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Winter 2011 issue of The Griot
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Informing the Young Professional
Vol. IV Issue No. 1 Winter 2011New YorkUrban LeagueYoung Professionals
Real Talk abouT RelaTionships:
Does the media reflect our reality of Black love?
ReconnecTing
wiTh youR caReeR passion
The Makings of a Mogul:
Career advice and a story of success
The New York Urban Leaguepresents the46th Annual
Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner
7 pmThursday, May 12, 2011
at Mandarin Oriental New York
80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street
The Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner honors leaders whose contributions to society serve to eliminate racial barriers and promote opportunities for the disadvantaged. Proceeds from the Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner enable The New York Urban League to positively impact the lives of under-resourced NYC residents each year. During this current period of increasing economic challenges, your support of the awards dinner and the Urban League’s programs and
services is ever more critical.
For more information, please contact Laureen Bilodeau at 212-675-9474 ext 20 or [email protected]
The Honorable David M. Dinkins
Former Mayor, New York City
Marcus SamuelssonAward-winning chef, author
and activist
Honoring
ContentsWinter 2011
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Joi Sears: A delightful flame for art as activism Article by Tunisia Riley
Behind the Lyrics: A spotlight on how hip-hop gives back. Article by Julian Gunder
Rich-Take-All Politics The wealthy are using their power to influence policies that govern housing laws. Article by Kelvin Davis
LIFESTYLE:Real Talk About RelationshipsExploring the question of whether the media accurately reflects our reality on black love. Compiled and Written by Lakisha Youngblood
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/CAREER ADVICE:GET TAYLORmade: THE MAKINGS OF A MOGUL Accomplished Journalist, Anslem “NWSO” Samuel, shares his story and offers career advice for today’s young professional. By Aisha Taylor
Showcase Your Abilities with an E-Portfolio Article by Kenyatta Joseph
Reconnecting with your Career Passion Article by Obi Okere
Work meets Play at Upcoming Networking Events Article by Amity Paye
Sidebar: What to Wear When Networking Article by Amity Paye
EDUCATION: Measured Progress: Stan-dardized Testing and Student Achievement in New York City Public Schools Article by Joseph Rogers
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: Taxes and Financial Freedom Article by Kolonji Murray
In Every Issue05 President’s Letter05 Editor’s Letter06 Contributors 25 Motivation on the Go34 Member Spotlight36 YP Upcoming Events
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Griot (pronounced grEE O) -“A storyteller in West Africa; perpetuates the oral traditions of a family or village”
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HEALTH & QUALITY OF LIFE: My Episode with Depression. Communications Chair Mariama Todd shares her own personal story and reminds us that depres-sion is not a pseudo disorder. Article by Mariama Todd
Hairs for Fear. Some people are afraid of commitment in relation-ships, of foreign travel, or of public speaking with large audiences. Others simply fear hair. Article by Johari Murray
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Want to write for The Griot? E-mail [email protected]
PresidentRahshib Thomas
Vice PresidentMonique Myles
SecretaryMichelle Sprott
TreasurerChadwick W. [email protected]
Editor-In-Chief
Mariama Todd
Managing EditorJazmin Haygood
Lead DesignerDwayne Neckles
Layout DesignersCarinda Greene
Amity Paye
Copy EditorsKimberly ParrisJoseph Rogers
Photo ResearcherKenyatta Joseph
Logo DesignDwayne Neckles
Cover DesignDwayne Neckles
Executive Board
Mariama Todd Communications Chair
Nicole ClareCommunity Service [email protected]
Lisa LeidCivics & Economics Chair
Aisha TaylorMembership Committee Chair
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President’s Message
Letter from the Editor
Friends,
Thank you for helping us make 2010 a phenomenal year for NYULYP. For the seventh year in a row we supported our affiliate by fund and friend raising, served as a network for the ambitious and we took the lead in NYC concerning philanthropic and civil rights amongst young professionals. Dur-ing the 2011 State of The Union Address, President Obama reminded us as Americans ‘we do big things.’ That reminder reverberated throughout every corner and territory of our nation, especially New York City. As we begin 2011 with ‘big things’ on our mind, NYULYP, NYU and partners are
preparing to discuss The State of Young Black New York (SOYBNY) this Black History Month. Not only will this conference and dialogue serve as a gauge and insight into the true plight of the young professional in our city, but it will also serve as a reminder that we all share big dreams for ourselves. We share in the dream of family, education, employment, professional development, political equality and home ownership. Just as President Obama’s address served as the nations beacon for 2011, let the SOYBNY serve as a similar beacon for empowering communities and changing lives in New York City. This spring NYULYP also welcomes the highly anticipated REBIRTH! 2011 The Rebirth of Cool. Being held this March 29th at Greenhouse SoHo, this year we celebrate Rhythm and Rhyme from emerging artists. We invite all those who honor us with reading this issue of The Griot to join us for this expected occasion and visit www.nycrebirth.com . We look forward to part-nering with you in many ways for 2011 and thank you in advance.
Always Yours In The Movement,
Rahshib ThomasNYULYP President
Last year was a great year for The Griot, and in 2011 we hope to continue to bring you informative articles from the point of view of the young professional. In this issue, we do just that, highlighting real young professionals who are active in the movement, leaders in their careers, and inspirations to their peers. We wanted to put more of a face and voice to our writers in hopes that you see a little of yourself in each of them. For this issue we also wanted to set the stage for the type of dialogue our readers will engage in at the State of Young Black New York symposium later this month. As you read through each story, I encourage you to ask yourself how you will contribute to the empowerment of your communities and of each other, and how you will let your voice be heard this year.
Be empowered, be encouraged, and be inspired.
Yours in the Movement,
Jazmin HaygoodManaging Editor, The Griot
5The Griot
contributors
Kenyatta Joseph
Joe Rogers, Jr. is founder and Chief Education Advocate of Total Equity Now, a new Harlem-based, Harlem-focused non-profit facilitating civic engagement, policy research, advocacy and programming to ensure our children the world-class education and supports they need to realize their full potential. An active member of Manhattan Community Board 9, Convent Avenue Baptist Church, and the NAACP, Joe mentors a third grader with The Brotherhood/Sister-Sol and coordinates Conscious Gear Expo, a youth program he cofounded in 2007 to
guide students toward community problem solving and advocacy through the art of t-shirt design. A 2010-11 Coro Leadership New York participant, Joe holds an M.A. in education leadership, policy and politics from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.A. in psychology from The George Washington University.
As an insurance broker, Kenyatta consults HR managers and CFO’s in administering their corporate health & welfare plans and programs. In addition to her career, Kenyatta loves mentoring young people. She serves as the Youth Ministries Leader at her church where she is responsible
for facilitating programs and activities for ages 10-35, that will increase their mental, physical, social and spiritual growth. Kenyatta is currently pursuing a M.P.A in Healthcare Management. In her spare time she if off traveling, writing and developing her business ventures in photography and event planning. She is of Caribbean decent and is proud of her cultural heritage.
Joseph Rogers, Jr.
Julian Gunder
Julian Gunder was born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA, and received a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Howard University. He is currently an Advertising Specialist with The New York Times, providing print and digital advertising solutions for companies throughout the nation. He has a strong passion for uplifting youth, and looks forward to starting a non-profit organization later this year.
Aisha currently serves as Chair of the Membership Committee for NYULYP. Professionally, she works as a Procedures Director for the City of New York. In January 2011, she joined the staff at Long Island University as an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree
in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and her Masters Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. Aisha is Co-Owner of TAYLORmade ~ Professional Career Consulting. TAYLORmade is a full-service career consulting firm committed to “equipping, preparing, and empowering today’s professional” through expert resume writing, job search assistance, interview training, and career coaching. Aisha is also a licensed minister. She earned a Master of Divinity Degree from New York Theological Seminary. She currently serves as an Associate Minister at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY.
