I went.
I listened!
I was empowered at the
I Roc The Mic Conference 2007 Miami Florida
My former co-worker Rick Party WGCI FM 107.5) held the 2nd Annaul "I Rock The Mic" Conference was this past weekend in Miami, Florida at the Conrad Miami Hotel. It was an event to go down in the halls of radio history.
Many of Chicago's beloved history makers were on hand to join in the festivities including honoring Chicago's own legendary Herb Kent, The Kool Gent who was honored for his pioneering spirit, celebrating 52 years in the business. (80 years young this month!)Honorees included green eyed Donnie Simpson, host of back in the day Video Soul, as well as a tribute to The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Tom Joyner, the origional Fly Jock!
I even had the blessing to meet the legendary Ms. Irene Ware, who was on the air hosting Gospel Shows before I was even born! She's responsible for many of the record labels that exist today! I even met her son, President of major record label.
I even ran into my girl First Lady (Former Radio Personality WGCI) current Mid-Day Personality/Music Director/Asst. Program Director WTCL 106.7 FM, Indianapolis, Indiana who invited me to be keynote speaker at an upcoming women's empowerment seminar!
Crazy as a betsy bug Irene (Mama Cita) Mojica (V103 Weekdays 7-11pm) even showed up and showed out, sharing her words of wisdom in the seminar of legendary Program Director of WGCI/V103's Elroy Smith. (Currently Operations Director for Radio One Philadelphia)Irene taught us a few tricks of the trade and by just by being herself. (Which was one of Elroys top 10 things for jocks at his seminar entitled: Radio Needs Personalities: Not D.J.'sI met more folk from Chicago (that I really needed to network with) that I never would have met, had I not gone to Miami, including New Program Director of V103, Derrrick Brown. I even met the Program Director of a local TV station!
Look forward to seeing more of HLN on major network! Mega Talented Businessman Tony Gray was on hand to lend his expertise as well as other panelists ranging from Vibe Magazine Editor to Oscar Joyner (Tom Joyner's son) of REACH Media who held his own, breaking it down in the Integrated Marketing Seminar along with others from ABC Networks, Coz from WVON Radio: Talk of the Negro, and others.Doug Banks hosted the evening gala sharing a heartfelt story of a young man whose father sold his truck, just so that his son could attend this seminar. Guess what? His son landed a job while there. See what faith will do for you.
Speaking of faith, Walt Baby Love, (the man whose shows I played every Saturday and Sunday Morning on Inspirational 1390 (formerly Gospel Radio 1390) was honored, reminding us all of the blessing it is to be recognized in this industry.I even got to chat with Mitch Falker, the king of Imaging for many radio stations throughout the country, as well as Gino Jones, (formerly of WBMX, now in S. Carolina.It was a radio personality's smorgasbord! Any one who has made a mark in this industry, and those trying to break into the industry was in atteendance.
The charming Santita Jackson (Daughter of Jesse Jackson Sr.) blessed the gala with her operetic version of The Lords Prayer, and simply blew the roof off the ceiling! She's lost well over several hundred pounds and looking simply lovlier by the moment. (Look forward to hearing her amazing story on our TV show in the near future.)
We were blessed with Actress/Activist/Director Cheryl Lee Ralph (Origional Dream Girl, Stepmother on Moesha TV Show, etc.) who presented an outstanding performance for World Aids Day on December 1st!Even Jonathan Adelstein, Commisioner of the FCC was on hand to share the truth about the direction of urban radio!
This is a must see! You don't want to miss this series with behind the scenes details of all the seminars we attended on the Higher Learning Network ZTV Show coming soon! (Chicago, Wisconsin and Minnesota)
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
self empowerement by kanye west
No one knows how long we have on this planet, so it's up to us to use the time we have wisely.Kanye West and his mother are shining examples of just that.A single mother singlehandedly raised a superstar, and lived to enjoy the fruits of her labor, with her son.
How blessed they both are.Kanye and their family must remember that most don't get to enjoy such opportunites.He must also learn to appreciate the legacy she left, not moan about her physical prescence.Although her body is no longer here, and I'm sure she'll live on through his music, as well as the lives of her many students she touched along the way.
