AU G U S T 2020 E D I T I O N
TINA LIFFORD FITNESS
Heals that
within
E.W. BROOKS
MAFIETTA LIVES ON!
DESMOND SEAN ELLINGTON DISCUSSES HIS ROLE IN HAMILTON ON BROADWAY
EDITORIAL
From The Desk of The Editor
Reginald Kearney Editor
Corretta L. Doctor
Brandon J. Jolly
Business Manager
Layout Designer
Yvonne Medley
C. NaTasha Richburg
Writer
Writer
The year is moving fast, we are entering the month of August and there are only four months left in the 2020 calendar year. July was an extremely hot month, not just the high temperatures and daily issues, but this country is still fighting the Covid-19 virus, and the protests continue. This month’s magazine features many engaging stories that cover a broad range of topics. The cover story for this month features Tina Lifford. Tina is an author, playwright, coach, and actress, that comes to Urban Sentinel to share a look into her personal development studio, ‘The Inner Fitness Project’. Popular in a variety of film and television roles, Tina is best known as Violet Bordelon, affectionately called “Aunt Vi”, on the critically acclaimed drama ‘Queen Sugar’ that is executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. Desmond Sean Ellington a vocalist and actor, shares his success story that begins in Oklahoma and makes it all the way to Broadway where he was cast in the Tony award winning play ‘Hamilton’. E.W. Brooks is a North Carolina author and filmmaker that shares a message about protecting your literary work and her recent win against a popular hiphop mogul in court.
Musa Bangura
Anita Davis-DeFoe
Writer
Writer
Stacey Henry-Carr
Bridgette Alfred
Writer
Writer
Cameron Posey Writer
The Urban Sentinel Magazine Address: 102 Discovery Ct.
During the month of July we lost two great civil rights leaders. The first leader who passed away was Rev. C. T. Vivian who died at the age of 95. The late Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said that he was one of the best preachers he ever heard preach. Next, we lost Congressman John Lewis who was a great civil rights icon who was the last living member of the ‘Big Six’ civil rights leaders. These great leaders will be missed by everyone in this country. We are striving to be a favorite magazine to readers around the world. We are reaching homes across nations and sharing stories of empowerment, inspiration and entertainment from the film, music and literary industries. In keeping with our broad approach to bringing you the very best information in a highly professional manner, we are adapting to a few changes. First, this issue will be the last complimentary issue as we transition towards a ‘pay-toread’ magazine on the Issuu platform. Beginning in September the cost of a single issue will be $5 dollars per issue or at a discounted $50 per year for a 12-issue subscription. Secondly, we are adding additional writers from around the world to bring you global stories that will give you a broader look into culture and resources from places that many of us only to dream about!
La Plata, Maryland 20646 Phone: 301-661-3989 Editor Reginald Kearney Advertising Inquiries Phone: 301-661-3989 E-mail: reginald.kearney@marylanddailyexaminer.com Website: www.urbansentinel.com
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We value the feedback from our readers because it helps us to grow. Please email me at reginald.kearney@marylanddailyexaminer.com with your feedback. If you would like to advertise with us, send an email with the word ‘Advertise’ in the subject line. Like us on Facebook at The Urban Sentinel and follow us on Twitter at @UrbanSentinel and Instagram at @theurbansentinel. Thank you for continuing to support Urban Sentinel magazine, tell your friends about us and enjoy this month’s edition.
SUMMARY
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The Leather Man
Global Business Connections!! Meet Dr. Soha M. El Baklawy- Egypt
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The Rising Star of Indie Artist Natalie Jean
18
4
Desmond Sean Ellington’s Star is on the Rise
8
The Invasion of Portland
15
My COVID-19 Story: May This Never Be My New Normal
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COVID-19 When Change is Inevitable
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Yvonne Witter - UK
20
E.W. Brooks Maffietta Lives On!
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A Voice in The Black Lives Matter Movement
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Tina Lifford Identity Your True Self
28
Extraordinary You
30
Raising Daughters
32
The Rising Star of Indie Artist Natalie Jean
36
Start Fresh
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Together We Go Far, Alone We Go Fast
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Out of Tragedy Comes Inspiration
40
The Multifaceted Career of Multimedia Executive Rob Schwartz
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Literature Spotlight: J.D. Mason
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Get Lifted!
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Guard Against Identity Theft
URBAN SENTINEL MAGAZINE | AUGUST
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ina T Lifford ID ENT I FY YOUR T RUE SEL F by corretta l. doctor for the urban sentinel
Tina Lifford is one of America’s favorite television Aunt’s and she is an important ICON in the world of inner fitness and well-being. The Hollywood veteran and award-winning actress portrays Violet Bordelon on OWN’s ‘Queen Sugar’, an original drama series by filmmaker Ava DuVernay. Tina Lifford is CEO of The Inner Fitness Project, an initiative committed to making the practices and benefits of ‘inner fitness’ as familiar, well understood, and actionable as those of ‘physical fitness’. The mind and body should be aligned. The unimaginable situations facing our world today have increased awareness on staying healthy and being consciously aware of our mental capacity to understand and adapt to things we cannot control. The universe spoke and our mind and bodies have to respond. There is no more time to live behind a façade or mask. Identify, not discover, your true self. To discover means you had to look for it, to identify means you have to
acknowledge it. Your true self is a part of you, many of us live superficially because of the false teachings and predictions spoken over our lives from childhood. Many of us find comfort in living a lie when the truth is hard to accept. Whatever your reason for allowing yourself to hide behind a barrier to healthy wellness of the mind, learn how to let it go. Identify every great part of your life and start living it today. Coaching, teaching, and friendship are three elements that culminate into a well-balanced life coach. Tina offers the full experience of learning inner fitness. Tina teaches you that you can do away with the old myths of ‘everything lasts forever’ and ‘it is what it is’. Her work shows a commitment to help you improve your personal growth and healing process. You can learn a lesson from the pain that stifles your emotional well-being. You can overcome traumatic life experiences. You can be the change in your family’s generational inability to heal.
URBAN SENTINEL | AUGUST 2020
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