On Her Legacy Company's Succession Plan “I have to be successful to bring my kids back to Cleveland.”

“AKA” is Kirkpatrick's acronym for “Ali, Kristopher and Ariane.” Ali and Kristopher are her 26- and 22-year-old sons, respectively.

The college graduates are both working in big-city corporate environments: Ali as a Credit Analyst in Washington, D.C., and Kristopher as a Financial Analyst in New York. Every day Kirkpatrick works toward the goal of her sons returning home to join the business in keeping with their now-six-year-old 10-year strategic plan. See, she is not only building an empire, but also a family dynasty. To that end, Kirkpatrick's “goal is to grow … $24.9 million is considered small. I hope to not be considered a small business in five years. I hope to be $25 million,” she proclaims.

Kirkpatrick wants to move beyond city and state contracting into the arena of federal contracting. Outside of Ohio, she has participated in a few small projects in Pennsylvania and New York, but she would like to undertake major projects. In 10 years, the plan is “for my sons to be running the company,” Kirkpatrick hopes aloud. Her newly-retired husband of three years, Danny Couch, has just recently joined. Significantly, that “merger” also resulted in the acquisition of adult stepdaughters, Camille and Jazmine.

On Advice to Budding Entrepreneurs “Definitely get involved in organizations that are specific to their industry.”

Kirkpatrick is currently involved in couple of organizations that are focusing on diversity and inclusion issues, so she adds: “I don't say give those up because it's always good to find out what other challenges other entrepreneurs have within your ethnicity and gender. Very important. … But, go to the mainstream ones … the mainstream organizations that talk about what you are doing. … Again, you don't want to be pigeonholed. I don't want to be just the black construction company.”

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COVER STORY - Ariane Kirkpatrick

On Life

women have made tough sacrifices. Both are working to hand her company over to the next generation. Both place a premium on family and first neighborhoods. Each woman has put in her time: Cookie Lyon in prison and Kirkpatrick in the self-declared “School of Hard Knocks.” To endure either takes commitment, focus, self-discipline, and strength of purpose. It also requires an indomitable spirit – an entrepreneur's spirit. But for all their similarities, there is one major difference between Cookie Lyon and Ariane Kirkpatrick – only the latter cookie is the real deal.

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” -- President Barack Obama In her own words, Kirkpatrick explains the significance of her favorite quote: “This is so true and very much my philosophy. I make sure to always look at the bigger picture, the bigger companies, the bigger entities … and most of all God … because when [any]one [asks me to what I attribute my success] my first and foremost answer is my Faith in God. … I had a dream and vision and God walked the steps that [He] truly ordered for me. … So yep this girl hitches her wagon all the time!!!”

~~~~~ Michelle Phillips Fay is a regular contributor of personality profiles on some of Northeast Ohio's most amazing women. She looks forward to a continuation of this blessed journey, knowing that she has merely scratched the surface. Ms. Fay's not-so-secret-anymore hope is to one day see the story of the “phenomenal women” that she has reared spread across the pages of this magazine. Although she knows how that story begins, for now “the best is still unwritten.”

And like the fictitious character “Cookie Lyon” on Fox's hit television show “Empire,” it is clear that the faith-filled Kirkpatrick is a cookie who doesn't crumble easily. Both

Kirkpatrick “Killin' the Game” · · · · · · · ·

Cuyahoga County Community College (1990), Associate of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Cleveland State University (2010), Bachelor of Arts, Nonprofit Administration Member of the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Government Affairs Council Co-Chair of Subcontracting Subcommittee, GCP's Construction, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative President of Contractors Assistance Association Board Member of Construction Employers Association Member of Industry Advisory Board, Urban League of Greater Cleveland Pastoral Parish Council Chair, St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima Church

Phenomenal Phacts · · · · · · · ·

18 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

AHA Heart and Stroke Ball Sponsor & Executive Leadership Committee Member (2015) Recognized by Crain's Cleveland Magazine as a Woman of Note (2014) Won Presidents' Council's John Bustamante Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2013) Inducted into Warrensville Heights High School Hall of Fame (2013) Honored as Heineken Tastemakers 25 Influential Women in Cleveland (2013) Earned Kaleidoscope Magazine's Entrepreneur Award (2011) Selected a Hard Hatted Women's Women on the Rise (2010) Awarded the National Urban League's Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2009)

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Phenomenal Woman Magazine Congratulates

2015 Women of Distinction Honorees

Hilary Sparks-Roberts

Heidi Cressman

Dr. Rachel Talton

Barbara Marlowe

Candace Benson

Dr. Annemarie M. Grassi

Ashley Basile Oeken

Stacey Litam

Renee Whittenberger

Dr. Suzanne Allen

Dr. Lolita McDavid

Pamela Hubbard

Linda Foy

Jamie Sullivan

Julie Brandle

We also congratulate Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Recipients:

Monica Kotyuk, Warren Anna McCue, Warren Hunter Wells, New Franklin

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SIX SOUND MOVES FOR A FISCALLY FIT FUTURE

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here's no time like the present to reassess your financial goals. It's the financial decisions you make today that can really make a difference come retirement time. Here are six worth implementing: Get organized.

