UCAN! Magazine Fall 2019 Issue

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CORNUCOPIA Vanetta Schoefield All About The Women Steven Strickland Doing What He Loves Mariana Cardenas Our Actor Shining Bright The New Madam C.J. & A’Lelia Walker Place Goings On: The LBIFF The 50th Annual African American Day Parade

Otis Sallid In Tune

FROM THE EDITOR

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VOLUME SIX ISSUE ONE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STAR DAVIS CREATIVE

Welcome back! We’re excited for you all to check out our latest issue.

We were on hiatus because everyone on our team was working on different projects. I had a gig on the NETFLIX original, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (pictured above). It was a fun job, and I hope you all watch the show.

We hope you enjoy reading about our wonderful and inspiring features.

Our cover feature, Otis Sallid is like a tsunami of fresh air. I appreciated him making the mood of our interview so easygoing and light. Vanetta Schoefield is doing her thing setting comedy stages on fire. Steven Strickland is the actor, writer, director who does what he loves, and loves what he does. Mariana Cardenas is a joy to work with on set.

We are also very excited to be an official Media Sponsor for the 50th Annual AFRICAN AMERICAN DAY PARADE in Harlem, NYC. We appreciate your continued love and support.

Just remember whenever you’re feeling like you can’t do or accomplish what you want, always remember that UCAN!

#CelebratingSuccessStories

DIRECTOR

RANDELL PEARSON SOCIAL

MEDIA

MANAGER

JACQUELINE MARIE ALVARADO CONTRIBUTING

EDITORS

MORGAN ELIASON MELISSA GOLDSTEIN ARLEY SEAMUS EDITORIAL

PRODUCTION

MONICA TRAVELLINO ENTERTAINMENT

DIRECTOR

KAREN Y. BROWN RESEARCH

CENTER

DEIDRE GREGORY KEIDRA CAMERON MICHELLE DUBOIS ADVERTISING

DIRECTOR

KIMBERLY ANN RICHARDS

UCAN! MAGAZINE IS TRADEMARKED AND PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY IN ENGLISH. UCAN! @ 2015 BY PEARSON DESIGNS, BROOKLYN NY,

Twitter: @UCANMagazine Instagram: @ucan_magazine Cover Photography: Ron Batzdorf

USA. REPRODUCTION OF ANY PARTS OF THIS PUBLICATION REQUIRES EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER. UCAN! ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHY OR ARTWORK.

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This year’s Long Beach International Film Festival popped with flashing red carpets, filmmaker meet and greets, compelling panel discussions, sophisticated culinary events and some great films. Just a few of the who’s who in attendance were Chefs Andrew Allotti of Grotta di Fuoco, Michael Howell of Devos, Guy Reuge, and John Maffei of the Allegria Hotel. Actor Steve Shor, LBIFF Co-Founder DJ Chef, Sami and Nicki Saatchi of SVS Jewelry and French actress and Co-Creator of the Chelsea Film Festival, Ingrid Jean Baptiste. Marisa Hunter conducted interviews during both the Opening Night and at the CHEFS AND SHORTS event. Check out the website at: http://www.longbeachfilm.com. Photography by Len Marks.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 LBIFF WINNERS BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE: RORY’S WAY Directors: Oded Binnun, Mihal Brezis

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: THE DOG DOC Director: Cindy Meehl

BEST FOREIGN NARRATIVE: JULIA BLUE Director: Roxy Toporowych

BEST SHORT DRAMA: ADA Director: Steven Kammerer

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BEST SHORT COMEDY: BRISTLED Director: Scott Farrell

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BEST SHORT FOREIGN: GOYAVE Directors: Nènèb and C. Agelan BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY: ALERT 92 Director: Francis Calsolaro BEST SHORT ANIMATION: LE MANS 195 Director: Quentin Baillieux

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EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY RP LEWIS & ASSOCIATES AND SUNDIAL BRANDS

Madam CJ and A’Lelia Walker HONORED IN HARLEM

Madam C.J. Walker and her only child, A’Lelia were honored on July 20 at a City Hall sponsored ceremony. The two generations of Walker women now share a sign bearing their names in Harlem at West 136th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. In 1913, Madam Walker hired an African American architect to construct a townhouse on that same street.

