Pride Magazine - Apostle for Energy - CEO Kevon Makell talks energy, educations and faith

May - June 2015

The Business Issue

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Diversity and Inclusion What’s next?

The Black Woman’s Burden

Surprising facts about fibroids

3 Musicians to Watch

Voices that will lift your spirit

Apostle for

Energy

CEO Kevon Makell talks energy, education and faith

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Good news for first-time homebuyers

By Glenda Gabriel Neighborhood Lending Executive Bank of America

If you live in the Charlotte area, buying your first home is now even more affordable Have you explored your mortgage options? As you may be aware, it’s a good time to buy a home right now as interest rates are low, but did you know there are different types of loan options that can help you finance your first home? A Bank of America mortgage specialist can help you learn about low down payment loans, loans with flexible qualifying guidelines, such as FHA and VA,1 and even loans that can include financing to renovate your home.

Need help with the up-front costs of buying a home? Visit bankofamerica.com/downpaymentcenter to learn about the programs Bank of America participates in to help make buying a home more affordable.2 Earn less than $100,000 annually? Charlotte-area homebuyers who earn less than $100,000 per year may be eligible for the America’s Home Grant program, a lender credit provided by Bank of America, which offers qualifying homebuyers up to $2,500 toward nonrecurring closing costs.3 Learn more. For help every step of the way, talk to an experienced Bank of America mortgage specialist near you.

Visit mortgage.bankofamerica.com or call 800.344.9403.

Minimum credit scores will apply. Not all applicants will qualify. Monthly mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) and Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums (UFMIP) apply. Maximum loan amount varies by county.

Down payment and/or closing cost assistance programs may not be available in your area. Down payment and/or closing cost assistance amount may be due upon sale, refinance, transfer, or repayment of the loan, or if the senior mortgage is assumed during the term of the loan. Some programs require repayment with interest, and borrowers should become fully informed prior to closing. Not all applicants will qualify. Minimum credit scores may apply. Sales price restrictions and income requirements may apply. Homebuyer education may be required. Owner-occupied properties only. Maximum loan amounts may apply.

3 Qualified borrowers must meet eligibility requirements including, but not limited to, being owner-occupants, meeting certain qualifying income limitations and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Homebuyer education will be required if all borrowers on an eligible loan are first-time homebuyers. The America’s Home Grant Program is a lender credit and is not eligible to be used for down payment, escrowed taxes or homeowner’s insurance. No cash back to borrower. Completed loan applications must be received by September 30, 2016. America’s Home Grant Program is available for properties in the following counties: North Carolina – Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union; South Carolina – Chester, Lancaster and York. The maximum borrower/ co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $52,400 for properties not located in a low- to moderate-income census tract (LMICT). Qualifying income of $52,400 is 80% of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Area Median Income and subject to change without notice. For properties in eligible counties and located within a LMICT, the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $100,000. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. America’s Home Grant Program is only available with conforming conventional, FHA and VA first mortgage loan products. Bank of America may change or discontinue the America’s Home Grant Program or any portion of it without notice. Please ask for additional details.

Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2015 Bank of America Corporation. ARD3C7RB 04-2015 AD-03-15-0751 1 2

THIS IS WHERE SOUTHERN STYLE LIVES.

GET THE LOOK IN-STORE, AT BELK.COM OR BY PHONE AT 1.866.235.5443

Departments

May-June 2015

8 From the Editor 10 Notable Names 12 By Faith 13 The Mindful Parent 14 Book Review 16 Family Notes 36 Scene and Seen 42 Creative Arts 44 Belk Fashion

12

26

42

46

54 Events Calendar

Business 34

Hand’s Off! Don’t raid your account

46

Innovation at Work The Finance Bar

48

Make An Impact Design tips for logos

49

FYI News & Notes

Health 50

Eye Care Hunting sparks career

51

Skin Cancer Protect yourself

18 Diversity

52

Women and Fibroids The real truth

20 Apostle

Features

May - June 2015

The Business Issue

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Diversity and Inclusion What’s next?

The Black Woman’s Burden

Surprising facts about fibroids

3 Musicians to Watch

Voices that will lift your spirit

Apostle for

Energy

CEO Kevon Makell talks energy, education and faith

On the Cover SEWW Energy CEO Kevon Makell on a sunny afternoon in Marshall Park. Photo by Vic LeDan Photography.

and Inclusion What’s next? for Energy CEO talks energy, education and faith

24 Black

Chamber of Commerce A new direction

26 Open

for Business Meet three savvy entrepreneurs

28 Networking

The art of appreciating others

30 Making

It Count Young Bankers Club Program

32 ZimSculpt

African sculptures return to garden May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

5

If values aren’t shared, they aren’t lived.

For more than 140 years, BB&T has never taken a relationship for granted. We set out to earn your business each and every day. Our strong value system helps us determine what is right and reasonable. And to remain focused on doing what’s in the best interests of the clients and communities we serve. Discover the value a values-driven bank can offer you.

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Member FDIC. Only deposit products are FDIC insured. © 2015, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

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Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor-in-Chief Lashawnda Becoats

Copy Editor Polly Paddock

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Lead Designer Merissa Jones

Distribution/Web Site Liason Watchdog Entertainment www.watchdog-ent.com

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

Interns

Patresha Williams Kendra Wicker

Subscribe to Pride

$13.25. Please subscribe online at www.pridemagazine.net, mail to P.O. Box 30113, Charlotte, NC 28230 or call 704- 375-9553

Letters to the Editor Please send an e-mail to info@pridemagazine.net fax to 704-375-9550 or mail to Pride Magazine 312 W. Trade St., Suite 600, Charlotte, NC 28202 www.pridemagazine.net

Copyright© 2015 Pride Magazine All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

Pride Magazine prints with soy ink.

Vol. 23 No. 3 May-June 2015 All rights reserved for PRIDE Communications Inc. Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/NCPrideMagazine May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

7

FromTheEditor

Black Businesses Matter

By Lashawnda K. Becoats

R

ecently I came across a statistic that really stuck with me. Did you know money earned by blacks only lasts six hours in the black community before being spent in other communities?

While in white, Hispanic and Asian communities, the dollar circulates for seven to 28 days before leaving their communities, according to the National Urban League’s “2014 State of Black America” report.

It seems as though many of us have forgotten how important it is to support black-owned businesses. I have challenged myself to be intentional about how I spend my hard-earned money. I want to see black businesses be successful. I know their economic success strengthens our entire community.

Let me be clear: I am picky.

I enjoy supporting black-owned businesses that provide good customer service, quality products and competitive pricing. I don’t support businesses that are unprofessional or sell inferior products simply because they are black-owned. A few bad experiences have not stopped me.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve patronized some exceptional black-owned companies in Charlotte, ranging from nail technicians to electricians to dry cleaners, to name a few.

I enjoy referring my favorite businesses to people. I always expect my experiences to be delightful. When I do encounter poor customer service or a sub-par product, I take the time to let the owner know my thoughts. Then I spend my hard-earned money elsewhere.

If you agree, I challenge you to seek out more black-owned businesses. For almost every white-owned business, there is a black-owned company that provides the same service or product. So, let’s patronize them and spread the word. You can start with me. Send me your favorite blackowned businesses.

In this issue, you will meet entrepreneurs who have created businesses doing exactly what they love, from a tattoo

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Kevon Makell is serious about energy and faith but we laughed a lot during the photo shoot.

Photo by Vic LeDan Photography

artist who creates body art on page 26 to a savvy woman who helps people become financially literate on page 46. Our cover feature on entrepreneur Kevon Makell, CEO of SEWW Energy, is a great example of how it’s possible to make a global impact while living right here in Charlotte. I’m excited to share visionaries such as Makell with you.

As we began to shape this issue, we also felt it was important to take a look at diversity and inclusion in corporations.

Charlotte is home to eight Fortune 500 companies. We all know that as times change, so do initiatives. We’re taking a glimpse at what’s on the horizon.

Don’t miss our story on the black woman’s burden – fibroids. This story is personal for

me. I’ve dealt with them, and so have some of my friends. There are still many black women who are unaware of what fibroids are and how they impact our bodies.

I’m looking forward to traveling, trying new restaurants and enjoying the wonderful experiences this summer will bring. Stay safe and have a wonderful summer. P Keep it positive and keep it moving,

Lashawnda@pridecommunications.net

WE ARE DIVERSITY.

At TIAA-CREF, the culture, backgrounds and insights of our diverse workforce are as important as the assets we manage. In fact, you’ll find diversity is interwoven throughout every aspect of our operations. It’s a quality that we think allows us to offer a better customer experience. And a better place to work.

tiaa-cref.org | 800 842-2252

TIAA-CREF is an Equal Employment and Affirmative Action Employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Visit our Careers site to learn more about how we are making a difference. ©2015 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 C21777 141006872

NotableNames

By Kendra Wicker

LATASHA FULLER

KIMBERLY JOHNSON

JAMILLAH MUHAMMAD

LAKIMA SPENCER

Born and raised in the Queen City, founder of Round Table for Greatness, Latasha Fuller has a desire to give back to the youth in her community. Fuller, 22, has been volunteering since her adoption at the age of seven. “I saw the need to use my platform to give back to those in foster care and those who don’t have someone to look up to,” says Fuller, recalling her childhood and mentors who helped her along the way. Round Table for Greatness is a nonprofit event held annually in Charlotte to uplift former foster youth and underprivileged children.

Fuller also is the executive director for the Greene County College Success Partnership in Dayton, OH, where she collaborates with the university she now attends and several high schools in the Greene County area to provide college advisor services to students.

Latasha is pursuing her master’s degree in public administration at Wright State University in Ohio and holds a bachelor’s in political science from Winston-Salem State University. P

Beasley Media Group of Charlotte has named Jamillah “Jam” Muhammad as its new program director of WPEG “Power 98” and Urban AC WBAV “V101.9.” Born in Detroit, Jam has over 22 years in radio expertise, ranging from her years in Chicago to Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. “I am incredibly excited to join Bill and the Beasley family in the Charlotte market,” said Muhammad. “I love radio, I love to win and I am looking forward to leading these heritage brands.”

Muhammad is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalist as well as the Recording Academy/Grammy Chicago Chapter. She is an active volunteer with The Salvation Army and has received several awards such as the International Black Broadcasters Association Icon Award. P

Children’s author and motivational speaker Kimberly Johnson has released her newest book, “No Fear for Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9.”

The children’s book marks the historical moment when 10 men from the Rock Hill- Charlotte area chose to serve time in jail over bail after being arrested for sitting at a whites-only lunch counter.

“A lot of people, especially the children, don’t know their history,” Johnson says. “It is our job as a community for our young folks to understand the power of who they are.”

Johnson travels to elementary schools and events in the area to speak on literacy and the importance of education. A native of Shelby, Johnson holds her bachelors in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree in youth development and leadership from Clemson University. P

After leaving her management position at the Sheraton in Atlanta, Lakima Spencer, 36, is now the community development specialist at Microsoft in Charlotte. Spencer gets to organize complimentary workshops and activities for the company to host at schools or within its office for children to learn how to code, edit and use Microsoft products. “It’s such a unique job, because I get to make sure that we’re volunteering and staying community-based at Microsoft year-round,” says Spencer.

“It’s a feel-good job and it’s in corporate.”

