Deputy Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown “And Still She Rises� Also in this issue: Mass Murderer James Holmes Schizophrenic or Evil? Jerry Smith Surrenders to the Call
Editorial Thanks to the City of Raleigh for continuing the African American Cultural Festival during Labor Day Weekend. We are proud to continue offering our support of this event which I know will become one of the premier outdoor festivals in the United States. We hope you enjoy this edition of TCP Magazine featuring Raleigh’s Deputy Chief of Police, Cassandra Deck-Brown who is second in command behind the Chief of Police. Delve into our cover story to learn more about this outstanding leader in our community along with other stories, news, upcoming events and businesses in the area. October is busy as usual and we continue to support WIDU Radio and their 54th Anniversary Celebration in Fayetteville, NC through our marketing efforts. Last year’s event tallied over 20,000 attendees in the final two days of their event. TCP Magazine hosted the first stop of the WIDU Vision Tour in Raleigh and brought together Pastors and Leaders for a breakfast of networking and offered them the opportunity to join us in praying that 1,000 souls come to Christ during the course of this year’s anniversary. Our cruise, “Connecting Ministries”, sails after the Presidential election. A much deserved vacation for all aboard. TCP’s 9th Anniversary is scheduled for February 1-2, 2013. Save the date. On Friday night we will be celebrating 12 women, “You Don’t Know My Story”, who have overcome adversity and excelled. We will share their testimonies at our Anniversary Gala at Brier Creek Country Ted Tatum Club. Saturday’s activities will be held at Wake Chapel LEC – “Anything and Everything Music”, a forum for anyone in music. We want to know who you are, your struggles, your accomplishments and what you have to offer. This area has a wealth of talent, and music business professionals in the area and we want to see you there. In addition, we will be saluting Ministers of Music and enjoy the sound of great gospel choirs. We will prepare a special edition of TCP for the WIDU 54th Anniversary. If you want exposure and branding beyond your normal circle, just give us a call before September 21. Peggy Tatum, Publisher (919) 796-4724 peggy@tcpmagazine.com Volume 02, Issue Number 9 Publisher/Editor-In-Chief: Peggy Tatum Assistant Editor: Dr. Francene Hash Webmaster: Ted Tatum Photographer: Rick Crank - RickCrankPhotography.com Graphic Design & Layout: Denver A. Wright WIZPRO Imagineering, www.wizpro.org Contributing Writers: M. Ojinga & Dionne Harrison, MD, Bill Carpenter, Lori D. R. Wiggins, Adrienne Miller Public Relations:Terry Spicer, Ephiphany Public Relations Marketing: Katie Gailes, Smartmoves International Event Planning: Latonya Kearney, Plan Ahead Events The Connection Place, Inc. 181-104 Wind Chime Court Raleigh, NC 27615 Tel: 919-676-0263 info@theconnectionplace.com
Contents 5 – Editorial 7 – Schizophrenia or Evil 9 – April Washington Succeeds in Spite of Economy 11 – Gospel Music Top Ten 11 – Jerry Smith Answers The Call 12 – Cover Story – Deputy Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown “And Still She Rises” 15 – The Things of Heaven 17 – TCP Joins Forces with XBN Radio Network
Copyright © 2012 The Connection Place, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material in this magazine is prohibited without written permission of the Editor.
