September 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

Transcription

THE AFFECTS OF RACISM
IN OUR COMMUNITY:
SEPTEMBER 2015
What’s Our Next Move?
WHAT’S INSIDE: LIFESTYLE
People to Watch 4
ADVISORY BOARD
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
MANAGING EDITORS
Shaunda E. Miles
Dr. Anthony Robins
Minerva White
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
Merecedes J. Howze
Tiffany Huff
Deacon Kathy Hunt
Toya Jones
Rev. Cornell Jones
Deacon Claudia Mason
Deacon Dwight Mosley
Ray Porter Jr.
Dawn Williams
Dr. Monnica T. Williams
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
Dania Arrey
Deneen Childress
Paula Cox
Susan Frazier Delaney
Darnell Drewery
Garfield Griffin
Charles Hammond
Merecedes J. Howze
Lora Hubbard
Tiffany Huff
Michelle D. Jackson
Shaunda Miles
Laura V. Norman
Ray Porter Jr.
Dr. Anthony Robins
Veniecia Robinson
Minerva White
ADVERTISING
Orlana Darkins Drewery
Deb Cavrak, Graphic Design
MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Senior Pastor
Rev. John A. Knight,
Staff Assistant to the Senior Pastor
FEATURES
Healing From Injustice 2
Let My People Go 6
What Have your Done for Yourself Lately 12
Racism Itself May be a
Traumatic Experience 16
Christians Possessing
Ninja Warrior Discipline 22
The 20th Anniversary of the
Million Man March 23
Sandra Bland Update 25
The Key to Accepting God’s
Vision for Your Life 27
Tips to Boost Your Family’s
Energy for Back to School 28
Back to School Tips to Keep
Kids Healthy and Safe 30
How to Pack and Organic School
Lunch for Under $5 32
Americans Find Business Travel
a Welcome Escape 33
National Childhood
Obesity Month 34
PAGE 30
CHRISTIANS POSSESSING
NINJA WARRIOR DISCIPLINE
PAGE 22
STRAIGHT OUTTA
COMPTON
PAGE 44
PHOTO
RECAPS
Photo Highlights 29
Mount Snapshots 31
Summer Immersion Project 35
Rev. Sharon Dennard, Dean of M.A.T.A.
Rev. Linda Oliver, Minister of Special Projects
Audry Portis, Accounting Assistant
Tips to Supplement Kids’
Learning at Home 26
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS TO
KEEP KIDS HEALTHY & SAFE
Rev. Robert James, Youth Pastor
Robert Carter, Maintenance Supervisor
Money Tips for Practical People 24
4 Big Mistakes College
Students Make 38
Orlana Darkins Drewery,
Director of Communications
Rev. Sherry Brooks-Faulkner,
Administrative Assistant
Ask a Deacon 20
Prepping for College 101 38
Veniecia Robinson, Chief Financial Officer
Rev. Trini L. Massie, Minister of Worship
The New Pittsburgh Courier 8
To Make Smart School Lunches,
Think Like a Kid 36
Estelle Christian, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Min. Dwayne Fulton,
Director, Fine Arts Department
Mount Ararat Counseling Center 5
ENTERTAINMENT
Who is the Next Steelers Hall of Famer? 40
Movie Scene Queen:
Straight Outta Compton 44
Backpacks & School
Supplies Drive 37
TH E MO U NT S EP TE MBE R 2 0 15
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Orlana Darkins Drewery
1
From
Injustice
BY TOYA JON ES, MSW, L SW
With so many crimes
against our youth, by the
hand of other youths, adults,
even mistreatment from our
police, occurring lately, it
feels like these streets are
getting more dangerous
and less peaceful by the
minute. We’re waiting for
the justice system to give
us justice when perhaps
we should consider that
justice is found in “just us.”
Are we the source or the
catalyst for justice or are
we the perpetrators of the
duress? I’m not saying we
should take the blame, oh
no; the root of this problem
is hardly our doing. The
trauma goes way back and
the traumatic reaction
is passed down through
generations.
ing young ones to grow up
hard, cold and emotionally
frozen in the anticipation that
these streets will kill them;
swallow them up whole.
However, these home grown
coping tools are causing the
reverse effect; causing them to
underreact and ignore all natural, automatic, and survival
instincts. When you are not
taught how to “act right” in
the appropriate situations or
you are coached to suppress
your automatic reactions and
emotions to a stressful event,
you find yourself reacting
inappropriately in the face of
danger.
For instance, as a trauma
therapist, I had a young adult
in therapy who told me he
was in a particular situation
where a young man pulled a
gun out and pointed it at him.
He threatened to shoot him
if he didn’t leave his apartment. My client’s continued
exposure to violence and his
lack of significant trauma
treatment throughout his life,
caused him to challenge the
man and to respond inappropriately in the face of danger.
He stated to the gun man, “If
you gonna pull that gun out,
you better use it, shoot me,
go ahead and shoot me!” Had
that man taken him up on his
challenge, my client wouldn’t
be here today. My fear is that
one day he won’t be so lucky.
Getting peace
from injustice
Many scholars have researched and asked the age
old question, “How can we
heal from years of injustice
perpetrated on African
Americans?” I don’t profess to
have all the answers; however,
from my years of experience;
I have seen what has worked
for my therapy clients.
I must emphasize, not
everyone exposed to violence
will be traumatized. However,
traumatic events build on top
of each other like an unstable
foundation of a house. If left
untreated, trauma will continue to build with each incident
and eventually overwhelm
that person. That is when
trauma symptoms become
present and therapeutic
intervention is necessary.
There are several treatment
methods; from traditional to
evidence based treatments
to creative and culturally
centered methods.
In a book written by Dr.
Joy Degruy, “Post Traumatic
Slave Syndrome 2005,” she
described her experience in
South Africa; where she was
deeply trouble and saddened
by the injustice she witness
on a daily basis. The people in
the village organically formed
a healing circle to comfort
her in her time of need. She
states, “…Every time I would
cry, the South Africans would
simultaneously begin singing.
Nobody attempted to stop
me or hand me a tissue; they
would just sing. After they
finished singing, extemporaneously in four part harmony,
they would turn to the women
in our group and asked us to
offer up a song or two.”
As African descendents,
we have to return to our spirituality. Looking back over
our lives through generations,
we can see just how deeply
spirituality has connected
us as a race. In my opinion,
we’ve gotten away from that
spiritual connection and have
turned to serve other gods:
money, sex, power, the list
goes on and on, often putting
our faith in God on the shelf
to chase after the American
dream. In all it tends to be a
materialistic dream that bandages the generations of pain
instead of healing the wounds
causing the pain. As the Bible
says in II Chronicles 7:14,
“If my people, who are
called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and
seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and I will
forgive their sin and will heal
their land.” (NIV)
It is important to provide
a Strength-based approach
to treatment, incorporating
and identifying family and
culture strengths. Often times
therapy can be perceived as
pointing out the negative and
focusing on ‘what’s wrong
with you’ rather than ‘what
wrong has happened to you.’
Identifying and focusing on
the positive attributes, the
resilient qualities that have
helped propelled that person
and their family through
years of unfair life experiences is a great place to begin the
healing journey.
Whether we use conventional family therapy
methods, European methods,
African centered therapies,
journal therapy, individual
or group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or creative therapies (arts, music,
movement etc.); it is up to the
clients and the providers, to
start towards the path of healing. It is a habit of our culture
not to seek outside help. We
tend to go to our spiritual
leaders, family members and
friends. While I am a firm believer in the ancient African
proverb, “It takes a village to
raise a child,” and that we all
need to help heal our community and build a network of
friends, family and community members to support one
another; I also believe that,
often times, these strategies
are more effective in conjunction with professional
intervention. If trauma
symptoms are present, a
trained trauma specialist
is most beneficial.
As a licensed, trauma
therapist, I use an array
of treatment methods to
assist my clients overcome
the layers of trauma in
their lives. I begin with
educating the person and
Healing
How can we, in our right
minds, think that generations
of injustice and years of slavery could not affect us? The
Kiswahili word Maafa meaning “great disaster” is often
used by Afrocentric scholars
to refer to the era of slavery
(Ani, 1994: Kambon, 1998: Rishards, 1980). “The Maafa was
a wound on the soul of African Americans that has had
profound multigenerational
consequences. (Boyd-Franklin, 2003)” Slavery has and
continues to impact us spiritually, mentally and culturally today. Some symptoms
of traumatic impact are:
nightmares, hyper-vigilance
(overly watchful and overly
alert), exaggerated startle
response, irritability/anger,
flat affect (void of emotional
response), inappropriate response, avoiding reminders of
the traumatic event, recurrent
intrusive memories, changes
in appetite, trouble sleeping
and in children, regressive
behaviors, acting out, and reenactment through their play;
just to name a few.
However, within our culture it is common practice to
walk around on a daily basis
as if nothing bothers us and
like we are ‘ok’ all of the time;
when in fact, those traumatic
events and unfair life experiences do impact us greatly.
Let’s not mistake resilience
and perseverance for being
unaffected. As a race, African
Americans have had the ‘fake
it until you make it’ tattoo on
our shoulders for decades.
It is how we were taught
from a young age: show no
vulnerability, act as though
nothing impacts you, always
stay strong, keep your family
business in the family and
trust no one. While some of
these teachings were necessary, some of the methods are
maladaptive, counter-productive, and outdated, in other
words, ‘They Don’t Work!’
We are teaching and coach-
continued on the following page
3
4
OVERVIEW
P E O P L EH
TO WAT C
THE CENTER
THAT CARES
DR. KATHI ELLIOTT CONTINUING HER
MOTHER’S LEGACY AS NEW EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF GWEN’S GIRLS
PIT TSBURGH, PA , AUGUST 25 , 2015
Gwen’s Girls proudly announces that Dr. Kathi Elliott has been selected to serve as the
organization’s executive director. Dr. Elliott’s mother, the late Gwendolyn Elliott, one of
the first African American female police officers in 1973, and eventually the first woman
promoted to Sergeant and ultimately Commander founded the organization in 2002.
Since then, the organization continues to equip girls and young women to become self-
sufficient adults that build strong family units, develop strong support systems and contribute to their communities. The mission of Gwen’s Girls is to empower girls and young
women to have productive lives through holistic, gender-specific programs, education
and experience.
As executive director, Dr. Elliott is responsible for the
strategic development of the organization and its programs as well
as generating financial and community resources to support the
mission of Gwen’s Girls.
Dr. Elliott, honored to have been selected to continue the
organization her mother founded over 10 years ago, brings over
15 years of experience in social service, community and individual mental health treatment. As a visionary leader, Dr. Elliott’s
culmination of education, work and life experiences will assist her
in continuing the legacy of providing a comprehensive approach
to addressing the issues that impact the well-being of girls, women
and families.
An alumnus of Chatham University, Dr. Elliott holds a
Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Master’s degree in Nursing
and Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. A native of
Pittsburgh, she is passionately involved in public service and participates with organizations that continuously work to obtain rights
for women, victims and disadvantaged populations.
This year, Gwen’s Girls, a well-recognized forerunner in
intervention policies and practices that enhance the child and
social welfare system, will be aggressively seeking foster parents to
serve their population and will be soon launching a campaign to
encourage positive self-esteem in girls and young women.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
GWEN’S GIRLS, CALL THE ORGANIZATION AT 412.904.4239 OR VISIT
GWENSGIRLS.ORG.
MOUNT ARARAT
COUNSELING CENTER
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
MOUNT ARARAT COUNSELING CENTER
(MACC)
271 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.441.1800 Ext. 270
THE GOOD GRIEF CENTER
2717 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.224.4700
RE:SOLVE CRISIS NETWORK
333 North Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
1.888.796.8226
PEER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY NETWORK
(PSAN) WARMLINE
1-866-661-WARM (9276)
MERCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE
1-877-637-2924
WESTERN PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE AND
CLINIC
412-624-1000 or Toll free 1(877)-624-4100
NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL
ILLNESS) SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, McKnight Plaza,
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-366-3788 or Toll free: 1-888-264-7972
The Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) is designed
to fill the gaps identified in
both the Church and in the
greater Pittsburgh community
by providing affordable and
accessible services as well as
trained licensed mental health
professionals who incorporate
culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate counseling
services that include spiritual,
Christian and faith-based interventions.
GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
MACC’s approach to addressing client needs integrates
spiritual, Christian, ethical and
religious values. It is MACC’s
belief that the infusion of
these elements into the counseling process is essential for
the overall development of
those that will be served. Another goal of MACC includes
providing Christian-based
psychological and emotional support, as well as social
services to clients, who may
or may not be members of
Mount Ararat Baptist Church
(MABC), but who are in need
of professional guidance and
advocacy in dealing with issues
that may prevent effective and
responsible conduct of their
daily lives.
TARGET POPULATIONS
The target clientele for MACC
are individuals, couples,
families, and groups across
the lifespan (i.e., children,
adolescents, adults and older
adults). MACC will be targeted to members of MABC, to
other church congregations,
to members of the East Liberty
area of Pittsburgh, and to
members of the greater Pittsburgh Community.
COMMON CONCERNS
ADDRESSED BY MACC
Depression; Anxiety; Stress;
Abuse; Crisis Support; Relationship Issues; Grief, Death
& Loss; Self-Esteem; Alcohol
& Substance Abuse; Identity;
Development; Career Planning
& Development; Anger; Life
Skills; Deficits; Retirement.
MACC STAFF
Trained professional or clinicians (i.e. licensed or masters-level) with diverse qualifications and backgrounds,
including professional counseling, marriage, couple and
family therapy, psychology,
pastoral counseling and counseling psychology, conduct
the Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) counseling
sessions. Some counseling
services may be provided by
qualified students enrolled
in masters-level and doctoral
degree programs under the
supervision of MACC licensed
mental health professionals
and faculty members or doctoral interns who are licensed
mental health professionals.
INSURANCE & FEES
Highmark, UPMC, and Community Care Behavior Health
(CCBH) insurance companies
cover MACC’s services, and
we also offer fee-for-service
and sliding scale for those who
may not have insurance and/
or may have difficulty paying.
In extreme cases of financial
hardships and lack of insurance, pro-bono assistance
may be available. Please
contact MACC for further
information on the rates for
counseling services.
THE MO UNT S E PTE MB ER 20 15
their entire family about the effects of
being exposed to traumatic events and
helping them to increase their positive
coping tools. Often times, I find that
most people are unaware what their bodies and minds are doing and they either
work hard to ignore the trauma symptoms or numb them with alcohol, drugs
and other unhealthy habits. It is important to educate them on the symptoms of
unresolved trauma, identify those maladaptive coping methods, replace them
with positive coping tools and build their
support network.
In order for us to heal from the
injustice of today, we have to heal from
the injustice of yesterday. We must start
at the foundation and resolve those unresolved traumas that have been building
on top of one another for generations;
identifying those layers of trauma and
uncovering them one by one. We have to
trace the route of unjust treatment, return to our anchor of our faith and begin
the healing process.
5
People
Go
BY R EV ER EN D COR N ELL JON ES
6
comes from deep within the souls of
their ancestors, the slaves. Oppression,
rejection and segregation leave a human
being with no one to turn to, but God.
Hope came alive through spiritual songs,
which were sung in the heat of southern
plantations long ago. Without that old
hope, the courage to seek Civil Rights
could not have come. It was hope that
created the churches which were raised
by faith, and it was the church that produced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev.
Cornell Talley, Rosa Parks, Nate Smith,
Bernard Jones, Rev. Jimmy Joe Robinson, Elma Speed Fox, and other leaders
of the Civil Rights Movement. For these
powerful leaders, it wasn’t just about
religion, but the spirit of so many souls
who remained faithful to hope.
Every time the lyrics were sung
from the songs of slavery, “Swing low
Sweet Chariot,” it became an act of faith
which created the need for change, and
because of this, the Civil Rights Movement was destined to take place. “We
Shall Overcome,” the church stood by its
leaders with that same hope and faith,
which gave Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
the words that were finally heard with
opened minds: “I have been to the mountain top and I’ve seen the other side.”
In post slavery years, the church
continued the quest towards civil liberty.
In Alabama, The Brown Chapel AME
Church played a pivotal role in the southern state marches and led to the passage
of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The church
was built by a Black builder named A.J.
Farley. Joining other Civil Rights leaders,
his head was fractured in what became
known as “Bloody Sunday.” The list of
those who directly came from the church
and changed our country goes on and
on.
The legendary Brown Chapel sits on
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, as a
historical monument to the Civil Rights
Movement. How amazing that most
have never heard of the man who built it!
Still, this is just another way the church
played a major role in making the American dream come true for everyone.
The church is still needed in these days
and times. We are still dealing with
racism, self-hate, mental slavery, mass
incarceration, teenage pregnancy, police
brutality and much more. Today, we
have Christian leaders such as Rev. Dr.
Jamal Bryant, Cornell West, Rev. John
Welch, Rev. Glenn Grayson, Rev. Eileen
Smith, Rev. Eugene Blackwell, Rev.
Darnell Drewery, Sister Brandi Fisher,
Rev. Leonard Hammonds, Rev. Chad
Collins, and many more, standing up
for injustices. These people are putting
their lives on the line just like Brother
Moses and Sister Harriet Tubman. They
are speaking to the systems that are like
the Pharaoh and telling them to “Let My
People Go and let them live free.”
Today the churches in African-American communities continue to
play a role in changing our society. The
church is actively seeking to improve the
urban communities and provide safe havens for Black children. They take on the
issues of the community with constant
hope and amazing faith. To me these are
the modern day Moses.
My challenge/question to you is this:
are you going to just watch what is going
on in the communities that our churches
are in and do nothing? Our communities
are waiting for transformation and true
transformation comes from Christ Jesus.
Let’s continue to let the light and love of
Jesus Christ shine in the darkest places of
the world.
Rev. Cornell Jones [email protected]
412-952-5230
Then the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Go in
unto Pharaoh and tell him, thus saith the
Lord God of the Hebrews: Let My people
go, that they may serve Me.’
Exodus 9:1
Let My
Of all of the books in the Bible, my favorite is the book of Exodus. The book tells
the story of how this stuttering man with
anger issues goes to this big, bad Pharaoh
and demands that he releases the Israelites from servitude. I love the fact that
God shows us that the Israelites were
living a life of slavery. They had been living like this for hundreds of years …..but
God said “I will send someone who will
free them from their bondage.” Moses,
through his obedience to God, was a
Bondage Breaker. Through his obedience, he helped the people change the
state of mind that was killing them.
This also makes me think about
Harriet Tubman, who was another
freedom fighter that freed thousands of
slaves through the Underground Railroad. She risked her life on a daily basis
to free men, women, and children from
slavery. A very powerful quote of hers is:
“I freed a thousand slaves, I could have
freed a thousand more if only they knew
they were slaves.”
As Christians, it is important that
God has called us to help, serve, love and
stand up for people who are in bondage. Simply sitting back watching the
news-seeing chaos and violence going on
in our communities-gets very trying at
times. We have reached the point where
the negative things that are happening seem to be the norm in our lives.
Because of my love for the community,
and its people, I go to a lot of the community forums and rallies. The people
at these rallies are normally frustrated
and looking for someone to help. The
most frustrating question that I hear
on a regular basis is the question:
“Where is the church?”
Let’s take a look at history for a
moment. The church has been and
remains a major contributor to the
enlightenment and empowerment
of the people in our communities.
The church was the place where
people would pray together, organize together, and grow together.
The role of the church in the
African-American community
played a major role in the Civil
Rights Movement. It began long
before Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. It began
during the times of slavery.
African-American
churches still pray the same
way today, with a spirit that
7
JULIAN BOND REMEMBERED AS COMMITTED,
SHARP, INSPIRING
BY CHR ISTI A N MOR ROW
Like many, Alma Speed Fox
was shocked when she heard
Julian Bond, educator, politician, NAACP board chairman and civil rights icon, had
died at 75.
“He always looked so
young—he still did. I thought
he’d always look that way,”
she said. “Though I didn’t
get to work with him, I loved
seeing him at the Chicago
convention. He could put people together—the NAACP,
the Urban League. It was
hard to build coalitions, but
he could.”
Connie Parker, NAACP
Pittsburgh Unit President,
was equally shocked by the
news.
“I just saw him at the
National NAACP convention
in Philadelphia last month. It
8
was a total surprise,” she said.
“Julian had great stature.
He was a solid man. And he
had that southern gentleman
mentality, the clothes and
the mannerisms. He has to
remain part of our history because we need to know what
we’re working for. He knew
what he was working for.”
Bond is remembered
for founding the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating
Committee at age 20 in 1960
and leading student protests
of Jim Crow laws throughout
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas at a time
when Blacks were being shot
or hanged for such activity.
Following the passage
of the Voting Rights Act,
Bond was elected to the U.S.
House from Georgia and later
elected to the Senate. At the
1968 Democratic convention,
he became the first African
American nominated for
president by a major party.
“He was one of my
influences in the 1960s,” said
Tim Stevens, former Pittsburgh NAACP president. “I
was proud when he integrated the Georgia legislature.
He always had a cerebral
approach, but was direct to
issues dealing with race. And
as a spokesperson, he was a
riveting icon. Another one of
my heroes, he’ll be missed.”
Rick Adams, longtime
Civil Rights activist and
assistant vice president of
the Frieda Shapira Center
at Community College of
Allegheny County said Bond
would be remembered for his
courage.
“Julian Bond will be
forever remembered as the
erudite, soft spoken revolutionary that played a pivotal
role on the front lines as a
courageous soldier in the
fight to topple the decades
old edifice of Jim Crow as a
SNCC organizer at a time
when to just call for voting
rights could get you killed,”
he said.
“He publically criticized
the notorious FBI Director J.
Edgar Hoover when others
would not even mention
his name in private for fear
of retribution. Julian was
unquestionably one of the
greatest champions of human
rights bar none.”
Send comments to:
[email protected]
JULIAN BOND (FILE PHOTO BY
ROSSANO P. STEWART)
BY CHR ISTI A N MOR ROW
During its August meeting, the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
board of directors approved multiple
initiatives aimed at improving economic and housing conditions in Larimer,
Homewood and Manchester.
In Larimer, the board approved
$638,000 for the expansion of Mike’s
Auto Body, including the sale of six
authority-owned lots. The expansion—
a new 12,000 square-foot building with
22 bays is expected to create 36 jobs
and bring new economic activity to the
neighborhood.
The new building was designed by
Howard Graves and includes a “wrap” of
the original Meadows Street building to
conform to the look of the addition. The
entire project is budgeted at $2.8 million,
with the bulk of the financing coming
from First Commonwealth Bank.
Also in Larimer, the board approved
the sale of 439 Larimer Avenue to a subsidiary of KBK enterprises, owned by developer Keith B Key. Key plans to convert
the existing two-story structure on the
lot into three offices spaces, a reception
area, kitchenette and a conference room.
The project also includes a 560-square
foot addition to the existing building and
is budgeted at $484,000. The completed
building will be leased for community/
public meetings and services.
The board also approved the sale
of 10 lots along North Dallas Avenue
in Homewood to the Pittsburgh Housing Development Corporation for the
construction of eight new single-family,
for-sale homes. The development is projected to cost $2.4 million.
In Manchester, the board approved
additional grant financing for phase four
of the Columbus Square housing development at the former Thomas & Betts
Brownfield site. This phase includes the
construction of four new single-family
homes, and is again under development
by the Manchester Citizens Corporation.
The three- and four-bedroom homes
PHOTO CAPTION: KEITH B. KEY: BUILDING A NEW CONFERENCE CENTER IN LARIMER. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
range in price from $239,900 to $339,900,
but the authority has committed deferred second mortgage funding to make
the houses affordable to those at or below
115 percent of the area median income.
Because these homes are in a city-designated “Growth Zone,” they also qualify
for a 10-year tax abatement on city and
school district taxes.
The board also agreed to accept up
to $316,000 in federal funding to construct an East Liberty Intermodal Bike
Garage as part of the renovation and
expansion of the PAT Station on Penn
Avenue.
The authority’s largest order of business, however, concerned approval of the
$35 million project to convert the former
Saks Fifth Avenue building and an adjacent property into a 600-space parking
garage atop ground floor retail space.
