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Urban Faith Magazine is a business, entrepreneurial, Christian lifestyle magazine publication with a focus on the Black community of Shreveport, Louisiana. From Business and Entrepreneurship to Health and Spirituality, Urban Faith Magazine keeps you up-to-date with the latest information to empower, enlighten and encourage.
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Taking Mahogany Ensemble Theatre to the Next Level
Page 4
“Thank you” is not just good manners, it’s good for your health
Feeling down? Having trouble sleeping? Catch colds easily? You might be surprised at the sim-ple habit researchers now say keeps you hap-pier, healthier and better rested: Gratitude.
In studies by researchers at the University of
California – Davis, those who write down three blessings every day were compared to those who do not. The more grateful group had stronger immune systems, caught fewer colds, had less trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and felt better about their lives. They were even more likely to exercise. Interestingly, it’s not enough to simply say what you are grateful for. You must write it down, according to researchers. Apparently, there is power in the written word.
To start your gratitude habit, keep a notebook at your bedside. When you get up, ask yourself a simple question that evokes gratitude, such as, “What three things do I most look forward to today?” or “What three things am I most grateful for today?” Or write in your gratitude journal before going to sleep – a practice that has been shown to improve sleep habits. Rather than counting sheep to cure insomnia, try counting your blessings. Ask, “What are the three best things that happened to me today?” or “What did I most appreciate today?”
Other benefits to keeping a gratitude journal, according to the research, including feeling more alert and energized, and being more will-ing to give emotional support to others.
I am grateful to our new sponsor, my friend and soror, Attorney Reshonda L. Bradford. Be sure to give her a call her when you are in need of law advice.
She can handle anything! I am also thankful for my sisterfriend, Angelique Feaster. Angelique is the Founding Artisitic Di-rector for Mahogany Ensemble Theatre. Read more about her story on page 5. And I am grateful that you have taken time out of your busy day to support Urban Faith Maga-zine. Be sure to visit our website at www.urbanfaithmagazine.com to subscribe. You will get the magazine directly in your mail-box. On our website you may also join our online community and interact with me and other readers. This Month’s Challenge::
Grab a notebook or journal this week, and start making note of what you are grateful for.
Until Next Time Be Grateful Alynetta Beck
Just a few pics from Mahogany Ensemble Theatre’s productions from the past 5 years: 1. The Wiz 2. Roll of Thunder 3. The Bluest Eye 4. Shakin the Mess Out of Misery 5. Amazing Grace
1
2
5
3 4
Recently I had the opportunity to attend Ma-
hogany Ensemble Theatre’s production of a Rai-
sin in the Sun. The cast was awesome! After-
wards, I and a few other patrons of the arts dis-
cussed how Mahogany Ensemble Theatre was
Shreveport’s best kept secret. If you want to
theatre experience, stay on the look out for An-
gelique Feaster and Mahogany Ensemble Thea-
tre (MET).
No longer a secret, Mahogany Ensemble Thea-
tre productions are fast becoming THE place to
be in Northwest Louisiana. Led by Founding
Artisitc Director Angelique Feaster, MET is has
grown from a one-woman operation to a staff of
five, which includes a resident choreographer,
production manager, ticket manager, and techni-
cal director.
In the past five years, the company has pro-
duced such plays as “The Wiz,” “Shakin’ the
Mess Out of Misery,” “ The Bluest Eye,” and
“Roll of Thunder.” Now, MET is poised to take
its efforts to the next level. Theatre enthusiasts
are invited to purchase season tickets or to be-
come members of MET.
In addition to producing plays, Ms. Feaster is
busy in the community bringing theatre to
schools, holding summer camp, and preparing
for the Southern Black Theatre Festival.
Inspired by the efforts of the National Black
Theatre Festival, the Festival’s mission is to
celebrate the rich tradition of African American
theatre in the south while forging a regional
collective of culture bearers committed to sus-
taining this theatri-
cal genre.
Mark your calendar for the 2nd biennial festival
celebration! This year’s festival will take place
from Saturday, September 18, 2010 thru Satur-
day, September 25, 2010.
This week-long festival spotlights African
American theatres, filmmakers, performing art-
ists, scholars, and arts organizations . This
year’s festival will honor the memory of inau-
gural national chair, Judi Ann Mason as well as
highlight three areas of her life’s work: The
Arts, academia, and activism.
The public is also invited to participate by pre-
senting a play, spoken word, or staged reading,
be a guest artist, scholar, or panelist, conduct a
workshop, exhibit your creative work., or per-
form in the college showcase.
When success is meas-
ured by how rich, fa-
mous, or important
you are, life soon rings
hollow.