Knowing where your receipts, investment statements and tax returns are is an essential component of your financial plan. Setting up a system now will keep you organized throughout the year.

Create separate folders for all of your tax-deductible expenses, your banking and investment statements, insurance claims and pay stubs/W2s. This one simple step will get your financial goals off to a good start.

Make copies of important documents.

In an emergency, you may need to quickly locate critical records such as insurance policies, bank account and credit card numbers. Compile a comprehensive list with account information and contact numbers for allimportant accounts. Also make copies of deeds to property, stock and investment statements and other valuable holdings. Put everything in a safe place in your home and keep a copy in a location away from home, such as in a safety deposit box.

Start a plan for getting out of debt. It could be a daunting way to start the year, but there is no better time than now for a financial reality check. Write down your credit card balances, the interest rates being charged and the minimum monthly payments. Figure out which cards (those with the highest rates) to pay off first. There are many good books on the subject, and depending on how much debt you have, you may want to meet with a financial advisor to develop a specific pay down plan.

Review your 401(k) plan. Or sign up, if you haven't already done so and your company offers a retirement plan. Many employers offer matching funds – sometimes as much as 50% of your contributions and up to 6% of your salary. That's free money! If you are already in a plan, now is a good time to review your allocations for the past year to see if you need to make adjustments.

20 â–’ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

By Alisa Tyler A Financial Professional The Prudential Insurance Company of America's Northeastern Ohio Financial Group

Check your insurance coverage. Did you make home improvements this year? Have a baby? Change jobs?

You may want to make changes to your insurance policies to make sure you are adequately covered. If you or your spouse have neglected to purchase life, long-term care or disability insurance, now is the time to meet with a qualified professional to discuss the benefits of these important financial safeguards.

Review your estate plan. While not something most people look forward to doing, documenting your wishes in the event of your death is essential. If you have not done so already, make plans to draw up a durable power of attorney for health care and finances and a living will.

These simple steps can help protect your assets and loved ones should the unthinkable happen.

Getting your financial house in order takes more than just writing down a list of resolutions. It takes discipline and planning. But having clearly identified goals and taking consistent steps towards them will help you make great strides toward meeting your financial goals.

Provided courtesy of Prudential. For more information, contact Alisa Tyler, a Financial Professional, with The Prudential Insurance Company of America's Northeastern Ohio Financial Group located in Mayfield Heights, OH. Tyler can be reached at: alisa.tyler@prudential.com and/or (440) 544-2714.

FINANCE

Growing Your Business

F

or those of you who have already successfully started a business and are ready to take the next step, you may be wondering what you can do to help your business grow. There are many ways to do this, 10 of which are outlined below. Choosing the proper one (or ones) for your business will depend on the type of business you own, your available resources, and how much money, time and resources you're willing to invest all over again. If you're ready to grow, take a look at these tips.

1. Open another location. This is often the first way business owners approach growth. If you feel confident that your current business location is under control, consider expanding by opening a new location.

2. Offer your business as a franchise or business opportunity. Franchising your business will allow for growth without requiring you to manage the new location. This will help to maximize the time you spend improving your business in other ways, too.

3. License your product. This can be an effective, lowcost growth medium, particularly if you have a service product or branded product. Licensing also minimizes your risk and is low cost in comparison to the price of starting your own company to produce and sell your brand or product. To find a licensing partner, start by researching companies that provide products or services similar to yours.