Kanye probably thinks he's lost his reason for being, but he's really gained insight into a new way of thinking as well as living. Living in the spirit!No one wants to lose a loved one, but it's just not up to us. If we are to grow, we must seek guidance through these troubled times and be open and receptive to change.
I admit, we don't always like the changes life brings our way, but that's life.So remember to keep Kanye West and his family in your prayers, they really need them.While you're praying, remember to pray for yourself to be able to live the kind of life where people will miss you when you're gone!
It's never too late to make a difference!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
when you know better, you can do better
It's not like you don't know, because now you do.
Sometimes crucial information is a bit more important than inspiration.
You might want to take some time to view this video. (see link below) It is important to watch it all the way through. Some very important and serious information is given.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Sometimes crucial information is a bit more important than inspiration.
You might want to take some time to view this video. (see link below) It is important to watch it all the way through. Some very important and serious information is given.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
empowerment by inventions
Behhind the scenes is where the real action is!
I had the pleasure of taping a show this past weekend as part of the Make A Difference Day National Event in which we showed our youth who were interested in behind-the-scenes careers in radio and televsion.
I had the pleasure of being blessed with a new assistant who's interested in becoming a stylist (Who wouldn't want to get paid for shopping?) who did a wonderful job in assisting me on this project. Her name is Alisha Sistrunk, a young lady on a mission who's also working on publishing her first book! Can't wait to read it! She has an awesome story that will help parents with their children.
Working behind the scenes doesn't usually put you in the spotlight, but that doesn't mean that you're not making a difference. Several years ago I facillitated several Networking Strategy workshops for the NSBE (National Society Black Engineers) where I had the pleasure of meeting an awesome young man who is making a difference in the lives of others. Today, I share a story with you about this inventor. "America's High Tech "Invisible Man" By Tyrone D. Taborn You may not have heard of Dr. Mark Dean. And you aren't alone.
But almost everything in your life has been affected by his work. See, Dr. Mark Dean is a Ph.D. from Stanford University . He is in theNational Hall of Inventors. He has more than 30 patents pending. He is a vice president with IBM. Oh, yeah. And he is also the architect of the modern-day personal computer. Dr. Dean holds three of the original nine patents on the computer that all PCs are based upon. And, Dr. Mark Dean is an African American.
So how is! it that we can celebrate the 20th anniversary of the IBM personal computer without reading or hearing a single word about him? Given all of the pressure mass media are under about negative portrayals of African Americans on television and in print, you would think it would be a slam dunk to highlight someone like Dr. Dean. Somehow, though, we have managed to miss the shot. History is cruel when it comes to telling the stories of African Americans.
Dr. Dean isn't the first Black inventor to be overlooked Consider John Stanard, inventor of the refrigerator, George Sampson, creator of the clothes dryer, Alexander Miles and his elevator, Lewis Latimer and the electric lamp. All of these inventors share two things: One, they changed the landscape of our society; and, two, society relegated them to the footnotes of history.
Hopefully, Dr. Mark Dean won't go away as quietly as they did. He certainly shouldn't. Dr. Dean helped start a Digital Revolution that created people like Microsoft's Bill Gates and Dell Computer's Michael Dell. Millions of jobs in information technology can be traced back directly to ! Dr. Dean. More important, stories like Dr. Mark Dean's should serve as inspiration for African-American children. Already victims of the "Digital Divide" and failing school systems, young, Black kids might embrace technology with more enthusiasm! if they knew someone like Dr. Dean already was leading the way. Although technically Dr. Dean can't be credited with creating thecomputer -- that is left to Alan Turing, a pioneering 20th-century English mathematician, widely considered to be the father of modern computer science --
Dr. Dean rightly deserves to take a bow for the machine we use today. The computer really wasn't practical for home or small business use until he came along, leading a team that developed the interior architecture (ISA systems! bus) that enables multiple devices, such as modems and printers, to be connected to personal computers.