Aisha M. Taylor
Kelvin DavisKelvin Davis serves as an attorney with the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct. He has also served in the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) for four years with assignments in Maryland and Alabama. In his free time Kelvin enjoys strength training, yoga and watching movies and sports.
Tunisia L. Riley is the Web Editor of Under
the Microscope (www.underthemicroscope.
com), the online component of the Women
Writing Science project at The Feminist Press
(www.feministpress.org/). Under the Micro-
scope collects stories from, by, and about
women and girls involved with science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Tunisia holds a BA in English and Women’s
Studies from the College of William & Mary (www.wm.edu) and an
MA in Women’s Studies from the University of South Florida (www.
usf.edu). Her interests are in Black women’s use of creative expres-
sion as a means of healing, empowerment, and activism. She also
volunteers and blogs for NCRW’s (www.ncrw.org/) The Real Deal.
Tunisia Riley
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O.B. Wilson
O.B. Wilson, is the first co-editor of the NYULYP’s Griot, previous president of FAMU Alumni NY Chapter and a writer of inspirations, poetry and travel stories. He has been published in local and national online and print publications. His passion is writing and helping within the community. He enjoys living life, traveling and enjoying time with friends and family.
Kolonji Murray
Obi Okere
Raised in Westchester Country, New York, Johari Imani Murray earned her Masters of Arts degree from Teachers College Columbia University in 2002. She studied Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing with a special emphasis in Bilingual Education (Spanish and English). Added to her teaching credentials, she worked in different public and private schools teaching and developing language and communication skills in at-risk students. Johari currently
works at the University of Extremadura in the department of Spanish Programs for Foreign Students in Cáceres, Spain. She has made this small medieval, World Heritage city her own since 2006. Johari’s hobbies include art, yoga and traveling.She travels to the United States with her husband and two children at least twice a year to visit with family and friends.
Obi Okere is professional career coach that coaches lawyers, accountants, doctors, engineers, bankers and other young professionals to have their dream job, accelerate their advancement, make more money and have
more fun in their life. He is the president and CEO of HYPE Success LLC., a career and life coaching company. Learn more about him at www.hypesuccess.com.
Johari Imani MurrayKolonji Murray is President of the financial advisory firm Murray Wealth Group in New York. Prior to starting the firm in 2009, he worked as a banker and financial advisor for a number of leading Wall Street firms. He holds a degree in Accounting from Hampton University and is active in a number of civic
and industry organizations. Mr. Murray is Series 7 and 66 licensed in NY, CT and GA. He is also life, accident and health, variable life/variable annuities insurance licensed in those states.
Alfred Blake is known as the “Servant to the masses” and a dream catcher who looks to find the unlimited potential in every person he meets. He is the founder and president of I Am Multi LLC, a company that provides life skills workshops for youth, ages 13-25. He is also the president of Dice City clothing, an urban clothing line. Alfred is a graduate of Oakwood University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Pre-physical therapy. To book, or find more information about Mr. Blake, feel free to view www.iammulti.net and add at www.facebook.
com/alfredblake .
Alfred Blake
Mariama Todd is a Senior Financial Analyst at Wolters Kluwer, a media company serving the legal business. She works to establish and deliver upon revenue goals while maintaining the bottom line. Her position is a blend of finance, strategy and marketing. Mariama has held a wide variety of positions in the media industry. She has a B.A. with honors in History from Dartmouth College and a M.A. in Publishing from New York
University. While at NYU she created a prototype and business plan for a new magazine targeted to an affluent, yet neglected demographic: Black women ages 40-55. When not hovering around bookstores and newsstands in Manhattan, she can be found walking her dog Betty on the streets of their hometown: Harlem,USA.
Mariama Todd
Amity Paye began her work in journalism at 14 years old, working as a teen editor at the Boston based magazine Teen Voices. She continued her education in journalism at Syracuse University’s New House School of Public Communications. Amity is currently an Editorial Assistant and Assistant to the Publisher at the New York
Amsterdam News, one of the oldest ethnic papers in the Country. In addition to her editorial work Ms. Paye volunteers with the Diversity Committee for the society of professional journalists and is a member of the New York City Urban League. She also continues to work with various youth programs in Boston.
Amity Paye
Other ContributorsLakisha Youngblood
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Joi Sears: A delightful flame for art as activism
Joy: delight, bliss, happiness, elationSear: burn, scorch, char, flame, to make very hot
I first met Joi Sears in Fall 2009 at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. At the time, she served as Project Director of “The Black Artist as Activist,” a no-cost creative writing, visual arts and performance poetry program for emerging artists. It was then I knew she was a modern day activist, reminiscent of Audre Lorde, who penned the words, “poetry is not a luxury.”
By Tunisia Riley
CIV
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NG
AG
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As Executive Director of Theatre for the Free People (www.theatreforthefreepeople.com), Sears marries her passion for creative expression to the modern activist movement, using the power of the arts “as a vehicle for social change.” Through community-based programs, Theatre for the Free People provides arts and education to local and global communities in alignment with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals of: 1) ending poverty & world hunger, 2) universal education, 3) gender equity, 4) child health, 5) maternal health, 6) combating HIV/AIDS, 7) environmental sustainability, and 8) global partnership.
When asked what defines her as an activist, Sears remarked, “Anyone who bears witness to injustice in the world and makes the conscious decision to DO something about it, is an activist. An activist is anyone who takes action.” As a middle school teacher in the Bronx, Sears also helps the next generation understand social justice and the power of activism.
Sears is a powerful voice in the artist-as-activist movement. One of her current projects is the Theatre for the Free People’s International Arts Exchange Program. This program allows artist/activists to create activist art through a global lens and global engagement. She is also developing a partnership with the Ghana Health and Education Initiative to bring free community-based arts education and programs to the Bibiani-Ankwaso-Bekwai district of Ghana this month. “Harlem to Humjibre,” a documentary already in progress, will capture these efforts.
Sears and Theatre for the Free People are gearing up for a slew of new projects in 2011. Joi is working on a guide book for artists/activists called “The Artist as Activist: Rehearsing for the Revolution” slated for a July release, and a play called “The Assassination of God” set to debut next winter. Theatre for the Free People is
also in the process of establishing a repertory company focused on developing multi-disciplinary, participatory artistic projects. Initial projects include short films addressing themes such as food justice and HIV/AIDS, along with a slew of theatrical productions and events, including a series called “Freedom Summer” that celebrates social movements of the 1960s.
Sears was quick to note that, while Theatre for the Free People juggles a good number of projects on its own, it is also a collaborative organization. A prime example is Sears’ partnership with Nina Mercer, Executive Director of Ocean Ana Rising (www.oarinc.org), and Ebony Golden, Executive Director of Betty’s Daughter Art Collaborative (www.bettysdaughterarts.com) to create “Women on Wednesdays.” This project celebrates the “creativity, empowerment, holistic health and civic engagement of black girls and women,” showcasing the art and cultural practices of girls and women of the African Diaspora.
Joi’s vision for the future of Theatre for the Free People? “I would like Theatre for the Free People to be thought of as a cultural center. I would love to be established in a space in Harlem where artists/activists all over the world come to get training in the arts, wellness and community organizing. I would like to extend our International Arts Exchange Program to at least ten different sites across the globe, and enforce the idea of reclaiming education as a community-based project.”
For more information on how you can get involved and/or support Theatre for the Free People’s initiatives, visit www.theatreforthefreepeople.com or email Joi Sears at [email protected].