Born in 1867, Madam C.J. Walker was the daughter of Louisiana slaves. In spite of being orphaned at age seven, married at 14 and once having worked for as little as $1.50 a day - Madam C.J. Walker is said to be the first self-made woman millionaire in America, and the wealthiest African American woman of her day. She created a complete line of hair care products for black women and won renown for being very business savvy and philanthropic.

Both she and A’Lelia became deeply involved in the Harlem Renaissance. In 1925, six years after her mother’s passing A’Lelia converted a floor of the home into a salon known as “The Dark Tower” which was a meeting space for uptown cause célèbre figures including W.E.B. DuBois and Langston Hughes.

We got to speak with Madam Walker’s great-great granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles (pictured opposite page top), Trustee and Vice Chair of the Board of Columbia University. Here is some of what she had to say.

UCAN! What were the advantages and disadvantages of coming from such an amazing legacy?

A’LELIA BUNDLES I really can’t think of any disadvantages. Fortunately my mother -- who was Madam Walker’s great-grand-

daughter and vice president of the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company when I was growing up -- was wise enough not to overwhelm me with any obligations or expectations related to Madam Walker. I was encouraged to follow my own path. By pursuing my interest in journalism during junior high and high school as well as during a 30-year career as a network television news producer and executive, I coincidentally was developing the skills, experiences and contacts that prepared me to tell Madam Walker’s story. Because I wasn’t pressured to focus on my connection to Madam Walker and because I was allowed to discover it on my own terms, I’m can enthusiastically present the story in ways that are authentic to me.

UCAN! How have you continued this legacy through your own life?

A’LELIA BUNDLES I’ve been researching her life since the late 1970s when I was in high school! Since then I’ve written

four books about her, spearheaded the campaign for the 1998 Madam C. J. Walker postage stamp, written dozens of articles, been a consultant for several book and video projects and given hundreds of speeches and media interviews. Most recently I’ve served on the advisory committee and as a consultant for the Madam C. J. Walker exhibition that will open at the Indiana Historical Society on September 19, 2019. I’m the historical consultant for MCJW, the line of hair care products inspired by Madam Walker and manufactured by Sundial Brands.

I’m almost finished with the first major biography of A’Lelia Walker, Madam Walker’s daughter, and her life in Harlem between 1913 and 1931. It will be published by Scribner in late 2020.

Books by A’Lelia Bundles: On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (Scribner 2001) All About Madam C. J. Walker (Blue River Press/Cardinal Publishing) Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure (Arcadia Publishing) Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur (Chelsea House) Ms. Bundles was pleased to say that the partnership with Richelieu Dennis and Sundial Brands is one of the most powerful ways of furthering Madam Walker’s legacy and taking control of the narrative in ways that honor Madam Walker. MCJW -- the line of Madam C. J. Walker hair care products manufactured by Sundial Brands and sold exclusively at Sephora.com -- brings her legacy to life. Last year, Richelieu and his family created the New Voices Fund, a $100 million venture capital fund for women of color entrepreneurs. NVF also purchased Villa Lewaro, Madam Walker’s Irvington, New York mansion, which will become a convening space for NVF fellows.

For further information, check out A’Lelia Bundles’ websites and social media at: www.aleliabundles.com www.madamcjwalker.com www.mcjwbeautyculture.com @aleliabundles (Twitter and Instagram)

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Strickland A N E V E R E V O L V I N G C R E AT I V E

Anyone who’s ever worked with Steven Strickland can’t help but to immediately like him. His personality is a great combination of both seriousness and humor that keeps a set strictly professional but fun to work on too. He’s a constant work in progress who lives his life driven by the need to constantly grow his creative skills. Steven counts himself lucky to wake up each day with new artistic goals to accomplish. He’s known by everyone around him for his motto: DO WHAT YOU LOVE, LOVE WHAT YOU DO. “Every day comes with new challenges and experiences, which are fuel for creativity,” Steven says with a natural optimism.