In other words, because of Dr. Dean, the PC became a part of our daily lives. For most of us, changing the face of society would have been enough. But not for Dr. Dean.. Still in his early forties, he has! a lot of inventing left in him. He recently made history again by leading the design team responsible for creating the first 1-gigahertz processor chip.. It's just another huge step in making computers faster and smaller.
As the world congratulates itself for the new Digital Age brought on by the personal computer, we need to guarantee that the African-American story is part of the hoopla surrounding the most stunning technological advance the world has ever seen.. We cannot afford to let Dr. Mark Dean become a footnote in history. He is well worth his own history book. "
Now that you know there's someone like you who's making a difference, what can you do? What will you do? The world is waiting! Don't let your talent be wasted! You've got waaaaaaaaaay too much to give, to not use it!
I had the pleasure of taping a show this past weekend as part of the Make A Difference Day National Event in which we showed our youth who were interested in behind-the-scenes careers in radio and televsion.
I had the pleasure of being blessed with a new assistant who's interested in becoming a stylist (Who wouldn't want to get paid for shopping?) who did a wonderful job in assisting me on this project. Her name is Alisha Sistrunk, a young lady on a mission who's also working on publishing her first book! Can't wait to read it! She has an awesome story that will help parents with their children.
Working behind the scenes doesn't usually put you in the spotlight, but that doesn't mean that you're not making a difference. Several years ago I facillitated several Networking Strategy workshops for the NSBE (National Society Black Engineers) where I had the pleasure of meeting an awesome young man who is making a difference in the lives of others. Today, I share a story with you about this inventor. "America's High Tech "Invisible Man" By Tyrone D. Taborn You may not have heard of Dr. Mark Dean. And you aren't alone.
But almost everything in your life has been affected by his work. See, Dr. Mark Dean is a Ph.D. from Stanford University . He is in theNational Hall of Inventors. He has more than 30 patents pending. He is a vice president with IBM. Oh, yeah. And he is also the architect of the modern-day personal computer. Dr. Dean holds three of the original nine patents on the computer that all PCs are based upon. And, Dr. Mark Dean is an African American.
So how is! it that we can celebrate the 20th anniversary of the IBM personal computer without reading or hearing a single word about him? Given all of the pressure mass media are under about negative portrayals of African Americans on television and in print, you would think it would be a slam dunk to highlight someone like Dr. Dean. Somehow, though, we have managed to miss the shot. History is cruel when it comes to telling the stories of African Americans.
Dr. Dean isn't the first Black inventor to be overlooked Consider John Stanard, inventor of the refrigerator, George Sampson, creator of the clothes dryer, Alexander Miles and his elevator, Lewis Latimer and the electric lamp. All of these inventors share two things: One, they changed the landscape of our society; and, two, society relegated them to the footnotes of history.
Hopefully, Dr. Mark Dean won't go away as quietly as they did. He certainly shouldn't. Dr. Dean helped start a Digital Revolution that created people like Microsoft's Bill Gates and Dell Computer's Michael Dell. Millions of jobs in information technology can be traced back directly to ! Dr. Dean. More important, stories like Dr. Mark Dean's should serve as inspiration for African-American children. Already victims of the "Digital Divide" and failing school systems, young, Black kids might embrace technology with more enthusiasm! if they knew someone like Dr. Dean already was leading the way. Although technically Dr. Dean can't be credited with creating thecomputer -- that is left to Alan Turing, a pioneering 20th-century English mathematician, widely considered to be the father of modern computer science --
Dr. Dean rightly deserves to take a bow for the machine we use today. The computer really wasn't practical for home or small business use until he came along, leading a team that developed the interior architecture (ISA systems! bus) that enables multiple devices, such as modems and printers, to be connected to personal computers.
In other words, because of Dr. Dean, the PC became a part of our daily lives. For most of us, changing the face of society would have been enough. But not for Dr. Dean.. Still in his early forties, he has! a lot of inventing left in him. He recently made history again by leading the design team responsible for creating the first 1-gigahertz processor chip.. It's just another huge step in making computers faster and smaller.