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Behind the Lyrics: A spotlight on how hip-hop gives back
By Julian Gunder
Nine times out of ten, when you see or hear about a hip hop artist in the news, it is for one of two reasons: the artist is promoting their latest release; or the artist is involved with the law. Unfortunately, the latter
image is the dominant one. Last year alone saw artists Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, T.I.,DMX, Ja Rule and former Bad Boy artist G-Dep Dep incarcerated.
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Rarely do we hear about an artist doing something to give back to the community and help those less fortunate. Why is it that we seldom hear of such events? Is it because the rate at which rappers go to jail is much higher than the rate at which they engage in charity? Or is it just that people would rather hear about DMX trying to use a fake name to dodge a $7,500 hospital bill than about Nelly’s 4Sho4Kids organization that hosts an annual celebrity basketball game to raise money for charity? Negativity always seems to get a bear hug from the media while positivity gets a mere pat on the back.
Although it is rarely discussed in the media, many hip hop artists are actively involved in giving back to their community. For the last eight years, Snoop Dogg’s “Snoop Youth Football League” has kept kids off the streets and allowed them to play football at a lower cost than other youth football leagues throughout California and Chicago. What makes this league unique is its constant positive messaging on the importance of teamwork and college education. Celebrity appearances at games and essay contests aid in promoting college.
Nelly’s 2010 4Sho4Kids basketball tournament paired
his Derrty Entertainment team against Bow Wow’s Cash Money Millionaires. The loser donated $100,000 to a charity. Not only has the St. Louis artist donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last few years via these games, but his other non-profit organization, Jes Us 4 Jackie, has saved the lives of at least eight leukemia patients by connecting them with bone marrow donors.
Ludacris’ “Ludacris Foundation” has raised over $1.5 million and logged over 5,000 hours of community service. In addition, over the past few years, the LudaCares program has provided over 1,000 food donations and 1,500 Christmas toys to Georgia youth throughout the holiday season.
Hopefully, more hip hop artists will follow these examples of philanthropy and dedicate more time and energy to help those who need it most.Luda, Snoop and Nelly have blazed an impressive trail. Who’s got next?
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By Kelvin Davis
Rich-Take-All PoliticsThe wealthy are using their power to influence policies that govern housing laws
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State politics may be of interest if you are
concerned about housing laws and their
impact on millions of New Yorkers. Attention
to local politics is warranted because housing law
is largely crafted at the state level. Questions about
rent stabilization, availability of affordable housing,
and housing for the poor are largely determined
by the state in Albany. In 2011 vigilance on these
issues is especially important as the opportunity
for wealthy interests and well organized groups to
influence government appears to grow stronger.
In 2010 tenant organizations worked to persuade the
New York state legislature to repeal vacancy decontrol
laws that allow landlords to increase rent for vacant,
rent-controlled apartments to $2,000, the threshold
for exempting apartments from rent regulation. Tenant
advocates attribute former State Senator Pedro
Espada’s decision not to support the measure as the
reason the legislation remains on the books. This is
consistent with a pattern of influential groups working to
pass or block proposed legislation.
The United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission
will likely tend to increase the influence of special
interests as the decision prohibited government
restrictions on campaign finance. In Winner Take
all Politics by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson
(published in 2010), the writers examined how
wealthy interests in the country have worked to have
disproportionate influence over politics at the federal
level, often to the detriment of ordinary citizens. This
pattern is worthy of note for state politics which
often draws less scrutiny than federal politics.
As the slumping economy has led to more evictions
and mortgage foreclosures housing law has even
greater importance. The high number of litigants in
court attempting to resolve important matters such
as foreclosures and evictions without an attorney
recently led Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman of the
New York Court of Appeals to seek greater funding
for legal assistance for indigent defendants in civil
cases. Anyone concerned with affordable housing
would be well advised to pay attention to state politics
where much of the action on housing policy occurs.
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LIF
ES
TY
LE
The Panelists
Julian Gunder
Late 20’sSingleAdvertisingSales rep
Early 30’sIn relationshipWeb Editor, Blogger
Tunisia Riley
During the past two years the media have devoted a substantial amount of airtime and pages to discussions about why
so many black women and men are single and parsing the statistics indicating dire marriage prospects for young black women. The Griot decided to explore the topic of black love for ourselves. We wanted to know if our readers believe the media ac-curately reflects our reality in its depictions of black love. We convened a roundtable discussion with a diverse panel of men and women willing to share their thoughts on marriage, being single and how public figures like the Obamas have influenced views of black love. Here is their take.
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Early 30’sSingleWeb Editor, Blogger
Late 30’sSingleSenior Financial Analyst
Late 30’sMarriedEntrepreneur
Lakisha youngblood
Mariama Todd
Bryant Scott
During the past two years the media have devoted a substantial amount of airtime and pages to discussions about why
so many black women and men are single and parsing the statistics indicating dire marriage prospects for young black women. The Griot decided to explore the topic of black love for ourselves. We wanted to know if our readers believe the media ac-curately reflects our reality in its depictions of black love. We convened a roundtable discussion with a diverse panel of men and women willing to share their thoughts on marriage, being single and how public figures like the Obamas have influenced views of black love. Here is their take.
Q: How does the Obama’s relation-ship influence your perspective on black love?
Bryant: The Obama’s relationship has a positive influence on my perspective of black love. It’s nice to see this powerful black family represented in the media.
Mariama: It is wonderful to see such a consistent, real display of a successful black marriage. They have been together for a long time and admittedly weathered some difficult times. Their relationship is counter to so many images of black men and women in the media. Tunisia: It hasn’t influenced my perspec-tive, however, it has likely countered long held stereotypes by mainstream media about black families, and our ability to love and marry. While it hasn’t influenced me it does make me happy to see two people who seem to genuinely love one another, regardless of color. Their story is more universal than racial; it is about two people who seem to compliment each other. In a time of cynicism, who could not love their relationship?
Julian: The Obama relationship shows that black love is beautiful and within reach for us all.
Lakisha: It doesn’t necessarily influence my perspective but it does reinforce my
beliefs that black love is attainable. I like that the Obama’s marriage shows the rest of the world that we can form loving rela-tionships with one another.
Q: Why aren’t you married?
Julian: I’m only 24 years old and I would like to be more financially secure and know that I can definitely provide for my family before I can even think about get-ting married.
Lakisha: For a long time I wasn’t ready to get married. Now that I am, my struggle is finding a man who is not afraid to commit and who is willing to do the work it takes to build a solid relationship that will lead to marriage.
Mariama: It’s definitely a goal. I nearly got married about 4 years ago. We opted not to proceed because of differences in goals regarding children and careers. However, I still fully expect to get married.
Tunisia: I think I’m not married because of timing and healing. For a while, I was what some would call a “serial monoga-mist”, a term I first heard in the movie
“Best Man”. For a 10-15 year period I seemed to always be in a relationship. Eventually I moved almost 1,000 miles away to attend grad school for 2 years.... During each of these periods I met nice men but there was always the possibility or reality that I would be moving so my heart or theirs may not have fully been in it. Timing was definitely a big factor. Bryant: I have been married now for 5 years to my wife LaTeffaney and we have a beautiful 4 year old daughter together. I also have two teenage daughters from a previous relationship.
Q: How does living in New York change the “rela-tionship equation”? Is
it more difficult to find a rela-tionship in a city of 8 million people?
Mariama: It is very difficult to connect with people in meaning-ful ways. Although you may be surrounded by 8 million others, it’s difficult to randomly strike up a conversation with people that you encounter on the train, store, dry cleaners, etc. However, I know some people that have found their partners in this man-ner. It’s really just serendipity.
Tunisia: New York has a differ-ent mentality than anywhere I’ve ever lived. While I am a native New Yorker, I’ve spent most of my adulthood in the South. With that said, it’s difficult to find a relationship anywhere, especially if you’re not open to venturing beyond your comfort zone. I’m surprised it’s not easier to meet people in NY considering we travel in close quarters all the time via the subway, buses and taxis.