4. Form an alliance. Aligning yourself with a similar type of business can be a powerful way to expand quickly.

5. Diversify. Diversifying is an excellent strategy for growth, because it allows you to have multiple streams of

income that can often fill seasonal voids and, of course, increase sales and profit margins. Here are a few of the most common ways to diversify:

n Sell complementary products or services n Teach adult education or other types of classes n Import or export yours or others' products n Become a paid speaker or columnist 6. Target other markets. Your current market is serving you well. Are there others? Probably. Use your imagination to determine what other markets could use your product.

7. Win a government contract. One of the best ways to grow your business is to win business from the government. Work with your local SBA and Small Business Development Center to help you determine the types of contracts available to you.

8. Merge with or acquire another business. Two is always bigger than one. Investigate companies that are similar to yours, or that have offerings that are complementary to yours, and consider the benefits of combining forces or acquiring the company.

9. Expand globally. To do this, you'll need a foreign distributor who can carry your product and resell it in their domestic markets. You can locate foreign distributors by scouring your city or state for a foreign company with a U.S. representative.

10. Expand to the Internet. Very often, customers discover a business through an online search engine. Be sure that your business has an online presence in order to maximize your exposure. www.sba.gov

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Faith Community United Credit Union (Faith) Taking care of its members and the community at large

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aith Community United Credit Union (Faith) is growing its membership by helping the community link personal financial growth to healthy neighborhoods.

President and CEO Deborah Perkins says, “the goal is to help community members reach financial freedom. We believe strong family finances help support strong economic development.” Perkins was appointed President and CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union in February of this year. Her more than 25 years of professional financial experience covers the areas of lending, mortgage finance, community and economic development and non-profit management. Perkins holds a bachelor's in Mathematical Economics from Brown University and a master's in Economics from New York University.

Faith is one of Ohio's largest minority-owned credit unions. Based on Cleveland's eastside, the full service financial institution has nearly four-thousand members. Assets total $13.34 million and loans total $8.8 million. The credit union regularly ranks number one in the local market for investment savings.

This summer, Faith launched a $500,000 new deposits campaign. The credit union's leadership is confident that by demonstrating its full service financial 22 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

capabilities including high investment returns and low loan rates, that Faith will meet its November 30th goal.

Perkins, who has worked in both New York and Cleveland says, “our members are responding. And so are other individuals in the community who are just learning about our great benefits. Our very competitive certificate of deposit rates consistently position us as a leader in the local market.”

In addition to traditional credit union services such as personal and commercial checking and savings accounts and auto, mortgage, home equity, student and SBA loans, Faith's team is known for being out in the community educating the public about finances.

Faith staff members take their financial education toolkit on the road and meet on site with corporate, fraternity, sorority, civic, educational, faith-based and other organizations. Faith goes directly to the people, to professional women's conferences, outdoor community festivals, welfare to work seminars and other venues, to provide information about its services and help individuals understand the importance of managing their own finances. “We also know that seniors and youth have specific investment needs,” says Perkins.

Continued on next page ...

“Faith partners with organizations to help members with retirement needs and other options that may be of particular interest to the members of our community who are retired or nearing retirement. When it comes to children and teens, we teach them how their youth savings accounts, perhaps started for just $10 by a parent, grandparent, or other loved one, can be the start of their education fund.”

Additionally, Faith offers debt management, credit report review, home buying preparation and other counseling.

And, there is no cost to an organization for a Faith team member to make a presentation about the benefits of understanding how to plan your financial future and grow your resources, whether it is through a personal account or a group membership.

It is all part of Faith's purpose: take care of our members and the community at large.

As a Community Development Credit Union (CDCU), Faith's mission is to serve low- and moderate-income people and the neighborhoods where they live. For example, its model of risk-based lending lets Faith take into account a member's full financial, employment and

other circumstances, when it sets a loan rate. With the help of a more affordable loan, over time, members can work with Faith to strengthen their credit history.

Faith also has a strong history of financing entrepreneurs who in turn, keep their businesses in the community and provide employment opportunities.

Who can be a member of Faith? Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Cuyahoga County is eligible for membership. Perkins says Faith is proud of its history that goes back to 1952 when it was formed

by Mount Sinai Baptist Church. “Still today,” she adds, “we have churches who are members of Faith as well as individuals who have their own personal or business accounts. We are grateful to have been able to grow to provide service to anyone with Cuyahoga County ties whether or not there is a faith-based affiliation.” You can join and manage your account with full mobile/online banking.

Faith's free financial education presentations are available upon request.

