Edmonds Family 16th Annual Summer Gathering

Rev. Dr. Cornell Edmonds tending to the smoker

L-R: Evor Ingram, Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Jean Wells and Tom Watkins L-R: Hon. Rev. Al Taylor and wife Gwen Taylor

L-R: Jackie Rowe Adams and Bill Adams

Modeled after "down home" family reunions, the Edmonds Family Summer Fish Fry and Barbeque is an annual pilgrimage of diverse people coming together as family to enjoy good company and soul food. In the past years, as many as two hundred people of different races and religions and from all walks of life, have attended. The unscripted and relaxed event has helped create deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and lasting memories among family, friends, and strangers. —TPC Staff

Grand Marshal '22 Doris Toni Ervin Photo by: Raymond Hagans and Ryan Council

The Aetna team Grand Marshal Class of 2022 Led by Marshal '22 Lance Louison

Grand Marshal '21 Tina Nalls and Friend Ambassador Cheryl DB Murphy and Adrian Council

Multitudes from the Caribbean community arrived ready to celebrate at the 27th Jersey City West Indian Caribbean American Carnival Association Inc. (JCWICACAI) Statewide Carnival Parade and Post Parade Grand Marshal Roaming Relay on July 23 and 24. Celebrants gathered at noon on Saturday, July 23 at Lincoln Park in Jersey City and paraded first to Jersey City Hall, then to Columbus Drive and Warren Street. A joyful occasion showcasing Caribbean culture, the parade features marchers, characters, and bands with vibrant, colorful clothing, costume, and music. After the parade, participants regrouped in Orange, NJ for the Grand Marshal Roaming Relay. Later, all returned to Jersey City for a “Night Lime,” a traditional Caribbean party. The festivities continued on Sunday at the Hoboken Riverfront with a “Heal and Release Day Event.” Finally, second day celebrations concluded in Newark at the “Evening Lime.” —TPC Staff

Collected by Leslie Nash

Harlem School of the Arts Names New President

Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), The Herb Alpert Center, proudly announced the appointment of James C. Horton as the seventh president of the organization on September 8, 2022. With Horton’s former position as vice president of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York, he brings a wealth of experience to his new position. HSA, founded in 1964 by internationally acclaimed African American concert soprano Dorothy Maynor, offers world-class training in music, dance, theater, musical theater, and media & design to children ages 2-18. The organization encourages students to reach their full potential through interdisciplinary arts training that celebrates the rich complexity of the African American community.

On his new role at HSA, Horton said, “Organizations like this one have played a vital role in the conversations we have been having over the past couple of years, as we navigated through a global pandemic and explored questions and ideas around what justice, equity, and a just society truly mean, and how it relates to our work as art makers and culture bearers.”

Horton, who studied theater and communications at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is the recipient of several national awards and has been an invited keynote speaker and presenter at both global and national conferences focused on education, arts, culture, and community engagement. Horton, a longtime Harlem resident, will have a short commute from his home where he lives with his partner and four children. Bessie Coleman Tribute: AllBlack Female Crew Flies High!

An all-Black, all-female American Airlines flight crew channeled the spirit of Ms. Bessie Coleman, who performed the first public flight by an African American woman in 1922. The fight from Dallas to Phoenix celebrated 100 years of Black female empowerment and Black girl magic. The crew consisted of Black women in every spot from the pilot and flight attendants to the cargo team and the aviation maintenance technicians. “American is being intentional in its efforts to diversify the flight deck,” airline officials wrote in a news release. “Black women have been notably underrepresented in the aviation industry—especially as pilots, representing less than one percent in the commercial airline industry.”

The airline hosted Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s great-niece and CEO/ president of the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour, which recognizes how Coleman bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the way for many others. Coleman earned her pilot’s license in 1921 in France when she was denied training in the United States because of her race.

Gymnastic History Made! Black Girls Rock

An historic first in women’s gymnastics took place on August 21, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. Three Black women—Konnor McClain (17), Shilese Jones (20), and Jordan Chiles (21) stood on the championship podium proudly accepting their medals (gold, silver, and bronze respectively) as the 2022 all around U.S. Gymnastic champions.

For years, since women gymnasts first competed as teams in the Olympics in 1928, tiny women lacking melanin dominated the sport. Dominique Dawes and Betty Okino changed that when they competed and made the team in 1992. Black girls have competed individually and on teams at all levels with great success. For example, Gabby Douglas won the all-around gold Olympic medal in 2012, paving the way and showing Black girls they can also fly high. Simone Biles, one little girl who watched Gabby, won seven Olympic medals and recognition by many as the gymnastic GOAT (Greatest of All Time). There’s no doubt that the accomplishments of Simone, Gabby, Konnor, Shilese, and Jordan continue to motivate many other little Black girls to become tomorrow’s gymnastic champions tumbling, swinging, and jumping into our hearts.

SONJA D. GRACY ONWARD

Sonja D. Gracy, author, playwright, and NYC public school teacher is currently working on her next book,God and the Girls.

The adage “A picture is worth a thousand words,” proved more than timely for a refreshing vision of spousal support. I and thousands of other LinkedIn social media connections recently applauded TheMoneyCoach.net Co-Founder Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, who posted a quick pic of her husband, Earl, prepping a meal for her prior to her scheduled media interview.

The bustling former CNBC Wall Street Journal reporter, New York Times bestselling author, media personality, wife, and mom said she simply planned to “grab something quick to eat” for a bit of vigor before her engagement, when Earl sprang into action preparing one of her favorite meals—salmon and green salad.