Approvals were also granted for
funding on the Pittsburgh Technology
Center’s $14 million Indigo Hotel project,
as well as for projects in Garfield, Crafton Heights, Frick Park, Lawrenceville
and Oakland.
Send comments to:
[email protected].
MOUNT MAGAZINE NEWS PARTNER
newpittsburghcourieronline.com
URA BOARD
APPROVES HOUSING,
BUSINESS EXPANSION IN
BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS
9
BY R EN EE P. A LDR ICH
Keimon Alexander Dupree, 14, a ninthgrade honor student at Urban Pathways
Charter School in Downtown Pittsburgh,
has the demeanor of a seasoned scholar
with his eyes on the prize—a degree in
mechanical engineering from Harvard
University, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology or Carnegie Mellon University.
He is on track for reaching his goal
in that his favorite subject is math. He
has maintained a 4.0 GPA for the majority of his school years and has a unique
and quick understanding of the technical
aspects of things.
When Keimon’s father brought
home a set of schematics from an electrical class he was taking for work, the
youth spotted them on the table and then
demonstrated his keen ability to translate information, stunning his parents.
“He was quickly looking at them
and holding a discussion with his father
about them,” said Keimon’s mother,
Keisha, who works for Pittsburgh Public
Schools. “We were both amazed. It was
like Greek to me. His dad was going to
class for it, but Keimon was able to explain them to me.”
His father, Mondale, a senior
mechanic with P&W Foreign Cars, said
Keimon figured things out at an early
age.
“He was walking by eight months
and the doctor warned us, that if we
should see him walking, we should
quickly grab him up. His legs were not
strong enough.”
His parents share that they knew
early on that it would be important to
keep their two sons busy, to identify their
interests and then direct them that way.
His mom explained that “concentrating
on good schools and afterschool programs was essential, since we both work. But most important was to set guidelines
in our home and stick to them.”
Keimon, who resides with his family
in Pittsburgh’s Oak Hill neighborhood,
has the all the makings of a real renaissance man. Apart from his scholarly
abilities, he plays soccer and football,
and is an accomplished musician on the
steel pans, trumpet and guitar.
“He has never had a formal music
lesson—but reads music and plays by ear
as well,” Keisha said.
Tracy Whorton, the music teacher
at Urban Pathways, invited Keimon to
become a part of the Senior Steel Pan
Ensemble because she saw his ability to
analyze concepts and then grasp them.
“There are three things that make
him the kind of student teachers hope
for: he wants to learn, he thinks things
through and then he will ask mind-blowing questions, and he has amazing family
support,” Whorton said. “All these things
make him ideal to teach.”
Keimon and his brother, Michael,
who also does well in school, have participated in Higher Achievement, a rigorous afterschool and summer academic
program that gives youth from at-risk
communities their best opportunity to
succeed in middle school—and in life.
“Keimon’s accomplishments with
Higher Achievement are many,” said Dr.
Wendy Ethridge Smith, Higher Achievement executive director. “He was a youth
keynote speaker at the 2012 National
Summer Learning Conference, as well
PHOTO CAPTION: KEIMON DUPREE ASPIRES TO BE A
MECHANICAL ENGINEER, BUT BALANCES HIS ACADEMIC PURSUITS WITH SPORTS AND MUSIC. (PHOTO
BY JACQUELYN MCDONALD FOR NEW PITTSBURGH
COURIER)
as the 2013 youth speaker at
the ‘Lights On Afterschool’
event at the Consol Center
in October 2013, and has
led his fellow scholars in
Higher Achievement as the
‘Hill District Ambassador.’
He is our version of student
leadership.”
This May, Keimon
became the first Higher
Achievement Pittsburgh
scholar to win a $1,000
scholarship through the
Norman and Ruth Rales
Foundation, which has
pledged a special award to
one eighth-grade graduate
per city who exemplifies
Higher Achievement culture
and academic excellence. He
will be recognized at Higher
Achievement’s annual gala
in Washington, D.C., this
November.
Every fall, Urban Pathways conducts Northwest
Evaluation Association’s
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment testing. Keimon’s parents were
told that his score of 256 was
off the chart and it was higher than any of the seniors—
this was college-level math.
Hunkered down close
to his mother on the sofa,
Keimon simply summed up
his skills and achievements
in a few brief sentences.
“For one thing, I enjoy
it all, and when you really
enjoy what you’re doing, it
is not that difficult to do it.
I always just liked figuring
things out—I think my
thought process just works
like that, so I can make
anything out of whatever I
am working with. I just like
to make things.”
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MOUNT ARARAT MALE
CHORUS…A JOYFUL NOISE
BY DEBBIE NOR R ELL
Community
College of
Allegheny
County offers:
ccac.edu
CONGRATULATIONS!
MOUNT ARARAT’S MALE CHROUS
SPOTLIGHTED IN THE NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OUR GOAL IS YOUR
SUCCESS.
“Lord please use me as your
instrument to touch others’
lives,” is what the Mount
Ararat Baptist Church Male
Chorus repeats before they
sing or practice. On June
14, at the Doubletree Hotel
in Monroeville, nearly 450
attended and were touched
by the male chorus as they
presented their second
Annual Concert and Dinner. Michelyn Hood-Tinor
served as the host for the
evening. Hood-Tinor is
normally seen on the “big
screen” doing the announcements from The Mount, on
this evening she was live
and in person.
The Mount Ararat
Male Chorus was founded
in March 1974 under the
direction of Earl King.
Eighteen years ago Tony
Mitchell took over the reins
of the choir and with his
writing and performance
skills Mitchell taught the
male chorus how to bring
joy and the love of Christ to
thousands over the years.
Through Mitchell’s
work in the Gospel Music
Writers Association, the
Male Chorus began attending and ministering at the
Gospel Music Workshop of
America’s Annual Convention.
They attended their
first convention in 2013, they
learned as a choir and grew
as brothers. Last year they
attended the convention in
Atlanta and knew before
they left that they would
head as group at the convention scheduled for July 26-31
of this year in New Orleans.
The Male chorus is
privileged to serve under
the pastorship of Rev. Dr.
William H. Curtis, the leadership of Minister Dwayne
Fulton and the directorship
of Anthony “Pops” Mitchell. The Male Chorus sings
in praise every second
weekend during services
at Mount Ararat Baptist
Church.
(MT-A R A R AT.ORG)
GENERATION NEXT:
KEIMON DUPREE,
ASPIRING ENGINEER
11
What Have You Done
For Yourself Lately?
BY R EV ER EN D DR . W ILLI A M H. CURTIS
12
Consider this: occasionally, when you help yourself,
you open the door to helping others and contributing more deeply to your church, your family, your
community, and the world. Does that sound like a
selfish statement, a bold assumption, or permission
to indulge yourself? Honestly, it might be all of the
above, but it is also advice to heed. When you make
yourself the best that you can be, taking time for
prayer or making time to relax with your family, you
can also offer advice and support to others in the
same way.
When we take care of ourselves, we are better at
a lot of things. Well-rested parents are more patient,
children who are allowed to pursue their interests do
better in life in the long run, and professionals who
eat right, take walks during the day, and have some
fun now and then are more effective in their jobs. We
know these are facts, but we often have a hard time
believing them. Why? Because we want to believe
that the executive who only goes to church and never has fun is the one who is going to do well. After
all, haven’t we always heard that hard work, and
only hard work, pays off? We want to believe that
the parents who stay up all night with new babies
and keep going all day long with no rest and no help
are the ones who are doing everything right. Why?
We want to believe that denying ourselves is going
to help us achieve our life goals. In my book, Dressed
For Victory: Putting On the Full Armor of God, I directly
address what we need to do to prepare and enforce
our armor against the enemy and against anyone
or anything that challenges our fortitude. We need
to do some self-exploration and find out where our
strengths and weaknesses lie.
Depriving ourselves of detrimental activities is
obviously beneficial and remaining disciplined in
the way that God wants us to be disciplined is key.
We need to pray or have some sort of introspection
and conversation with God in our day, and we need
to be the best that we can be in every situation.
What does that entail? As Christians, it means that
we need to honor and obey God and live a life that
will be pleasing to Him. This includes the use of
the strengths that God has given us and enjoying
the unique interests He has gifted us with. It should
also include fellowship with others, keeping in
mind that we continue to provide an example to
those who may need to know what it is like to be
closer to God. This is a tall order sometimes, but I
think we are all up to the task of giving of ourselves,
even when we might need to be gracious to those
who are not as gracious to us. By enjoying ourselves, I simply mean that at
the end of a long day or week, if we allow ourselves to read a book that we want to read, take
a trip that we want to take, or even watch a
favorite show while eating some ice cream, we
might be more focused in our jobs, happier in
our relationships, and generally more rested
and well-rounded in life.
Resting and rejuvenating ourselves
leads to better productivity. Allowing
others to enjoy themselves without
judging is also a more open and
productive way to live. We can still
go to church, but we might want to
stop at the local barbeque place on
the way home. We can still work
hard, but it’s okay to meet friends for
dinner and conversation at the end
of the day. And when we see others
eating lunch at a nice place on a
day that we’re working or watch
people take off for the beach
while we stay in the city, we
should wish them well and
understand that taking care
of ourselves and understanding our own needs
and interests is one way we
can become more focused,
well-rounded, and better at what
we do everyday, from worship to
work and from family time to
personal development. Take
that time for yourself and
learn to relish the introspection and preparation
for the challenges that life
will, inevitably, send your
way. It’s like polishing the
“Armor of God.” Read Dr. Curtis’ “Insights” every
week by visiting WHCMinistries.org
Facebook Fan Page WHCMinistries
Follow Him on Twitter @PasCurtis
HOUSEPARENTING
IS-A-CALLING
Milton Hershey School Houseparents feel right at home
You are cordially invited to a
Luncheon & Special Presentation
Houseparenting: Shaping Kids’ Lives
Your host: Milton Hershey School
Monday, September 28, at Noon
Kingsley Association
6435 Frankstown Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206
Kindly respond by Wednesday, September 23,
by calling Vera Cornish at 717-343-1509
or emailing [email protected]
We look forward to seeing you Monday, September 28.
Milton Hershey School (MHS) is located in Hershey, Pa. The presentation will share employment
opportunities with a focus on houseparents. In a commitment to diversity and inclusion, you are invited to this
special event. The desire is to hire the best possible staff and create a culturally inclusive campus.
Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, offering a top-notch education and positive home
life to children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from families of lower income at no charge. The mission
of this residential home and school is to educate children to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
MHS believes that a family’s income shouldn’t determine a child’s outcome.
To learn more about careers at MHS, visit mhskids.org/careers.
A normal dinner time conversation for Meka and Gerald
Sanders may be a bit louder than yours, but this pair of
Milton Hershey School® houseparents wouldn’t change
it for anything. Meka and Gerald are in their sixth year
as houseparents at Milton Hershey School, and at any
given time can manage up to 12 middle school boys in
their student home. It’s a job they describe as “a calling.”
“When we found out about Milton Hershey School,
we really thought it would be ideal for what we were
currently doing at the time,” Meka said.
Meka and Gerald had been living in Florida and
working for another non-profit helping children when
they were looking to move back north to be closer to
family. Meka’s parents had known about MHS and its
mission to help children from families of lower income.
MHS is a cost-free, private residential school and
home for boys and girls in pre-K through 12th grade.
The staff is dedicated to maximizing the potential of
children, providing every imaginable resource along
with a premier education, access to extra curricular
activities and post-graduation support.
It was perfect fit for the Sanders who have embraced
houseparenting while also raising their two children,
Dale and Gerald Jr., in their student home.
“I always feel like every day I am helping to mold
the lives of young men,” Gerald said.
Houseparents at MHS significantly impact the
lives of students. Both Meka and Gerald work closely
with the students in their home, often helping them
with their homework and chores, as well as remaining
a positive role model by teaching them life lessons and
core values.
“It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle,” Meka said. “Many of
our student’s parents play a huge role in their lives and
are such an influence, and that really helps with our job
as houseparents in helping them to succeed.”
MHS currently serves more than 2,000 students. There
are more than 170 student homes across the MHS
campus that students can live in year-round with a
married couple.
“It’s a really amazing opportunity to help kids who
come from all types of backgrounds with wonderful
support around you,” Meka said.