Visit faithcu.com or call 216.271.7111. Faith Community United Credit Union is located at 3550 E. 93rd, Cleveland, 44105.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 23

Photo: Herb Bias

Anita Bertrand Bradley Individualizing the Road to Recovery

By Shelley Shockley PWM Managing Editor

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usiness is not always counting widgets and sales, many businesses have at their core service and people – their success and failure is at the heart of their mission.

One such entity is the Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA), where helping those who have stumbled find a way to rise and rebuild their lives is the measure of success. NORA is a community based substance abuse prevention and peer recovery support organization. They provide culturally relevant chemical dependency services with dignity and respect to youth, adults and families in Northeast Ohio.

The Association was launched in 2004 by Anita Bertrand Bradley, a woman with a passion to see change in the arena of recovery and someone who is knowledgeable of the issues from both sides of the table. In recovery for more than 20 years, Bradley said one of the keys to NORA's success is knowing that “we need culturally relevant treatment, because everything that works for certain groups are not going to work for everyone.”

24 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

In explanation, Bradley speaks of seeing a climate of recovery that is underfunded and not strategic in its approach. The answer she found is doing “a better job of treating and following clients to decrease the relapse rate.” Evidence of the problem she said is in the number of clients found in the criminal justice system. The high rate of return is in part due to a lack of individualized programs.

Bradley has worked in the field of recovery for more than twenty years starting as a client manager and coming full circle to directing programs that will speak to the needs of various populations. One of the challenges she faces is bringing the many agencies together to “reduce barriers” in order to improve the process of clients receiving the help they need.

One of the biggest hurdles she faces is removing the stigma associated with addiction and recovery. This stigma can have an adverse effect on someone who has worked “their way back into their homes, jobs and careers,” yet they don't feel comfortable sharing the road they've concurred. There is a fear associated with revealing your success because as Bradley explains, “society places you in a box.”

To the family and friends of those in recovery she urges, “Never give up on a person suffering from addiction – it is the toughest battle. I am not saying to enable, but when they reach out and say they need a little help, this might be the time that they succeed.”

While the challenges are many, Bradley does see some positives including the Affordable Care Act, which has aided those who previously had no insurance to receive assistance. At NORA, the twentyfour hotline is key to bridging gaps. While space in programs may not be immediately available, “you can call our hotline twenty-four hours a day and help someone open up,” keeping them from using and assuring them that someone is there to help.

Immediate intervention she says is key, because if someone has decided today is the day yet know one is there to guide them – relapse is looming.

NORA offers individualized recovery services including Sisters of Sobriety, a gender specific program for women serious about getting clean and staying sober; Intensive Outpatient for Youth that teaches new ways of handling life's problems without drugs and

alcohol; and in the Lorain County, On Our Own program providing pre-treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, recovery management and family services.

Having traveled the path many are encountering Bradley advises, “Follow the recommendations to the best of your ability and never give up.”

For more information, please contact NORA at:

3746 Prospect Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Phone: (216) 391-6672 or visit www.norainc.org

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 25

DELICIOUS RECIPES

Enhance Pasta Night

Red Pepper Ravioli with Pan-Roasted Corn Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4 1 package (9 ounces) Buitoni Refrigerated Sweet Bell Pepper & Roasted Chicken Ravioli 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided Sea salt and ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed 1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tablespoons torn fresh basil leaves 1/4 cup Buitoni Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese Prepare pasta according to package directions, reserving 1 cup cooking water.

Transfer pasta back to saucepan; add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter.

Season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm.

In large skillet over medium heat, add remaining 2 tablespoons oil with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add corn; cook without stirring 10 to 15 minutes or until brown around edges. Add garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, 1 minute or until corn is uniformly browned. Stir in 1/2 cup reserved cooking water. Cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen brown bits.

Pour corn mixture over pasta; toss gently to coat. Add remaining pasta water if needed. Season with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle with basil. Serve with cheese.

Ravioli with Brown Butter and Asparagus Prep time: 5 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Serves: 8 1 package (18 ounces) Buitoni Refrigerated Three Cheese Asparagus Ravioli 1/2 pound thin asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces (tough ends discarded) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Sea or kosher salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons Buitoni Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, chervil or basil Prepare pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus during last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain.

In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, whisking occasionally, until butter solids turn golden brown. Season with salt and red pepper flakes; add asparagus and cooked pasta. Toss gently to coat.