She also works in technology, a category Spencer feels women are under-represented in. “Don’t limit yourself,” Spencer says, recalling about how she was unsure of her job in the beginning. “I was intimidated by technology at first, but Microsoft has allowed me to step out of that.”

Lakima holds her undergraduate degree in journalism and public communications from the University of Alaska. P

DID YOU KNOW? George Crum, a head chef at the Cary Moon’s Lake House in Lake Saratoga, NY invented the potato chip in 1853.

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ByFaith

Sharing Life’s Loads

Let’s be honest, when life stinks, our perspective of God shrinks.

By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond

A

s you navigate the demands of life, are you giving adequate attention to your emotional health? When work, family and life itself become unmanageable, convoluted, to whom do you turn for wisdom, counsel, direction and encouragement? Outside of close family members and friends, have you ever considered setting a confidential meeting with a skilled counselor? If so, the following questions may have entered your mind.

Why would I want to share my business with someone I don’t know? Isn’t counseling for people who are too weak to cope with life? What if I’ve tried counseling and saw no results? Truthfully, anyone who perceives counseling this way fails to take advantage of this important opportunity that can provide countless benefits and blessings. Simply put, an experienced counselor serves as a partner and an ally.

A biblical counselor is a trained professional whose role is to assist counselees to plot a course through life’s complexities. In doing so, the counselor facilitates ways for them to enrich their souls and to increase their faith in God’s love and

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provision for them. Let’s be honest, when life stinks, our perspective of God shrinks.

While trusting in God, who is the wonderful counselor (Isaiah 9:6), the biblical counselor provides a safe place to discover answers and reminds the counselee of God’s presence. In addition, he helps the counselee to develop a healthy perspective and to obtain direction in his or her unique circumstances (Proverbs 20:5). That’s good news! When in seasons of distress and turmoil, we need a safe place to share our hearts, to be understood and to receive counsel, wisdom and direction.

According to Proverbs 11:14, there is safety in the multitude of counselors.

Sadly, in today’s culture, we have become conditioned not to depend upon God or anyone else to assist in bringing resolution to life’s compound challenges. Frankly, in our day of social media, we tend to rely on artificial and physically disconnected relationships in lieu of those that are lifegiving and a source of support. We are taught by the unspoken practices of social media to maintain a happy face and an attractive disposition at all times. However, social media has no answers for when life unravels, hurts and is too complex for us to rationalize our way to health. Instead, it

often subtly ushers an individual into a life of denial, pretending and performing, which are all barriers to emotional transparency and health.

Despite the tendency that we all have to hide behind an electronic facade of health, prosperity and success, we all experience difficult seasons and are expected to produce results in today’s competitive and demanding workforce. This adds to the existing challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Corporate executives, middle-line managers, supervisors and employees have one thing in common --- they are all faced with the necessity to manage life, regardless of how overwhelming it becomes.

During these intense periods of life, who helps them? Who comes along to provide coaching, mentorship and counseling? I encourage you not to wait until the stressors of life become consuming. Investment in a skilled biblical counselor will prove priceless.

May God bless you with the courage to pursue assistance and support when life’s complexities exceed your ability to thrive. P Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.

TheMindfulParent

Lessons From My Mother

By Christina Christian, PhD

M

y mother use to say “You must do better than I did.” As I reflect on my mother’s use of this expression, it was evident that the pain and struggle of her own experience was one that she did not want her children to know. It was a consistent, motivational message that was generally spoken during challenging financial or emotional times.

When revisited within this specific context, it seems evident that “‘do better’” meant: Make better decisions so that you do not experience the pain and difficulties that I am experiencing. Despite this seemingly common parental desire, research shows that [African American] parent-professionals who have done better fail to teach their children the basic principles of business education designed to ensure the continued upward economic mobility of the family.

According to a 2012 report published

by Pew Charitable Trust, 84 percent of all Americans surpass their parents’ financial status. Details of the report show that while 56 percent of white Americans surpass their parent’s financial status, only 23 percent of African Americans are able to do the same. Erin Currier, director of the project, explained: "It is the case that African American families manage to get to the middle class and they have some sense of economic security, but their ability to pass that on to their kids is not as high as the white families.” While this research provides evidence of a single generation’s ability to transcend personal difficulties to reach economic heights unknown to past generations, it clearly shows that there is an inability to prepare the next generation to maintain and ultimately surpass one’s own accomplishments. Interestingly, the presumed and primary cause of this issue was introduced to us exactly 50 years ago when then Secretary of Labor Patrick Moynihan asserted that: “… growing up in homes without a male breadwinner reduced black children’s chances of climbing out of poverty, and…the spread of such families would make it hard for blacks to take advantage of the legal and institutional changes flowing from the civil rights revolution.”

As one of four children raised by a divorced mother, I am evidence that growing up in a home without a father reduces but does not prevent upward mobility. However, it is important to mention that my mother was not your ordinary mother. She used her mistakes, and her good and bad days, as lessons to spur us on to the “better” that she desired.

Her expectations for our behavior, dress, the words we spoke and the friends we chose were [at times] higher than heaven itself. Because she did not hold any degrees, the lessons my mother taught never represented subject matter gleaned

from years of classroom lectures or derived from books highlighting the rules of a professional life, business and banking.

Instead, her soliloquies were often prompted by the local news, family issues and the misconduct of friends. While my mother was unable to pass on to us business acumen, she did develop within each of us a degree of common sense and self-discipline necessary to acquire our own business sense. P Christina Christian has worked as an educator for 20 years. She is the author of “Re-Engaging the Village: The Essence of Parenting.”

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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BookReview

“Queen Sugar”

By Angela Haigler

B

rimming with magical metaphors and delicious descriptions, “Queen Sugar” by Natalie Baszile is a booklover's best friend. In addition to the book being engaging and masterfully written, Baszile compels readers to keep reading as she leads them to Louisiana heat, sugarcane farming and family--through the eyes of Charley, the main character. While sugarcane farming was not in Charley's original plan, she soon learns that plans can change when you inherit a sugarcane farm.

She embraces the opportunity as a new adventure and dives right in. Problems arise immediately when Charley finds it difficult to chip away at the “good ol’ boy” mentality that exists within the ranks of the mostly white ‘cane farmers. To top it off, her daughter, Micah, is her reluctant companion, forced to join her mother, for better or for worse, and she constantly reminds her mother of her discomfort, which causes even more stress for Charley.

How will Charley navigate through the minefield of obstacles thrown her way? What will happen to the meaningful relationships in her life as a result of her choices? Will these choices tear the family apart or keep it together, and at what cost? These are the questions the novel asks and answers and readers are will hungrily devour the book along the way.

A memorable cast of characters joins Charley and her daughter. The list includes a caring grandmother, a long-lost brother, a friendly neighborhood landscaper, a wiserthan-he-looks sugarcane farming expert and others. Each character is tenderly rendered and enters and exits a scene only with the purpose of advancing the plot and helping the reader to understand more about the main character. Additionally, the characters are by no means perfect. Each one has at least one flaw that adds a touch of tension to the plot and that will cause readers to have strong emotional reactions.

In this well-crafted novel, there are no wasted scenes or characters brought in only for effect. This is a book that will surely be well-loved for centuries to come, for its excellence in storytelling and its excellent narrative elements.

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About Natalie Baszille: “Queen Sugar” is Baszille’s first novel. She has an MA in Afro-American Studies from UCLA, and received her MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College, where she was a Holden Minority Scholar. An early version of “Queen Sugar” won the Hurston Wright College Writer’s Award, was a co-runner-up in the Faulkner Pirate’s Alley Novel-in-Progress competition.

Oprah Winfrey has partnered with Ava DuVernay to develop a series based on the book, to air on Winfrey’s cable network, OWN. The project will reportedly begin production later this year.

Natalie grew up in southern California and lives in San Francisco with her family P Angela Haigler explores the literary world at www.angelicmusings.wordpress.com and on Twitter @angelicmusings.

YOU READ THEY SUCCEED

In 2014, 60% of Charlotte third graders were not reading at grade level - a critical time in their educational development. In fact, children who do not read proficiently in third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than skilled readers.

You can help by committing to volunteer one hour each week with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s Y Readers six-week summer program. You choose the day and the school and spend a rewarding hour reading with new friends.

Give a child confidence and the power to change his or her future. Invest in your community today with Y Readers.

To get involved or to learn more, visit ymcacharlotte.org/yreaders

#yreaders

YMCA Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

15

FamilyNotes

Compiled by Lee McCracken

Apps for

Healthy Eating

H

elp keep the family eating well by knowing what foods to choose and where to dine out. Moms, with limitless smartphone power in the palm of your hand, it’s easier than ever to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Fooducate — This app grades food from A to D. It’s not only easy, it also provides nutritional information and healthy alternatives. Free; iOS and Android.

• HealthyOut — Don’t want to sacrifice your social life or vacation plans? By finding healthy restaurants near you and providing nutritional information for each meal, this app lets you go out on the town without falling off the wagon. Free; iOS and Android.

Do You Spy? The digital playground today’s young people are hip to is hazardous. Not only are children and teens exposed to bullying, gossip and sexual images, they also are easy prey for online stalkers. Most parents generally know where their kids are each day and who they’re with, but in the digital world, moms and dads often are just spectators, who scramble to set and enforce rules. Many are uneasy at the idea of digitally “spying" on their kids, but news headlines about kids being lured by predators and teens getting arrested is a wake-up call for parents who have no idea what their children are doing on their phones, tablets and laptops.

Kids today are dividing their attention among an array of apps and tools that allow them to write about and share photos and videos of their lives.

While there’s no need to know the ins and outs of every app, parents should know the basics — what the apps their kids are using are about, and why the apps are popular.

For instance, Twitter is a huge promotional tool for Hollywood, and children can get hooked on celebrity worship. Photos and videos shared on Instagram are public, unless the privacy settings are adjusted. Snapchat — because goofy and embarrassing images disappear quickly — can make sexting seem okay and even worse, the person on the receiving end can take screen shots and save images before they go away. Sixsecond videos made using Vine often are inappropriate and explicit in nature.

Knowing what’s on a child’s phone or iPad is important. And if you haven’t heard of these apps, do some digging: Kik Messenger, Ask.fm, Yik Yak, Omegle and Whisper.

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Music in the Park The Bearden Music Series begins Saturday, May 31, 3:30-9 p.m., at Romare Bearden Park. These free family concerts will showcase various music genres. Plan to spend the afternoon or evening with lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner.

Pets are welcome, too, but alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

Vendors also will be selling food and beverages.

Additional dates are June 13, July 11 and Aug. 8. For details, visit RomareBeardenPark.charmeck.org.

Shark Encounters

Just before beach season kicks into high gear, the IMAX Theater at Discovery Place presents “Great White Shark,” opening May 9. Shot on location in South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and California, the film looks to find the truth behind the mythic creature forever stigmatized by its portrayal in the blockbuster movie, “Jaws.” For show times and ticket prices, visit DiscoveryPlace.org. P

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By Angela Lindsay

W

alk into any corporate environment in America, and you will likely hear the phrase “diversity and inclusion” quickly and often. That is because as the demographics of society changed over the decades, many companies began to embrace the idea of implementing strategic approaches to incorporate into their corporate cultures, with some dedicating entire internal divisions to understanding and fostering the concept. Now that diversity and inclusion have been largely woven into the fabric of corporate America, we asked three top executives to share their thoughts on diversity and inclusion’s current path and its future. *edited for brevity and clarity

Pride: Describe the environment around diversity and inclusion when you first entered the arena and explain how you have seen their role change in corporate America over the last five years.