MHS is always looking for highly qualified couples
who want to shape the lives of children. If you or
someone you know may be an ideal fit for the position,
please visit mhskids.org for more information.
BY MON N ICA T. W ILLI A MS PH.D.
Allen’s symptoms worsened. He had
intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, difficulty
concentrating, irritability, and jumpiness
– all hallmarks of posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Allen later sued his
employer for job-related discrimination,
and five employees supported his
allegations. Allen was found to be
suffering from race-based trauma (from
Carter & Forsyth, 2009).
Epidemiology of
PTSD in Minorities
PTSD is a severe and chronic condition
that may occur in response to any
traumatic event. The National Survey
of American Life (NSAL) found that
African Americans show a prevalence
rate of 9.1% for PTSD versus 6.8% in
non-Hispanic Whites, indicating a
notable mental health disparity
(Himle et al., 2009). Incresed rates
of PTSD have been found in other
groups as well, including Hispanic
Americans, Native Americans, Pacific
Islander Americans. and Southeast
Asian refugees (Pole et al., 2008).
Furthermore, PTSD may be more
disabling for minorities; for example,
African Americans with PTSD
Racism itself may be
a traumatic experience
Allen was a young African American man working
at a retail store. Although he enjoyed and valued
his job, he struggled with the way he was treated
by his boss. He was frequently demeaned, given
menial tasks, and even required to track African
American customers in the store to make sure they
weren’t stealing. He began to suffer from symptoms
of depression, generalized anxiety, low self-esteem,
and feelings of humiliation. After filing a complaint,
he was threatened by his boss and then fired.
17
experience significantly
more impairment at work
and carrying out everyday
activities (Himle, et al. 2009).
Americans, and Asian
Americans, suggesting that
racism may in itself be a
traumatic experience.
Racism and PTSD
PTSD in the
DSM-IV
One major factor in
understanding PTSD in
ethnoracial minorities is the
impact of racism on emotional
and psychological well-being.
Racism continues to be a daily
part of American culture,
and racial barriers have an
overwhelming impact on the
oppressed. Much research has
been conducted on the social,
economic, and political effects
of racism, but little research
recognizes the psychological
effects of racism on people
of color (Carter, 2007).Chou,
Asnaani, and Hofmann
(2012) found that perceived
racial discrimination was
associated with increased
mental disorders in African
Americans, Hispanic
18
Recommended
Reading
Currently, the DSM
recognizes racism as trauma
only when an individual
meets DSM criteria for PTSD
in relation to a discrete racist
event, such as an assault.
This is problematic given that
many minorities experience
cumulative experiences of
racism as traumatic, with
perhaps a minor event
acting as “the last straw” in
triggering trauma reactions
(Carter, 2007). Thus, current
conceptualizations of
trauma as a discrete event
may be limiting for diverse
populations. Moreover,
existing PTSD measures
aimed at identifying an
index trauma typically fail
Stress. The Counseling
Psychologist, 35(1), 13-105.
Bryant-Davis, T., & Ocampo,
C. (2005). Racist incident
based trauma. Counseling
Psychologist, 33, 479-500.
Carter, R.T. & Forsyth, J.M.
(2009). A Guide to the Forensic
Assessment of Race-Based
Traumatic Stress Reactions. J
Am Acad Psychiatry Law, 37,
28–40.
Carter, R. T. (2007).
Racism and Psychological
and Emotional Injury:
Recognizing and Assessing
Race-Based Traumatic
Chou, T, Asnaani, A. &
Hofmann, S. (2012). Perception
of Racial Discrimination and
Psychopathology Across Three
to include racism among
listed choice response
options, leaving such events
to be reported as “other” or
squeezed into an existing
category that may not fully
capture the nature of the
trauma.
This can be especially
problematic as minorities
may be reluctant to volunteer
experiences of racism to
White therapists, who
comprise the majority of
mental health clinicians.
Clients may worry that the
therapist will not understand,
feel attacked, or express
disbelief. Additionally,
minority clients also may not
link current PTSD symptoms
to cumulative experiences
of discrimination if queried
about a single event.
Implications
for Treatment
Racism is not typically
U.S. Ethnic Minority Groups.
Cultural Diversity & Ethnic
Minority Psychology, 18(1),
74-81.
Friedman, M. J., Resick, P. A.,
Bryant, R. A., & Brewin, C.
R. (2011). Considering PTSD
for DSM‐5.Depression and
Anxiety, 28(9), 750-769.
Helms, J.E., Nicholas, G., &
Green, C. E. (2012). Racism
and Ethnoviolence as Trauma:
considered a PTSD Criterion
A event, i.e., a qualifying
trauma. Mental health
difficulties attributed to racist
incidents are often questioned
or downplayed, a response
that only perpetuates the
victim’s anxieties (Carter,
2007). Thus, clients who seek
out mental healthcare to
address race-based trauma
may be further traumatized
by microaggressions — subtle
racist slights — from their
own therapists (Sue et al.,
2007).
Mental health
professionals must be
willing and able to assess
race-based trauma in
their minority clients.
Psychologists assessing
ethnoracial minorities are
encouraged to directly
inquire about the client’s
experiences of racism when
determining trauma history.
Some forms of race-based
trauma may include racial
harassment, discrimination,
witnessing ethnoviolence
or discrimination of
another person, historical
or personal memory of
racism, institutional racism,
microaggressions, and the
constant threat of racial
discrimination (Helms et
al., 2012). The more subtle
forms of racism mentioned
may be commonplace,
leading to constant vigilance,
or “cultural paranoia,”
which may be a protective
mechanism against racist
incidents. However subtle,
the culmination of different
forms of racism may result in
victimization of an individual
parallel to that induced by
physical or life-threatening
trauma.
Bryant-Davis and
Ocampo (2005) noted similar
courses of psychopathology
between rape victims and
victims of racism. Both
events are an assault on the
personhood and integrity
of the victim. Similar to
rape victims, race-related
trauma victims may respond
with disbelief, shock,
or dissociation, which
can prevent them from
responding to the incident in
a healthy manner. The victim
may then feel shame and
self-blame because they were
unable to respond or defend
themselves, which may
lead to low self-concept and
self-destructive behaviors.
In the same study, a parallel
was drawn between racerelated trauma victims and
victims of domestic violence.
Both survivors are made to
feel shame over allowing
themselves to be victimized.
For instance, someone who
may have experienced a racist
incident may be told that if
they are polite, work hard,
and/or dress in a certain
way, they will not encounter
racism. When these rules
are followed yet racism
persists, powerlessness,
hyper vigilance, and other
symptoms associated with
PTSD may develop or worsen
(Bryant-Davis & Ocampo,
2005).
Enhancing Professional
and Research Training.
Traumatology, 18, 65-74.
Pole, N., Gone, J., & Kulkarni
(2008). Posttraumatic stress
disorder among ethnoracial
minorities in the United States.
Clinical Psychology: Science and
Practice, 15(1), 35-61.
Williams, M. T., Malcoun,
E., Sawyer, B., Davis, D. M.,
Bahojb-Nouri, L. V., & Leavell
Bruce, S. (2014). Cultural
Adaptations of Prolonged
Exposure Therapy for
Treatment and Prevention of
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
in African Americans. Journal
of Behavioral Sciences - Special
Issue: PTSD and Treatment
Considerations, 4(2), 102-124.
Himle, J. A., Baser, R. E.,
Taylor, R. J., Campbell, R. D., &
Jackson, J. S. (2009). Anxiety
disorders among African
Americans, blacks of Caribbean
descent, and non-Hispanic
whites in the United States.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders,
23(5), 578-590.
Sue, D.W., Capodilupo,
C.M., Torino, G.C., Bucceri,
J.M., Holder, A.M.B., Nadal,
K.L. & Esquilin, M. (2007).
Racial Microaggressions in
everyday life: Implications for
clinical practice. American
Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286.
Changes in the
DSM-5
Proposed changes to PTSD
criteria in the DSM-5 have
been made to improve
diagnostic accuracy in light of
current research (Friedman
et al., 2011). The first section
involving the experienced
trauma has changed
moderately, reflecting
findings in clinical experience
as well as empirical research.
If a person has learned about
a traumatic event involving
a close friend or family
member, or if a person is
repeatedly exposed to details
about trauma, they may
now be eligible for a PTSD
diagnosis. These changes
were made to include those
exposed in their occupational
fields, such as police officers
or emergency medical
technicians. However, this
could be applicable to those
suffering from the cumulative
effects of racism as well.
The requirement of
responding to the event with
intense fear, helplessness, or
horror has been removed. It
was found that in many cases,
such as soldiers trained in
combat, emotional responses
are only felt afterward, once
removed from the traumatic
setting.
The most notable
change to the criterion is
from a three to a four-factor
model. The proposed factors
are intrusion symptoms,
persistent avoidance,
alterations in cognition and
mood, and hyperarousal/
reactivity symptoms. Three
new symptoms have been
added – persistent distorted
blame of self or others,
persistent negative emotional
state, and reckless or selfdestructive behavior. All of
these symptoms may be also
seen in those victimized by
race-based trauma.
Summary
The changes to the DSM
increase the potential for
better recognition of racebased trauma, although
more research will be
needed to understand the
mechanism by which this
occurs. Additionally, current
instruments should be
expanded and a culturally
competent model of PTSD
must be developed to address
how culture may differentially
influence traumatic stress.
In the meantime, clinicians
should educate themselves
about the impact of racism in
lives of their ethnic minority
clients, specifically the
connection between racist
events and trauma (Williams
et al., 2014).
Dr. Williams conducts PTSD
research and treats PTSD crossculturally. She offers a monthly
webinar for therapists on
understanding and connecting with
African American clients. Visit TZK
Seminars (link is external) to learn
more and/or register (6 CEUs).
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ASK A
DEACON
Q:
How do I know
I’m saved? I’m
asking because
I don’t always
feel like I’m a Christian.
A:
The Bible tells
us, “Most assuredly I say to you,
he who hears
My Word and believes in
Him who sent Me shall have
everlasting life, and shall not
come into judgment, but has
passed from death to life”
(John 5:24). That’s the surest
way to know that you are
saved; if you truly believe in
your heart and confess with
your mouth that Jesus has
come to forgive you of your
sins and to save you from
unrighteousness. For some
‘just believing’ can be a bit
unpromising because most
of us seem to need tangible
things for confirmation or
assurance of our salvation.
We need bells and whistles
to confirm the decision we’ve
just made to welcome us
into the ‘body of Christ’. But
honestly, the bells and whistles don’t happen for most
when we make the decision
to choose Christ as our Lord
and Savior. Therefore, some
of us resort to depending
upon “our feelings” as a
gauge to know for certain
whether or not we are truly
a Christian. Relying on ones
feelings can be a bad benchmark for the truth, instead
we must have faith and trust
what God has promised us.
In the beginning of
time God created us in His
likeness and in His image.
God formed man from the
dust and gave him life. While
none of us can understand
God completely, He has
revealed some truths about
Himself in Scripture. God
alone is Triune in nature.
He is Father, He is Son, and
He is Holy Spirit. Interestingly enough, because He
created us in His very image
and likeness we are created
as physical, spiritual, and
emotional (Soul) beings or
Triune Beings. We have a
spirit, we have a soul, and we
have physical bodies. These
three parts constitute our
very being. We were made
to resemble God. When God
breathed His very breath
into man’s nostrils, we were
given His righteous nature,
but we were also given the
ability to make free choices. Our human nature
also reflects some of God’s
attributes. We love because
we are made in the image of
God.
We are Physical
Beings: The Bible tells us
that we are fearfully and
wonderfully made. “And the
Lord God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living soul.”(Genesis
2:7) Physically we are created
perfectly in His image and
in His likeness. We were
created to fellowship with
one another reflecting God’s
Love. We were given the responsibility to procreate and
to do the work that the Lord
has created us to do which is
Kingdom Building and to become Change Agents in a sin
darkened world. Our responsibility is to make disciples
out of one another (“Go Ye
therefore…,” Matthew 28:19),
to minister to the hurting, to
help the helpless, and to be a
light to lost. Many of us fall
short (well, not in the procreating part) but when it comes
to being Agents of Change
for the Kingdom. We sort of
leave that into the hands of
the clergy, while we do whatever is necessary to please
our own flesh. The flesh is
weak, it gets worn out. It’s decaying daily. We care for the
outer frame by fixing it up
and feeding it things that are
pleasing to us. We do things
with and through our flesh
that may not necessarily be
pleasing to God. So, the flesh
cannot be trusted.