Top with cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

28 â–’ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

(FAMILY FEATURES)

Peach-Mango and Cereal Smoothie Recipe created by Midwest Dairy Council and General Mills 1 container (6 ounces) fat-free peach or pineapple yogurt 1/2 cup whole grain cereal 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen sliced peaches or mango chunks 1 cup fat-free milk 1/2 cup ice, if desired Peach or pineapple slices, additional mango chunks and additional cereal, if desired In blender, place first 5 ingredients. Cover; blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth.

To serve, wet the rims of 2 glasses with a peach or pineapple slice, and divide smoothie between glasses. Garnish with mango chunks and whole pieces of cereal on rim of each glass. Serve immediately.

Individual 7-Layer Dip Basil Pesto Hummus Pasta Salad Serves: 4-6 (as a main dish) Total Time: 15 Minutes

Serves 8 Total Time: 15 minutes 9 ounces Sabra Mediterranean Herb Greek Yogurt 10 ounces Sabra Classic Hummus pinch of salt, pinch of paprika 1 tomato, diced 2 roasted red peppers, halved then diced feta cheese, crumbled 2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley Kalamata olives, chopped for garnish (optional) 1 bag pita chips In individual-serving cups, dollop Greek yogurt evenly over bottom of each cup.

1 pound fusilli pasta 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, rough chopped 1 cup fennel (2 small bulbs), finely chopped 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and chopped 3/4 cup roasted red pepper 1/2 cup chives, minced 1 container (10 ounces) of Sabra Basil Pesto Hummus 1 cup pasta cooking water, reserved black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil fennel fronds for garnish Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1-cup pasta cooking water.

Top layer with portion of hummus, followed by another dollop of Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with salt and paprika.

Garnish with parsley and olives. Serve with pita chips.

Prepare all vegetables. In big bowl, toss vegetables with Basil Pesto Hummus. Add pasta and pasta water, stir to combine. Sprinkle with black pepper.

Top each cup with handful of tomatoes, roasted red peppers and feta cheese.

Serve at room temperature, drizzle each portion with splash of olive oil and sprinkle fennel fronds overtop. www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â–’ 29

30 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

TV 20 WE ARE CLEVELAND! TUNE IN TO CHANNEL 20 ON TIME WARNER! TV20'S OVER-ALL MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE RESIDENTS OF CLEVELAND REGARDING CITY SERVICES, PROGRAM INITIATIVES AND EVENTS BY WAY OF OUR CITY'S GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISION STATION. TV20 HAS A LIVE, 24 HOUR ON-LINE STREAM THAT CAN BE ACCESSED AROUND THE WORLD FROM YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE. WE PROVIDE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE THE MULTITUDE OF SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THOSE PROGRAMS INCLUDE MAYORAL PRESS CONFERENCES, LIVE BROADCASTS OF CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND WEEKLY NEWS WRAP UP SHOWS. OTHER FEATURES REGARD: HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. TV20: WE ARE CLEVELAND!

www.tv20cleveland.com @TV20Cleveland

Kathy Allen General Manager

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GOOD READS

T

ony Robbins has coached and inspired more than 50 million people from over 100 countries. More than 4 million people have attended his live events. Oprah Winfrey calls him “super-human.” Now for the first time—in his first book in two decades—he’s turned to the topic that vexes us all: How to secure financial freedom for ourselves and our families.

Based on extensive research and one-on-one interviews with more than 50 of the most legendary financial experts in the world—from Carl Icahn and Warren Buffett, to Ray Dalio and Steve Forbes—Tony Robbins has created a simple 7-step blueprint that anyone can use for financial freedom.

Robbins has a brilliant way of using metaphor and story to illustrate even the most complex financial concepts—making them simple and actionable. With expert advice on our most important financial decisions, Robbins is an advocate for the reader, dispelling the myths that often rob people of their financial dreams.

Tony Robbins walks readers of every income level through the steps to become financially free by creating a lifetime income plan. This book delivers invaluable information and essential practices for getting your financial house in order.

H

ere in a short, compact and concise format is the basics of how to persuade more people more effectively, more ethically, and more often. Ziglar draws from his fundamental selling experiences and shows that while the fundamentals of selling may remain constant, sales people must continue learning, living, and looking: learning from the past without living there; living in the present by seizing each vital moment of every single day; and looking to the future with hope, optimism, and education. His tips will not only keep your clients happy and add to your income, but will also teach you ideas and principles that will, most importantly, add to the quality of your life. Content drawn from Ziglar on Selling.