In Uncommon, Tony Dungy reveals a
better way. From wisdom learned in
childhood to his years of coaching and
mentoring in the NFL, Coach Dungy’s
personal stories and valuable life les-
sons map out the less traveled path to
real significance. Turn your life into
something truly meaningful.
7 AWESOME Steps to Turning Your Dreams
into Your Reality The idea of setting goals is nothing new. God has given us everything
we need to accomplish our goals. It is up to us to prepare and use
those tools to accomplish our goals and to sustain ourselves in this
life.
In reality, we set goals and set goals, but often we never seem to get
any closer to where we want to be. Our goals must be specific. We
must know exactly what we want. Our goals must be measurable. As
we act to achieve our goals, we must be able to gauge how far we
have gone in achieving our goals. Our goals must be achievable. We
must set goals that are possible to achieve. Our goals must be realis-
tic. We must honestly look at the realness of our goals. Our goals
must be timely. We must establish a time line to achieve our goals.
Be AWESOME in setting and achieving your goals. Here are a few
steps to keep you on task.
A –Actualize and define your need or desire! By visualizing what
you want your end result to be and seeing yourself living that result, it
becomes more real and thus your brain views it as being attainable.
When you take the time to make your dreams reality in your mind’s
eye: seeing it, touching it, tasting it, savoring it, your success in
achieving that goal becomes more do-able.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the
law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)
W – Write it down! I tell this to people all the time. Write down your
goals. What do you want to accomplish? What is your heart’s desire?
Write it down. Write it in a journal or a diary, write it on a sticky note
and put it on the bathroom mirror, write it on a white board, write it in
magnets on the fridge. Whatever you do, keep it where you can see it
all the time.
Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it
plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. (Habakkuk 2:2)
E – Energize it! Your dreams, desires and goals mean nothing if
you don’t act on them. Continual movement toward your goals is es-
sential to reaching them. Take action now. It doesn’t have to be a big
action, it just has to be something. Small steps are easy to make and
require little effort. Take action now.
Jesus said, "According to your faith, let it be done unto you" (Matt
9:29). How can anything "be done unto you" if you are not exercis-
ing your faith in what you desire?
S – See your success! Make your goals more real and attainable by
visualizing yourself living them. How do you look once your goal is
reached? How do you feel? What new direction can your life take
once your current goals are met? How can that lead to new goals?
Continued on page 9.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Join us for the 2nd biennial festival celebrating the rich tradition of black theatre in the south. This week-long festival spotlights African American theatres, filmmakers, performing artists, scholars, and arts organizations dedicated to preserving & ad-vancing the artistic legacy of the African American experience. This year’s festival
will honor the memory of our beloved, inaugural national chair, Judi Ann Mason and will highlight three areas of her life’s work: the arts, academia, and activism.
Produced by Mahogany Ensemble Theatre
Call for Participants Play a leading role in this year’s festival
For More Information
Visit www.southernblacktheatrefest.org
Or Call 318-745-ARTS (2787)
Present a play, spoken word, staged reading Conduct a workshop Be a volunteer, intern, partner Exhibit creative work Be a festival collaborator Perform in the college showcase And much more!
Singing background can be an awesome opportunity to share God’s word with peo-
ple, travel, and meet new people. That is, if you can land a gig with Christian re-
cording artists, groups, or choirs that are on the move.
International, award-winning singer Donnie McClurkin just announce that he is
searching for background vocalists to minister and travel with him. Who knows?!
This could be your opportunity!
If your schedule and lifestyle allows, here’s how you can pursue this exciting chance
to operate in your gift and calling:
Make a YouTube video of yourself singing
Email the video link using the form on the website: http://donnieradio.com
Make sure to include in your email: Your name, where you’re from, and a valid
return email address, so you can be contacted if selected.
Singer/songwriter Deitrick Haddon is preparing to make his motion picture debut in the new
movie Blessed and Cursed. Written by the artist, the movie serves as a modern day adaptation of
the Biblical account of Saul and David.
Joining Haddon in the film are actors Sheryl Lee Ralph and Drew Sidora. In addition, the film
features guest appearances by Kierra Sheard, Karen Clark Sheard, Damita Haddon, Dr.
Bobby Jones, J. Moss, Jor'el Quinn of 21:03, Mali Music, and Rance Allen.
The movie is set to release to DVD on July 27, 2010. Haddon, along with his choir Voices of
Unity, will release an accompanying soundtrack to the movie, featuring the lead single "Judah",
on June 29, 2010.
Fences stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis took home the Tony for the Best
Performance by a Leading Actor and Actress in a Play award both thanking God
for their wins.
“I don’t believe in luck or happenstance,” said Davis. “I absolutely believe in the
presence of God in my life.” She also thanked the people in her life "who held me
up when I couldn't hold myself up" and thanked her husband. "I still think God sent
his blessings to the wrong house, but I'm gonna take him!" Davis previously won a
Tony Award in 2001 for August Wilson's King Hedley.