We are Spiritual
Beings: The Spirit nature
gives us the ability to have
an intimate relationship with
God. The Spirit connects us
with God, who is Himself
Spirit. Though we are like
God, we are not God. God
is Spirit. We have a Spirit.
We are a reflection of God’s
Holiness. We were created to
praise Him and to reverence
Him. We commune with God
and hear from God when our
Spirit connects with God.
Unfortunately many of us
also fall short on the Spiritual
aspect of our Triune beings.
We have a Soul
(Emotional Beings): Here we
are able to reason and make
decisions. Our emotions
allow us to think and to feel.
This is a gracious gift from
God. We love because, once
again, we are made in His image and because God is Love.
Therefore, we can be compassionate, faithful, truthful,
kind, and joyful. But because
we live in a sin darkened
world the Soul of man is also
ascribed to such attributes as
hate, lustful desires, selfish
appetites, worry, jealousy
and the like. The soul is said
to be the seat of sin. These
attributes in us can distort
our thinking. So our Soul or
Emotions cannot be trusted.
Hence, the answer
to your question is this: our
emotions are futile. They are
fickle. They do not speak to
the real person that God has
created us to be. Know that
our feelings and emotions
can run a gamut. You can be
up one minute and down the
next. You at times may not
feel like a Christian. Those
feelings are probably contingent upon ill thoughts you
may have, or having done
things you probably feel you
shouldn’t have, or having a
bad day, feelings of guilt or
shame. Whatever the reason,
God knew that we would
fall short and that we would
equate our feelings to our
Salvation process. The Bible
teaches us that, “our very
thoughts are evil.” (Isaiah
59:7) The Bible also says, “…
There is no one who does
good…” (Psalms 14:3) Not one.
Therefore, our feelings and
emotions cannot be trusted.
The only thing that can be
trusted is the Word of God.
And God’s Word is “Yea and
Amen,” God’s Word CAN be
Trusted because God’s promises are True! God’s Word
tells us “that if you confess
with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised Him
from the dead, you will be
saved;” (Romans 10:9). That’s
it! And I’m glad that’s all
that’s required which speaks
to the Faithfulness of God.
He knew if He put any other
conditions on our salvation,
none of us would be saved.
That’s the reason He sent His
only Son to die for us. We
couldn’t do it. I’m so grateful
that the only condition on
salvation is Belief and Confession!
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Submitted by: DEACONS
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20
This section is designed to answer questions that you may have about the Bible or Christianity. In the
church, Deacons function as servants, ministering to the church body in practical ways, including,
but not limited to: discipleship, assisting with baptism, prayer and visitation to the sick. If you
have a question that you would like one of our Deacons to answer, please submit your question to:
[email protected]
CHRISTIANS_POSSESSING_NINJA_WARRIOR_DISCIPLINE
BY SUSA N FR A ZIER DEL A NEY
The 20th anniversary
sabotage and unconventional
guerrilla warfare. Japan was
the home to various ninja clans
and the art was handed down
from father to son as a trade. The
training included endless hours
of running, jumping, swimming,
climbing walls, throwing and a
number of other athletic skills
which enhanced the flexibility
of the ninja. Contestants on the
television show have developed
both their minds and bodies with
absolute discipline, focus, and
and show himself approved unto
God, a workman who need, not
be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15). In
essence, Paul was telling Timothy
that it is of utmost importance to
diligently study and understand
God’s word so that false teachers
and subversive parties would
not deter him from his goal of
keeping the faith as a warrior or
soldier of Christ. Like the ninja warrior who
spends hours developing his
a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). In the
mindset of the American Ninja
Warrior, failure is not an option.
Even if they make mistakes as
they proceed through the obstacle course, they stay focused on
remaining in the competition by
reaching further toward the goal
or prize at the end. Christians
should always strive to better
themselves by seeking God’s approval. He has given them grace
for past mistakes and for pressing
on “Toward the goal to win the
let_us_run_with_endurance_the_race_set_before_us
standing historically what ninjas
were could help clarify their
rise to popularity in comics and
films during recent years. Ninjas
were professional spies, who
used specialized skills known
as Ninjutsu, (the art of stealth).
Although spies and assassins
with unorthodox fighting
skills existed as early as the
sixth century in feudal Japan,
it wasn’t until the eleventh
and twelfth centuries when
fighting escalated between the
upper class samurai and the
common farmers and villagers that Ninjutsu emerged. It
was a means of self-preservation, espionage, camouflage,
22
rigorous training to even qualify.
As I watched with anticipation and cheered on my
favorite contestants, I began to
think about our faith walk with
Christ. When we first accept
Christ as our Lord and Savior,
receiving such a gift seems so
easy, especially since we’re
taught that Jesus paid it all for us
with His precious blood. Yet, to
become ‘Disciples on the Grow’
(as Pastor Curtis so aptly calls
his current sermon series); we
need to mature as Christians by
continuously studying the Word
of God. Consider what apostle
Paul wrote to Timothy, the young
evangelist, advising him “to study
mind and body to prepare for
competition, we as Christians
must continuously study God’s
Word to grow and move on to the
next level. If the American Ninja
Warrior contestants did not physically subject their bodies to a
regimen of rigorous training, they
would not be prepared to move
to the next competitive level. God
has already destined you to be
victorious, but you will never be
where God has destined you to be
if you refuse to train spiritually,
so you can grow. Jesus is cheering you on because, “He knows
the plans God has for you, plans
to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and
prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
In order to stay in this race you
must keep the faith because “The
race is not to the swift, nor the
battle to the strong, nor bread
to the wise, nor riches to the
intelligent, nor favor to those with
knowledge; but time and chance
happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). We must endure to the
end since, “We are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight,
and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the
race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
MILLION MAN
MARCH
20
years after a sea of
black men filled
the National Mall
in Washington and
together pledged to
do right for themselves and their families,
activists are planning a 20th-anniversary
observance of the Million Man March.
As the country finds itself embroiled in
case after case of black men dying while in
police custody or facing what some view as
an unfair shake by the justice system, the
anniversary march will take place October
10, 2015. The march is open to people of
all races, ethnic backgrounds and sexual
preferences.
Rev. Jamal Bryant of Empowerment
Temple AME Church in Baltimore also is
an organizer. Bryant delivered the eulogy
at the funeral of Freddie Gray, a black man
who died in police custody in April, setting
off protests in Baltimore and around the
country.
“Twenty years ago, those who gathered
did so for the dignity of our black men,”
read a joint statement issued by Bryant and
fellow organizer Tamika Mallory, former
executive director of the New York-based
National Action Network. “Today, we
see that the need for justice and equity
is far-reaching, and requires systematic
and deliberate change for people of many
backgrounds.”
SOURCE: USATODAY.COM
PHOTOS FROM: TEABREAKFAST.COM
AND BAHAITEACHINGS.ORG
One of the most fascinating programs of the summer television
line-up is the show, American
Ninja Warrior. It is basically
men and even women competing
against each other to complete
various difficult skills (requiring
physical agility and endurance) in
record time. Like any competitive
sport, contestants are rapidly
eliminated when they fail to complete the entire course of tasks
or proceed further than other
competitors. Perhaps, under-
23
BY DAW N W ILLI A MS
PRACTICAL MONEY TIPS
FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Yes, the holiday season is
quickly approaching. Below
are a few tips to help you
stretch your money while
still providing gifts that everyone on your list will love!
MAKE YOUR OWN GIFTS
INSTEAD OF BUYING
GIFTS FROM THE STORE
AND “MAIL” E-CARDS
Most of us don’t want to be
that person who receives a
gift and then has to stress
about giving a gift in return,
and with the holiday season
just a few months away it’s
not too early to plan out our
finances in terms of gift-giving. One year, my sister and
I got an idea for Christmas
office gifts. We were both
low on funds, but yet, wanted to show our appreciation
towards our colleagues. We
went to a local discount
retailer, purchased mason
jars, ribbon, dry ingredients, and made copies of a
simple cookie recipe as a gift
tag. At the time, I believe
it averaged out to around
$3-$4 for each gift made.
There are many websites
available that provide
instructions or tutorials
of how to make these inexpensive food gifts contained in jars for cookies,
quick breads and soups.
Our colleagues were happy with the gifts as many
said it was convenient
24
since they don’t really have
the time to buy ingredients
for occasional baking.
Another idea is a photo
gift. Many local store chains
now have apps that will
download your pictures
from your phone and have
them ready for pick up within the hour. The most I’ve
ever paid for a 4X6 photo
print was .23 cents. I’ve purchased discount frames for
$2-$5 and added my own
personal touch with scrapbook decorative adhesives
under $5.00. My photo gifts
have been received with
such warm and emotional
appreciation and its simply
priceless to give a gift of a
special moment in time.
Also consider exploring
and received an E(electronic)-card from someone that
was thinking of me, it really
makes my morning and day
all the more pleasant. Some
sites are free and some have
a small yearly subscription
price anywhere from $12$25, which is well worth it
when you consider the price
of just one card these days.
I’m also a fan of boxed set
greeting cards and they
have come a long way in
regards to quality. Many
of the popular Christian
stores and novelty shops sell
beautiful boxed selections,
often at a sale price or with
a coupon.
I hope these ideas assist
you as you begin to plan for
the holidays. Next month,
I will share the value in buying “used” items instead of
“new” items from popular
retail stores.
SANDRA BLAND UPDATE:
Prairie View, Texas, City Council
Votes To Rename Street
Police brutality activists protesting the
death of an African-American woman
have demanded that people “say her
name” to keep the cases in the spotlight. Now, motorists and residents of a
northern Texas city will soon see Sandra
Bland’s name on street signs near her
alma mater.
The City Council in Prairie
View, Texas, recently voted to change
the name of University Drive to Sandra
Bland Parkway, the local KHOU-TV
reported. Bland, the 28-year-old Chicago-area woman who was found dead in
her jail cell in a county jail just days after
she was arrested by a Texas trooper, was
expected to begin a new job at Prairie
View A&M University before she died.
Source: International Business Times (ibtimes.
com)
PHOTO FROM: MSNBC.COM
MONEY TIPS FOR
PRACTICAL PEOPLE
some of the free greeting
card websites. My mother
loves to send out greeting
cards to people for just
about any occasion. In the
last couple of years, she
discovered the cost of cards
has sky rocketed from $5.99
to $9.99 and most don’t
even play a tune! I asked
a retailer why the increase
price and was told it’s due
to the rise in cost in ink and
printing. So since we tend
to be on our smart phones
and computers much of the
day anyway, why not take
time to update your email
contact lists and explore
greeting card websites to
find the one that best suits
your budget. It’s a great
way to do something special
by acknowledging a loved
one’s or co-workers special
day, a life event or to lift
someone’s spirit. And I have
to tell you, anytime I open
my emails in the morning
25
The Key
Tips to Supplement
Kids’ Learning
at Home
to Accepting God’s Vision for Your Life
There’s no reason that learning should
stop once the bell rings. When concepts are reinforced at home, not
only do children learn faster, they are
better prepared to excel in school.
Whether your children are in preschool or are already in grade school,
there are many bright ideas out there
that can give kids an extra academic
edge:
BY TIFFA N Y HUFF
Your world is a classroom that can
provide an abundance of lesson plans.
Start in your own home by exploring
key concepts around the house. From
using measuring cups in the kitchen
to identifying shapes in the playroom,
there are lessons to be learned in every
room.
The new “Get Ready for School”
series by DK includes “I’m Ready for
School,” an interactive book that helps
toddlers practice colors, numbers and
more. Proceeds from the book series
support PBS KIDS, which uses the power of media to help prepare children
for success in school and in life.
Once you’ve mastered the house,
take the show on the road. Visit museums, the aquarium or even the park
around the block for learning opportunities.
PLAY GAMES
26
Encourage the idea that learning
is fun by introducing educational games into your child’s daily
routine. Games are a great way to
make lessons stick and help a child
grasp new ideas.