Steven has been acting for a long time, well over a decade. He considers it the major element of his life’s work. Many who have been on set with him over the years would agree that he is easy to work with. He dedicates himself one hundred percent to his character and to making sure he connects with his scene partners.

So far, this has been a great year for Steven. He’s had co-starring roles on the Discovery ID shows EVIL LIVES HERE and PRIMAL INSTINCT, and on NBC’s THE VILLAGE. Like many actors of this generation, Steven does more than act. He is a very talented singer, he writes, he directs, he produces, and he can actually dance. While most people with so many talents can be difficult to be around, Steven always stays humble about his gifts.

“Wow! I do all of that? I honestly don’t do much dancing anymore,” he says with a hearty laugh. Then he gets somewhat serious, “God has been good to me.”

In addition to acting on stage and screen, Steven recently created STRICKLAND MEDIA GROUP, an independent production company based in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey. He feels it is the right time to once again expand his creative responsibilities.

“I wanted to have a platform to produce independent content - mine as well as other creatives within my circle of super friends. Whether in film, television, theater, comedy, variety, video, web, etc, I’d like for SMG to be a voice and force in the independent artist community that I…WE…can be proud of and call home.”

Steven is excited for his upcoming projects to come into full fruition. In addition to managing the SMG docket of works, including the upcoming film A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU, starring Lucy Hale (from PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and TRUTH OR DARE), Steven is also filming several series that will be shopped to networks, as well as rehearsing for the Off- Broadway play AM I BLUE, with new playwright and director Deshawn Jenkins.

https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/SStrickland www.instagram.com/iamstevenstrickland

(LEFT) FILM POSTER FOR STEVEN STRICKLAND’S SORDID. (TOP) STEVEN WITH FELLOW RED CARPET HOSTS OF THE NEWARK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (L-R, RHONDA HOB, RAYA BELLAMY, JACQUETTA FARRAR, KESHNEE PILLAY) TAMARA FLEMING (PHOTOGRAPHER) (ABOVE) STEVEN APPEARING ON NBC’S THE VILLAGE OPPOSITE ACTORS WARREN CHRISTIE & MICHAELA MCMANUS. (BELOW) STEVEN DIRECTING KATIE MACK ON THE SET OF HIS FILM SORDID. STEVEN DIRECTING SHAKIA DIXON ON THE SET OF INTERFACE. (COURTESY OF THE CHAR’ACTORS)

On top of his acting, and managing a media company, Steven is directing some episodes of the new series: INTERFACE with The Char’Actors; MOB MENTALITY with Locked and Loaded Films; and THE FESTIVAL with the Newark International Film Festival.

“As far as excitement, I’m always excited to work on new projects with great collective groups of artists and to tell stories,” he says.

Steven is quick to mention the many people who give him support, encouragement and the motivation to keep going on while staying determined and managing so many projects.

After acknowledging God in all things, his mother Deborah Strickland-Lindsey, E. Denise Peoples, Melissa Muhammad and Body Language Productions are the first names Steven mentions. Kenneth Gifford and his team at Newark International Film Festival is yet another. This year Steven is in four official selections screening at NIFF. From the exhaustive amount of work that Steven has on his TO DO list, we predict that this actor/director/writer/ producer/singer and sometimes dancer has nowhere to go but up!

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Vanetta Schoefield

www.funnyhunnyz.com

Vanetta Schoefield S E R I O U S A B O U T H E R C O M E DY B Y S TA R D AV I S Vanetta Schoefield comes out and speaks with a confident command. Her energy encompasses the audience with seemingly no effort at all. The lights shine perfectly on her, adding more emphasis to her grand personality and wit. She is loud, quick and full of sass.