T

he bestselling The Millionaire Next Door identifies seven common traits that show up again and again among those who have accumulated wealth. Most of the truly wealthy in this country don't live in Beverly Hills or on Park Avenue-they live next door. This new edition, the first since 1998, includes a new foreword for the twenty-first century by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley.

BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM 32 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

Mitchell S. Jackson Mitchell S. Jackson’s coming of age took place in the 1990s in a neglected neighborhood of his hometown of Portland, Oregon which he calls America’s whitest city. His novel, The Residue Years was a finalist for the Center for Fiction’s Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize and several other awards and was named an Honor Book by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

While not strictly autobiographical, the main character, like Jackson, struggles to do right by his mother and his family while striving to achieve his dreams in a world of few options and little opportunity. Jackson says his story is about family relationships, but it’s also a story about a place and its people, a way to ensure that their stories and their experiences, good and bad, aren’t diminished or forgotten.

His writing career began while he was serving a 16-month sentence in prison after which he went on to receive an M.A. in writing from Portland State University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from New York University. He currently teaches writing at New York University and is also the author of Oversoul: Stories and Essays.

Cristina Henríquez Cristina Henríquez’s most recent novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, was listed as one of the New York Times Notable Books of 2014.

The Book of Unknown Americans is a dazzling page-turner about a family’s hopes for their new life in America.

Inspired by her father’s Panamáto- U.S. immigration story and the experiences of family and friends in Delaware, where she grew up, it transcends the one-dimensional headlines which focus on the hardships and legal battles of immigration, revealing nitty-gritty details, humor, and human stories seen through the eyes of characters from across Latin America.

Henríquez currently teaches at Northwestern University. She is the author of Come Together, Fall Apart and The World in Half. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Oxford American and the anthologies State

by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America and Thirty Ways of Looking at Hillary: Women Writers Reflect on the Candidate and What Her Campaign Meant. She is a recipient of the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Foundation Award, created by author Sandra Cisneros in honor of her father.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 33

MOVIE REVIEW

Johnny Depp is Brilliant in Black Mass

By R. Lee Gamble PWM Contributing Writer

I

love it when a phenomenal script, finds a brilliant director and cast. When that happens you strike cinematic gold. Black Mass is such a moment where all the right elements came together making a film that is not only striking, but will easily rank as one of the best films of all time.

After the creation of mob masterpieces such as The Godfather, The Godfather II, and Goodfellas, it is hard for directors to create even a tenth of the magic that made those films great. Director Scott Cooper succeeds at creating a new mobster film that will put him in the ranks of Scorsese and Coppola.

Black Mass is the real life story of Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) and his unholy alliance with the FBI to eliminate a mutual enemy - the Italian mob. Bulger is approached by childhood friend and FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) to become an informant for the Feds. Bulger sees this as an opportunity to not only get rid of his enemies, but to take over Boston, becoming the most powerful gangster of that time.

A cold, ruthless killer with ice blue eyes, there are moments when Bulger reveals a human side. He is tender with his son, his brother the esteemed State Senator Billy Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his mother. But those moments are few and far between. Bulger is about business and respect and he will kill anyone who gets in his way.

34 â–’ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015

The success of this film lies not only on the direction but in an ensemble cast of some of the greatest actors in film cinema today. Depp, Edgerton, Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgard and the list goes on. There was not one bad performance, scene or moment. Depp reminds everyone who sees this film why he is an actor at the level of a Brando, De Niro and Pacino. He was never just another pretty face. He approached this role methodically and you can see him embody the character so much that you forget it is Depp playing a role.

There is a scene where Bulger goes to check on Agent Connolly's wife Marianne (Julianne Nicholson) when she refuses to join her husband for dinner. When she opens the bedroom door she sees him standing there glaring at her lustfully. He runs his hand sensually across her forehead and the side of her face supposedly to check for a temperature. He squeezes her neck, checking for swollen glands, all the while murmuring about how you have to be careful about getting sick these days. This was one of the most uncomfortable scenes I have seen on film in a long time. Bulger is creepy and terrifying all rolled into one and the fear in Marianne's eyes is real.

Black Mass is definitely going to be on every award season list. This is movie you do not want to miss. GO SEE IT!!! It is rare that you get to see a film where all the elements come together in a way that riveting, masterful and cinematic genius - and just damn good!!! Loved it!!!

More movie reviews by Film Diva, R. Lee at: www.filmdiva3.com

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 35

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