Check out “Get Ready for School
Games: Number Memory,” a math
card game that show numbers 1-10
arranged in set order with everyday
objects and number words to help
toddlers practice adding and taking
away up to 10, sharing, and grouping. It’s an easy-to-understand visual
approach to real-life problem-solving.
A companion game, “Color Match,”
introduces kids to words and colors
with timed memory challenges and
activities.
Also consider “The Incredible
Math Games Book,” which blurs the
lines between practicing math and
play. With interactive games like “Find
the Fraction,” “Subtraction Action,”
and Dancing Dice,” kids can learn key
math concepts minus the homework.
WRITE A STORY
Help your budding writer find her literary voice by encouraging her to write
fictional stories or report on “news”
events from around the neighborhood
for the house newspaper. Make sure
she is well-equipped to handle her
writing assignments with the help
of a classic reference tool, DK’s Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary
-- now updated and revised to include
modern words like “smartphone,”
“MP3” and “graphic novel,” as well
as new countries, borders, flags and
cities.
MUSIC LESSONS
Round out your child’s education with
music lessons, which can improve
motor skills, build self-confidence and
help impart cultural values. Many music stores rent instruments, which can
be a low commitment way to test out
your child’s interest. Check out options
for lessons in your area or even just
find free tutorials online.
When the school day is over, don’t
let young minds go on strike. Through
activities, music and even games, you
can make stress-free learning happen
round-the-clock.
(STATEPOIN T )
I would be still, I’d convince myself
that I was being still because I needed
to hear from God. Most times that
was not true. The truth is that my
way stopped feeling good. While I
knew that I was using my gifts and
sharing my truths, passion and my
purpose (on the surface level), there
was still something that was missing.
I couldn’t “get” what was missing
because there were so many things
I was holding on to that were taking
up space. My thoughts were
consumed with
fixing
the plan that I had outgrown, instead
of just letting it go and accepting that
God had something new, something
bigger and better for me.
Last May, marked my one
year anniversary as a full time
entrepreneur. Over the next month,
I will be sharing with you what I
have learned during that time, as
well as the changes that are to come
with myself and “The Best You” as I
fully surrender, face the fears and see
myself as God sees me in the vision
for my life - HIS vision for my life.
Your vision starts with the
decision, the decision to surrender
and be willing to share and serve
according to how He has fearfully
and wonderfully created you to.
I have made my decision to fully
surrender and manifest all that God
has purposed for my vision. My
prayer is that you will make the
decision to manifest His vision for
you as well.
During your quiet time, spend
some time reflecting on where you
may need to make the decision
to surrender so that you are free
and wiling to purposefully and
passionately begin to live and work
toward manifesting His vision for
you.
Tiffany Huff is the Founder, Speaker & Coach
at The Best You, an inspiring community
and personal development company. Tiffany
is passionate about empowering women to
become their best selves by first envisioning
what being their best is and then taking the
steps to making their visions a reality. She
is the mother of 2 very busy boys and enjoys
cooking, reading, working out and traveling in
her spare time.
EXPLORE YOUR WORLD
Over the past month, I have been
spending some quiet time praying
and reflecting on just how important
it is to face the fears associated with
your vision so that you can move
forward with passion and purposed
to live the life you were divinely
created to live. What I have found to
be consistently necessary in addition
to refusing to let you fears paralyze
you, and the need to see yourself
the way God sees you, is the act of
surrender.
By surrender, I mean accepting
that your vision, your dream, your
purpose and
the plan that
is necessary
to live and
realize it
is not your
own. Yes, you
were created and
chosen for such a time as this to share
your gifts and truths with the world,
but we are only able to fully live
out that which we were created and
chosen to is according to God’s plan.
I’ll be honest. I have spent a
lot of time trying to convince God
that He should give my way a bit
more consideration (I am being
fully transparent here lol). Many of
my prayers have gone unanswered
and many days were spent with
me going in circles because I was
unwilling to fully surrender to what
I knew God wanted for my life, for
the women I work with and serve,
and for the women within “The Best
You Community.” At times, I would
get tired of going in circles, and so
27
It’s time to gear up for
a new school year. That
means buying supplies and
clothes, coordinating schedules, and adjusting to new
routines.
All the preparations can
leave you feeling drained,
but with the proper fuel you
can ensure your family has
the energy needed to ace
each day.
MEAL PLAN
Kick off the year by creating
a meal plan, which will help
you stay organized, maintain a good diet and avoid
repeat trips to the store.
To simplify shopping and
preparation, put together
a list of favorite meals and
snacks; then group according to common ingredients.
Use a dry erase calendar,
spreadsheet or online
template to plot out menus
one week at a time. Then,
28
draft a grocery list and stick
to it. This will help you pass
up the chips and cookies
for more energy-boosting
options.
When you arrive home,
immediately wash and prep
produce for the week to
make it that much easier to
make nutritious meals all
week long.
START THE DAY OFF
RIGHT
Wholesome breakfasts
provide a pick-me-up in the
morning and throughout
the day. Squeeze some
oranges for fresh juice and
a vitamin C boost. You can
make a pitcher each weekend to last several days.
Serve with homemade
granola bars for a satisfying
start to the day.
Smoothies are another
easy breakfast. Whip up
personalized flavors for
MID-DAY MOTIVATION
Prep power-packed lunches for school and work by
including protein, fruits and
vegetables in an assortment
of tastes and textures. You
can use a premium blender
to quickly prepare all kinds
of dips and nut butters.
Try homemade hummus
with cucumber slices and
carrot sticks and a side of
strawberries and grapes.
Or create fun finger foods,
such as a peanut butter and
apple wrap, or ants on a log
-- almond butter and raisins
on a celery stick.
Remember to stay
hydrated. Water is fuel, and
even mild dehydration can
slow down body systems,
resulting in fatigue. Carry a
large container of water to
drink throughout the day.
DINNER DELIGHT
MOUNT ARARAT’S OWN JANINA
SIMONE WINS ‘GOSPEL IDOL’
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education and its Pittsburgh
Multicultural Volunteer Task Force presented Pledge for Life
Gospel Idol, a singing competition that features performances in the
following categories: gospel singing, Christian rap, mime, spoken
word and liturgical dance, on July 25 at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
The event was held in celebration of National Minority Organ Donor
Awareness Week, Aug. 1-8.
Janina, who participates on the praise team, emerged as the
first place winner of the competition as well as the winner of the
‘People’s Choice’ award.
Continue beneficial eating
habits at dinner. Add extra
vegetables to your menu
with a squash cheese sauce
for a new take on wholewheat macaroni and cheese.
Or bake a wholesome pizza
using fresh pesto or a white
bean purée as the sauce.
Instead of hitting the
couch after dinner, complement healthful eating
by taking a walk with your
family. Exercise provides a
natural endorphin boost,
giving you extra motivation
to maintain healthy habits.
THE BRYDGE
JCDC presented a Summer After
Dark Music Series during summer
at the Afro-American Music
Institute, located in Homewood.
The series featured
Pittsburgh’s very own, “The
Brydge.” The band members
include: Claude Flowers on Bass,
JR Jones on Drums, Mike Davis
on Guitar, Loren Kirkland on
Keyboard, Dwayne Fulton on
Keyboard, and Marv Jacobs on
Percussion.
With a little planning, a
busy schedule won’t be an
excuse for bad habits.
(STATEPOIN T )
CONGRATULATIONS!
...to the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation for
being named the National Association of Black
Journalists 2015 Chapter of the Year.
LEFT TO RIGHT: VICE PRESIDENT, BRIAN COOK; SR. VICE
PRESIDENT TORY N. PARRISH; SECRETARY MERECEDES J.
HOWZE; AND PARLIAMENTARIAN LAMONT JONES, JR.
NEXT PERFORMANCE:
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Featured singers included
Richard Smith, Khiry L. Patterson,
David Bowens, Daniel Tillman,
Timothy Woodruff, and Alexis
Lenae.
Thank you all for providing
Pittsburgh with smooth, soulful
music all summer long!
For upcoming performances,
visit their Facebook Page (The
Brydge).
THE BRYDGE—FROM LEFT: LOREN KIRKLAND,
MARV JACOBS, JR JONES, CLAUDE
FLOWERS, DWAYNE FULTON, AND MIKE DAVIS.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW PITTSBURGH
COURIER.
Tips to Boost your Family’s
Energy for Back-to-School
Season
each family member using
the pre-set Smoothie and
Power Blends programs on
a Vitamix S50. This personal
blender’s 20-ounce container becomes a good travel
cup for school or work.
Freeze a variety of individual
servings of fruit and vegetable combinations into ziptop bags, blend with yogurt,
milk or juice, and head out
the door. Or use the machine’s 40-ounce container
to make larger batches for
the family to enjoy together. A nourishing smoothie
provides the fuel necessary
for a productive start to the
day.
29
Back-to-school prep means
more than a trip to the
office supply store. Help
kids stay strong, healthy
and safe this school year by
putting wellness front and
center.
“Thinking about backto-school now can help
parents keep kids on track
for a healthy summer and
start to school,” says Dr.
Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP,
President of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
With that in mind, Hassink recommends taking the
following steps.
EASE INTO THE
SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Ease the back-to-school
transition by keeping bedtime and meals scheduled
during the summer and
adjusting timing as school
approaches. If your child
has been going to bed later
than usual, begin adjusting
his or her bedtime earlier
toward the end of summer.
Depending on age, children
and teens need between 8.5
to 9.5 hours of sleep nightly.
For young children,
arranging to see their new
classroom and meet their
new teacher before
school starts can calm
first day jitters. Go over
the school schedule with
your child, including how
she will get to school and
what the plans are for
after school time.
30
SCHEDULE A
PEDIATRIC VISIT
The back-to-school season is
a good time for scheduling
a pediatric exam. Create
a list of items you want to
discuss with your child’s
pediatrician. This list should
include ensuring your child is
up-to-date on vaccinations,
a crucial part of preventive
care.
It’s a good idea to build
a medical home with a pediatrician by sticking with one
doctor or medical practice
throughout childhood and
adolescence. The doctor
will be better informed of
your child’s medical history
and aware of any emerging
problems.
Beyond medical testing, pediatricians are
well-equipped to counsel
patients and parents on
emotional and social issues,
as well as issues that often
CONSIDER SPORTS
Sports can foster confidence, cooperation and
healthy habits, and the start
of the school year brings
many opportunities to join
various programs.
Hydration, nutrition
and proper conditioning
are important for any sport,
especially those with intense
training in warm weather.
Schedule a sports physical
with your pediatrician to
discuss your child’s overall
health and how to prevent
injuries.
TALK SAFETY
If your child will be walking to school, travel the
route with him to assess
its safety. Find out about
traffic patterns and crossing
guards. Teach your child
safety rules like looking
both ways. If possible, have
your child commute with an
older sibling or neighbor.
If your child will be riding a
bike or skateboard, be sure
he wears a helmet. Review
basic rules for safer riding.
Bus riders should also be
mindful of safety rules, like
remaining in one’s seat and
listening to the driver.
PHOTO
RECAP
MOUNT
SNAPSHOTS
More back-to-school tips can
be found at www.healthychildren.org.
As a parent, you can
take steps to help ensure
your children are prepared
for a happy, healthy school
year.
(STATEPOIN T )
OU R S E RVIC E S
YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE MINISTRY THAT CARES
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES:
7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.*
YOUTH OF THE MOUNT (YOTM):
Elev8: All-ages at 9:30 a.m.
Eleven47: Teens-only at 11:47 a.m.
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
4 years old to Adult at 9:30 a.m.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE:
Saturdays at 7 p.m.
BAPTISM & COMMUNION:
First Tuesday of the month
NEXT LEVEL SMALL CELL GROUPS:
Every Tuesday* *Except the first Tuesday of the month
MT-ARARAT.ORG • 412.441.1800
Back-to-School Tips to Keep
Kids Healthy and Safe
crop up during adolescence,
such as smoking, drugs,
drinking, sexual activity and
depression.
“Parents can ask a
pediatrician about anything
related to the care of their
child or teen, medical or
not,” says Dr Hassink. “The
visit can be a good way to
bring up these issues.”
31
How to Pack an Organic
School Lunch for Under $5
MAKE A SHOPPING LIST.