I once heard that maybe if we weren’t so consumed with our mp3s, eReaders, smartphones, etc and looked up once and a
while, Mr. or Mrs. Right could be right across from us on the 5 train. Not to mention, volunteering, civic organiza-tions and houses of worship are also good ways to meet people, not just for romantic relationships but for friend-ship, which I think should be at the foundation of roman-tic relationships. I’ve met a number of friends and people I ended up dating by being
aware and open to the possibility.
Lakisha: It’s difficult to find a relationship no matter where you live but New York has its own challenges when you’re look-ing for that special someone. I personally know quite a few people who moved to New York to pursue specific careers. I think sometimes we get so caught up in pursuing our dreams that it’s hard to stop and focus on estab-
lishing a relationship.
Bryant: New York can have a positive and negative effect on the relationship equation, de-pending on how one looks at it. On the positive side, if you’re out looking for somewhere to go there is always something going on in the city that never sleeps. The negative may be that there are too many options. It’s difficult anywhere because of the level of games that people play with each other. Some men/women are just trying to protect their hearts and others are just out to have a good time.
Q: Has the negative press about lack of marriage options for black men
and women changed your out-look on relationships and the possibilities?
Lakisha: Not at all. What is portrayed about black men and women in the media is not an accurate representation of what I see when I look at the relation-ships that some of my friends and family have.
Tunisia: No. Growing up I was always the exception to the rule, so I learned to never fully ac-knowledge the generalizations. I was a tomboy, so I was always the only girl playing football or basketball. I took tennis lessons in high school and was the only black person on the team. I went to a predominantly white state college in the South…I say all
Tunisia: I was never the stereotype that I saw in the media....The media doesn’t speak or write my story
16 The Griot
that to say that in most cases, I was always the different person. I was never the stereotype that I saw in the media. I learned early on that the media doesn’t speak or write my story, I do.
Mariama: It is really upsetting to constantly get beaten up in the media and hear that your chances of getting married are slim or none.
However, I counter that negativity with the things that I see every day: my parents and friends with long-term, committed relationships.
Bryant: The negative press about black marriage has not swayed my optimistic outlook on relation-
ships. I think there are underlining sources out to promote negativity in the union of black men and women.
Q: Does education and/or the independence of black females play a role in
relationships today or is that just more negative that the media is spewing?
Mariama: Definitely the latter of the two. I will not feel badly about or downplay my background. Since when is having goals and aspira-tions and actually achieving them a bad thing? I think the entire argu-ment is just a 21st century update on the stereotype of the emasculat-
ing black woman.
Julian: Regardless of race, I feel that men generally want to be the primary bread winner. If a man doesn’t earn more money than the woman he is dat-ing, he may begin to feel
inadequate.
Bryant: Education/independence of black females can play a role in relationships today... If a female earns more money than her man and he can’t handle it, then there’s a problem. Or if the female wants to throw her authority around without a team effort between the two of them, then that can also present a problem too. If men and women can come together as a team re-gardless of who earns more, they can make a beautiful and powerful union.
Tunisia: I think it is a divisive and sensitive topic. I’m personally tired of seeing all the shows talking about the “lonely, angry, educated, black woman.” On the real, give it a break. I’ve seen the shows, and read the ar-ticles and no one has a solution, nor does anyone point out the happily single people. Can you really name a list of 10 black women who are portrayed positively in the media? I don’t trust a source that refuses to acknowledge my inner and outer beauty and yet we continue to feed into the hype of the “lonely, angry, educated, black woman”. Hearing that chatter often enough can mess with your head, so I don’t even pay it any mind anymore. I’m not lonely, but I am educated, and I am angry, but not for the reasons the media may think. I’m angry at misrep-resentations and injustice, but no one’s writing that story on BET, CNN, and Fox News.
Q: What do you think are some of the challenges/re-wards of being in a relation-
ship or marriage?
Lakisha: One reward of being in a relationship/marriage is having that person you can go through life’s ups
Bryant: One reward for me is that I’m able to sit down with my wife at the end of a hectic day and know that we are each others crutch.
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18 The Griot
and downs with. No matter what happens you are not in it alone. Some challenges for me would be learning how to compromise and communicate with your partner in a way that helps you to grow together and not apart. Tunisia: The Rewards: you learn and you grow because here is some-one who is not from your family, with a completely different set of rules that may govern their moral compass or lifestyle. You think you know everything but being in a rela-tionship, you learn you don’t. If you have a good partner, they can teach you or encourage and support you. The reward is love, friendship, and growth.
The Challenges: Well like I said, you’re dealing with someone who comes from a totally different household and what they think works and what you think works, may not always be the same. The challenge is in finding common ground and learning how to re-spectfully disagree even when you think the other person has said the craziest, most foolish thing you’ve ever heard. Another challenge is other people’s attempts to influence what you have. There are haters, schemers, and then there are folks who genuinely have your best inter-est in mind but can meddle. The challenge is learning how to recog-nize who is who and not letting too many people into your relationship because they can intentionally or unintentionally mess it up. This is where I think prayer helps and sometimes the advice of a trusted elder couple.
Bryant: Some of the challenges of being married or in a monogamous relationship are the art of negoti-ating and compromising. You are
always learning about each other, so when you think you know all there is to know about your mate here comes another lesson to learn. That’s where patience and under-standing come in handy. Some of us grew up not knowing how to coexist in a productive environment. One reward for me is that I’m able to sit down with my wife at the end of a hectic day and know that we are each others crutch.
Q: Why do you feel that men and women are struggling to have successful relation-
ships? Or are they?
Tunisia: People don’t spend enough time paying attention to others or themselves. Would you date you? Have you ever taken yourself out on a date? If you won’t date yourself, how do you expect anyone else to date you? Perhaps because I was an only child for a long time, I’m content in doing things alone, I’m also big into spending time in my own thoughts. I reflect a lot on my words and actions. At the end of the day, I think about what I could’ve done differently or better, what did
I do right? What did that person do that I liked and would like to see in another? What will I NEVER do or accept again? We’re struggling because we keep avoiding and lying to ourselves. Date yourself. Reflect and then keep it moving.
Bryant: Through struggle comes progress. Yes every relationship struggles in its own way to be suc-cessful. Anything worth having is worth working for. You work to earn a paycheck so work to earn and keep love. Struggling is not an all
out bad thing, men and women are just working at it to get it right the best they can. And believe me when it starts approaching that point of being successful what a beautiful picture that would be painted.
Julian: I think preconceived no-tions affect people getting together. Sometimes men and women make the wrong assumptions about each other before they event get started.
Q: When you’re hanging out with your friends and the topic of relationships comes
up, are your comments regarding black women and men negative or positive?
Julian: Many comments made about black women are bad, unfortunately.
Bryant: My comments are always positive (due to) simple fact that black women and men today are out here making things happen. Do we have issues that we need to work on? Yes we do, just like any other race.
Q: What do you think about interracial relationships?
Julian: Interracial relationships are cool.
Tunisia: As long as you’re dating the person because of whom they are and not what they are, then I have no problem with it. When people date outside of their race because they think their own race is inferior, then I have a problem. I have no
Bryant: You work to earn a paycheck .. and keep love...
19The Griot
problem dating outside of my race (I have dated outside of my race a few times) and I even encourage it. You learn that in reality you could have more in common with someone of another race, especially when you mix with someone in the same class. The real question we should be dis-cussing is how you feel about dating outside of your socioeconomic bracket. Sadly I think that’s an issue we face now. If you’re an executive would you date a mechanic? We still live in a capitalist society and those questions are relevant.