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Schizophrenia or Evil - M. Ojinga
& Dionne Harrison, MD
On July 20 of this year 24 year old James Holmes carried out mass murder, killing 12 people and wounding 58 after firing three weapons full of ammunition into a movie theater, an act that many would categorize as evil. Police investigators have reported he was seeing a psychiatrist for what likely is a psychotic illness, the most common of which is Schizophrenia. (Psychotic illnesses are defined as mental conditions in which the person is not in touch with reality). While we are not privy to the details of Mr. Holmes condition, we can take this opportunity to talk about the 3 million Americans who suffer from Psychotic illnesses. Individuals who have schizophrenia principally suffer with a distorted reality and at times cannot distinguish what is real versus what are false beliefs or delusions. Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices), withdrawal from family and friends and deterioration in function at work, school or home activities also accompany the onset of the illness. Historically, most cultures throughout the world have understood what we call Schizophrenia as a manifestation of the spirit world. People who have Schizophrenia are sometime believed to be merely suffering from demonic influence. This might not be the best way to understand Schizophrenia. It may be more helpful and more accurate to see these individuals as suffering from a disease of the brain like Parkinson’s Disease and other brain disorders. Because, like other brain diseases Schizophrenia has some predictable brain changes, behavioral symptoms, genetic family links and importantly, it responds to medical interventions. Our experience and the literature show that most people who are afflicted with schizophrenia do not display significantly deviant, aggressive, or destructively violent behaviors. In fact, if they are people of Christian faith, they often have a sincere devotion and utilize their faith to cope more effectively with their disturbing symptoms. However, most scientific studies confirm a small association between violence and schizophrenia such as with James Holmes. So is there a way to understand his evil act in the context of a brain disease like Schizophrenia? What might Christians learn which would empower them to show compassion for these individuals and which would shed light on how we understand the disease? Well, if we see Schizophrenia as a brain disease that results in individuals having an impaired sense of, then we can easily see why these individuals might be more susceptible to negative thoughts and some might say evil influences. Individuals suffering with Psychotic illnesses’, their ability to resist negative influences is diminished. In fact, untreated people with schizophrenia are not only vulnerable to violent thoughts towards others, but also to substance abuse, self injury or suicide and also exploitation by others who may capitalize on their compromised reasoning capacity. Understanding schizophrenia in this way may help us appreciate the vulnerabilities of our brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends who suffer from this condition, and lessen the stigma associated with getting help. Remember individuals with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses are very rarely dangerous. We live in a fallen world and have fallen bodies that are afflicted with disease and slow deterioration by the normal aging process. Schizophrenia is an example of this. It can be a devastating disease of the brain and it is perhaps one of the most misunderstood by the general population. It separates individuals from family, friends and even from reality itself. So we are blessed that the Lord has given us the ability to alleviate some of the suffering associated with this disease. Our desire is that this information would dis-spell unwarranted fears about Schizophrenia. We hope believers are inspired to pray for these individuals and embrace medical treatments, which can be very effective. Finally, in various ways show compassion by protecting, encouraging and supporting them as a family would. For God places the lowly in families. (Psalms 68:6) M. Ojinga & Dionne Harrison, MD www.GoodSamaritanCounseling.net Page 7
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April Washington Succeeds in Spite of Economy BALTIMORE RECORD LABEL FOUNDER, APRIL WASHINGTON, PLAYS AMONG THE MAJORS AND SUCCEEDS IN SPITE OF THE ECONOMY In this downturned economy, many long established record labels have either folded or been sold because they just can’t break even on today’s musical landscape where physical CD sales have plummeted because consumers don’t have as much discretionary income as they did a decade ago and millions are unemployed. In spite of the poor forecast for the music industry as a whole, Baltimore, MDbased Habakkuk Music is holding its own and still churning out gospel radio hits ranging from its flagship artist, Lisa Page Brooks, who shot to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart two years ago, to newcomers such as Gerald Scott & Co. and Cheneta Jones. At the helm of this enterprise is April Washington, a seasoned music vet who worked at Motown, RCA Records, Capitol Records and WEA distribution prior to branching off into the gospel music world in 1997 and becoming one of its top radio promoters for well over a decade. Among her successful achievements are promoting CeCe Winans’ gold-selling “Throne Room” CD and Shekinah Glory Ministry’s #1 album, “Jesus.” In 2008, April founded Habakkuk Music and pushed obscure or under-recognized artists to the front pew of the church. After years of