James E. Taylor, PhD, chief diversity officer/vice president at Carolinas HealthCare System Over the decades, we have seen corporate diversity evolve from the fulfillment of legal responsibility into a key business strategy essential to many organizations maintaining a national leadership position and increasing market share. Today’s diversity leaders have mastered the science of leveraging cultural competence, which is the ability to meet others where they are and effectively work across cultures to inform business needs.

Eric Watson, president and CEO of the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council When I started this work 20 years ago, there was a focus on workforce diversity as the strategic thrust that followed affirmative action. Today, diversity must be leveraged as an essential element from which, cultural competency, inclusion in

the workplace, marketplace and workforce can be born. An obvious difference today is there are fewer companies that still have diversity and inclusion as a core strategy, core value or core competency.

Amy Williams, director of diversity and inclusion at Belk I entered the field of diversity when many organizations were still just starting to do work in this space—making the shift from focusing on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and their affirmative action plans to a broader definition of diversity, and building the business case versus because “it’s the right thing to do.” Much of corporate America has shifted from discussions beyond just race and gender, with disability, veterans and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues and concerns often taking the forefront with new legislation that has swept across our country. We still see great disparity in many industries with race and gender; that is not to say we haven’t made great strides forward over the last several years.

Pride: Do you still see the matter of diversity and inclusion as important issues with corporations as they once were?

Taylor: From my perspective, issues of diversity and inclusion are just as pressing and important today as ever before. Successful companies are not the ones that build a business, then look at diversity as a nice-to-have attribute. Truly successful and innovative organizations are able to position diversity as a strategy to achieve their mission and grow the business.

Watson: The goal for a corporation today is to be inclusive.

The focus on diversity and inclusion has changed, with business integration being a significant imperative to creating a strategic approach. Diversity and inclusion must influence what is important to the business. The relative importance of this work has shifted as the economy, society and political shifts have impacted business.

Williams: From my lens, undoubtedly yes. Our communities and world continue to evolve, therefore requiring conscious effort

The Changing Direction of 18

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazine.net

and continuous support if you desire it to be an integrated part of your culture. Organizations that lessen their focus and divert their attention elsewhere unfortunately, as a result, end up going backwards.

Pride: How do you see the role of diversity and inclusion changing within corporations over the next five years?

Taylor: Progressive organizations will continue to strive to integrate diversity into core business operations. Being culturally competent will allow organizations to serve their existing customers while attracting the next generation of new ones.

Watson: Diversity and inclusion today require a vision that provides more clarity and focus on how [they] define business success. Industry culture, geographical culture and company culture will be drivers, as well as the continued increase of the pace of change.

Williams: I have seen a common trend to start to blend or integrate the chief diversity officer role with other areas. I have also seen the trend in some parts of the country to lessen the focus on diversity and primarily focus on inclusion. Ultimately, it is the leadership that drives diversity and inclusion in its organization. So regardless of how it is structured, if the commitment and support is there, progress can still be made.

Pride: If their role is changing, what do you think this will mean for the very groups that diversity and inclusion efforts have benefitted over the years?

Taylor: The advancement of diversity and inclusion efforts is a tribute to diversity legends and pioneers who have blazed a trail for boldly inclusive leadership and the diversity posture upon which our community proudly stands today. The next generation of diversity leadership is humbled and proud to now hold the torch that these pioneers carried for so long.

Watson: We still have work to do. As diversity and inclusion practitioners, we must be able to speak to the economics of business and intentionally manage diversity and inclusion

proactively versus reactively. It is an imperative for business success that we create trust and inclusion, especially with marginalized groups. Removing obstacles to business progress means eliminating and not tolerating bias, while maintaining a business mind set which drives economic growth.

Williams: I am of the belief that diversity and inclusion benefit all groups within an organization, although it may not feel that way to some. If resources are pulled and organizations lose their focus/ commitment on [diversity and inclusion], it hinders the entire organization. They become a culture that is not able to recruit and retain the best and the brightest that they need to help take them to the next level. Current associates become unengaged and therefore not as productive.

Pride: Are there steps companies should be taking now to ensure diversity and inclusion efforts remain an integral part of their human resources fabric, or are we moving beyond needing to focus on them?

Taylor: Despite tremendous progress building more inclusive communities, the need for intentional diversity management remains. As cliché as it may sound, diversity is a journey, not a destination. As a collective society, we must continue to develop the skills set needed to become culturally competent in our interactions with one another.

Watson: We should remember diversity is a tool for successfully managing business and finance. Providing diverse models and diverse options reflects the needs of different consumers. We cannot go backwards or have groups of people who feel excluded.

Corporations still need to take steps to reach a new paradigm of systemic and sustainable change that transforms how they do business leveraging diversity for inclusion.

Williams: If one looks at some of the organizations we’ve seen disappear or that are dwindling over the past several years, and parallel it with their diversity and inclusion journey, you would see they are generally aligned. That’s not to say this work is always fun and easy. However, there’s a greater risk at stake if it’s not focused on. P

Diversity and Inclusion May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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Apostle for

Energy

By Tonya Jameson Photos by Vic LeDan Photography

E

nergy. To most people, it’s flipping a switch on to power things that make our lives comfortable.

To Kevon Makell energy is truly powerful. Energy can transform a child, a community, a country. Makell is transforming the delivery and consumption of energy. He is the founder of Charlotte-based SEWW (Sun, Earth, Wind and Water) Energy, which delivers sustainable smart micro- and macro-grid development and integration internationally.

The description sounds technical, even boring. However, behind SEWW is Makell. He’s a 55-year-old visionary determined to empower nations one community at a time, through energy, engineering, education and health care. SEWW builds the infrastructure to make sure countries have adequate power generation and delivery systems, including health care, to participate in a global economy.

“Power is the lifeblood, but health care has to be a critical component,” said Makell, sitting in the boardroom of his uptown Charlotte office. “I’m really an impact investor...It is about community development.”

Makell and his team are still developing the health-care framework for SEWW, but his work in energy has already drawn national and international attention. In November, he was appointed to the President’s Advisory Council On Doing Business in Africa. That spring, he was part of a business delegation that accompanied U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on a west Africa trade mission. As a result, SEWW secured a $25-million energy project with the Electric Utility Company of Ghana.

Locally, SEWW helped Carolinas Healthcare System’s mobile hospital, Carolinas Med-1, incorporate green energy to become more energy-efficient and less dependent on fossil fuel. The

Power is the lifeblood, but health care has to be a critical component. I’m really an impact investor...

It is about community development. company unveiled that innovation during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

“Kevon is focused on not only today, but he’s focused on what are those resources we are going to need down the road,” said Erskine Cade, of Cleveland.

Cade chaired the Association of Blacks and Energy in the late ’80s to mid ’90s and has worked at Standard Oil and BP. The utility industry has to analyze each different energy source and determine whether it’s renewables or solar fossil fuels. It’s making sure we have a future supply of energy, said Cade, who met Makell about 10 years ago through mutual friends.

“He is looking futuristic in terms of what those resources are going to be. He has grown immensely over the years in terms of that, from being in a corporate structure to where you start your own company,” Cade said.

Makell follows the principles of servant-leadership. He credits his mother, his primary caregiver, for instilling a sense of faith and service into him and his twin brother.

“She basically told us when we were young that we could be anything that God prepared us to be,” said Makell, who grew up in Maryland. “I’m a living part of her legacy.”

Makell’s career spans more than 30 years in the energy

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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industry, at utilities and other corporations. He is the father of four and lives in south Charlotte with his wife and two youngest children. Numerous achievements, conversations and observations led to the creation of SEWW. Successfully launching the Cleveland Electric Formula Classic, a national university electric car race series, in the ’90s put him on the national radar, said longtime friend Brian Johnson, of Chicago, and SEWW’s senior vice president of Global Healthcare Solutions.

Makell nurtured the seeds for SEWW in the mid-2000s while working and supposedly resting in Bermuda, where he has extended family. While there, he created a residential micro-grid so his home had uninterruptable power. He also helped restructure utilities, build a church, and he advised members of the government.

“God kind of laid it on my heart to create a company that was tied to His resources, sun, earth, wind and water (SEWW), hence the name of the company,” said Makell, who launched it in June 2011.

In an industry known for speaking the language of science and technology, Makell often speaks of faith. He doesn’t shy away from sharing how his unshakeable faith guides him in the business world.

The Park Church’s Bishop Claude Alexander said Makell shares that he is using his God-given talent to help people through energy, renewables and microgrids. It is a form of proselytizing without preaching.

“The way he is able to do that--- being as much as a witness to God--- is as much as anybody who is just handing out tracts (religious literature),” Alexander said.

Makell’s tracts power communities here and abroad. He is determined to get more black youth plugged into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies. One concept is setting up microgrids at historically black colleges and universities to help with STEM education.

The program, which is under development, would also provide vocational and technical training and development for students.

“We have to really demonstrate and show that energy can be exciting. It doesn’t have to be this whole series of technical courses coming from a STEM program,” he said. “I’m about energy, education and empowerment.”

Makell calls himself a connector, a bridge-builder. He is also a believer, and it is his belief in the power of energy that will transform lives. P

Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce Shifts Gears A

By Charles Kelleher Harris

30, has been a member since 2011 and secretary since 2013. ccording to the National Black Chamber of Commerce The CMBCC also believes that economic development for the there are about 140 chapters nationwide of that parent entire region is a behemoth task for just one organization; therefore, organization. Local, independent black chambers are a niche-focus chamber will serve black business owners better. present in almost every major city in the country including Members of the CMBCC can expect an increase in awareness Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles. of their businesses in the community, connections to build better When the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce businesses and opportunities to unite with other members to (CMBCC) was formed in 2004, the goal was to help cultivate and boost sales and contracts. increase black-owned business and to advance the economic well Currently, the CMBCC has some 300 members but the chamber being of the black community. is looking to increase that number this year.

In the last decade, CMBCC has experienced some ups and The benefits of joining go beyond recognition and downs, such as dwindling membership and lack of leadership. But occasional networking. in the last year, a reorganization has taken place that is dedicated to According to CMBCC’s website, the chamber is creating a place creating an effective chamber. where black-owned businesses can seek diversity in suppliers, “We’re building a new brand and operational strategy based around voice their concerns about how to the ideal membership experience for collaborate and make the region a businesses,” says CMBCC Chairman Will It’s not just about a new better place for business.

Peters. “It’s not just about a new logo and Black business owners from large new materials. It’s a change in mentality.” logo and new materials. It’s to small are encouraged to join the Peters says that despite the fact a change in mentality. organization, to seek help in promoting that Charlotte is filled with great blacktheir services and to develop a voice which business owners, there is a difficulty in —Will Peters, Chairman of the the CMBCC hopes will give more direction establishing trust with some organizations.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Black and attention to areas of improvement.

“I think [black businesses] fear While statistically most of the losing what we've accomplished so far,” Chamber Commerce members are from an older generation, a Peters says. “Innovation happens when younger set of members has been steadily increasing. intentional problem-solving, collaboration and trust without fear meet.”

“The CMBCC has given us an opportunity to grow,” says Gregory Peters, 37, is the owner of The Anstad Group, a digital marketing Pope. Pope and his wife, Sylvia own Gregory Sylvia, a luxury leather company. Peters has been a CMBCC member for seven years and accessory line. “Right now we are looking to CMBCC to figure out became chairman in 2014. ways to grow capital and better run our business.”