Mariama: The color of the man’s skin is not the issue; connecting with each other and having mutual respect, love and goals are most important.
Bryant: I don’t think there is any-thing wrong with interracial rela-tionships. If that is where someone finds love, peace and joy, God bless them.
Q: What are your deal break-ers in deciding whether to enter into a new a relation-
ship or continue an already exist-ing relationship? What would make you want to stay and work it out or leave the relationship altogether? Bryant: The point at where it would be a deal breaker for me is when a person is not putting a sincere effort in trying to make the relationship work or plain and simple the person does not want to be in a relationship with me. I’m not into making someone be somewhere they don’t want to be. Sincerity and honesty between me and my significant other would be the determining factors whether to stay in a relationship or leave.
Tunisia: Deal breakers: lies, if I can’t trust you, I don’t want to be your friend or your lover. The same goes if you’re insecure. I have a very strong personality and cannot deal with a person who isn’t secure with themselves. A man with no love in his life, in some form of fashion, whether that’s love for his family, passion for his work, love of his life, without that, I get worried. Are you capable of love?
What makes me stay is a genuine desire to grow and love. I’m not perfect, even if I think I’m close to it, I know I’m not perfect so I don’t expect to meet a perfect man. How-ever, he has to know himself and know God. He has to respect me, talk to me, and love me. Chemistry is cool too but sometimes physical attraction right away can bite you in the behind later on because you’re so blinded by beauty. So what makes me stay, a brother who can cook, be my friend, tell me when I’m messing’ up (or my kin used to say “you’re slip is showing’ “), a man who talks to me and makes me laugh.
Q: What inner qualities do you possess that make you a good mate within a healthy
relationship?
Tunisia: Honesty, integrity, care, and communication.
Bryant: I think some of the quali-ties that make me a good mate are patience, understanding, passion and peace within me.
Lakisha: Some qualities that make me a good mate are that I am patient, passionate, and extremely loyal.
Mariama: A healthy sense of hu-mor, compassion, empathy and self awareness.
As our participants indicate, there are no easy answers to the subject of relationships within our community. However, our discussion has pro-vided a unique point of reference: one as complex and multi-faceted as the young urban professionals we represent.
20 The Griot
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THE MAkINGS Of A MOGuLAccomplished journalist, Anslem “NWSO” Samuel, shares his story and offers career advice for today’s young professional.
When he isn’t maintaining his highly popular blog, Naked With Socks On (www.nwso.net), Brooklyn native Anslem “NWSO” Samuel is busy settling into his new position as Senior Producer of Interactive Media at Black Enterprise. While this role is a somewhat different path for him, having gained most of his experience in music and entertainment, Anslem is no stranger to establishing a viable online presence for some of today’s hottest publications. In his most recent position prior to Black Enterprise as Digital Content Director for XXLMag.com, Anslem worked tirelessly on the site’s new redesign. He has been at the forefront of hip hop culture, journalism and media for over a decade, including stints as Digital Content Editor of XXLMag.com, Senior Editor at XXL Magazine, founding Editor-in-Chief of the ground-breaking magazine The Ave, and Culture Editor of The Source. We recently grabbed a bite at Union Square’s Chat and Chew to talk about his successes and lessons learned.
21The Griot
living beyond the lay-off…Anslem has experienced the bitter taste of unemployment more than once. Like so many others who have felt the brunt of these hard economic times, he has been laid off twice: first from The Source in 2002, and most recently from XXL in 2009. Anslem admits that he was better able to deal with the stress of being out of work the second time around. More mature and with more professional contacts, he knew that somewhere amidst the pain, there was purpose and a plan.
Though Anslem succeeded in editing, marketing, and media production, when the industry didn’t have a space for him anymore, he always had something to fall back on: the brother can really write. He’s made a name for himself as a gifted journalist and established a substantial career in freelance writing. Anslem has covered major stories, interviewed top professionals, and prepared music reviews for countless publications including heavy hitters like Essence, Vibe, and King. Like so many of us, Anslem “NWSO” Samuel has a passion: journalism. Yours may be finance, marketing, cooking or travel. Regardless, it is the ability to overcome obstacles, commitment to consistency and unwavering respect for humankind that ultimately prepares us for success.
not your average blogger…July 3, 2008. That was the day Anslem Samuel became Anslem “NWSO” Samuel. After brainstorming names and settling on what “just seemed right,” Anslem
purchased his domain name and moved his thoughts on life, love, and relationships from MySpace to a full-fledged blog. NWSO has become an increasingly popular online destination, with over 100,000 f o l l o w e r s who log on everyday to see what hot topic NWSO has prepared. Having won the distinction of Best Blog Series in the 2009 Black Weblog Awards for his Wet Wednesday’s Series, NWSO’s tag line, revealing everything while still leaving something to the imagination, is literally and figuratively fulfilled.
What is the key to NWSO’s success? Anslem’s answer is simple: consistency. “If you want people to read your blog, you have to be consistent.” Not only does NWSO post every day, but he reads every single comment that his readers post. “If they took the time to read what I wrote, I can take the time to read what they write.” His commitment to engaging and building his readers’ trust is what keeps them coming back.
The secret to his success…When asked about the most significant factors behind his success, Anslem stressed that multiple forces contributed to his achievement. “I’ve worked hard.” In every position, he has given 110% and stopped at nothing
to get the job done. He also encourages young professionals to ask questions. “Learn how to do something outside of your job description.”
Raised primarily by his mother and grandfather, in a home with strong Caribbean and religious roots, Anslem credits his strong
work ethic, another major factor in his success, to his upbringing. “I owe a lot to my mother.” But Anslem’s most inspiring advice was simply “treat people with respect.” Even if you aren’t the smartest or most talented professional, if you’re a good person, people will remember you in a positive light. The combination of skill and a great personality is a guaranteed prescription for career success.
Like so many of us, Anslem “NWSO” Samuel has a passion: journalism. Yours may be finance, marketing, cooking or travel. Regardless, it is the ability to overcome obstacles, commitment to consistency and unwavering respect for humankind that ultimately prepares us for success.
Even if you aren’t the smartest or most talented professional,
if you’re a good person, people will remember you in a positive light.
22 The Griot
Showcase Your Abilities with an E-Portfolio
Do these job qualifications sound familiar: Applicant must possess analytical and problem-solving skills and be an excellent written and verbal communicator. Good organizational skills and attention to detail are essential.
If you’ve ever been on the job hunt, these words at the bottom of the job description can be daunting as you try to figure out how to convey your possession of these competencies and abilities. Given today’s competitive job market, merely listing your skills and achievements with the traditional resume and cover letter may not give you the edge needed to stand out among other candidates. Demonstration is key when you are trying to get past the initial job screening. Having an e-Portfolio is a great tool to showcase your talent.
An e-Portfolio is a collection of work published online that provides evidence of goals, accomplishments, skills and knowledge. We all know that employers use the internet to screen applicants. According to Careerbuilder.com, 35% of hiring managers use Google to do background checks on job applicants. You don’t want them to find a picture of you drunk and slumped over somewhere via your MySpace or Facebook page. E-Portfolios enhance your resume and give managers a clearer
picture of academic, work and life experiences that can be used to evaluate your fit for a position.
Creating your e-Portfolio should be easy and fun. LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), Blogger (www.blogger.com), and Digication (www.digication.com) are some of the more popular platforms used to create their portfolios. Use convincing examples of your writing skills, organization abilities, computer savvy and creativity though papers, presentations, photos, and video clips. Here is a simple format to follow:
• Introduction - goals, skills and personal branding statement
• Academic materials – papers, projects, presentations• Extracurricular activities – community service, civic
engagement, study aboard• Professional - internships, certifications• Recommendations – references
Your e-Portfolio should be uniquely you and capture the dynamics of your knowledge base and experiences. It should paint a picture of positive aspects you want to share with potential employers. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, but remember to keep it professional!