fronting the group Witness and as a soloist, Lisa Page Brooks finally got a #1 hit when April made Brook’s tune “I Just Want To Say Thank You” one of the biggest songs of 2010. She also gave rapper Papa San his highest charting CD ever on the reggae chart with “Higher Heights” and she also orchestrated a successful marketing campaign for singer Jessica Greene to win a Stellar Award as Best New Artist of the Year. Knowing how to market the acts hasn’t been the biggest struggle for Habakkuk though. “The biggest challenge is obtaining enough funding to do everything I’d like to do,” April says. “But we’ve been fortunate to get funding assistance with the help of Meridian Management Group, Inc. and MD Dept of Business & Economic Development. There is assistance for minority and woman-owned businesses, you just have to seek it out.” Currently, April is undertaking an eight-city promo tour that kicks off August 9 in Chattanooga, TN. It’s called “Got Gospel? Open Mic Night” and it serves to brand her artists as well as publicize an all-star compilation CD, “Got Gospel? The Best Indie Tracks… Yesterday, Today & Forever.” Aside from the tour featuring aspiring talent in cities such as Baltimore, Raleigh and Little Rock, it will be hosted by BET Comic View host Steffon Vann and boast performances from Habakkuk artists Lisa Page Brooks, Cheneta Jones and Gerald Scott & Co. All of the artists are featured on the “Got Gospel?” CD alongside such legendary names as Vickie Winans and Rance Allen. There’s no laurel resting at Habakkuk. April is currently on the road working a half dozen radio singles like Lisa Page Brook’s new cut “Better Than life” and Gerald Scott & Co.’s upbeat tune, “Alright”. She adds that, “I surround myself with successful entrepreneurs for encouragement and inspiration to keep me going, no matter what! One day when it was really tough and I wanted to quit, my mentor, Germaine Leftridge (GBL Sales) said to me, `Don’t believe your lying eyes!’ Meaning that no matter what it looks like, stay faithful & committed and you will win.” “For me, it is dangerous to focus on what’s stacked against me, not to say that odds don’t exist,” says April who prevailed in court when a disgruntled former artist sued the company three years back. “But if I focus on it, I probably would have quit five years ago. To overcome the challenges, I am becoming a better businesswoman by diversifying the company and broadening my perspective. My most important discipline is to stay grateful for every blessing, big and small.” 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2008 2008
HABAKKUK MUSIC’S BIGGEST BILLBOARD GOSPEL HITS YET Cheneta Jones – Transformed (CD) #13 Top Gospel Albums Clint Brown – Release (CD) #30 Top Gospel Albums Various Artists – Got Gospel (CD) #50 Top Gospel Albums Lisa Page Brooks - God is Good #14 Hot Gospel Songs Clint Brown – Send Your Rain #28 Hot Gospel Songs Gail Holmes – Whatever It Is (Let It Go) #21 Hot Gospel Songs Lisa Page Brooks – I Want To Say Thank You #1 Hot Gospel Songs Lisa Page Brooks – Strong (CD) #18 Top Gospel Albums Papa San – Higher Heights (CD) #4 Top Reggae Albums Isaiah D. Thomas – Said He Would Be With Me #14 Hot Gospel Songs Isaiah D. Thomas - The Greatest #17 Hot Gospel Songs Kevin Levar – Let’s Come Together #22 Hot Gospel Songs
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Jerry Smith Answers the Call On July 29th after listening to God’s call, Jerry Smith, aka Dr. Jerry, radio personality at WNNL 103.9 FM, was honored with presenting his initial sermon. The message, “Down But Not Out” was presented to members, family and fans of the Voice of the Triangle at Miracle Life Ministries International Church in Raleigh. The church is under the leadership of Pastor Garrick and First Lady Mary Brown. The message was presented at the 10:00 a.m. service. God’s presence filled the Sanctuary and touched the lives of eight souls who accepted Christ and whose lives have been changed forever. What a remarkable day for the humble beginning of Minister Jerry Smith’s journey. The staff and Publisher of TCP send our heartfelt congratulations to our community advocate and friend.
XBN Countdown - www.xbn247.com
FeelGoodGospel.com Top Ten
1. Realize - Derrick Lucas 2. At The End Of The Day - Christyne McClellan 3. Give Him Praise - Lamanuel Boykin & Company 4. Great Day - Cashyra Toney 5. Come On And Praise Him - John McMahan 6. Get Up - William Myles & YPOP 7. In The Garden - Marcel Anderson 8. Well Done - Freida Cates 9. Git Like Me - Colandra McDowell 10. Problems To A Praise - The M.A.D. Band
1. Life and Favor - John P. Kee 2. Israel Houghton - It’s Not Over 3. Turning Around For Me - VaShawn Mitchell 4. Greatest Days - James Fortune 5. Take Me To the King - Tamela Mann 6. The Great I Am - Donnie McClurkin 7. Let It Go - Tri-I -Tee 5:7 8. Make Me New - Mali Music 9. No One Else - Smokie Norful 10. So Proud - Brian Courtney Wilson
To reach us go to feelgoodgospel@aol.com Check us out at www.FeelGoodGospel.com Page 11