“How long you two been together,” Vanetta engages a couple from the stage.

“Twenty years,” the man answers after a short, but noticeable beat.

“Twenty years! Wow! They’re having salary sex now,” Vanetta quips. “Because you can do the job real lazy and know you’re getting paid regardless.”

The audience breaks out in vibrant laughter. Shoulders and heads were still shaking even after she’s into her next joke.

While watching and listening to Vanetta Schoefield, an overall theme becomes clear. She is all about the empowerment of women. Doing stand-up is good, but it’s not enough to further the cause of this motivated entrepreneur.

“We can’t just be comedy,” she says, a bit of a Southern accent coming through. “We got to have something.”

As it happens, the North Carolina native reinforces women’s empowerment not just in her jokes, but in the creating of a LLC with several brands - and many beneficiaries. FUNNY HUNNYZ, founded in 2017, already has an impressive body of work with sixty-five live comedy shows under its belt.

“FUNNY HUNNYZ is to me like if Lifetime and Comedy Central had a one-night stand and had this like, ratchett-ass baby,” Vanetta says in a hilarious tone.

Vanetta believes there is a special group of comediennes who will benefit and have great appreciation for the stage time FUNNY HUNNYZ gives them.

“I mostly want to provide opportunities for women who have lacked support in the business of entertainment, ya know? And on the forefront, that tends to be women of color,” she says.

Each of the shows produced through FUNNY HUNNYZ has an average of half a dozen performers. That means through her company, Vanetta gives opportunities to dozens, and even a hundred women to perform and whet their comedic skills.

“I want us to be more elevated so that we can bring others with us,” she says.

Vanetta’s other brands are PISSING ON THE PATRIARCHY which includes a line of women’s panties as well as a podcast called PANTY LINES. The latter was created to celebrate women through discussing issues of feminism, comedy, and always funny stories involving women’s underwear.

“It’s not about dismantling the patriarchy, but more about promoting the power of a woman in her natural state,” the website boldly says.

Granted, there are different types of female empowerment. It’s not always about being an EVP at a corporate firm.

Instead FUNNY HUNNYZ is creating a community of confident comediennes who have integrity. At the same time women should be free to feel sexy and uninhibited in one’s self acceptance. She must also maintain the strength to keep going toward reaching her goals.

Vanetta acknowledges the remnants of shady people in comedy, still lingering throughout the entertainment business in general. A lot of comediennes have faced the choice between maintaining their inner peace – even while knowing years of hard work and grinding are ahead of them (looking forward to it, even) or “selling their soul to the devil” - for a seemingly sure track to instant success.

“I know I could have sucked some high-powered dick and just been there,” Vanetta says boldly. Even so, it’s obvious that she feels a strong sense of peace at not having gone that route.

“I’m attractive and I’m funny, and I want to keep producing opportunities for other woman so whenever someone says something like that….”

If money were no object, Vanetta sees herself opening a premier comedy club and restaurant, as well as funding movie projects for herself and her funny friends.

In the meantime, this CEO looks forward to sowing seeds and growing the FUNNY HUNNYZ brand in new and different places.

At present she produces comedy shows in New York and North Carolina. In October, Vanetta hopes to be on the road performing at the Red Clay Comedy Festival in Atlanta and the Urban Laughs Festival in Memphis.

Keep your eyes on this funny lady. We believe her name will be seen in many fabulous venues and projects to come.

Be sure to check out FUNNY HUNNYZ’ next show on Friday September 27 at The Harlem Comedy Festival featuring: Aja Bennett, Meme Simpson, and Ashima Franklin. The show will be headlined by B-Phlat of BET’s Comicview and HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and hosted by Kelly Kellz of HBO’s All Def Digital.