By Kenyatta Joseph
23The Griot
Make a list of your top 10 life accomplishments where you had fun,
performed well, and experienced a sense of accomplishment.
Create a vision. What is your 40-year vision for your life? What would your
life and career be like?
Share your favorite accomplishments and your 40-year vision with friends and other people you respect and admire.
A career coach is trained to help you assess your situation, create a goal, and develop a plan to help
you reconnect with you passion and grow professionally.
By Obi Okere
Somewhere along the path through high school, college, and into the working world, our career passion can get lost or remain undiscovered. Family, teachers, mentors, and friends can lead us to follow career paths for all the wrong reasons, such as money, prestige, respect, or the default: it was our major.
It is easy to dismiss the idea that we can do what we love, love what we do, and earn a good living doing so. Many people whose passion lies in the arts, social media or other emerging disciplines opt to play it safe and pursue more traditional careers. Those following a more traditional career path may be unwilling to risk starting their own practice or firm or taking an unconventional route that could help them apply their skills in a novel way to their ideal job, perhaps in an emerging industry.
24 The Griot
“Intention is a mere retention of your invention, until you make it worth mention” - Alfred Blake
When the Times Square ball drops, people automatically feel as though their great ideas will miraculously drop into the hemisphere of possibility. Last time I checked, intention is the first step, but continual action is NEXT! As a society, we do not seem to understand the power of action!
Today’s popular phrases include “When the time is right,” “My time will come eventually,” and “I’m just waiting for that call.” The ONLY time is NOW! You must tackle that obstacle today!
You have an invention or a special idea that is unique to the universe! You have no idea how much you can impact the lives of many. You can no longer choose to hold off on your invention! It is your responsibility to share it today. Don’t wait for another “New Year” to come and go. The time is now.
An unexciting and unfulfilling job that pays the bills can be stressful and challenging. Unfortunately, many people accept this because they either are unsure of how to do anything else, lack a clear direction, or nothing better has come along.
When it comes to building a dream career, the bigger challenge lies in aligning passion, fulfillment and fun within the ‘career’ part. When a career involves something that you are passionate about, it is energizing, inspiring, and stimulating. Most importantly, it doesn’t feel like work. A career that we find fulfilling ties in with the ideals and values that are important to us. We gain a greater sense that we are living our true purpose in life.
Tracy is a recovering Ivy League-educated CPA. For five years she has regularly worked 70-80 hour weeks at an accounting firm. She hated her job and only became an accountant because her parents insisted on that route. She hates that she barely has time to spend with family and friends. She also laments that her work doesn’t directly impact her community. In college, she wanted to be a teacher, but decided not to because she was told they don’t make any “real money.” Recently, she left the accounting firm to start her own business servicing entrepreneurs and conducting seminars where she teaches participants how to cut their taxes. Today, she enjoys her career as a teacher, works less, and makes more money.
Here are four key steps that you can
take to reconnect with your passion:
1. Analyze your accomplishments. Make a list of your top 10 life accomplishments (work related and non-work related) where you had fun, performed well, and experienced a sense of accomplishment. What trend(s) do you notice? Which skills do you enjoy using most? This exercise will help you identify what really drives your life.
2. Create a vision. What is your forty-year vision for your life? Forty years can seem like a long time from now, but consider what you can achieve by 2051. What would your life and career be like? How can you use your current job as a stepping-stone to get to where you want to be? What action steps can you take now to begin moving toward your goals? 3. Tap your network for advice. Share your favorite accomplishments and your 40-year vision with friends and other people you respect and admire. Ask for feedback on the type of career and career path you should take based on the information you presented. This will give you ideas on how you can creatively develop a career in line with your passion.
4. Work with a career coach. A career coach is trained to help you assess your situation, create a goal, and develop a plan to help you reconnect with you passion and grow professionally. A career coach can also ease a career change by helping you expedite
25The Griot
Work meets Play: By: Amity Paye
Third, and most impor-tant thing to remember is to be reliable. As you meet new people, the first impression may be lasting, but the second and third will determine the strength of your relationships.
Dressing for Upcoming Networking Events
A young professional moves to New York City all alone, without a support system, in search of the career of their dreams. This young professional joins the Urban League, makes friends, and immedi-ately encounters a new conundrum: are networking events for work or play? The line between the two can be thin when seeking a new social life while looking to develop a career.
As you look to cultivate the contacts you make at events learning to multi-task can help you become a true leader. Tiffany Bender, founder of Young Harlem, said, “Making a collective change within the community and among your peers can be hard.” Young Harlem held college tours in community high schools and presented awards to community activists at their annual Gala in December. “We have been running around like crazy trying to organize ourselves while we’re still in school and all working, but it can work out.”Make a plan before you head off to your networking events, know when you are available, and get ready to have fun with your new friends!
First, in environ-ment where creating friend-ships is just as important as forging new career alliances, remember that the two are not mutually exclusive. At a recent dinner with a few Urban League members, the topics of discus-sion ranged from politics and economics to more lighthearted conversation about people and their annoying subway habits. Acquaintances that can seamlessly transition from your work life into the social arena are a tremendous help.
Second, as you be-come a leader in your field, your skills can help organizations, that you care about. Making friends that recognize your talents or who can recruit you for positions in their organiza-tion can be key. Every volunteer group needs a communications director, a financial advisor, or a public relations liaison.
Amity Paye is an Editorial Assistant at the New York Amsterdam News and Managing Editor at Urbane Perspective Magazine.
4 The Griot
Don’t forget, it’s winter. Dress for the season in a ruffled sweater or turtleneck along
with a pair of knit stockings. These items can be dressed up and you won’t have to shiver your way through introductions.
What to Wear When NetworkingNetworking events can range from a panel discussion to a night out on the town. And, as with
any first meeting, first impressions mean a lot. With the State of Black New York event just around the corner, now is the time to ready your wardrobe for impactful networking!
Tips to remember:
1. Being the best dressed in a room is always a good thing. Overdress when in doubt.2. Keep it modest: revealing clothing sends the wrong message no matter where you are.
3. Don’t just wear a suit or a button-up; show off your personal style.
Nice Pants: Ditch the jeans and wear a nice pair of pants. You’ll get more respect in the boardroom and the ladies at your networking event will be a little more impressed.
Women MenBlazer: A blazer adds a profession-al touch to any outfit. One with a more feminine cut or a longer drop length transitions well from day to night. Pencil Skirt: A pencil skirt is de-
mure enough to wear to the of-fice and can show off your curves enough to wear out to an evening event. Wear one in a bright color to give your outfit an extra pop. (Tip: When buying pencil skirts, check the split in the back. If the skirt fits right, the split will
lay flat, not open.)
Don’t forget, it’s winter. Dress
for the season in a ruffled sweater or turtleneck along with a pair of knit stockings. These items can be dressed up and you won’t have to shiver your way through introductions.
Top Sweater: A button-up is good, but remember that it’s cold
outside. Wear a top sweater over your collar to add color,
warmth and style to your outfit.
5The Griot26 The Griot
Don’t forget, it’s winter. Dress for the season in a ruffled sweater or turtleneck along
with a pair of knit stockings. These items can be dressed up and you won’t have to shiver your way through introductions.
What to Wear When NetworkingNetworking events can range from a panel discussion to a night out on the town. And, as with
any first meeting, first impressions mean a lot. With the State of Black New York event just around the corner, now is the time to ready your wardrobe for impactful networking!
Tips to remember:
1. Being the best dressed in a room is always a good thing. Overdress when in doubt.2. Keep it modest: revealing clothing sends the wrong message no matter where you are.