Deputy Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown By LORI D. R. WIGGINS Cassandra Deck-Brown remembers the day she chose law enforcement to pave her professional path. Today, she’s one of North Carolina’s top cops, serving the Raleigh City Police Department as Deputy Chief, second in command to Chief Harry Dolan. She’s the first woman ever to hold the post. On October 1 Deck-Brown will become the city’s interim chief, replacing Dolan, who has announced he will retire. “My very first resume, says something like, ‘To attain the highest rank possible in law enforcement’,” she said. “Opportunities have been afforded, and I sought them. It’s a competitive process,” she said. “It starts with one’s determination and desire and preparation.” Should she seek and land the chief’s position, Deck-Brown will become the first African-American woman to do so. Deck-Brown’s rise through the ranks began with the decision to use the degrees in criminal justice and social work she was studying for at East Carolina University to pursue police work. A college junior at the time and on an annual summer visit to her grandmother’s house in Philadelphia, Pa., Deck-Brown recalls watching from a distance as a policewoman handled a violent crime. Intrigued by her professionalism, Deck-Brown said, “I decided, ‘That’s the way I want to go’.” After graduation from ECU in 1987, Deck-Brown applied to the Raleigh City Police Department and entered the police academy. One of four women in a class of 20 cadets, Deck-Brown’s is the only class since to start and graduate with the same number. Little did she know then, the officer who taught her academy class police-report writing, was about to start his own career as a police chief and would be the one she works alongside today. “Cassandra Deck-Brown is the real deal,” Raleigh’s Chief Dolan said. “She has worked her way through the ranks of the Police Department, and has a great amount of respect throughout the department because of her dedication and commitment to the department and the entire community. Raleigh has to be proud to have Cassandra Deck-Brown.” A calm foundation of giving Deck-Brown, 49, is a native of Bunn, N.C. , born the second of three children to Joseph and the late Doris Deck. Joseph Deck, 87, still lives in Bunn. Doris Deck died of heart disease when Deck-Brown was 15. Twenty-two years ago, Deck-Brown married David Brown, Sr., a retired Raleigh police officer and the son of Raleigh’s first black police chief, Mitch Brown, who retired in 2000. Deck-Brown has one son, David Brown II, 20. She’s also “Mama C” to Josia, 5, and Joshua, 3, the sons of her husband’s daughter, Erica Gilbert. Like most of us, our roots become our foundation. For Deck-Brown her upbringing made a habit of giving back to others, and a consciousness to be slow to anger and quick to avoid impulse. She remembers as examples her parents, planting and growing more than enough food in the family’s two-acre garden just in case another family had too little. While her father planted, Deck-Brown recalls, her mother would can and freeze vegetables – then cook aplenty, for whoever was hungry. “When that’s the philosophy you grow up with, when you’re old enough, you give back, too,” Deck-Brown said. “At least, that’s what I did.” ‘A very diverse village’ Deck-Brown also adopted from her dad a character manifested in her as a calm demeanor that draws people to her, yet reminds them, unequivocally, her kindness isn’t weakness. But those who know her well – many of whom call her “Cassie” – also know her innately vested exterior defies her inner charm; one that resonates the beauty of genuine warmth, care and wisdom - and, frankly, all things girly-girl. “Oh, she can really get dolled up,” said Edna Rich Ballentine, a close-friend of Deck-Brown’s who worships alongside her at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Since they met in 1996, while joining the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ballentine has watched Deck-Brown serve in several capacities across church ministries, from singing choir solos and delivering communion to homebound members to leading the church board through tough transitions. Each time, she said, Deck-Brown’s presence as a “reserved, cordial, deep-thinker” made the difference. “Her cool attitude, her calm way has calmed all of us, and we have come out of situations to our benefit because of it,” added Ballentine, who now leads the church board.
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“And Still She Rises” In 2003, as she continued her rise toward cracking the brass ceiling, Deck-Brown gave up her gift-basket business, but her crafty creativity still flows. She still makes baskets for giving. She sews, knows a thing or two about cake-decorating, collects cookbooks, and enjoys playing chef to big, holiday meals. She also designs and sets a pretty table – and proved it by winning a top prize last year at her church’s first annual women’s fellowship Rainbow Tea. Deck-Brown‘s professional and community contributions led to her induction into the YWCA’s 2010 Academy of Women. Among her accolades: The police department’s Charm School, a summer camp she co-founded to help girls rise above social, economic and family challenges – with grace. These days, Deck-Brown inspires young girls outside of uniform, too, as co-leader to a troop of Girl Scout Brownies, opening their eyes to the world and opportunity. After Doris Deck died, much of Deck-Brown’s support came from a maternal aunt and a first cousin who stepped in alongside her father, broadening her definition of family. These days, Deck-Brown’s list of mentors, both professional and personal, is broad, too. They are faith-based, teachers and professors, and community-folk. “That village that it takes sometimes, still exists,” she said. “It’s a very diverse village now.” ‘Blazing the trail’ The Raleigh Police Department that Deck-Brown will inherit when Dolan retires next month and, perhaps, as its chief, is among the nation’s best. It’s a big one, too, with 777 sworn officers who serve about 400,000 residents. She also will inherit a department known for its crime-cutting community policing initiatives, and for its internal push toward training and preparedness, its Leadership Institute, and its move to use national standards to handle critical incidents. But there also are recent signs of discontent amid complaints by some