Do an audit of your current
kitchen inventory and write
a shopping list before hitting the store. This will help
you stay organized and keep
you from buying extra items
you don’t need.
LOOK FOR STORE
BRANDS
Not every organic brand is
pricey. For example, some
brands even offer products
that are cheaper than the
non-organic alternative,
such as Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value
line. Plus, their products are
made without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners,
preservatives or hydrogenated fats.
32
SHOP FOR INGREDIENTS THAT DO MORE
Foods like rotisserie
chicken can be used for
an entire week’s worth
of school lunches using
a different recipe each day.
Think sandwich, taco, salad,
wrap and casserole.
BUY IN BULK
Buying in bulk is often
cheaper than purchasing
packaged items, and you
get the added benefit of
controlling how much food
you pay for. At some stores,
like Whole Foods Market,
you can even get a discounted price when you buy a full
case of packaged products.
USE COUPONS
Coupons are a great way to
save extra money on purchases you will actually use.
Search through coupons
online and at the grocery
store, too.
Have a kitchen full of
ingredients but don’t know
what to make for lunch tomorrow? Try this simple and
quick Lentil Mac & Cheese
recipe from Whole Foods
Market that can be easily
customized by adding your
favorite spice or flavor:
More cooking tips and recipes can be found at www.
WholeFoodsMarket.com or
www.youtube.com/WholeFoodsMarket.
In the midst of a busy
back-to-school season, don’t
put good-for-you lunches on
the back burner. Simple tips
can help you from spending
a fortune.
(STATEPOIN T )
Lentil Mac & Cheese
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 (6-ounce) box macaroni & cheese
• 1 cup red lentils
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup lowfat (1%) milk
• Pinch fine sea salt
DIRECTIONS:
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add pasta and
lentils and return to a boil. Cook until lentils and pasta
are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
Return pasta and lentils to the pan and stir in butter,
milk, the contents of the sauce packet and salt. Continue
to stir until blended and warmed through.
Each year Americans make more
than 405 million long-distance
business trips, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
While business trips have not
traditionally been associated
with relaxation, more and more
often, travelers are finding ways
to treat themselves while on the
road.
In a city where no one
knows your name, travelers
have no shame in partaking in
activities they usually shy away
from at home, according to a
new study. Three out of five
business travelers admitted to
going undercover, creating a
new identity with a different
name, profession and backstory;
a quarter have unleashed their
inner Mariah Carey at karaoke
and 16 percent have faked an
elaborate accent.
In fact, 63 percent of business travelers return to work
feeling refreshed and productive, according to the study,
which was conducted by SpringHill Suites by Marriott, a hotel
brand helping to redefine business travel by providing features
like separate living, working
and sleeping spaces, along with
small indulgences traditionally
reserved for leisure travel.
So the next time the boss
signs you up for some travel,
don’t sigh. Business trips can be
a great escape from monotony
and an opportunity to discover
new destinations.
(STATEPOIN T )
Deciding what to pack for
lunchbox meals is an important part of the backto-school experience for
parents and kids. Proper
nutrition is essential to positive learning and growth,
and many families aim to
eat healthfully, while also
saving money. But packing
a wholesome, organic lunch
doesn’t have to cost big
bucks.
Here are five tips for
building an organic lunch for
under $5:
Americans Find
Business Travel
a Welcome
Escape
33
National Childhood
Obesity Month
HOW CAN NATIONAL
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
AWARENESS MONTH
MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
We can all use this month
to raise awareness about
the obesity epidemic and
show people how they
can take steps toward a
solution. Here are just a
few ideas:
34
ENCOURAGE FAMILIES
to make small changes, like
keeping fresh fruit within
reach or going on a family
walk after dinner.
MOTIVATE TEACHERS
AND ADMINISTRATORS
to make schools healthier. Help them provide
healthy food options and
daily physical activities for
students.
ASK DOCTORS AND
NURSES to be leaders
PHOTO
RECAP
by using Mount Media
E-Marketing!
As the largest church in
Southwestern Pennsylvania,
we have an extensive database that
reaches THOUSANDS every week.
Our database will expose your
message to families and working
individuals to your business,
resources, products and events that
are available in and around
the City of Pittsburgh.
SUMMER
IMMERSION
PROJECT
Mount Ararat’s Community
Activity Center’s High School
Professional Development
Academy recently held
its Summer Immersion
Project. This six-week course
provided instruction in the
following areas: Academic
Empowerment, Financial
Literacy, Personal & Social
Development.
FOR MORE INFO:
412-441-1800 Ext. 222
[email protected]
in their communities by
supporting programs to
prevent childhood obesity.
For a toolkit of information
and ideas to help you take
action, visit http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/Septembertoolkit.aspx
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IT’S HERE! MOUNT ARARAT REWARD
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WELCOME NEW MARC C ARD PARTNERS:
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and Surge Three Sixty-Five Travel Agency
One in 3 children in the
United States is overweight
or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for
health problems that were
once seen only in adults,
like type 2 diabetes, high
blood pressure, and heart
disease.
The good news?
Childhood obesity can be
prevented. Communities,
health professionals, and
families can work together
to create opportunities for
kids to eat healthier and
get more active.
Make a difference
for kids: Spread the word
about strategies for preventing childhood obesity
and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get
involved.
Reach your
target audience
with one click
35
To Make Smart School Lunches,
Think Like a Kid
change and broaden. Add favorites
to the rotation. Remember, just because your child eats a certain food at
dinnertime doesn’t mean it will be a
popular lunch item.
Making school lunch can feel like a
thankless job, but it doesn’t have to
be a major chore. Here are some ways
to make school lunches successful, not
stressful:
GET CUTE
DONT OVER-PACK
Does your child come home with untouched food? For a distracted youngster, lunchtime flies by in an instant. By
the time the bell rings, little Suzie has
barely peeled the top off her yogurt.
Keep portions kid-sized and don’t
include more than four or five items in
the lunchbox.
THINK FOOD GROUPS
Think of the lunchbox as a four-piece
puzzle. The basic components are protein, grain, fruit/vegetable and dairy.
Try making lunch kebobs with
cold cut slices and chunks of cheese
(your dairy and protein groups), add a
handful of grapes (fruit) and a bagful
of popcorn (grain). Or pack hummus,
carrots and wheat pita (protein, grain
and veggie), along with applesauce
(fruit) and a cheese stick (dairy). Olives
or pickles add extra flavor without too
much extra fat or calories.
trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars or
snacks in single-serve cups, such as
Pearls Olives to Go! black ripe pitted or
sliced olives. Such foods usually have
the added advantage of not spoiling,
which means they can be saved for
afternoon snacking.
KEEP SNACKS IN THE CAR
Kids always seem to want an afterschool snack. If home is a bit of a drive,
keep snacks on hand. Nuts, trail mix,
single-serve olive cups and fruit are
better options for a ravenous child.
Keep in mind, hungry kids are more
likely to try novel foods they might
otherwise be reluctant to try.
GET INPUT
If your child is not eating enough, find
out why. Ask your child to create a list
of foods every few months, as tastes
If you’re feeling ambitious, cut sandwiches into shapes. Sliced cherry
tomatoes or olives make easy eyes,
buttons and mouths. A simple post-it
note with a smiley face or “love you”
will go a long way to brightening your
child’s day.
For more tips, recipes and coupons, or
to enter a lunch box promotion for a
chance to win prizes, visit www.facebook.com/PearlsOlives
Lunch isn’t rocket science, but creating meals children will love every day
can get tricky. Simple strategies can
help ensure kids return from school
with empty lunch boxes and satisfied
tummies.
(STATEPOIN T )
PHOTO
RECAP
BOOK BAGS
AND SCHOOL
SUPPLIES
DRIVE
The Youth of the Mount held
their annual Book Bag and
School Supplies Drive. With
the support of the Mount
Ararat Baptist Church Family,
the Pittsburgh Corvette Club
and Local Business, the youth
collected 350 book bags
that we distributed to youth
throughout the city. Thank you
to everyone that supported
this community effort!
Pack individual ingredients kids can
assemble, which makes them feel
like they’re more in control of what
they eat. For example, include a half
bagel with a container of shredded
mozzarella, tomato sauce and some
sliced olives or pepperoni slices so
they can make their own pizza. Add
a piece of fruit to round out the
meal.
36
PICK PORTABLE FOODS
Nothing’s worse than a lunchbox
explosion. Whenever possible, opt
for dry foods and tight lids. Pack
LET THEM ASSEMBLE
37
Whether you’re an incoming
freshman or entering your
senior year, the transition to
campus life requires mental
and logistical preparation.
For a smooth move, prepare
in advance.
“You’ll want your dorm
room or apartment to be
a space in which you can
thrive academically and
socially from day one,” says
Jessica Joyce, spokeswoman
for Bed Bath & Beyond, a
well-known destination for
college essentials.
Joyce and the lifestyle experts at Bed Bath & Beyond
are offering tips to set up
your dorm room with form
and function in mind.
USE A CHECKLIST
Stay organized and on-budget by using a shopping
checklist. Many stores that
sell housewares provide
shopping guides for college
students that break down all
the basics needed for campus living. Use this as a base
point for what you’ll need
and add your own custom
items to it, so that when you
get to the store you won’t
miss any essentials.
38
KNOW SCHOOL RULES
For specific information
about your college, use
online resources such
as, bedbathandbeyond.
com/shopforcollege,
which offers customized
lists of what students
can and can’t bring with
them to their school and
THINK SMALL
For many students, moving
to a college dorm room
means living in a smaller
space. Take this into consideration when planning
how you will organize your
items. Space-saving storage
tools and multifunctional
items, such as bed risers that
have an AC outlet and USB
charger, can help students
pack more essentials into a
smaller space.
BUILD A BETTER BED
As if getting a good night’s
sleep isn’t hard enough in
a dorm, standard college
beds are often thin and
less comfortable than what
students are accustomed
to at home. The solution?
Add cozy layers of comfort
and support with a mattress
pad, memory foam topper
or fiberbed.
CREATE A COLLEGE
REGISTRY
High school graduates can
create a registry wish list
online or in-store of what
they want for their new
space, to share with family
and friends. Students can
also use their registries to
share what they’re bringing
to school with their roommates.
ROOMIE REQUEST
Once students receive their
housing assignment, they
should finalize room decisions to avoid duplication.
Decide ahead of time which
items to share, like a coffee-
NOT SLEEPING
maker or TV, and whether
students want to coordinate
décor.
GETTING THERE
Getting your new items to
college can be tricky. Look
for such services as Bed Bath
& Beyond’s free in-store service, Pack & Hold, which lets
students and parents shop
for items at a store near
home and then conveniently
pick them up at a location
closer to campus. The service is especially beneficial
for students traveling to
school far away from home.
Once the semester gets underway, your schedule will
be jam-packed with classes,
activities, studying and
friends. Set up your space
wisely for a successful start
to the year.
4 Big
Mistakes College
Students Make
College is when many young
people first get a taste of
independence. Unfortunately, this newfound freedom
can lead to decisions that
may impact life well beyond
graduation.
How can you avoid
the pitfalls plaguing fellow
scholars? Here are strategies for dodging common
mistakes made by college
students:
HURTING YOUR CREDIT
You may be presented
with credit card offers for
the first time; and building
good credit can help lay
the groundwork for future
financial options -- but proceed wisely. College seniors
Between cramming and
socializing, shuteye may be
in short supply. However,
quality sleep is fundamental
to quality learning. If you’re
a night owl, avoid early
morning classes. Also, avoid
procrastination, which can
lead to all-nighters.
OVERDOING IT
College is about earning
a degree. However, it’s
also about making lifelong friends and exploring
interests. Keep this in mind
when choosing courses for
the semester.
For example, it may not
be the best idea to stack
five of the most challenging courses offered by the
school into one semester.
Not only will it be hard to
devote the attention needed for each class, you may
leave yourself little time to
take on other projects and
internships that could also
benefit your future.
BAD MONEY
MANAGEMENT
College is expensive, and
beyond the expenses you
already know about -- tuition, books, and housing
-- you will incur many other
expenses along the way,
from lab fees to gas to cell
phone bills.