Lynnette’s LinkedIn post boldly blitzed the word “SUPPORT” in all caps underneath a real-time photo of Earl’s deft seasoning of pink salmon fillets near a basin of delish-looking leafy greens. “We don’t talk enough about supportive husbands who help their spouses achieve work and career goals by pitching in around the house...” she stated, then briefly described what ignited such attention to Earl’s gracious act of gourmet chivalry.

Earl’s seamless and selfless gesture, just one among the countless others they’ve shared in a symbiotically successful, nearly 20-year marriage, they were amazed by the surge of “likes” the post produced—well over 10,000—in just a few days.

Lynnette said she and Earl “were completely blown away by the feedback. Lots of people remarked they were touched by Lynnette’s public adulation of her husband’s efforts.

When I asked Lynnette why she felt her appreciative post resonated, she answered, “Often in marriage, people forget to say, ‘thank you’ or express gratitude for their mates.” Her post “made many people reflect for a moment and take stock of their own situation.” Lynnette said she received comments from women who took time out to tell her: “My husband is a great supporter, too,” while sharing their own helpful hub-

Husband Earl deftly seasons the salmon.

bies anecdotes. She believes another reason her post became an inspiring, viral sensation is partly because, “It represented an image that isn’t talked about or shared very much on social or traditional media,” as women vie to sustain in a still prevalent social framework. Lynnette says “women perform a disproportionate amount of household duties like cleaning and cooking.” Her husband’s “open-mindedness and team player mentality” are some of the qualities she loves most in Earl.

The seminal meeting that seeded the couple’s God-fated relationship back in 2003, happened when Lynnette, looking to self-publish her manuscript, met Earl, already a well-known book consultant entrepreneur, at the Los Angeles Book Expo. Their relationship began platonically at a Newark, NJ, airport luggage carousel, eventually blossoming into beautiful, mutually rewarding, wedded bliss. They merged their professional expertise to found TheMoneyCoach.net, and their love to produce three wonderful children.

Lynnette’s advice to other couples wanting to foster supportive marriages: “flexibility” and to “waive all preconceived notions of what a union involves because,” Lynnette remarked, “people and the world have evolved.” She also cautions couples to “over-communicate” and talk about “EVERYTHING.” SUPPORT—THIS is what it looks like!

thepositivecommunity.com

Fall 2022 Vol. 22 No. 7

Publisher Adrian A. Council, Sr. Editor-in-Chief Jean Nash Wells Associate Editor R. L. Witter Sales Angela Ridenour Adrian Council, Jr. Marc Williams Satori MPR Cheryl Saunders Austin Fenner Contributing Writers Glenda Cadogan Fern Gillespie

Contributing Photographers

Vincent Bryant

Ryan Council

Regina Flemming

Bob Gore

Raymond Hagans

Bruce Moore

Wali Amin Muhammad

Seitu Oronde

Karen Waters Art Direction & Layout

Penguin Design Group

Maishman Media, LLC

Raymond Hagans Executive Assistant

Leslie Nash Community & Government Affairs

Wayne Smith The Positive Community Corp.

133 Glenridge Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 973-233-9200 Fax: 973-233-9201 Email: info@thepositivecommunity.com Website: thepositivecommunity.com

All contents © The Positve Community Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, stored in a computerized or other retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission of The Positive Community Corporation. Any opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Positive CommunityTM its management or staff. The Positive CommunityTM reserves the right to retain all materials and does not assume reponsibility for unsolicited materials.

BY R.L. WITTER

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. The cooler weather, the colored leaves, and warm soup in my stomach make it so. We’re not quite there yet, but the countdown is in effect. I usually associate spring with growth, things returning, and signs of new life. But currently, autumn seems to be working overtime.

This fall will bring with it not only foliage and pumpkin spice, but a new vaccine to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant. After the outdoor socializing of summer, this vaccine will provide me with a better sense of protection as we head indoors. I’m not a fan of injections; but thus far, the vaccines and booster shots in addition to consistent mask wearing and God’s grace, have kept our household COVID free.

I (in addition to most parents I know) am also thrilled to see students making a full return to school! I love seeing the kids waiting for the school bus on my morning walk. My many teacher friends are looking forward to a return to normalcy. They’re readying their classrooms and adding masks and hand sanitizer to the usual back-to-school supplies.

Churches and other houses of worship are also returning to inperson services and bible studies. After online services seated at St. Sofa for so long, I look forward to wearing my Sunday best and turning to my neighbor to say, “God is good!” There’s nothing like the feeling of fellowshipping after the service when my heart and spirit are full of happiness, hope, and conviction.

In an effort to take a page from nature’s playbook, I am striving to be like the autumn trees and shed things I don’t need, as well as those that do not serve me well. As the leaves change colors, I am trying to change my outlook after two years of isolation and only a few months of protracted socializing. My hope is that by the time the trees begin to shed their leaves, I will have shed my fears. While the pandemic isn’t completely over, it does seem to be more manageable and I need to adapt and change.

For now, I’ll sip my iced tea and enjoy the last signs of summer: the perfectly blue sky, the smell of charcoal working its magic to flavor the chicken on the grill, the cacophony of crickets outside my bedroom window, the glow of fireflies, the laughter of children playing outdoors, and the whir of the blender making icy drinks to beat the heat and quench my thirst.

And when I feel a bit nervous or fearful regarding COVID, I’ll make a pot of hot tea and remember Philippians 4:6-7: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”