As the world congratulates itself for the new Digital Age brought on by the personal computer, we need to guarantee that the African-American story is part of the hoopla surrounding the most stunning technological advance the world has ever seen.. We cannot afford to let Dr. Mark Dean become a footnote in history. He is well worth his own history book. "
Now that you know there's someone like you who's making a difference, what can you do? What will you do? The world is waiting! Don't let your talent be wasted! You've got waaaaaaaaaay too much to give, to not use it!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
self empowerment for ex-offneders
Rev. Louis Flowers of the West Side Minister's Coalition facilitated the 2nd Chance Opportunity Fair for Ex-Offenders this past week on Chicago's West Side. Many leaders in the community talk about change, but this Minister walks the talk! He doesn't assign tasks and supervise, he's there in the trenches making sure the job gets done and people get the services they need!
Service Providers were on location to offer emergency housing, health services, jobs, and pretty much everything one needs to get back to being a productive member of society. I was simply there to help where I was needed.
During my presentation, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a young man by the name of Lee, who owns a trucking company. He offered words of wisdom to keep the faith, because he was once an ex-offender and now ears a six figure salary. This is not something you hear everyday on the street. No one will tell you that you can overcome. People have a tendency to tell you that it can't be done.
I am simply thrilled to be a positive change in the lives of those who want to improve their lives. I met upcoming film/script writers, authors, beauticians, barbers, chefs, resturaunt owners, truckers, artists, singers, entertainers, and the whole nine yards. It thrilled my heart to see the thousands of people who showed up and have not given up!
That's my message to you today. It doesn't matter what you're going through, remember, it is just that, going through. The situtation did not come to stay. It only showed up in your life to see what you are made of, and how you will handle it.
If someone who has made a bad choice in their life and now has an EX on their back, it's really just the beginning! If they can do it, so can you! Question is, what will you do now?
Where will you begin?
Network! Network! Network! Be out and about!
shut yourself in. Remember, closed mouths don't get fed! Speak up! Speak out! And Get Going! Stay on purpose, no matter what!
*********************
Service Providers were on location to offer emergency housing, health services, jobs, and pretty much everything one needs to get back to being a productive member of society. I was simply there to help where I was needed.
During my presentation, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a young man by the name of Lee, who owns a trucking company. He offered words of wisdom to keep the faith, because he was once an ex-offender and now ears a six figure salary. This is not something you hear everyday on the street. No one will tell you that you can overcome. People have a tendency to tell you that it can't be done.
I am simply thrilled to be a positive change in the lives of those who want to improve their lives. I met upcoming film/script writers, authors, beauticians, barbers, chefs, resturaunt owners, truckers, artists, singers, entertainers, and the whole nine yards. It thrilled my heart to see the thousands of people who showed up and have not given up!
That's my message to you today. It doesn't matter what you're going through, remember, it is just that, going through. The situtation did not come to stay. It only showed up in your life to see what you are made of, and how you will handle it.
If someone who has made a bad choice in their life and now has an EX on their back, it's really just the beginning! If they can do it, so can you! Question is, what will you do now?
Where will you begin?
Network! Network! Network! Be out and about!
shut yourself in. Remember, closed mouths don't get fed! Speak up! Speak out! And Get Going! Stay on purpose, no matter what!
*********************
Sunday, October 14, 2007
empowerment by media
How does the media affect your life?
If you think it doesn't, think again.
You're programmed from the time you get up in the morning, until what time you go to bed at night! Don't be embarrassed or ashamed about it, because the world is. It's not just you alone.
Wonder why we don't do certain things, a certain time of the year?
Wonder why we don't wear certain colors (White!) after labor day? That's because we allow the FASHION INDUSTRY to dictate what's in our closets. How often do you wear a BLACK TOP with your jeans, as opposed to any other color?
How often do you make it your business to be the FIRST IN LINE, or the FIRST IN YOUR BLOCK, JOB OR GROUP to get the latest in technology? (Crackberries, IPODS, ZUNES, CD's, DVD's, etc.)
Do you trade your car in every few years or so?
Do you take vacations at where the experts say you should go?