PODCAST Spotify & podbean.com/pantylines LINKS www.funnyhunnyz.com Panty Launch video https://youtu.be/eWxF4M3n-8U

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SALLID ENTERTAINMENT’S QUIET HURRIC ANE

BY STAR DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

BY HANNAN

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Otis Sallid’s influence is deeply felt throughout the last forty years of the entertainment industry. He is a director with a body of work that includes recognizable commercials, theatrical productions, and hit television shows. He is an actor, having recently played a small role in STEP UP: HIGH WATER. Otis Sallid is also a published author who penned and photographed a book on bodybuilding. He applies art to everything he does. The results have been magic, for both Mr. Sallid and the mass of people who constantly see his work without even knowing it.

His expertise is probably most visible through his iconic choreography work. A small, minute portion of Mr. Sallid’s work includes: music videos for ARETHA FRANKLIN AND FAITH HILL, the 69th ACADEMY AWARDS; AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE; FAME; the JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW and the Spike Lee movies DO THE RIGHT THING, SCHOOL DAZE and MALCOLM X. No one can forget the dazzling and energetic scene that had Denzel Washington in his zoot suit swing dancing the Lindy Hop and Lee sliding on the floor.

Speaking with this living legend was like receiving reinforcement of the age-old belief that having a positive energy leads to a more fulfilling and happier life. Put good out – good comes back.

Mr. Sallid talks about everything from plating food - to urban farming with a sense of great joyfullness and thrill. Listening to him tell his story is like listening to a classical orchestra with preparation and opportunity coming together at the absolute perfect times.

His artistic journey began in 1960s Harlem when he walked into the community center on 134th Street. He was mesmerized by the sight of Shaniqua Baker Scott, a beautiful African American – Indian looking woman who was a lead dancer for Eleo Pomare (known for his extracting emotion in works that often expressed social protest). She was dancing, and Otis Sallid was immediately pulled in.

“I was like ‘Wow! Who is that? Who is this beautiful dance bird?’ I was completely enamored with her. I was just awestruck by her beauty,” Mr. Sallid says.

Ms. Scott noticed the young boy looking from afar. Back then dance classes were always in need of boys to lift and carry the girls. She came over, pulled him by his cuffs and made him a part of the class.

“And next thing I know I was dancing,” Mr. Sallid says with a laugh in his voice. It helped that his mother was supportive, and his friends did not ridicule him for studying dance.

That strong love for the discipline evolved into him attending the School of Performing Arts, and later the prestigious JULLIARD SCHOOL. Afterward, he would go on to act and dance in five Broadway shows.

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“There were a lot of musicals coming from MGM at the time, so I was able to parlay with a lot of musical directors and learn how to shoot musicals and films. And my being on FAME for four or five years, that was my film school.�

Make no mistake, Otis Sallid worked many, many long hours sharpening his creativity and skills. All artists know that no one becomes brilliant without putting in that work. He studied with the late, greats Marth Graham, Antony Tudor, Geoffrey Holder and Alvin Ailey – to name but a few. But unlike many artists Mr. Sallid never had to “make ends meet” by working security jobs or buffing floors late at night. He regularly expresses gratitude to the women in his life for making his work into the force it is today.

Most artists would be completely satisfied with performing in Broadway productions. Mr. Sallid had the need to further expand his innovative energy. He created THE NEW ART ENSEMBLE dance company while he was working in the Broadway shows. The troupe included famous dancers Hinton Battle, Michael Peters, and Debbie Allen, who was unknown at the time.

It was Debbie Allen who gave Otis Sallid his first opportunity to go to Hollywood and work in television. This opportunity would prove key in the course of his artistic development. Ms. Allen had a major role in the TV adaptation of the movie FAME, a musical show taking place at a performing arts high school. Mr. Sallid was her Assistant Choreographer.

“That’s where I learned to direct film, on the MGM lot, with all the heavyweights,” Mr. Sallid said. “There were a lot of musicals coming from MGM at the time, so I was able to parlay with a lot of musical directors and learn how to shoot musicals and films. And my being on FAME for four or five years, that was my film school.”