officers and civilian employees that a new evaluation plan is merely a quota system. And it all comes on the heels of last year’s Internal Affairs investigation that boiled over into a sex scandal, a much-publicized firing and subsequent lawsuit that has yet to be settled. Raleigh City Councilman Eugene Weeks believes Deck-Brown is primed for the challenge. “The way she carries herself and the way I’ve observed her do things, she’s a top-notch police officer,” Weeks said, adding few people even know a black woman is second in command, or realize how much responsibility she holds in the department. Dolan credits Deck-Brown for strong leadership across the ranks. “She is someone we all count on for sage countenance and advice,” he said days before he announced plans to retire. “She’s got experience in so many areas of the police department, we have all been able to benefit from serving with her. She is really relentless in her pursuit to make sure everything is done right and to make sure all people are included.” Although the Raleigh Police Department currently meets the national average of 11-13 percent female in its ranks, Deck-Brown owns several “firsts.” She’s Raleigh’s first-ever female Deputy Chief, and she was the department’s first female Major. She was the first black woman to rank as sergeant, lieutenant and captain. “I am blazing the trail without women, and in some cases without black women, in the organization of those ranks, so I’ve tried to be a mentor to others, encouraging them to seek opportunities,” she said, first crediting women who made the toughest transitions into the field dominated by white men long before she chose her career in law enforcement. “They made this path a little easier to walk.” But for Deck-Brown, mentoring isn’t limited to women – or lower ranks. “In the department, you see blue,” she said. “You don’t see gender or race.” Fairness, not favoritism Like all police officers, Deck-Brown started her career as a patrol officer and later became a Crime Prevention Officer. She kept rising, as a detective investigating assaults and sexual assault cases and later assigned to violence intervention at area high schools; as a sergeant over sector patrol, personnel and recruitment, and commercial crimes; as a lieutenant in charge of grants; and as a captain overseeing the North District. While a detective, Deck-Brown also earned an MPA degree in the Administration of Justice from N.C. State University. In 2006, Deck-Brown became a major, commanding Administrative Services and the Detective division. She later was assigned to the chief’s office to oversee the Internal Affairs, inspections and accreditation units. She became Deputy Chief in June 2011, charged with day-to-day administrative functions and as manager of Professional Standards. During last month’s police academy graduation, Deck-Brown reminded cadets fairness relies on impartiality and honesty, without favoritism. Their jobs, she said, rely on integrity and accountability, on strength and being “ready for the fight” – both literally and figuratively. And she urged compassionate interaction with the public. “Patience and sympathy are our virtues,” she said. “Remember legacies – yours, your family’s and the Raleigh Police Department. Remember to make the community better than you found it.” Otherwise, she said, “It tarnishes the badge that we all wear. “We’re here to help, to preserve life, to give back and to make a difference.”
Lori is a freelance journalist in Raleigh, NC. She pens Midtown Muse, a column published each Sunday in the News & Observer, and contributes to other publications. Contact her at ldrwigg@gmail.com.
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The Things of Heaven © By Adrienne Miller Being in this business—God’s business, for as long as I have, I occasionally run across people who claim to be for the same enterprise, God. But over time you can see they’re little familiar with who He is and the way He operates His establishment. Waiting for a business to grow even when it’s God’s can weigh on the mind of any overseer. That’s when you have to place the burdens of its growth and management on God’s shoulders, before the demands of its direction become a yoke. When the growing of God’s business becomes a burden I can see even for myself that in all of my waiting on God I can’t wait with my eyes, because what is happening or may be coming can not always be seen with the naked eye but with a well equipped spirit. Provided only through a constant and steady relationship with our God in whom the establishment was established. Earthly things are nice, but they come and go and they won’t last anyway. God will give us the strength to wait for the things that are from Him. They are the things the last longer, go farther and please Him more. Not to say God can’t give us more of this earth or that we can’t use what He does give us to serve Him. If we are going to please and honor God the things “we want” will need to be obtained through what God secured for us through Jesus His Son, and His death on the cross. The things of heaven that await those who belong to God—for those whom God has set up and established Himself in. Secured not for a limited time, but for all eternity. © 2009-12r A. Miller Reproduction, distribution or reprint of this article is prohibited without express written permission of the author, A. Miller. Adrienne is President/Founder of Share His Light® Ministries. She is also Founder of Life’s Food For Thought.sm and Shout!2Stop TraffickingSM. Visit her on the web: www.lifesfoodforthought.org and www.sharehislightministries.org Contact her: sharehislight@bellsouth.net
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