While strategies are shifting, the goal remains the same for Besides its regularly scheduled monthly meetings, CMBCC the CMBCC: to support and encourage growth in the black also hosts workshops, seminars and networking events around business community. the community. CMBCC has also made financial donations to But is a black chamber, separated from the original Charlotte organizations that share their business needs and promoted other Mecklenburg Chamber of Commerce, really necessary? organizations with similar visions for the black community. “[It] is not to imply that the larger Chamber cannot serve Peters says he wants to see the CMBCC thrive, “We want a those needs; however, the CMBCC’s focus on the black business Charlotte business ecosystem that is intentionally diverse and inclusive community allows us to be more ingrained in the community, to create the leading environment to develop successful companies.” adapt to its needs, modify services, and speak knowledgeably For more information visit www.cmbcc.org P about its concerns,” says Gillian Crowl, CMBCC secretary. Crowl,

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For Business

By Charles Kelleher Harris Photos courtesy of Neighborhood Cafe and Vegan-To-Go. Photos of Charlotte Tattoo Company by Jonathan Cooper.

Vegan-To-Go After losing several family members to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, VeganTo-Go owner Patrick Steptoe decided to go meat-less. He wanted to eat healthier and live longer.

Once he decided to go vegan, Steptoe was quickly frustrated by the limited menu offerings he found at restaurants and in grocery stores.

He launched Vegan-To-Go in 2012 to offer vegans something more than tofu. His entrees include meat-less Cowboy Chili, vegan steak burgers and vegan chicken strips. His products are non-genetically modified organisms (GMO), soy and plant protein meals.

His frozen, healthy meals are sold in Harris Teeter, and in corporate cafeterias such as those at Queens University, Met Life and Wells Fargo.

Steptoe knows he’s tapped into a growing market. The number of vegans in the United States has doubled since 2009, according to a study commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group, he says.

“With mounting evidence that abstaining from animal products may be a key ingredient to good health, this number can only be expected to grow,” he says. www.veganto-go.com

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As Charlotte continues to grow, so do opportunities for entrepreneurs. Meet three small business owners who created unique businesses.

Neighborhood Cafe When you enter the Neighborhood Cafe, there is a rich aroma of home-style cooking and hookah smoke. The walls are adorned with movie posters and images of black pop cultural icons from the last 40 years.

The newly opened cafe is the latest venture of entrepreneurial twins Damian and Jermaine Johnson. The two built a name for themselves by providing top-notch grooming at their four No Grease Barbershops throughout the city.

The barbershop has long been a communal space for black men. The Johnsons are bringing that sense of community to another type of community space – the small cafe. It is an extension of their goal to empower black people. In fact, the hood in Neighborhood is an acronym for Holding Our Own Down.

“The need to have a cafe that reflected our family, community and culture led to the decision to open the cafe,” says Damian Johnson.

The Neighborhood Cafe is next to the No Grease Barbershop in Johnson C. Smith University’s Mosiac Village.

The cafe offers more than other local trendy markets. There is a full-service bar and a beautiful array of arabesque looking hookah bowls and pipes.

The food menu includes breakfast wraps, barbeque sandwiches, subs, chicken, tacos, wings and grilled salmon. Most items cost less than $7.

“The atmosphere at the Neighborhood Cafe is unique in every way,” says Damian Johnson. “From the service, food, sound and look of the cafe, the clients will walk away filled with energy and motivation.”

The Johnsons plan to put a cafe next to each No Grease Barbershop. The brothers want the cafe to be a place where people make connections that will inspire them to be creative, to be entrepreneurs and to strengthen the black community.

“That’s what we would like to attract here,” says Damian Johnson.

The Neighborhood Café is located at 1635 W. Trade Street.

Charlotte Tattoo Company Billy Harris’ tattoo shop on Central Avenue is literally humming.

Above the din of tattoo machines is the sound of old-school rap music mixed with alternative tunes that set the vibe of the shop.

Harris is the first black licensed tattoo artist in Charlotte. Harris started at Alternative Tattoos on Central Avenue, and worked there for more than a decade. He opened Charlotte Tattoo Company a few doors down last fall.

“It was the desire to make sure everyone was getting a quality tattoo that first interested me in becoming a tattoo artist,” he says.

There is a misconception among white artists that in order to get a tattoo to show on darker skin, they have to etch deeper in the skin. That’s false, says Harris.

“Black skin is softer and [going deeper] only causes scarring,” he says.

Harris holds a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He points out that the culture of tattooing has experienced a rapid shift, and his new business is booming as a result.

“It has come from an underground, rebellious form of expression to a legitimate art. [People] are excited about getting [tattoos] them and not feeling as if they have to hide them,” he says, sitting under a spotlight while etching a skull onto a customer's forearm.

Harris admits that he has so many tattoos that he has lost count.

Charlotte Tattoo Company is not a “stereotypical” tattoo shop.

Instead of a smoked-filled pit with bikers and ruffians, it is a place where young, trendy artists’ work is displayed around each station in a bright, vibrant storefront. Just like tattoos, the artwork ranges from Gothic ghouls to florets to anything in between.

“Tattooing isn’t only about the art…It’s about the experience, the feeling of acceptance, the ability to be around like-minded individuals...to joke...to laugh...and to end up with a great tattoo that you love,” says Harris.

Charlotte Tattoo Company is located at 1514 Central Avenue. www.charlottetattoocompany.com P May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

27

PrideBusiness

Networking:

The Art of Appreciating Others

By Charles Horton

A

t 10 years old, I began to be fascinated by people. I wanted to know who they were and what they did for a living. You name it, I thought about it and asked the questions. My curiosity helped me understand the concept of appreciating other people, which I believe is the foundation for networking.

It’s important to know how to separate yourself and network to a better life of opportunities. See these networking tips.

1.

Re-focus on “why” you network. Networking is about

you providing value to someone else (and I don’t mean selling your services or products). During conversations, listen and find common connections that will help create long-term relationships (not one-time transactions).

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2.

Change “how” you network.

Before attending an event, research key attendees of interest and determine how you might engage them. Learning who will be at the event will help you prioritize your top targets. You are better off making one great connection rather than five so-so connections.

3.

Networking is not about you.

Don’t over-talk. Ask engaging questions that allow whomever to share more about who they are and what they have accomplished.

4.

Don’t ask for a job. This is the

quickest way to lose credibility and ruin a potential relationship.

5.

Follow up within 24-48 hours after the initial meeting. Sending an

email is acceptable, but writing a card will make you even more memorable. Always tie the common connection(s) into your follow-up. Relationships take effort and nurturing. Staying in touch with people in your network periodically over time can go a long way.

6.

Leverage your youth. People who

have experience in their careers love helping younger people who are eager to learn, listen and be helped. P Charles Horton is the CEO of Ph.P Professionals Helping Professionals, an integrated back-office services firm that specializes in marketing accounting and other services for businesses. Email: charles@ proshelppros.com 704-601-6082

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Concord, NC | www.CannonSchool.org May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine 29

MakingItCount

Bank Club Program

Produces Financially Savvy Students

By Tiffany Bell

I

t’s a fact, African-Americans in this country wield tremendous earning and buying power. However, in spite of strides that have been made in the ability to advance economically, the crisis of financial illiteracy remains a pervasive problem. While studies show that no ethnic group in this country is completely financially literate, AfricanAmericans consistently lag behind their white counterparts in the area of financial education. The key to reversing this trend, many believe, lies in exposing AfricanAmerican children to financial education as early as possible.

Berewick Elementary student Brian Lee receives his Young Bankers Club graduation certificate from Fifth Third mentor Kim Matulewicz.

Fifth Third Bank is at the forefront of affecting a positive change by offering financial education to elementary school students through its Young Bankers Club (YBC) program. The program started in 2004 as a partnership between Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Public Schools and the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, with the goal of educating students about proper financial management at an early age.

“Since its inception, over 6,000 students throughout the Fifth Third footprint have experienced success in the program,” says Jada Grandy, senior vice president and regional community reinvestment act strategies director. “Of this number, 380 students in the CMS school district have graduated from YBC.” The 10-week program is provided to fifth grade students and the curriculum meets national and state educational standards for fifth grade mathematics. “It’s really nice to be able to have standards within our program that are truly measurable and that can be transferable in the students’ normal education matriculation,” says Grandy.

Lessons are taught in elementary school classrooms by Fifth Third Bank employee mentors who spend an hour per week covering topics such as “Money Basics,” “Money Matters,” “Spending Money,” “Budgeting,” “Personal Banking,” “Credit Cards and Interest,” “Investments” and “Starting Your Own Business.” The Stock Market Challenge is one of the highlights of the program. Students select a stock and follow its performance in the stock market for the duration of the program. The student whose stock has the highest return or the greatest gain is recognized at graduation.

Currently, the YBC program is offered in Title I schools. “We partner with schools where we have the maximum opportunity for impact. We’ve found that many of the students don’t have the financial knowledge to help them to be successful,” says Grandy.

“We’ve also found that students go home

and teach their parents how to effectively manage money and manage credit.” The program includes a trip to a local college/ university and a banking center tour to learn about the center’s financial services operation or a trip to the Federal Reserve Bank to see how money is made.

Grandy notes that the students are extremely bright and that notable outcomes “such as enhanced public speaking skills and improved behavior” have been observed.

“Students value YBC membership. They’re held to a higher standard, so they even carry themselves in a different way.” While YBC graduates are equipped with sound financial education that will prove valuable in reversing financial illiteracy, they are also primed with transferable skills to be used well beyond the classroom.

For more information visit www.53. com/financial-empowerment/programs-forkids.html. P

At a Glance

2012 statistics on the African-American demographic in the United States: • 43 million. African Americans comprise 13.7% of the total population.

• Second largest racial minority.

• Buying power estimated at $1.1 trillion by 2015. Consumer growth outpaces the remaining population by 30%.

• Increased rate of college degrees (men 45%, women 54%).

• Household salaries exceeding $75,000 increased by more than 60%.

• Average income nationwide is $47,290.

Source: The Nielsen Company

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ZimSculpt Creates Connection to Africa

ZimSculpt

May 1-July 12 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden 6500 S. New Hope Road Belmont, NC 28012 Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

Admission: $12.95 for adults and $6.95 for children. zimsculpt.com

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By Tonya Jameson Photos courtesy of ZimSculpt

A

frican art returns to the Charlotte area when ZimSculpt, the African art exhibition, returns to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in May. The exhibition drew 19,000 people to the garden, located just south of Charlotte in Belmont, last year. ZimSculpt will display 100 new Shona sculptures from Zimbabwe against a tropical backdrop in the garden. The exhibition also includes an African art and jewelry marketplace.

“We are excited about the entire collection,” said ZimSculpt co-founder Vivienne Croisette.

Sculptures will be available to purchase. There will be 200300 small to medium pieces for sale this year. Artist Passmore Mupindiko returns, accompanied by leading spring stone sculptor Aron Kapembeza. Sculptors will be on-site daily, sculpting, demonstrating and discussing their work.

Croisette and her husband Joseph founded ZimSculpt more than a decade ago. They will be on-site to give guided tours and discuss the art movement. Translated from the Karanga dialect of the Shona language, Zimbabwe means “great house of stone.”