If you recognized yourself in any of these situations, then you've been simply branded, or as they say in the movies, YOU'RE IN THE MATRIX! NOT A BAD PLACE TO BE, OPPOSITE DEATH!
This is not to make you ashamed, simply to make you aware.
If you haven't seen how media controls America, then be sure and log on to www.cantv.org and watch the media marathon, Sunday Oct. 14th, 9am - 5pm on Ch. 21. If you missed it, log on to the site to see when it will air again.
And you wondered why radio stations play the same 12 songs over and over and over and over and over and over and over.........
If you think it doesn't, think again.
You're programmed from the time you get up in the morning, until what time you go to bed at night! Don't be embarrassed or ashamed about it, because the world is. It's not just you alone.
Wonder why we don't do certain things, a certain time of the year?
Wonder why we don't wear certain colors (White!) after labor day? That's because we allow the FASHION INDUSTRY to dictate what's in our closets. How often do you wear a BLACK TOP with your jeans, as opposed to any other color?
How often do you make it your business to be the FIRST IN LINE, or the FIRST IN YOUR BLOCK, JOB OR GROUP to get the latest in technology? (Crackberries, IPODS, ZUNES, CD's, DVD's, etc.)
Do you trade your car in every few years or so?
Do you take vacations at where the experts say you should go?
If you recognized yourself in any of these situations, then you've been simply branded, or as they say in the movies, YOU'RE IN THE MATRIX! NOT A BAD PLACE TO BE, OPPOSITE DEATH!
This is not to make you ashamed, simply to make you aware.
If you haven't seen how media controls America, then be sure and log on to www.cantv.org and watch the media marathon, Sunday Oct. 14th, 9am - 5pm on Ch. 21. If you missed it, log on to the site to see when it will air again.
And you wondered why radio stations play the same 12 songs over and over and over and over and over and over and over.........
Sunday, October 7, 2007
looks like our youth could empower some of us adults
know this is supposed to be an inspirational column, but sometimes you just need to vent. Today, I am venting, hopefully you'll get something inspirational from it. Hopefully, you won't make the same mistake.
I recently attended a gala where a local representatives were supposed to award some college students scholarships for school. About halfway through the program it appeared to me that this function was more about the WHO'S WHO in Chicago, and had little to do with awarding funding for school.
How so? After I thought about all the money that was frivously spent for hosts and emcees, bringing in top name entertainment, $500 a plate dinners, and not to mention the $5,000 tables that sponsors bought (Where NO ONE from that organization showed up!)
I was really ticked off! How could we in good conscious support such an event in a community that doesn't provide economic security for the people who this organization is supposed to represent? How can we spend thousand of dollars in a downtown hotel that cares less about us as a people, but will take our dollars. We could have taken those same dollars and invested them in our own community with people who live in our community, and look like us.
I guess the fact that we can afford to rent these fabulous rooms, drive our luxury cars and wear our designer gowns and tuxes, is a sign that we've arrived. But have we really?
The only thing I could see from this event that we arrived at is the fact that we still don't know how to invest in ourselves. Now I wonder which corporate sponsor they can get who can provide a scholarship to do that?
I recently attended a gala where a local representatives were supposed to award some college students scholarships for school. About halfway through the program it appeared to me that this function was more about the WHO'S WHO in Chicago, and had little to do with awarding funding for school.
How so? After I thought about all the money that was frivously spent for hosts and emcees, bringing in top name entertainment, $500 a plate dinners, and not to mention the $5,000 tables that sponsors bought (Where NO ONE from that organization showed up!)
I was really ticked off! How could we in good conscious support such an event in a community that doesn't provide economic security for the people who this organization is supposed to represent? How can we spend thousand of dollars in a downtown hotel that cares less about us as a people, but will take our dollars. We could have taken those same dollars and invested them in our own community with people who live in our community, and look like us.
I guess the fact that we can afford to rent these fabulous rooms, drive our luxury cars and wear our designer gowns and tuxes, is a sign that we've arrived. But have we really?
The only thing I could see from this event that we arrived at is the fact that we still don't know how to invest in ourselves. Now I wonder which corporate sponsor they can get who can provide a scholarship to do that?
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