Afterwards, Mr. Sallid shot and directed many films and television commercials. He, along with advertising pioneer Tom Burrell, went on to revolutionize advertising by being among the first to introduce multi-cultural actors in commercials and print ads. He also continued to produce dance shows. Spike Lee was in attendance for one such show. He liked the performances so much, he offered Mr. Sallid the job as choreographer for his movie SCHOOL DAZE. It was also that night that Mr. Sallid introduced Spike Lee to a cool, hip costume designer by the name of Ruth Carter.

More recently in 2018, Otis Sallid has a completely new area of interest. After directing his film ONE LIFE Love the Planet. ( http://www.otissallid.com/one-life---interface.html ), he became seriously interested in “making a difference on the planet.” He is now developing new ways to transform urban farming and sustainability by connecting them to the Arts. He wants to revolutionize this field in much the same ways he did with entertainment and advertising.

“There’s a big movement going on about urban farming that I don’t think most people are aware of,” Mr. Sallid begins. “A lot of my time now is spent with how to do alternative housing and urban farming around the Arts. It’s not all about the dance,” he says with a good chortle.

He continues with talking about his new interest.

“This whole food system as it is now is killing everybody, and so it’s not sustainable. How do we bring vertical farming to the community?”

“I’m also interested in artificial intelligence, for being able to help older people.” Mr. Sallid mentions his now ninety year-old mother and how such advancements could be a real help to people like her.

“You need young people, middle-age people, and old people living together, with the sustainable farming” he continues. “There are a lot of people living this way now, just in a lot of separate spaces.

I want to bring together a community of people to do this.”

Even upon reflecting on such an illustrious career, Otis Sallid will always create for entertainment. In roughly five years he wants to be running a hit show on a major television network.

In the hour we spent talking, for the first time ever, I’d completely forgotten I was conducting an interview. Talking with Otis Sallid is a wonderful combination of learning and feeling like you’re catching up with an old friend. Voice recorders sometimes work better than journalists.

“Most of all, I consider being a good husband and father my greatest achievement,” he says.

From dancer to director, from father to environmental activist, Otis Sallid’s good and genuine spirit will always be available for brilliant opportunities. We look forward to the magical effects that we know Mr. Sallid will continue to produce.

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MARIANA CARDENAS is a Colombian actress and dancer who also has major camera time as a game show hostess, and host of her own talk show.

She’s appeared on such widely seen television shows as THE PERFECT MURDER on Discovery ID, CW Network’s SAVE TO WIN (alongside famed Food Network star Pat Neely), as well as co-hosting the talk show TELL IT LIKE IT IS with the late Vinny Vella. As a Spanish speaker, Mariana has appeared on Univision’s long running show, SABADO GIGANTE INTERNACIONAL. Her latest television credit is a co-star role in episode 14 of the STARZ hit show POWER, directed by an industry veteran not yet credited on IMDb. These are but a few of her many acting credits.

It was Mariana’s performance the Daryl Denner feature film UNSPOKEN, where we actually got to see her work on set. In the film she plays Jean, the female lead, who’s in a much different life situation than what Mariana’s real life is like.

“Preparing to play Jean was a very rewarding experience especially since my real life situation is somewhat different,” she describes.

Shooting the film was on and off for almost a year and a half. During that time, Mariana had the opportunity to create a thorough back story for Jean which provided her with some solid guidance along the way. Mariana had the privilege to build on that, every time she became Jean, through the story.

“I also had the support of Daryl, [DP and Producer] Rodney Reyes, and the lovely cast,” Mariana continues. “We would have many conversations before shooting each scene to get to a real and honest place...to find the behaviors of each character.”

Since, like many productions, the film was shot out of sequence, Mariana would ask herself how she’d feel and react if she were put in a similar predicament as Jean. When it was time to shoot, she would listen to her scene partner and have Jean live and breathe each moment.