The sculptures range from small hand-held figurines to giant totems. Some depict representations of everyday life, such as women caring for children, bathing and collecting water. Others depict nature, such as organic forms, flowers and leaves, birds and other animals.

The couple represents 200 artisans in Zimbabwe. The Croisettes travel the country to select sculptures for exhibition and sale worldwide. They have exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show in the United Kingdom, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Ontario and the Naples Botanical Garden in Florida.

Last year, the Charlotte exhibit seemed to create a greater connection among viewers with Africa and Zimbabwe. Guests discovered many different connections to Zimbaweans, some of whom now make the Charlotte area home. P

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

33

By Fred Banyon

A

fter the Great Recession of 2008, an unpleasant phenomena resurfaced.

Because of financial distress from the recession, a large number of Americans began tapping into their secured retirement savings. African Americans and Hispanics were the groups that dipped into these sacred instruments the most.

According to a 2012 study by Ariel Investments and AON Hewitt, African American employees took these "hardship withdrawals" more than any other ethnic group. Fully, 8.8 percent of African Americans took hardship withdrawals in 2010 as compared to 3.2 percent of Hispanics, 1.7 percent of whites and just 1.2 percent of Asian workers.

Because these assets are designed for use in retirement, Americans need to develop sound budgeting and savings strategies that eliminate the need to tap into retirement funds.

Instead of tapping those retirement funds, it is important to use the prosperous times to create a rainy day fund. Many leading financial planners suggest such a fund equivalent to six months salary set aside for an unforeseen emergency.

Hardship withdrawals are allowed from 401(k) plans, but — from what I've discussed with Arthur Don, an attorney affiliated with Ariel Investments — there are some amazing things people will justify for such a withdrawal: • a vacation; • celebrating a wedding anniversary or birthday; • paying for a wedding; • buying a new car (while this is possibly a necessity, it can often be little more than keeping up with the Joneses); • a shopping spree.

There are other reasons, but the point here is that a nonemergency purchase should not come from something as important as a 401(k) plan. Develop better spending and saving habits.

Hand’s

Off: Don’t Raid Your Retirement Accounts

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Not budgeting carefully and not living beyond our means is the number-one obstacle toward financial security.

Below are five questions to ask before initiating an emergency withdrawal from retirement savings: • What's the tax bite on a 401(k) withdrawal as opposed to a loan? Any withdrawal from a qualified retirement plan is subject to a ten percent penalty and one's income tax rate. Be cautious.

• Can a tax penalty for an emergency withdrawal be avoided?

It's possible for those 55 or older, those who have left the employer where their plan was located, the disabled and military reserve personnel called up to active duty.

• There's a risk with losing one's job. If someone with a 401(k) withdrawal leaves his job or is laid off, any loan balance must be repaid within 60 days.

• Will I mind my account being in the slow lane for six months or more? One is usually restricted from making contributions to a 401(k) for six months after taking a hardship withdrawal, further setting you back in accumulating retirement reserves.

• Is there an IRA alternative? Consider a Roth or traditional IRA. There are income tests to qualify, but that are worth a look. An IRA can be tapped into — avoiding penalties — for firsttime homebuyers and to pay for college tuition. An old 401(k) can often be rolled over into an IRA. The best strategy, of course, is to leave a 401(k) retirement savings account alone.

It is meant to provide for the needs of the future, not the wants of the present. P Fred Banyon, is a member of the national advisory council of the Project 21 black leadership network and has been a stockbroker since 1989. In his various financial services jobs, he has overseen tens of millions of dollars in client assets, advised clients on asset management issues related to savings for education, insurance and retirement. Reprinted by permission from the National Center for Public Policy Research.

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The people you love are too precious for you to take chances. Adequate life insurance and disability insurance are some of the many ways you can protect your family in case something happens to you. Here are some things to think about when considering your insurance needs:

You’ve worked hard for the things you own. You want them to be protected in a situation where they might be damaged or destroyed. Here are some things to consider:

You’ve poured your time, energy and resources into building your own business. You want to be sure it’s properly protected. Ask these questions when considering your business insurance needs:

What would happen to your spouse and children if you were to die unexpectedly?

How would they be supported?

How will your final arrangements be paid for?

What would happen to your family finances if you or your spouse were injured or sick and unable to work?

What educational expenses will you need to pay for your children? How far in the future are those expenses?

Are you providing financial support for aging parents?

If something happens to you, will your spouse’s retirement income be jeopardized?

Adequate life insurance can protect your loved ones and help them maintain their lifestyles after you die. Disability insurance will replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work.

North Carolina Mutual Insurance Agency offers a wide range of life and disability insurance products designed to help you protect your loved ones.

If you’re in a car accident, how much of a deductible can you afford to pay?

If your car is damaged by an uninsured motorist, can you afford to repair it?

What is the cost to replace your belongings?

What will happen if your business is damaged or destroyed?

What will happen if one of your key employees dies or becomes disabled?

If someone is injured in your home or on your property, what is your liability?

What is your liability if one of your employees is injured at work? How can you protect yourself?

If your home is damaged or destroyed, how will you repair or replace it?

What will happen if your key business assets are damaged or destroyed?

How much would it cost to rebuild your home at today’s prices?

What benefits do you need to provide to attract new employees and retain your current employees?

Is your home protected in the event of a flood?

North Carolina Mutual Insurance Agency has relationships with leading property and liability carriers, giving us the ability to offer homeowners, auto, motorcycle and boat insurance as well as other personal lines. Ask us today how to best protect your assets.

North Carolina Mutual Insurance Agency provides a variety of commercial insurance lines, including workers’ compensation and liability insurance.

In addition, whether you have a need for a traditional or voluntary group benefits program, we have the market knowledge and platforms necessary to meet that need.

At North Carolina Mutual Insurance Agency, we have a full range of insurance and financial services to help you protect the important people and things in your life. Contact us today at 800-647-2114 or visit us at www.ncmutuallife.com for more information.

SceneandSeen

UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball at The Mint Museum Uptown.

Photos by Jon Strayhorn

Selma In Retrospect:

The 50th Anniversary of a Monumental Civil Rights Movement" at The Mint Museum Uptown.

Photos by Jon Strayhorn

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1244525

RIDE Ad 7.5x10 4c

“What’s our priority for the rest of the year?

Upgrading technology?

Increasing staff?”

We’re here to help. Learn more about Supplier Diversity.

You believe in your business — and why not? You’re making big plans and hitting exciting goals. We’d like to hear more about it.

We work to build relationships with innovative and growing companies owned by members of the Charlotte business community. It’s a win-win. We gain strong suppliers, and they enjoy new opportunities to expand and enhance their businesses.

These partnerships also contribute to the economic vigor and cultural vibrancy of the places where we live and work. So our communities benefit most of all.

For more information, please contact the Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity team at supplierdiversity@wellsfargo.com.

wellsfargo.com © 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

Member FDIC. ECG-1244525

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SMALL BUSINESS

AFFORDABLE FURNITURE & MATTRESS STORE JOEL AND TERRI POTTS

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wned by Joel and Terri Potts, Affordable Furniture & Mattress Store is the newest addition to the furniture industry in Charlotte, NC. Located in South Charlotte, the store’s showroom offers “Quality Furniture at Affordable Prices.” Joel earned his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University where he studied Physical Education, and has twenty years experience in the furniture industry. Terri earned her undergraduate degree from Johnson C. Smith University where she studied communications and marketing, and also has a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Adult Education.

The showroom is open 7 days a week and has an excellent selection of products that include bedroom sets, sectionals, living room sets, dinette sets, mattresses, cocktail tables, lamps, rugs, and more! “We sell essential pieces to create the customer’s desire for any room,” says Terri. “We also want our customers to feel comfortable while shopping at our store because we appreciate their business," explains Joel.

Affordable Furniture & Mattress Store offers a variety of payment options to make shopping convenient including financing, free layaway,

5102 South Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28217 buyaffordablefurniture.com 980-938-6113 and same day delivery. Affordable Furniture & Mattress Store is always looking for ways to partner with nonprofit organizations to offer discounts on products to assist families in need.

SMALL BUSINESS

LUCKY YOU NATURAL HAIR CARE SALON LATIKA MERCER & CONNIE FARRAR Ashley Hall, Connie Farrar, LaTika Mercer, Kaila Bundick

2117 Commonwealth Ave Charlotte, NC 28205 www.luckyyoullc.com 980-722-0282 & 704-288-7795

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ucky You Natural Hair Care Salon offers a variety of services: Transitioning to natural hair, protective styles, locs, Sisterlocks, natural styles, kid styles and more!

It all begins with a free consultation.

We listen to your hair story, needs, and desires. Then we agree upon a service helping you to understand your hair. Services include three lavish shampoos, deep conditioning, followed by our Love Our Culture (LOC) product line. Special treatments are available upon request. We love

enhancing your natural beauty which results in a polished style to fit you!

Once on a continuous schedule, we work to produce a healthier you. We take care of your hair and scalp, in order to help you reach maximum growth potential. Master Stylists (also owners), Connie Farrar and LaTika Mercer are licensed instructors through NC Cosmetics Arts and are Certified Sisterlocks Consultants. Hands-on classes are facilitated throughout the year to assist you with your hair care needs between appointments.

***Mention this ad and receive 15% off your first service***

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SMALL BUSINESS

TALKING THREADS BOUTIQUE BILQIS SHAREEF PROPRIETOR

T 2213 LaSalle Street, Charlotte, NC 28216 704-393-0110 www.bilqisshareef.com bshareef10@gmail.com

here is nothing common or ordinary about Talking Threads designs. You can always expect the unexpected, uncommon, and extraordinary when Bilqis Shareef is on the fashion scene.

Trained in New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology, she refined her craft while preparing custom bridal wear for discriminating clients. Her design creation is a tactile experience as she studies, touches, listens and chooses fabrics to relay the blush of the sun, the unrestrained flow of water, or the murmur of the wind.

The wearer does not simply wear her garment. She and the garment are one in their whisper, chant or song.

Designs by Bilqis Shareef have been featured in many fashion extravaganzas; most recently Ankara 2015 Miami Fashion Week. She is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) with numerous credits including Army Wives, Conspirator, Homeland, Hunger Game, Banshee as well as commercials for Belk and Verizon.

Bilqis Shareef delivers uniquely as she marvels at her creations coming to life. Custom designs, tailoring, alterations, enhancements and finishing are her specialty. She has blended her love of fashion and her mind for business into a fascinating career spanning 45 years.

2015 upcoming events:

MAY 1 - JULY 2ND ST

ZimSculpt Exhibit at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden May 1- July 12, 2015 www.DSBG.org 704-825-4490

CREATE A BRAND BUZZ!

TUESDAY SEPT. 1ST

SUMMER 2015!

Pride Night at Motown the Musical Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015 7:30 pm, Belk Theater BlumenthalArts.org/PrideVIP 704-372-1000 Identify yourself as a "PRIDE PRIORITY VIP"

PEEP Young Entrepreneurs Workshop Series - Summer 2015!

Ages 14-25 years old. If you have a business, or great business idea, REGISTER for this 6-part series.

Visit PEEPCharlotte.org in May for more details and to register!

Are You Following Pride? www. p r i d e ma g a zi n e c l t . c o m

Enhance Your Brand and Create a Buzz with a Business Video!