“Setting up a budget is
crucial, particularly if your
spending money is drawn
from a loan or grant,” says
John Rasmussen, head of
Education Financial Services
at Wells Fargo. “You’ll need
that money to last if you
don’t have another stream
of revenue.”
Don’t form bad financial habits now, as do so
many college students. Take
advantage of free resources, such as Wells Fargo’s Get
College Ready site, to learn
more about banking, build-
ing good credit and paying
for college. The site features
tips, and tools such as My
Money Map, which offers a
way to track spending, set
budgeting goals and monitor savings. It also offers
advice on topics like renters insurance and student
loans. Visit mrm.wellsfargobank.com/getcollegeready/
to learn more.
College lasts just a few years
but what you do there can
affect your life for years
to come. Use your independence to make smart
decisions that are good for
your future.
(STATEPOIN T )
Prepping for
College 101
owed $4,100 in credit card
debt by graduation, according to recent research from
Debt.org.
Don’t let credit cards
be an excuse to spend
beyond your means. Start
with a line of credit you can
handle. If you manage that
well, later on you’ll be able
to borrow more.
To maintain good
credit, pay your statement
on time and more than the
minimum due each month,
keep balances low, keep
long-standing accounts
open, and avoid applying
for too many credit cards.
Remember to check credit
history often. Look for a
credit card that offers perks
like cash back rewards and a
low APR.
what the school provides.
Students can also use these
pages to locate stores close
to campus.
39
WHO IS
THE NEXT
STEELERS
HALL OF
FAMER?
BY R AY PORTER JR .
40
“I really thought the bus’s last stop was in
Detroit, at Super Bowl XL, but now I know it will
always and forever run in Canton, Ohio—home
of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”-New Hall of
Famer Jerome Bettis.
Jerome Bettis shared these words to several
thousand onlookers as he was enshrined the
most recent Pittsburgh Steelers to enter the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, making it the 23rd
player from the Steeler organization to receive
Pro Football’s highest honor. Of the teams
represented,the Pittsburgh Steelers currently
places third as it trails the Green Bay Packers
who boasts of 24 enshrines. The Chicago Bears
leads the NFL with 28.
The Steelers have a way of keeping its fans
celebrating. To their credit, they have had great
teams earning them accolades as having won
six Super Bowls—a NFL best. More they have
had a very strong presence in the Hall of Fame
(including 4 in a 6-year span in the 1970’s which
produced 9 Hall of Famers and Head Coach
Chuck Noll). Not only have they had players
honored, they have had staff (Art Rooney—
owner, Dan Rooney—team president) and even
a broadcaster (Myron Cope) enshrined.
Bettis, who retired in 2005, leads a new
class of Steelers who have not only had excellent
careers, but also have played on Super Bowl
teams (2005, 2008, 2010) and have won rings
(2005, 2008) The question is, which of these
players deserves to be enshrined? Now that
Bettis is finally a member of this distinguished
group of honorees, our focus changes to this
class of contenders.
Who’s next?
Here are the top 5 of the next possible Steeler
Hall of Famers:
G ALAN
FANECA (1998-2007; 08-09 (JETS); ’10 (CARDINALS)
He’s not only one of the best offensive guards in Steelers history, but also he’s one of the
top players in NFL history. A 9-time Pro Bowler, and 6-time All-Pro, he also was a Super
Bowl 40 Champion with the Steelers in 2005 and was voted to the Steelers Anniversary
All-Time Team by the Steeler fans. He will be HOF eligible in 2016.
WR HINES
WARD (1998-2011) The current All-Time Steelers leader in
receptions (1,000), receiving TDs (85) and yards (12,083). He’s a 2-time Super Bowl
Champion (2005, 08) Super Bowl 40 MVP, 4-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro. Ward
looks to be the 3rd Steelers WR elected to the Hall of Fame. He’s only the 8th player in
NFL history to catch 1,000 passes for his career and even Sports Illustrated named him
the greatest slot (inside) WR in NFL History. He will be HOF eligible in 2018.
S TROY
POLAMALU (2003-2014) This 8-time Pro Bowler, 5-time All-Pro,
2-time Super Bowl Champion (2005, ’08) and 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
was truly one of the best and most feared defensive players (Safety) in the NFL. He
was the most unique defender in NFL history as he was utilized in a variety of ways
with the purpose of driving opposing offenses crazy and providing big plays that often
produced wins for the Steelers. He finished his 12-year Steelers career with 770 tackles,
32 interceptions, and three touchdowns. He will become eligible in 2020.
LB JAMES
HARRISON (2002 - PRESENT) Yes, he’s still playing (after
a 3-month retirement in 2014)! It’s hard to argue that Harrison will be in the HOF
conversation whenever he finally decides to finally call it quits. He’s easily one of the
greatest outside linebackers in Steelers history with 5 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros, the 2008
NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner, an NFL record 100-yard interception return
in Super Bowl 43. He won the NFL Alumni Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. So far,
he has 647 career tackles, 71.5 quarterback sacks and 6 interceptions. His eligibility will
begin when his career ends.
ART ROONEY II (TEAM PRESIDENT) Like his grandfather and father before
him, Rooney has had great oversight over extraordinary Steelers teams that yielded 3
Super Bowl appearances (2005, ’08, ’10), two Super Bowl victories (‘2005, ’08), and 2 Hall
of Famers. (Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis). He was also named NFL executive of the
Year in 2005. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the NFL’s Stadium Committee and on
numerous NFL boards, including the Legislative Committee, the Management Council
Executive Committee, the International Committee and the Digital Media Committee.
While a lot of NFL owners could argue that Rooney’s leadership and management styles
are different from his father’s and grandfather’s, they will find it hard to discount his
success.
HONORABLE MENTION: HC BILL COWHER,
DE LC GREENWOOD, S DONNIE SHELL.
So there you have it folks. Do these Steelers deserve to get the ‘Call to the Hall’? Yes. But
will they get in? Time will tell.
Ray Porter Jr. is a freelance sports writer at Urban Media Today (urbanmediatoday.com).
You can follow Ray @urbanmediaRay on Twitter.
Put Some Innovation into
Your Back-to-School Routine
Back-to-school season is
busy and stressful for families, but you can find easier
ways of doing things -- from
what you feed your family
to your morning routine.
Thankfully, parents
don’t need to reinvent the
wheel because “Product
of the Year,” the world’s
largest consumer voted
award for innovation, is on a
mission to guide consumers
to the most innovative products. Backed by the votes of
40,000 consumers, the list
of winners can serve as a
shortcut at the store, saving
parents time and money on
needed back-to-school and
day-to-day items.
To try something new
and innovative, check out
some highlights from the
2015 Product of the Year
winners:
GOODNITES TRU-FIT
UNDERWEAR
Nearly one in six children
ages four to 12 nationwide
wets the bed, which can be
upsetting for both parents
and children. This product
looks, washes and feels
like regular underwear, but
provides protection to keep
sheets and pajamas dry
all night, helping kids feel
more confident.
42
GOLD BOND NO MESS
POWDER SPRAY
Whether getting ready
for the day or freshening up after the football
game, check out a re-
freshing no-mess spray with
quick and easy application.
The 360 degree valve lets
you spray in any direction,
even upside down -- helping
you stay cool, dry and comfortable.
SNACKEEZ SNACK AND
DRINK CUP
Simplify snack time by
including kids’ favorite drink
and snack in one convenient
container. A sealed lid keeps
snacks fresh, clean and
ready to take anywhere.
DIAL DEEP CLEANSING
HAND SOAP
Combat germs picked up
at school by washing hands
with gentle micro-scrubbers.
SMOOTH N SHINE ARGAN
POWER 10 STYLING GEL
Mornings are busy. Get 10
benefits in one step with a
nourishing styling gel that
offers all-day hold while
moisturizing and conditioning hair.
SENSODYNE COMPLETE
Pain should not be part of
your morning routine. For
those with sensitive teeth,
consider switching to toothpaste that creates a protective layer over sensitive
areas while providing all the
oral care benefits found in
regular varieties.
PUREX CRYSTALS
AROMATHERAPY
Available in three fragrance
moods – Well-Being, Energy
and Serenity, refresh laundry with a line of in-wash
fragrance boosters infused
with natural essential oils.
VOCs and zero emissions,
this durable finish has no
harsh fumes, so it’s safer for
your family and the environment.
LIVEGFREE GLUTEN
FREE PIZZA
For more information on
other winning products, visit
www.ProductoftheYearUSA.
com or follow Product of
the Year USA on Facebook
and @POY_USA on Twitter.
Amongst new schedules, new friends and new
experiences at school, trying
out innovative products can
make this back-to-school
season a breeze.
When it comes to weekday dinners, convenience
is everything. But gluten
intolerance can make
mealtime tricky. Check out
the new LiveGFree product
line, including Aldi-exclusive
LiveGFree Pizza made from
organic, gluten-free ingredients.
BENJAMIN MOORE
NATURA WATERBORNE
INTERIOR PAINT
A new year deserves a new
coat of paint. With zero
(STATEPOIN T )
FILM REVIEW:
‘STRAIGHT OUTTA
COMPTON’
THE SUMMER’S BEST MOVIE
Regardless of age, class, gender or race,
most of you can recite a west coast rap
lyric. Rappers like Eazy-E, Dr. Dre. Ice
Cube, Tupac, and Snoop Dogg broke
barriers as they introduced the world to
west coast, gangster rap.
N.W.A. and its members had a limitless influence on the most controversial
issues that came “Straight Outta Compton.”
Starring Jason Mitchell, O’Shea
Jackson Jr., and Corey Hawkins, “Straight
Outta Compton,” in two and a half hours,
gaudily depicts the rise and fall of legendary west coast rap group, N.W.A.
The movie is a perfect combination of
your favorite west coast movies. The scenic block life of “Friday” (1995), the subtle
intensity of “Fruitvale Station” (2013), and
44
the hard-hitting group vigilante of “Set It
Off” (1996). And it’s doper than “Dope”
(2015).
“Straight Outta Compton” is this
summer’s best movie and F. Gary Gray’s
best directorial attempt yet.
This film is almost not about music
at all. As tensions brewed in Compton,
CA and across the country between law
enforcement and African Americans,
it was N.W.A.’s monstrous melody that
highlighted their sentiments about the
police that put a spotlight on the brutality and injustice. Their raw, raunchy
lyrics gave the rest of the world a glimpse
into their lives of gang, drugs, sex, and violence. “Straight Outta Compton” is also
a a backdrop to recent similar dark times.
The violent streets of Los Angeles, the
turbulent relationship with LAPD, and
NWA’s sense of lyrical expression looks
all too much like the social rampage
we’ve seen recently regarding the cases
of Mike Brown, Freddie Gray, Sandra
Bland and Sam DuBose.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. is Ice Cube … just
a little lighter, but if we are comparing all
of the actors to the actual people they are
portraying, Ice Cube’s first born nailed it.
MOVIE SCENE QUEEN
MER ECEDES J. HOW ZE
Merecedes J. Howze started Movie Scene Queen to share her thoughts about the latest movie
happenings with fellow movie lovers. She’s studied journalism at Clark Atlanta University and
Duquesne University, while practicing the discipline for nearly a decade. The New Pittsburgh
Courier named her one of their Fab 40, Under 40 recipients in 2013 for her vast volunteering
endeavors, while being the single mother of two young children and maintaining her post as a
project coordinator with the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
He was convincing, natural, and indomitable.
The most redemptive story to tell
is that of lasting friendship and entrepreneurship. Even after the group’s
dismemberment in 1991, they were able
to reconcile before the 1995 passing of
Eazy-E.
On the business side, Dr. Dre and Ice
Cube continued as thriving artists, but
branched off into other areas. Dr. Dre
started Aftermath Entertainment, introducing the world to artists like “Eminem”
and “50 Cent.” Last year, Dre sold Beats
by Dre, an audio products company, to
Apple Inc. for $3 billion in a cash and
stock deal.
As an actor, Ice Cube’s movies have
grossed over $1.3 billion dollars. His
movie production company, Cube Vision,
has over a dozen movies under its belt.
He too, has made a household name for
himself that expands the confinements of
gangsta rap.
Please do not end your summer
without watching “Straight Outta Compton.” This movie is a “must-see!”
5 STARS: E E E E

September 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

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navy leaguer t - Navyleague Councils Support