Most actors draw from painful life experiences when needing to reach emotional depths in a scene.

Mariana is no different in that regard.

“Even though I’m a happily married woman, I’ve faced rejection in a relationship setting and have been in situations where unconditional love for others overshadowed my own happiness,” she remembers back.

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These personal experienced feelings were not put aside. Rather, they ignited Mariana’s inspiration to portray the role in honest way.

“I kept thinking that these feelings of hurt, rejection, longing, desire, compassion, and passion, we could all relate to. This movie is about the human condition and I kept focusing on that.”

Coming from a dance background that was cut short due to an injury, Mariana expresses gratitude for getting to act for a living and having the chance to pursue her dreams on a daily basis. She enjoys playing all types of characters, and considers it a true blessing to be able to portray all different types of roles.

“I am a performer at heart though I would love to continue honing in on my Hispanic culture and taking on your atypical Latina role,” she tells us.

Five years from now Mariana sees herself continuing to be a working actor and bilingual TV host. Her dream is to be part of a bilingual TV series/Netflix show, where she can explore her Colombian pride.

She would also love to get a lead role in a feature film where her former life as a dancer comes into play. As a proud member of AEA along with SAG/AFTRA, she would also love to continue working in Theatre.

“Ideally, five years from now I see myself creating and diving into both dramatic and comedic roles. Passion and ambition are what drive me,” Mariana concludes.

For more information on Mariana Cardenas, check out the following sites: www.marianacardenas.com nyc.blocagency.com midnightam.com

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On the third Sunday in September, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd was like a sea of people, with hundreds of thousands lining up for more than a mile.

The 50th Annual African American Day Parade did not disappoint. Attendees had a joyful time listening to music, seeing the costumes and watching the varied dance performances, marching bands and the many wide ranging floats. City residents, civil servants, unions, community-based organizations, politicians and celebrities were all at the parade to celebrate African American culture, community, and accomplishments in American history.

The sense of unity and support was palpable. Many lauded the parade for bringing together African descendents from the entire Diaspora.

“There are people here from all over, West Indians, Haiti, the Caribbean…. It’s a great example of black and brown women and men coming together to support black culture,” said Harlem resident, Adriane Mack. She and her company, Miss Mack Enterprises, assist women with event production and business coaching services.

Many parents who brought their children talked about the importance of the parade’s generational ties. The parade connects today’s accomplishments with the major political activism of the 1960s and even to acknowledging the strength of the Africans brought to these shores in 1619. Organizations that marched reminded spectators that there are many opportunities available for personal and professional development – that success and achievement are not merely possible, but a responsibility.

“We’re here to celebrate the movement that our ancestors put before us, and in order for us to continue this journey for the next generation, we need to build - and we need to do it together,” said Latonia Greene, a community organizer whose Harlem-based office of Grameen America, helps small women and minority-owned businesses.

Melba Moore, the Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee along with Collette Smith, the NFL’s first African American woman coach, were each honored as celebrity grand marshals.

Political grand marshals included Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Rubin Diaz, Jr. Senator Charles Schumer, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, former Mayor David Dinkins, former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, and former NY State Assembly Member Keith Wright.

Civil rights activist and NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel N. Dukes, Spectrum News Veteran Anchor Cheryl Wills, and Harlem Community Leaders Elbert and Darlene Shamsid-Deen and others were given the Outstanding Community Service award.

Parade footage brought to you by www.theoimagery.com and UCAN! TV. Photography by Teddy Wilson of Theo Imagery.

SEE PARADE COVERAGE HERE: http://theoimagery.com/aadp-african-american-day-parade-2019/

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I S S U E

2 0 1 9

GO I NG S ON T H E

F A L L

50TH

I S S U E

2 0 1 9

A NNUA L

A F R I C AN

2 9

AM E RI C AN

DAY

PAR ADE

U CAN!

M A G A Z I N E

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