Pride now offers video services, so you can stay ahead of the competition! With an online video of your business, your new clients can learn about your products or services at their desk or on the move. Call our office today for more info and rates: 704-375-9553

Pride Magazine ~ Charlotte, NC

@prideinternet

Pridemagazine charlottenc

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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®

RAYMOND LUKE JR. PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS. ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY ANDREW ECCLES. MOTOWN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF UMG RECORDINGS, INC

GET READY , ‘CAUSE HERE WE COME.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! SELECT THE TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, PERFORMANCE OF MOTOWN AND ENJOY A FREE POST-SHOW TALKBACK WITH THE CAST, COURTESY OF PRIDE MAGAZINE.

AUG. 25-SEPT. 6 • BELK THEATER AT BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

704.372.1000 • BlumenthalArts.org Group Sales: 704.348.5752 • BlumenthalArts.org/Groups

Hitsville U.S.A. O

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL COMES TO CHARLOTTE’S BELK THEATER AUG. 25-SEPT. 6

MOTOWN® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF UMG RECORDINGS, INC.

A brilliant entrepreneur with impeccable n Jan. 12, 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. obtained artistic taste, Gordy signed the best singers, a loan of $800 from his family and and hired the best musicians, the best founded an enterprise he called songwriters, the best producers, and the best Motown. He set up his Detroit headquarters staff to create, make and sell irresistible songs in a modest house emblazoned with an with universal appeal. immodest sign, “Hitsville U.S.A.” The slogan was “I may not have always known what I was premature, but prophetic. The company had its looking for exactly, but when I found it, I knew first hit record in 1960 and between 1961 and it,” Gordy has said.

1971 landed 163 singles in Billboard magazine’s In the early ’60s, when Motown was evolving top 20, including 28 songs that reached No. 1.

Aug. 25-Sept. 6, 2015 and beginning to hit its stride, radio play was Gordy discovered, developed Belk Theater crucial to a song’s success, and and launched the careers of white pop radio stations had only Smokey Robinson and The sporadically embraced recordings Miracles, Diana Ross and The by black artists. Gordy recognized Supremes, The Temptations, that he needed an experienced, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, respected, well-connected Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye point man who could infiltrate – to name a few – and Motown and shatter the color line of the became the most successful airwaves, and in 1960 he brought business owned and operated by on Barney Ales as vice president an African-American in the U.S. of distribution and sales. Ales had What Gordy accomplished relationships with disc jockeys and had ramifications far beyond the stations – black and white – all world of music. Now his legacy is around the metropolitan area. celebrated in Motown The Musical, Photos by Joan Marcus, 2014 “My feeling, long before I went which plays in the Belk Theater Reed L Shannon as Michael Jackson, center, with the Jackson 5 in to Motown, was that music at Blumenthal Performing Arts Motown The Musical First National Tour. was music,” says Ales. “I never Center this summer. considered Motown a black company.

It was owned by a black “Berry Gordy is the Steve Jobs of the music field,” says guy and had black artists, but it wasn’t a black company.

Doug Morris, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment and coIt was a record company. And it was easy to sell the sound producer of the show. “He’s the No. 1 creative executive in the because people liked the sound.” history of the industry – an amazing American success story Motown gradually became part of the fabric of America. who changed the culture of the country.”

“Music really makes the world vibrate,” says Morris with Although Motown was home mostly to black artists, Gordy Sony Music Entertainment. “And when multicultures vibrate envisioned the music as “the sound of young America” – and together, it’s a great thing. That’s what Berry Gordy made by that he meant Americans of all colors and ethnicities. He happen. His music changed the world.” started Motown just before the civil rights movement was Don’t miss Motown the Musical at Belk Theater, Aug. 25in full swing, when neighborhoods throughout the country Sept. 6. For information, call 704-372-1000 or visit remained segregated and music by black artists was mostly www.BlumenthalArts.org online. relegated to black radio stations.

Patrice Covington as Martha Reeves, center, and cast of Motown The Musical First National Tour.

CreativeArts

3 to Watch

Melody Makers Around Town

By Edward Henderson

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rofessional football team? Check.

Buzz-worthy NBA franchise?

Check. Thriving music scene?

If you ask around this growing metropolis, many might say the latter component maybe one thing holding our city back from sprinting neck-and-neck with heavyweight urban meccas such as Atlanta and Houston. However, gospel singer Travis Greene, songstress Leslie

Richardson, and spoken-word poet Sir Abstraxxx are making noise to let the world know Charlotte is home to a diverse mambo sauce of artistic flavor everyone’s palate can enjoy.

Travis Greene

A powerful testimony is the perfect fuel for a gospel artist determined to inspire a world in need of all the love it can get.

Travis Greene’s account of the fateful day his four-year-old lay lifeless on the concrete after plummeting from a fourthstory window is definitely premium-grade.

The paramedics pronounced Greene dead on the scene, but his mother took her plea to a higher authority. “My mother picked up my lifeless body and she called on Jesus twice and nothing happened,” says Greene. “The third time, she just screamed ‘the blood of Jesus!’ and miraculously God gave me back my life.”

Greene regained consciousness and was released from the hospital after three days.

“Something like that changes everything,” says Greene. “From that moment, the faith that God has given me lets me know anything is possible.”

Greene, 31, developed his musical talents in church, playing piano and other instruments during his formative years. He didn’t begin singing until his 20s; however, his talent was evident and Greene began recording in studios. The industry took notice after a friend of Greene’s passed on one of his songs to executives at RCA Inspiration. He recently signed a deal with the label and says his writing ability is his greatest blessing.

“It starts on my knees and from there it [goes] to pen and paper. Being able to write and arrange what I believe God is wanting to hear from our generation,” says Greene. www.TravisGreene.net

Leslie Richardson

Seasoned artists carry a poise onstage that commands respect from your ears.

Leslie Richardson uses her experience to make something difficult, such as connecting with the spirit of an audience, seem like second nature.

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Photo by Jonathan Cooper

Richardson, 47, began honing her craft at the age of five. Growing up in a home full of music planted the seed which would later blossom into a full-blown passion for performing.

“Music makes you feel good,” says Richardson. “It’s kind of a release for me and it’s an international language.”

Growing up in Washington, D.C. gave Richardson plenty of opportunities to communicate the language of music with diverse audiences and to study the art of singing at Howard University. Her political surroundings also opened doors

Where Dreams Come True...

to perform at both inaugurations for President Bill Clinton.

Richardson brought her talents to Charlotte eight years ago but decided to take a break from performing. The break didn’t last long, however, as the budding music scene in the city compelled Richardson to make a name for herself here. With plans to record her first solo album this year, Richardson’s story is a testament that it’s never too late to pursue your dream.

“As long as you wake up every morning with a purpose, you can make something happen for yourself,” says Richardson. Her variety band, “Leslie and Friends,” is a regular performer at Mickey and Mooch restaurant. www.leslieandfriends.com

Sir Abstraxxx

Sir Abstraxxx began his journey in poetry at the age of 12. As a teenager, he began frequenting venues that hosted poetry open mics and built his confidence as a performer alongside the city’s most talented poets.

“When I got into [performing] and saw the love being showed, it felt like for once I had a home outside of my family,” says Sir Abstraxxx. The scribe found his niche in romance and love poetry, utilizing clever wordplay and attentiongrabbing lines.

Now, at 25, Sir Abstraxxx hosts his own open mic every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, entitled “Word of Mouth,” at urban fashion boutique Dupp and Swat in NoDa. “It’s like a therapy session. At the end of the day, you’ll walk out with less stress on your shoulders or you feel compelled to just come back until you’re completely free of whatever it is that you’ve got on you,” says Sir Abstraxxx.

For more information: sirxxx21@gmail.com These three artists represent different genres, but all add the light they shine to the Queen City’s luminescence. It’s our turn to support culture and enjoy the show. P

We offer classes in Creative Movement, Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Gymnastics for ages 2 1/2 years old to High School.

Our classes help build self-confidence and self-esteem.

BB Dance Productions

5323 E. Independence Blvd., Suite B Charlotte, NC 28212 Office 704.563.8693 www.bbdance.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 4:30 pm -7:30 pm Sat. 9:00 am - 1:00 pm May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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PrideStyle

By Arlene Goldstein Belk Fashion Director Photos courtesy of Belk

F rom casual Friday’s to picnics in the park, what we really want in our warm weather wardrobes is easy glamour. And what could be easier than a list from Belk offering the must have items that will help you update, fresh and reclaim the spotlight in a fashion minute.

Here goes: what to wear now- the Belk Most Wanted list for summer.

Shorts

Dress them up or dress them down. This is the bottom- in a range of colors and textilesthat is intended for fashionistas everywhere.

Statement Neck

Bring on the beautiful baubles. Bold colors and new longer lengths are a standout. Let the layering begin.

SUMMER’S

MOST WANTED

FASHIONS

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Summer Suit

Give any warm weather wardrobe a dapper spin with the matched set that feels so fresh in lighter weight fabrics and a wonderful range of soft neutrals.

Understated color is key.

Wide Leg Pants Easy wear, easy care. This pant, in a plethora of bold patterns, puts a cool new spin on casual chic.

White Everything Sportcoat

Go beyond the basics with a jacket that is a spring essential.

Color counts and patterns are prominent. Time to add a “notice me” item to your wardrobe.

Wear head to toe or add just a pop. White works right now. Even shoes and accessories are back on fashion’s hit list.

Jog-style Bottoms

Borrowed from the gym, jog pants and shorts will be a game changer. For newness, pair with something polished.

Indigo Everything

From the palest chambray to the most saturated dark denim, the range of blues is bound to get your attention.

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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PrideBusiness

Innovation at Work

The Finance Bar

By Eren Simpson

Marsha Barnes leads the way to better finances in her customized bus.

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ersonal finance may not be sexy, fun or even fashionable, but one Charlotte woman is working to change all that with a refurbished school bus and a mobile phone app.

Marsha Barnes, owner of The Finance Bar, launched her new venture in November 2014 after working in the finance industry for 12 years.

With experience in a variety of financial fields, Barnes got the idea for her officeon-wheels while looking through a local magazine where she saw a finance truck, similar to a food truck.

“At first I thought it was neat, but not my thing,” Barnes says. “But then I kept wondering how I could launch a personal finance bus. I knew to be successful, it would have to be new and unique, and would have to be a fun, bright space to attract people.”

She had a hard time convincing her husband it was a good idea, at first, but she didn’t let that stop her. After several months of searching, Barnes found a bus, a mechanic, a carpenter and an interior designer, and The Finance Bar was brought to life.

“I didn’t have all the answers when I started this, but since November it’s been very successful, and what I love most is that not only can I connect with people in Charlotte, but people in different states,” Barnes explains. “It’s fun to be able to take the meetings to them.”

Barnes’ clients range from ages 21 to 45, and have questions about budgeting, managing debt and improving their credit scores.

“With most clients, what I’ve found is lack of money isn’t the issue; it’s what you do with that money,” Barnes says. “You have to watch the flow of your money. I don’t care if you’re single or in a relationship, you have to set money dates with yourself and sit and watch the flow of money, see where you’re spending. Give every cent a job.”

And that advice has proved effective for Barnes’ client Maya Elious, who works as a Web designer.

Elious says that since working with Barnes, she has become more mindful about how she spends her money and has

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A peek inside The Finance Bar.

found ways to focus more of her spending on further developing her business and on saving for the future.

“Now I plan to spend, rather than buy something just because it looks cute or fun,” Elious says.