3. Don’t just wear a suit or a button-up; show off your personal style.
Nice Pants: Ditch the jeans and wear a nice pair of pants. You’ll get more respect in the boardroom and the ladies at your networking event will be a little more impressed.
Women MenBlazer: A blazer adds a profession-al touch to any outfit. One with a more feminine cut or a longer drop length transitions well from day to night. Pencil Skirt: A pencil skirt is de-
mure enough to wear to the of-fice and can show off your curves enough to wear out to an evening event. Wear one in a bright color to give your outfit an extra pop. (Tip: When buying pencil skirts, check the split in the back. If the skirt fits right, the split will
lay flat, not open.)
Don’t forget, it’s winter. Dress
for the season in a ruffled sweater or turtleneck along with a pair of knit stockings. These items can be dressed up and you won’t have to shiver your way through introductions.
Top Sweater: A button-up is good, but remember that it’s cold
outside. Wear a top sweater over your collar to add color,
warmth and style to your outfit.
5The Griot 27The Griot
Standardized Testing: an ideological and pedagogical battle By Joseph Rogers
As a young professional, chances are you’ve earned at least a Bachelor’s degree. You may have even supersized your credentials with a M.A., M.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., Ph.D, M.D. or some other advanced degree. Regardless of your of your current educational status, at some point you had to take a standardized test. You prob-ably begun with state exams in elementary or middle school and later on the PSAT and the SAT (or ACT). The GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, or another graduate school entrance exam may have followed. How did you do? Exceedingly well, top 10%? Or did you bomb and find yourself in the bottom percentage.
Depending on the outcome, you may or may not have viewed your score as a valid measure of your ability to succeed in your next academic pursuit, or as a clear sign that you were intellectu-ally gifted, middling, or challenged. For better or worse, tests and test scores matter a lot in today’s world, especially in the K-12 world of education. They have the poten-tial to heavily influence a student’s eligibility for promotion to the next grade, whether they earn a high school diploma, and the caliber of the public schools (in the case of selective exam schools) or colleges that will accept them. More and more school districts are using standardized test scores to evaluate, develop or, in some cases, dismiss
By Joseph Rogers
Measured Progress:Standardized Testing and Student Achievement in New York City Public Schools
28 The Griot
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teachers. Test-based accountability was enshrined in the Bush Administra-tion’s No Child Left Behind Act and boosted by President Obama’s Race To The Top Act, placing unprecedented emphasis on standardized tests and tying them to school funding. Schools with consistently low test scores may be reconfigured or even closed. This past summer, a New York State Department of Education study conducted by Harvard University in-validated the bulk of NYC’s seemingly historic test score gains. Reading and math scores that were reviewed con-firmed what many teach-ers, testing experts, and par-ents had suspected: state policy-makers had set the bar far too low.
Young people, some believing they were on track to college readiness, learned that they were grossly un-derprepared. The Save Our Schools (S.O.S.) Coalition, a New York City-based group of education advocacy groups and elected officials, demanded policy change, additional resources, and instructional support from the DOE to address the teaching and
learning challenges reflected in the test scores. As of December 2010, this issue remained unresolved. In 2009, Education Voters of New York facilitated a series of neighbor-hood discussion on education, en-gaging nearly 200 New Yorkers in action-oriented civic dialogue around improving NYC public schools. Their number one concern voiced in the NYC Citizen’s Blueprint for Public School Reform?
The narrowing of public school curricula, including major cuts in art and music classes and programs, to make way for more test prep. But are these tests really all that bad? Many education reform advo-cates assert that standardized tests ensure fairness and objectivity in as-sessing student learning. The countless variables associated with project-based assessments, student papers, and the like—especially educator subjectivity—
In a single day, the proverbial sky fell on thou-
sands of NYC students and their families:
(Answer by filling in the appropriate bubble)
a. 109,000 more students were not meet
ing standards in English Language Arts
b. 50,000 more students were scoring
at Level 1 (the lowest performance
level on a scale of 1 to 4)
c. 364 more schools with 2/3 or more of
their students not meeting standards in
ELA
d. All of the above.
make it difficult for educators, policy-makers and the public to compare performance within and between classrooms, schools, and states. They argue that alternative, more “authentic” tools such as portfolio assessment (a structured review of student work samples produced over a quarter, a year, or multiple years) are too time intensive, unreliable, and doesn’t allow district and national policy makers to target achievement gaps. In reality, most educators strive to strike a healthy balance between standardized tests and classroom- and school-based assessments. Clearly, this is a hot topic, from NYC communities to the national stage, where President Obama and Secretary of Educa-tion Arne Duncan periodically call for richer, more meaningful assessments. How should school districts, states, and the federal government balance the quest for efficiency, objectivity and hard numbers with the need to produce well-rounded students who can demonstrate applied criti-cal thinking and problem solving skills in sophisticated, personalized ways? It will be interesting to watch this ideological and pedagogical battle over the future of assessment as most states move to adopt volun-tary national standards and many consider beefing-up their assess-ments to capture a broader, richer range of student knowledge and skills.
Standardized Testing: an ideological and pedagogical battle By Joseph Rogers
As a young professional, chances are you’ve earned at least a Bachelor’s degree. You may have even supersized your credentials with a M.A., M.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., Ph.D, M.D. or some other advanced degree. Regardless of your of your current educational status, at some point you had to take a standardized test. You prob-ably begun with state exams in elementary or middle school and later on the PSAT and the SAT (or ACT). The GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, or another graduate school entrance exam may have followed. How did you do? Exceedingly well, top 10%? Or did you bomb and find yourself in the bottom percentage.
Depending on the outcome, you may or may not have viewed your score as a valid measure of your ability to succeed in your next academic pursuit, or as a clear sign that you were intellectu-ally gifted, middling, or challenged. For better or worse, tests and test scores matter a lot in today’s world, especially in the K-12 world of education. They have the poten-tial to heavily influence a student’s eligibility for promotion to the next grade, whether they earn a high school diploma, and the caliber of the public schools (in the case of selective exam schools) or colleges that will accept them. More and more school districts are using standardized test scores to evaluate, develop or, in some cases, dismiss
29The Griot
Due to earned income credits,
child credits and a host of
other adjustments, credits and
payments, clients are likely to
receive large refunds.
However, I would hate to see them spend that
money in ways that don’t enhance the freedom,
security, stability and safety of their families.
I could easily tell them to maximize their tax-exempt
income, account for all their business and real
estate losses, give to charities meaningfully, and
contribute the maximum to employer-sponsored
retirement plans and individual retirement accounts.
More importantly, though, I want them to look
beyond the big refund.
I also want them to consider whether they have
enough life insurance for themselves and their
children. I want them to save for a rainy day.
I want them to make sure they manage college
planning for their children. I want them to save
enough for retirement. I also want to make sure
parents are teaching children how to save.
These are just a few of many important
considerations. Working closely with each client,
I will help them both develop their goals and plan
for how best to use this tax season to meet those
goals.
Long term, if they can stick to the plans we
develop, tax season can offer my clients
opportunities for freedom, security and stability in
their family’s financial life.
When I do my clients’ taxes this year, I want to make sure they have a safe overall
financial picture. However, that does not doesn’t always mean getting them the
biggest possible tax refund.
By Kolonji Murray
Taxes and Financial Freedom
30 The Griot
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It started a year after graduating from col-lege. The excitement of moving to New York and entering the “adult world” in was gone.
Getting dressed and going to work each morning became tasks of herculean proportions. Concentrating and executing tasks at work was difficult. Af-ter work, there was no energy for dance, reading, and volun-teer work, activities that once served as social and creative outlets. At night, there was just enough energy for two things: eating dinner and sliding into bed. An unexplained sadness colored everything.