“My mother always said man gives you the award and God gives you the reward,”
first-time winner Washington shared in his speech. “I guess I got both tonight.”
Washington also thanked his longtime wife Paulette in the audience and his children
watching from home, adding, “Go to bed!”
Continued from page 6
7 Steps to Your Dreams
O – Open your mind! Accept all options as possible. In
order to move forward with your goals, you need to leave
negative thoughts behind. Establish a daily routine of
positive self-talk and choose to work through fear and
adversity. The key to success is belief in yourself.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the
desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
M – Measure your success! Don’t think you have to wait
until you’ve reached your goals to consider it a success.
Each and every step along the way that moves you closer
to the end result is a success and a reason to celebrate. If
there are ten, five, or even one thing you must do to reach
your goal, each thing accomplished is a success.
E – Every day! You need to review your goals each and
every day so you never lose site of them. Don’t get caught
up in day to day activities and forget your goals. Review
them each day and take one small step toward reaching
them. Step by step, one day at a time. By practicing to
reach your goals every day, you develop new habits that
bring you closer to those goals.
Make your mantra AWESOME and you’’ll see more
dreams realized. Goal-setting is important, but by choos-
ing to be AWESOME, you will find it easier to determine
which goals to work towards, and make it easier to take
the steps necessary to reach them.
Each of these AWESOME directives will aid you in tak-
ing the steps necessary to set, move towards and reach
your goals. You have the ability to live your dreams. Take
small steps, make little, easy to follow changes, do some-
thing positive every day and your dreams will become
your reality.
You have The Power to change. You have The Power to
choose. Choose to be AWESOME. Choose to be The
Power.
The prerequisite to receiving God's guidance is the will-
ingness to accept it. "Commit your works to the Lord,
and your plans will be established" (Proverbs 16:3).
(BlackDoctor.org) -- There is a myth that dark skin doesn't burn, and there-
fore doesn’t need sunscreen. The reality is that all com-
plexions can burn. Darker skin does provide some protec-
tion from the sun's UV rays – it has more melanin for
natural protection -- but you can’t count on that alone.
The extra melanin doesn't guard against the UV damage
that accelerates aging or causes cancer. The best thing for
darker complexions to do is to begin each day by apply-
ing a sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF of 15 to 30 --
reapplying often while in direct sunlight.
Following are common skin problems caused by sun exposure and tips on
how to rescue your skin from the damage.
For Darkened Facial Skin
Changes in the skin’s pigmentation occur as we age and are very prominent
in African American skin. Exposure to both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultra-
violet B (UVB) light stimulates the production of melanin which most
likely accounts for darkening of the skin. There are 4 commonly occurring
types of darkening.
• Localized areas on the face and neck
• More generalized areas on the face and neck
• Dark under eye circles
• Uneven skin tone
A way to treat the problem is to adopt the daily regimen of applying a SPF
15 or 30 sunscreen. For those who are experiencing pigmentary changes, a
SPF 30 combined with a glycolic acid cream or lotion are recommended.
Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are a great solution for African-
Americans with this problem. It is recommended to undergo glycolic peels
and, for sensitive skin, gentler salicylic peels.
For Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation -- dark spots or splotches from UV-ray exposure --
needs to be treated with a prescription for 4 percent hydroquinone, which is
faster-acting and more effective than the over-the-counter variety. But
make sure you don't use a hydroquinone fader longer than six months, be-
cause a rare condition of permanently darkened skin tone could happen. If
this occurs, take a break for a month or two and then resume treatment. The
widely held idea among women of color that tanning will solve hyperpig-
mentation, by enabling the darker areas to blend in, is purely a myth.
For Dark Freckles
Another pigmentary problem caused by the sun is dermatosis papulosa ni-
gra, or DPNs – a benign cutaneous condition common among blacks. It is
usually characterized by small, brown or black bumps that are sometimes
mistaken for moles. It is felt that a combination of heredity, aging and ex-
posure to the sun are factors in the development of DPNs.
While not dangerous, they can easily be removed in a doctor's office. Since
there is no cream that has the ability to remove DPNs, treatment involves
either excising (cutting) the lesions with as special surgical instrument,
called a gradle scissor, or desiccating (burning) them with an electric nee-
dle. These procedures are well generally tolerated and healing generally
occurs within one week. Side effects of removal may include light or dark
skin discolorations which usually fade rapidly.
By Felicia Vance, BDO Staff
11-Jun-2010 , Copyright © 2005-2010, BlackDoctor.org. All rights re-
served.
Author
Sheila L. Jackson