Elious says Barnes has really helped to make finance and budgeting something she can wrap her head around.

“Marsha is really easy to talk to and fun, and really relatable,” Elious says. “She understands where people are coming from and is not judgmental. Finance is hard to talk about, but she makes it really easy.”

In addition to the one-on-one counseling Barnes offers, she also has a member’s club, which gives clients access to workbooks, monthly challenges and

work sessions – all online. She launched that program on New Year’s Eve and it’s already become her best-selling service.

“It’s hard to sell finances, because it’s not sexy, so you have to make it accessible and affordable,” Barnes says.

To help her clients manage their costs, Barnes also developed a free mobile app (available on Android devices) that works as an expense manager.

“You plug in how much you make, and the app will break down what you should be spending on things like rent/mortgage, car payments, etc.,” Barnes explains. “It doesn’t cover everything, but it gives the basics of what you should be spending.”

So with a mobile app and a bus that’s growing in popularity, Barnes is now looking to the future of The Finance Bar. “My long-term goal is to have more buses,” Barnes says. “Buses that are catered toward certain areas of personal finance … one for credit/debt management, one for personal finance and one for investment – areas that people haven’t tapped into. And I’d like to have one for kids, too, to teach them about personal finances.”

For more information, visit www.thefinancebar.com P

ADVERTISEMENT

Small changes, big savings

By Glenda Gabriel, Neighborhood Lending Executive, Bank of America

While saving a dollar here or there may not sound like much, if you keep at it, by the end of the year those dollars can really add up. With just a few small changes to your usual routine, you could save more than $3,100 this year.

Here are three easy ways to save money during a typical workweek: 1. Forgo that latte at your local coffee shop and brew at home each morning — a potential yearly savings of up to $340.

2. Take public transportation, ride a bike or carpool to work and you could save up to $1,100 in gas and parking money — not to mention potential service costs related to wear and tear on your car.

3. Pack your lunch instead of going out and you could save up to $1,754 at the end of the year.

Trimming daily expenses in small ways can be a big step toward achieving your financial goals. And while adopting new habits may take a little time, the dividends are well worth the effort.

If you’re a Bank of America customer, you can use our Save for a Goal feature to help you manage and track the progress of your saving efforts. This free online tool makes it easier to save for

Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2015 Bank of America Corporation.

ARTDGGYX 04-2015 AD-03-15-0817

whatever you need, and is available to anyone using Bank of America® Online Banking at bankofamerica.com.

If you’re not already a Bank of America customer, it’s easy to get started. Just visit bankofamerica.com to learn more about our range of banking products and services.

With Save for a Goal, you can tailor your goals and timelines to fit your unique needs (for example, saving for a new home, car, education or emergency fund). And you can easily adjust your goals as life changes occur.

Ready to start? All it takes is a few simple steps. First, sign in to Online Banking at bankofamerica.com. Then: • Hover over the “Tools & Investing” tab • Select Save for a Goal • Fill in your goal information, link your Bank of America banking or investment account, approve it and start tracking your savings With Save for a Goal, it’s easy — maybe even fun — to plan ahead for your financial needs.

Start saving today at bankofamerica.com.

PrideBusiness

Make an Impact

Design Tips for Logos

By Nepherterra Estrada

Y

our company’s logo is a visual representation of everything your company stands for. When done correctly, an effective logo establishes a brand identity and provides the professional look of an established enterprise. But, let’s be crystal clear, designing a logo is not as easy as it may seem. A strong logo boils down to two things: a great concept and great execution.

Here are a few tips to help you as you embark on your logo-designing journey.

1. Less is More Keep your logo simple and clean.

Complicated logos with too many design elements are ineffective and won’t engage your audience. An effective logo should endure the test of time and should remain effective many years from now.

2. Consider the Core Elements Remember, a logo typically consists of two elements: A word mark (think CocaCola) and a symbol (think Apple). Spend some time thinking about these elements and if your logo needs one or the other or both. Not all brands need both.

3. Make it Clean and Functional Ideally, your logo should work well on a business card, a T-shirt, billboard or even on the side of a bus. When designing your logo, keep in mind the various applications and functions for which it will be used. It is essential that your logo be able to be printed in any size and can be effective without color.

4. Clip Art is the Devil This tip is self-explanatory. Clip art is not acceptable for professional logo designs. Which leads us to the next tip.

5. Hire a Professional Hiring a professional design firm or freelance graphic designer to create your logo and brand is worth the investment. If you can’t afford to hire a firm, shop around for a freelancer with a solid track record.

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6. Be Original Your logo is the perfect opportunity to be creative and authentic. Use your logo to illustrate the key benefits your business offers. Remember, a logo doesn’t have to say what a company does. Restaurant logos don’t have to show food and a clothing company doesn’t have to show clothes.

Stretch yourself to design a logo that is original and creative.

And since we’re talking about designing awesome logos, here are my top five logos (not to be confused with my top five brands) of all time:

• Nike • Apple • Google • Mercedes • McDonald’s.

Feel free to share your favorite logos with me via email: neph@pridecommunications.net

P

Nepherterra Estrada is an award-winning communications professional and is partner and director of public relations for Pride PR, a full-service communications agency that is a division of Pride Communications.

PrideBusiness FYI

By Patresha Williams

Annual Gala Honors High School Students

D

uke Energy’s Advocates for African Americans is hosting its 19th annual AAN-Carolinas Scholarship Fund Gala, Thursday, May 21 at the Charlotte Convention Center from 6 to 9:30 p.m. “Looking Ahead--Igniting the Future!” is the theme of this year’s gala, with Jesse Cureton of Novant Health as the keynote speaker. The event will honor high school students who’ve excelled academically. Three renewable scholarships of $2,000 per year will be awarded. To date the groupA3 has raised more than $932,000 in scholarships. The goal of the organization is to reach $1 million in total funds raised. Proceeds from the gala will go toward scholarships for students in North Carolina and South Carolina who are pursuing degrees in STEAM- (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and STEM- (science, technology, engineering and math) related careers.

Golf Championship to Benefit Teach For America Charlotte’s annual PGA tour event, the Wells Fargo Championship, will be held will on May 11-17 at the Quail Hollow Club. “Each year, one of our key objectives is to make a positive impact in Charlotte and around the region, and the ability to donate funds to area charity organizations is one avenue to do so,” says Kym Hougham, executive director of the Wells Fargo Championship. Champions for Education, a nonprofit organization, manages and operates the Wells Fargo Championship. This year, proceeds from the championship will benefit Teach For America, a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teaching in under-served urban and rural public schools.

Get Tested The Mecklenburg County Health Department is now offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women ages 40-64.

Women who are not currently using a birth control method, are uninsured or underinsured, have no Medicaid or no Medicare or those whose household income meets federal poverty guidelines may be eligible. Services include a mammogram, a clinical breast exam and a Pap test. For more information, call the Mecklenburg County Health Department at 704 336-4700.

Local Organizations Plan to End Homelessness Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg has plans to end chronic homelessness in Charlotte by 2016. According to the Urban Ministry, there are approximately 450 people experiencing chronic homelessness in the Charlotte community. Its mission is “to mobilize the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to place the 450 men and women who meet the definition of ‘"chronically homeless’" in our community in permanent supportive housing

by December 31, 2016.” A chronically homeless person is described as a person who has at least one disabling condition and has experienced a continuous year of homelessness or has had four episodes of homelessness over the last three years.

For more information: housingfirstcharmeck.org

Take the guesswork out of your retirement plan Discover how our exclusive Confident Retirement® approach can help answer questions you may have about your retirement, like: When will I be able to retire? How do I make the most of the money I have? How can I leave a lasting legacy to my loved ones? Call me today to get started.

RODERICK BARNES, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, AEP® Private Wealth Advisor Master of Science in Financial Services 403 Gilead Road, Ste K Huntersville, NC 28078 704.895.3771 roderick.l.barnes@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ roderick.l.barnes

The Confident Retirement approach is not a guarantee of future financial results.

Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (7/14)

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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PrideHealth

By Dr. Paula Newsome

M

Dad’s Hunting Sparks Medical Career

y dad was an avid hunter, but he would not take me hunting because I was a girl.

Our bonding time involved me helping him clean his catch. While we eviscerated squirrels and rabbits, I became fascinated with cleaning the animals and learning the parts of the animals.

I didn’t realize it back then, but the whole process was a science lesson. I was fascinated by seeing hearts, guts and intestines. I was even more fascinated to learn that those same parts were in other animals that would appear on our dining room table. I immediately became acutely aware that while this may have been bloody and messy, I actually enjoyed it.

In the process, we would also put the game in saltwater to draw the blood out of it. This hypertonic solution preserved the game. So now, in addition to osmosis, I was learning the theory of preservation, similar to that used by the ancient Egyptians on their mummies.

I was learning science while bonding with my father. This process was repeated every Saturday that my dad went hunting over many, many years. Those Saturdays, combined with many science kits, chemistry lab processes and science classes, led me down the career path of wanting to be a health care provider.

Science seems to be an integral part of our life. It helps us understand how the body functions, why it rains and snows, how rainbows come about and so much more.

It amazes me when I hear kids in my office say that they don’t like science. It is almost like saying that they don’t like breathing.

Science is the essence of all we do and all we are involved in. While science does not immediately attract most minorities, it is the essence of all that we are and all that we do, including from the geometry involved in our dance moves and the movement of our hips and the beat of our drums.

We are natural scientists, from Imhotep in Egypt to George Washington Carver to local astronaut Eve Higginbotham.

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Dr. Paula Newsome and her father, Carter W. Newsome.

So what does it take to be successful at science? The same principles that it takes to do well at anything: setting goals and actualizing them. Visualize it, write it, execute it, evaluate it and then revise it if necessary.

Success takes written goals, otherwise known as a plan. Patience with some delayed gratification and persistence are for me part of a God-centeredness that keeps me grounded, covered and assured that I am well on my way to success, even if it appears that all around me things are falling apart.

After attending the N.C. Governor’s School in Natural Science and then attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in biology, I was recruited by the University of Alabama’s School of Optometry to pursue a degree.

While there, I pursued an additional research degree in physiological optics.

After graduation, I pursued a residency at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia, where I studied primary eye care. I had a brief teaching stint at the University of Missouri-– St Louis, teaching ocular pathology and, ocular pharmacology, I then opened my practice in Charlotte.

Some 30 years later, God has blessed me to still be passionate about my chosen career path. A path that started with gutting game with my dad led me to a lifetime career path that has served my community, the world through global outreach and mission, and my family and me well. P Dr. Paula Newsome is president of Advantage Vision Center.

PrideHealth

Protect Yourself:

Skin Cancer in African Americans

By Dr. Tonya McLeod

A

s documented by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma,

squamous cell and malignant melanoma, in that order. There is a myth that skin cancer does not affect African Americans; in fact the most common skin cancer that affects African Americans is the most life-threatening, malignant melanoma.

By the end of 2015, it is estimated that one in 50 Americans will develop a potentially life-threatening malignant melanoma in his or her lifetime.

Caucasians and men older than 50 are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.

In a year, 25 in 100,000 non-Hispanic Caucasians, compared to four in 100,000 Hispanics and one in 100,000 African Americans, will develop a malignant melanoma. Although the risk in African Americans is low, when the stakes are this high, we must know our risk factors and take preventative measures.