Life followed this pattern for several months until July 17, 1996. That night, TWA Flight 800 crashed into the Long Island Sound. I did not know any of the 230 passengers aboard the ill-fated jetliner, yet my tears, more than an expres-sion of empathy for the victims and their families, would not stop. The event seemed to unlock a much deeper sadness
within me. I knew something was wrong, but could not ex-plain it to family and friends. I contacted the Employee As-sistance Program at my job and they referred me to a doctor. A psychologist performed a battery of tests and arrived at a diagnosis: major depression, a mental illness. Thus began my search for help.
Separating fact from fictionMental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a per-son’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, obsessive com-pulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and border-line personality disorder.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in four adults—roughly 57.7 million Ameri-cans—experience a mental health disorder in any given year. One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness such as
schizophrenia, major depres-sion or bipolar disorder, and about one in ten children lives with a serious mental or emo-tional disorder.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the annual economic, indi-rect cost of mental illness costs our nation $79 billion. Most of that cost—approximately $63 billion—reflects the loss of productivity due to illness.
Within the African American community, one finds three common misconceptions about mental illness:
Communications Chair Mariama Todd shares her own personal story and reminds us that depression is not a pseudo disorder
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» “We made it through slav-ery and segregation. You just need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and stop all this moping.” » “You’re a strong black
man/woman. Weakness is in-tolerable.” » “Black people don’t ‘do’
therapy. Just pray on it.”
Many factors can contribute to mental illness, including cogni-tive issues (e.g., negative thought patterns); biological and genetic factors; gender (it affects more women than men); other illnesses; prescriptions for other illnesses; and situational factors.
Mental illness does not discrimi-nate. It impacts people of all races and genders, regardless of edu-cational background, income and religion. It is not punishment for bad behavior.
“You need to toughen up.”Some people asked me, “What have you got to be depressed about?” Others emphatically stated, “You’re young, educated and have opportunities that most people only dream about. Get over it.” I do not know what biological changes made depression land at my doorstep in 1996. I do know that educational pedigree and a
great job did not insulate me from this challenge.
How did I navigate the journey? I created a support system (a psychologist, medication, under-standing family and friends) and learned how to pray in earnest. There are still difficult times. The difference is that now I have an arsenal of tools to help me fight back. While my story is evidence that mental illness indeed touches the lives of black folks, I prefer to think of it as a way to let others know that help is available and recovery is possible.
Additional Resources:• National Alliance on Mental
Illness focuses on three activities that offer hope: Support, education and advocacy. www.nami.org
• Mental Health America addresses all aspects of mental health through advocacy, and research. www.mentalhealthamerica.net.
• Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting by Terrie Williams
• Black Men and Depression: Saving our Lives, Healing our Families and Friends by John Head
• Standing in the Shadows: Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men by John Head and Kay Redfield Jamison
• Stories That Heal: Terrie Williams’ a website for African American people living with mental health problems—and their friends and family. www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov
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Doctor and Health Advocate
By O.B. Wilson
Member Spotlight: Asha Isable, MD
Dr. Asha Isable, a new member of the New York Urban League Young Professionals (NYULYP), attended the City College of New York’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education and the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University at Syracuse. A native New Yorker, Asha has lived in every borough, though she currently resides in Harlem.
As a past recipient of an Urban League college scholarship, Asha was well acquainted with the League. After completing her medical residency she knew she wanted to join the NYULYP. She currently serves on the YP membership committee and contributes her time and ideas to help strengthen member recruitment and services.
One of Asha’s lifelong goals is to improve community health in African American and Latino communities. To that end, she works with the Noelli Center, a patient education center focused on improving health outcomes through direct educational programs and social media. Asha is driven to improve our health.
34 The Griot
Hairs for Fear
Clinical indicators categorize a genuine set of phobias associated with hair. When
activated, these indicators resemble panic attack symptoms: impending sense of doom, rapid pulse, sweat, trembles, and chest pain. Chaetophobia and Trichophobia are real phobias that deal with hair but are associated with issues of hygiene. Tonsurephobia, on the other hand, is a fear of haircuts. While many people eagerly await their appointments at the hair salon for a cut, treatment, or style, others dread these visits or avoid them altogether.
Other hair-related fears, which may or may not fall into clinical categories, may appear less serious but can be equally unnerving. Consider your own frustration when you don’t know what to do with your hair. Think about the fear of changing a style or trying something new or different, exacerbated by thoughts of, “What will they say? What will they think about me?” Ahhh, the immortal “they.” Some people worry about developing cancer from hair care products or fret about thinning hair, while others are stifled by fear of the all-powerful THEY.
For the first set of worries, the logical response is to avoid habits, products, and treatments that might induce cancer or hair loss; but what about love, work and self-acceptance? Avoidance can be self-suppression, with internal choruses echoing, “Will I be more loved with a long weave or dread locks? Will I have a
better chance to get the job with relaxed, shaven or natural hair? Will I be fully respected wearing my hair as I choose?”
If we interpreted, for a moment, these casual anxieties about hair as social phobias, would we expose frail relationships? Might doubts about hair or hairstyles catalyze major problems such as divorce, not marrying, or limited engagement in religious organizations and civic and social institutions? Through this lens, hair becomes an excuse to disguise personal insecurities and to avoid social risks—to seek refuge in a cosmetic comfort zone, to swiftly distance oneself from the anguish of making choices that may yield unpleasant or unknown outcomes. In this context, the common quip “It’s just hair!” takes on a whole new dimension as a missed opportunity for self-evaluation.
Whether you choose natural, artificially-enhanced or shaved, you can never fully escape the socio-emotional spectrum of risk and conformity. You must still figure out what to do with your hair and calculate the consequences of your choice. I tend to suffer a quick bout of this kind of phobia just before I walk out the door for work. If I wear my free-form afro, I stress to make sure my make-up is flawless and my outfit impeccable. I must be sure They understand that “This style is intentional; I did not forget to comb my hair!” I breathe deeply, center myself, and walk out the door convinced that it is the imperfection in nature that creates lasting beauty.
People will always gossip. Love should not be based on appearances. And, trust that your employers saw more than just your hair when they hired you.
Some people are afraid of commitment in relationships, of foreign travel, or of public speaking with large audiences. Others simply fear hair.
By Johari Imani
02.15.11 February General Body Meeting: LOVE IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGEYP is partnering with ACCESS, the American Jewish Committee’s young professionals group to discuss how each group reaches out to its next generation. Participants will discuss why they are involved in their community, what approaches to outreach have been successful, where they have work to do, and what “measurables” they have. Other partner groups invited include the Indus Entrepreneurs (Indian), Culture and Career Club (East Asian) and Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow.
The event takes place Tuesday, February 15 at 7:00 PM
02.26.11 STATE OF YOUNG BLACK NEW YORK: Exploring Multiple Dimensions of Black Identity, Saturday, February 26, 2011. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the Kimmel Center at NYU. The event is free, but registration is mandatory. For more information and to register please visit: www.soybny.com.
03.15.11 March General Body Meeting: YP MarketplaceInterested in participating? You must meet the following criteria:- Must be a current NYULYP financial member - Business must be in operation for a minimum of one year prior to the event - Must have a functioning website at the time of expressed interest
The Marketplace will be held on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 PM. If you qualify, please send your tax ID number and a link to your website to NYULYP VP, Monique Myles Carswell at [email protected]
03.29.11 Rebirth 2011: The Rebirth of CoolRebirth 2011 will take place on Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 PM at The Greenhouse, located at 150 Varick Street in SOHO. For tickets and more information: www.nycrebirth.com.
Please visit nyul.org/nyulyp for more event information
UPCOMING EVENTS
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