Risk factors for developing skin cancer include; exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet (UV) light, such as tanning beds. Avoiding this risk factor alone could prevent more than three million cases of skin cancer every year. More people develop skin cancer as a result of tanning than develop lung cancer because of smoking.

Because exposure to UV light is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, the AAD encourages everyone of every skin tone to protect his or her skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher.

Skin cancer warning signs include changes in size, shape or color of a mole or other skin lesion, the appearance of a new growth on the skin, or a sore that doesn't heal. If you notice any spots on your skin that are different from the others, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, please seek professional medical advice from a dermatologist. The recommends that you make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist for an annual skin exam and perform skin self-exams to check for signs of skin cancer once a month. P Dr. Tonya McLeod is a Board Certified Dermatologist.

May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

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PrideHealth

The Real Deal:

Understanding and Managing Fibroids

By Dr. Rochelle Brandon

I

t seems as though everyone knows someone struggling with fibroids, particularly in the African American community. We either have fibroids or have sisters, daughters, moms or friends who suffer from fibroids. So what’s the deal? What are fibroids? Why are they so prevalent in our community? And most of all, what can we do about them? Despite the prevalence of fibroids, there is a surprising lack of accurate information about them in the community.

The Facts

Fibroids are more common in the South than in other regions of the country, suggesting a regional environmental or cultural predisposition. They are more common among women of African ancestry as opposed to women of European or Asian ancestry, indicating an ethnic predisposition. The same hormonal traits that make women of African descent more likely to have twins may also make us more

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likely to have fibroids. And finally, fibroids tend to run in families. So we cannot ignore genetic links causing fibroids. With these factors in mind, it is easy to see such a high prevalence of fibroids among African American women in the Charlotte area.

The Symptoms

Fibroids are growths of the uterine muscle. They can range from the size of a lima bean to the size of a watermelon.

They grow slowly over many years. It may take a fibroid 10 to 20 years to become problematic. The largest fibroid I’ve treated in my career was 10 pounds, and it extended all the way to the patient’s diaphragm. Fibroids are benign, not cancer. Less than one percent of fibroids are cancerous. Cancerous fibroids, or leiomyoma sarcoma, tend to be rapidly growing and occur in menopausal or perimenopausal women. But just because fibroids are not cancerous does not mean

they cannot be life-threatening. Heavy, painful menstrual cycles disrupt women’s already busy lives. Patients complain of soiling clothes, upholstery and bed linen.

Anemia secondary to heavy menses rob women of their life energy, making it extremely difficult to function at work, at home and in the community. Anemia also increases the work of the heart. It is not unusual for women to come to the emergency room with chest pain, heart attack or congestive heart failure secondary to anemia caused by fibroids.

As the uterus enlarges because of these large tumors, women begin to experience a mass effect in the pelvis. With a large fibroid sitting on the bladder, patients complain of frequent urination, incomplete urination or even leakage of urine.

Sometimes the fibroid presses on the bowel, causing constipation and difficulty with defecation. And lastly, fibroids can cause painful sex, requiring changes in

positions and angle in order to avoid trauma to a tender fibroid.

Treatment Options

After discussing symptoms, reviewing medical history and gathering data from physical exams, ultrasounds and labs, I discuss treatment options with my patients.

These options can range from non-medical lifestyle changes to major surgery. Anemia can sometimes be treated successfully with an iron-rich diet and over-the-counter iron supplements. Painful menses can often be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. There are some simple remedies for mild fibroid symptoms.

Medical management options include combination birth control (the pill, patch or vaginal ring), the progesterone-containing intrauterine device, prescription pain medication, intravenous iron therapy or an injectable medication that shrinks the fibroid and stops menses for about six months. All of these options have risks and benefits that are thoroughly reviewed with the patient.

Procedure management would be uterine fibroid embolization, which is performed by an interventional radiologist to stop the blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink.

And, finally, there are surgical treatment options. For women who want

to retain their childbearing function, there is removal of the fibroids and keeping of the uterus. This is called a “myomectomy” and it can be performed by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, robotically or by laparotomy (through an abdominal incision).

For women who have undesired future fertility and who wish definitive therapy, there is the option of a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). This can be minimally invasive, such as a vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy or robotic hysterectomy. There is also an abdominal hysterectomy for women with a large, bulky fibroid uterus.

Fibroid management must be individualized for each woman. The treatment plan should be developed by both the woman and her physician. This requires open communication and dialogue. If there is not a good rapport between you and your physician, look for another physician. It does not mean anything about you or the physician; it just means that the physician may not be the right physician for you. P Dr. Rochelle Brandon is a board certified gynecologist. You can contact her at www.brandongynecology.com or email at info@BrandonGynecology.com

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May-June 2015 | Pride Magazine

53

EventsCalendar May 2

19th Annual Charlotte AIDS Walk

AIDS WALK Charlotte will be hosting its 19th annual HIV awareness and fund-raising event.

Gateway Village Promenade. 800 W. Trade St. 8 -11 a.m. See website for ticket prices. 704-372-7246. rain.convio.net

May 9

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

The festival will feature more than 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of barbecue. Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall. 4400 Sharon Rd. Saturday VIP sSession: Noon – 6 p.m., Saturday; rRegular sSession: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. See website for ticket prices. Email emily@triggeragency. com for general event information. beerandbourbon.com

May 11-17

Wells Fargo Championship

The much-anticipated annual PGA tournament event will be making its way back to Charlotte.

Quail Hollow Club. 3700 Gleneagles Rd. See website for times and ticket prices. 704-554-8101. wellsfargochampionship.com

May 15

Slamcharlotte Poetry Slam

Enjoy the spoken word of Charlotte’s nationally recognized orators and poets. Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. 8 p.m. $10.

704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org

May 16

14th Annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Charlotte

June 5

June 25

Join Elmo and friends as they welcome Grover’s friend from India, Chamki, to Sesame Street.

Bojangles Coliseum. 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Tickets start at $26. See website for show times.

800-745-3000 | 704-372-3600. bojanglescoliseum.com

The mother ship will be landing in Charlotte and “The Godfather of Funk” will be hopping out to grace the stage. Amos’ Southend. 1423 S. Tryon St. $30 advance tickets;, $35 day of show. Doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 9 p.m. 704-377-6874. amossouthend.com

May 24

June 5-7

Fresh off of releasing her 2013 three-time Latin Grammy Award nominated album, Natalie Cole En Español, the critically acclaimed songstress and daughter of the late legendary Nat King Cole will be revisiting songs from her father’s catalogue, as well as covering songs from the Latin American songbook.

Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20.

704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org

‘Sesame Street’ Live: Make a New Friend

Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

In the longest race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR’S top drivers will battle it out for the grand prize. Charlotte Motor Speedway. 5555 Concord Parkway South. 704-4553200. charlottemotorspeedway.com

May 27

Fourth Annual Party in the Park

The family-friendly event will take place on the Mint Museum’s front lawn and will feature live music and a movie screening at nightfall to cap off the evening. Rain date: Wednesday, June 3. 6:30 p.m. Free. Mint Museum Randolph. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704337-2000. mintmuseum.org

May 28

Jay Leno

Critically acclaimed comedian, author and former host of the popular late night talk show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, will be revisiting his comedic roots for one night only in Charlotte. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. Tickets start at $20. 7:30 p.m. 704372-1000. blumenthalarts.org

May 30

Soul Food Festival

The annual walk will raise funds and awareness in efforts to end lupus. Central Piedmont Community College: Belk Plaza. 425 N. Kings Dr. 3 p.m. See website for ticket prices.

877-849-8271. walktoendlupus. kintera.org/charlotte

The biggest acts in R&B--past and present--will be performing. A wide variety of food and beverages, vendors and interactive stations will be on-site, as well. See website for all information regarding the annual festival. ilovesoulfood.com

May 19-24

White Out Domestic Violence

‘Pippin’

The Tony award-winning musical tells the story of a young prince desperately trying to find his place in the world. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. Tickets start at $20. See website for show times. 704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org

May 21-23

Speed Street, Presented by Coca-Cola

The three day festival will take place in the streets of uptown Charlotte and will feature activities and entertainment suitable for all ages. Uptown Charlotte. Noon - 11 p.m. Free and open to the public.

704-455-8888. 600festival.com/ speed-street

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May 22-24

The White Party is Turning Points’ annual party to bring awareness to domestic violence. All proceeds benefit Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter.

Dinner, dancing and a silent auction will be a part of the evening. Rolling Hills Country Club, 2722 W. Roosevelt Blvd.

Monroe. 6 p.m.-11 p.m. turntoday.net

June 2

The Main Event Tour: New Kids on the Block with Nelly and TLC

The nostalgic summer tour will feature one of the biggest ‘boy bands’ of all time along with some of music’s top acts. Time Warner Cable Arena. 333 E. Trade St. Tickets start at $39.64. Doors open at 6 p.m.;, show starts at 7 p.m.

800-745-3000 | 704-688-9000. timewarnercablearena.com

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazine.net

George Clinton in Charlotte

Taste of Charlotte

Take your taste buds on a succulent tour of more than 100 dishes, along with live entertainment and activities suitable for all ages.

The festival is held along Tryon Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to 6th St. Free coins are used to purchase food and beverages throughout the festival. See website for times. 704-262-9847. tasteofcharlotte.com

June 6

Barry Manilow

One of the worlds bests-selling artists of all time will be coming to Charlotte on his farewell tour.

Time Warner Cable Arena. 333 E. Trade St. Tickets Start at $28. 8 p.m. 800-745-3000 | 704-688-9000. timewarnercablearena.com

June 8

Taylor Swift

With chart-topping success for her critically acclaimed fifth studio album, 1989, the country pop princess will be making a stop in Charlotte on her appropriately titled, The 1989 World Tour. Time Warner Cable Arena. 333 E. Trade St. Tickets start at $50.44.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. 800-745-3000 | 704-6889000. timewarnercablearena.com

June 13

World Oceans Day

The all-day event will feature ocean-related activities for museumgoers to partake in. Discovery Place.

301 N. Tryon St. Activities included with museum admission. See website for ticket prices. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org

June 13-14

NoDa Summer Musicfest, Presented by the Midatlantic Music Conference

The two-day live music festival will be returning to Charlotte’s Noda District. The event will feature live performances from acts from the Carolina region. The Chop Shop.

399 E. 35th St. See website for ticket prices and questions regarding the event. nodasummermusicfest.com

Natalie Cole

Savethedate July 9

The Temptations and The Four Tops

Prepared to be crooned and grooved by two of Motown’s biggest acts. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. Tickets start at $20. 704-3721000. blumenthalarts.org

July 14-19 ‘Annie’

The classic tale of Annie that birthed such timeless songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and “Tomorrow” will be making its way to a stage near you. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

130 N. Tryon St. Tickets start at $20.

See website for show times. 704-3721000. blumenthalarts.org

July 17 -19 Hoshicon

The three-–day Japanese culture, animation and video game event is coming to Charlotte.

Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel.

3315 Scott Futrell Dr. See website for ticket prices, times and information regarding the event. Hoshicon.org

July 25

QC Summerfest, Uptown

Formally known as the Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival, the annual jazz fest--now indoors--will feature some of the biggest names in jazz and more. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. $39.50-$69. 6 p.m. 704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org

January 16, 2016 Pride Awards

Mark your calendar for the 23rd annual Pride Awards.

Prideawards.net

Find us on Facebook!

Need reminders?

Stay up to date at www.facebook.com/ NCPrideMagazine

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