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spotlightauthors · 2 years ago

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Marques Lewis

Marques Lewis was born in New Jersey and raised there until he was 12 years old. Marques’ parents, Dora and James Lewis, are out of Georgia. Marques and his family moved from Irvington, New Jersey in 1997 to Leesburg, Georgia. He attended Lee County High School and graduated from Darsey Private High School with a 3.0 G.P.A. Marques is also a college graduate from Albany Technical College. He has his Commercial Truck Driving Certificate. Marques began writing at the age of 7 years old. He wrote his first short story, Detective David: “The Missing Toy Boat.��

After taking a 15-year hiatus, Marques began writing again after discovering the author Zane and her writings. From then, his imagination took off. At 22 years old, Marques began writing plenty of short stories, poems, and encouraging women's self-esteem on social network sites. After gaining confidence, he began performing his poems at Chill Bar & Lounge at Open Mic Night. The crowd loved him, and he began performing every Wednesday. He appeared in the Dec. 10, 2010 and April 6, 2012 publication short poem book, “The Poetic Lounge Vol. 2 and 3”. His own poems “Weak” and “I Am a Woman” were selected. Then Marques decided that he wanted to write novels. Marques has since written many books.

Marques won 2013 “Best Selling Award” and was the runner-up for “Author of the Year” at One Karma Publishing Banquet in Alpharetta, Georgia. Marques has appeared as an extra football player in Sherwood Baptist Church 2nd movie “Facing the Giants” and played a detective in “Taken 3” and a role in a short story film “Double Life.” He appeared in “BlackAlbanyGA” magazine in October 2012 and was the first author in “Big In Da Street Magazine” rap magazine May 18, 2013 and many other magazines.

He was interviewed on W-ASU FM Albany State Radio station in October 2011. He has appeared on many other radio stations as well. He has appeared in Lee County Ledger twice, Southwest Georgian, Miami Times,” Strictly For My People” magazine, Citizen Times, Lincoln Journal, Cuthbert Southwest Tribune, and Albany Herald newspapers. Marques was a special guest on “The Good Day Morning Show” on Fox 31 in June 10, 2013. Marques was a featured author at Wellingtons and Wine at a Wine Tasting event in Albany, Georgia at Icons Bar Grill on November 23, 2013. On December 15, 2013 he produced his first play at his church (Church of God of Prophecy) “The Birth of Jesus Christ”. Marques has done many things in the community including giving kids back to school supplies. He has mentored many authors on becoming successful best-selling authors.

Marques Lewis has begun some new ventures in his life. Marques Lewis is now an On Air Personality on WZBN Praise 105.5FM in Albany, Georgia. He is also a "Content Creator" on TikTok with over 50,000 followers and he has recently started his new publishing company called, "Marques Lewis Enterprise."

Author Name: Marques Lewis

How long have you been writing? I have been writing since 2007. I can finally say that’s a long time.

Did you ever imagine that you would be published one day? No, not at all. In my middle school days, I couldn’t even write a decent paragraph. I knew writing was deep inside of me, but I didn’t want to take the challenge. Thank God, I did.

What made you want to become an author? At the time, I was focused on acting, but my mom got sick and I had to take care of her while my dad went to work. I started to see Zane write Erotica and I told myself I should write about sex because I love it. It was one of my greatest accomplishments.

How long have you been published? Since 2014.

How does it feel to be published? It feels amazing. When you see someone leave a review or tell you that they purchased your book is an amazing feeling.

Are you self-published or did you go through a publishing company? Why? I went through a company first to get experience in the business. If you don’t have the funds, it can help you in the long run until you get established.

How many books have you written? I have written 10+ books.

What is/are the name of your book(s)?

"Never Settle Never Again"

"The Side Chick Who Turned Into A Wife"

"A Fool For You"

“Detective Dan and The Missing Toy Boat"

"He Cheats Too"

"Dating Jordan"

What genre is it/are they in? I wanted to touch ever genre possible. Drama, Erotica, Romance, Christian, Children and more.

What do you feel will inspire others to never forget when they read your story(ies)? To understand the message in each book. For example, the book might be Erotica, but it will have a message in it. Each genre will have a message.

What's the hardest part about writing a book? The hardest part is getting to the finish line. You might have your idea of your book from top to bottom, but I can guarantee you that you might change something before you get to the ending.

What's the easiest part about writing a book? Lol, probably the title. Once you get the title, then you can find out where you are trying to head on writing your book.

Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)? You can head on over to Amazon or Walmart.

Do you have any future projects in the works? Is there a tentative release date? I am about to work on a Self-help relationship book. I can say Spring 2023 it should be ready.

Do you have any social media sites that you would like to share with my readers? Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and My Website.

#Marques Lewis #spotlight author #spotlight #author #featured author #featured

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socialchangeblogassignments · 3 years ago

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Blog Post #3

Stakeholders and Leaders in Gentrification

During a gentrification process, stakeholders are those who are interested in purchasing the property, residents of the property, and the community. This could be individuals, organizations, groups, tenants, landlords, journalists, etc. How well connected a person is to the event separates them into two groups. Primary stakeholders are those who are more affected and involved while secondary stakeholders are less connected to all the practices, activities, and policies. Both can be impacted positively and/ or negatively depending on the topic. The purpose of stakeholders is to put more than one view of things allowing recruitment.

Every resident, property developer, and interested buyers have a stake in the gentrification process. About half the stakeholders have problems with gentrification which include residents, and community members this is due to housing displacement, rising rent, and cultural community loss. Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status are the biggest factors that contribute to gentrification. Many of these stakeholders tend to be wealthier, more educated, and whiter than previous residents. The other half of stakeholders are for gentrification which includes new renters/homeowners, property developers, and landlords; this is due to modern housings, the rise of property tax, and “trendy locations”.

On November 9th, We conducted an interview with Yosan Tewelde, a Portland resident and a 20-year-old student attending Boston College. Tewelde has lived in the NE Portland area her whole life and is a resident. Throughout the interview, we asked many questions to get a better understanding of the opinions of a community member about the changes that have been going on in Portland neighborhoods.

Q: How does it make you feel living in the part of the city that had the most rapid change?

A: “ I feel like right now gentrification is already completed, everything has changed from what it looked like before, but it does make me upset that the street I grew up on just got worse over time.”

Q: And as a Black resident how does it make you feel when you see the Black population dying out in Portland even because called “The Whitest City in America”?

A: “ Honestly, I didn't realize how much diversity Portland lacks until I moved to Boston, but seeing the difference and comparing the two, you can see how Portland’s gentrification drove the Black population out. It's just really disappointing however, because I think a place that lacks diversity and culture is destined to build ignorance from privilege, it also builds isolation from people of color, I'm also saying this because I experienced it and saw it for myself.

Q: Have you been affected by gentrification?

A: “My family moved here in the late 90’s and stayed in the Northeast and my parents never wanted to move from the area because we are familiar with it. We used to stay in Irvington which is one of the neighborhoods that peaked with gentrification so it was unaffordable to stay in and we moved towards Delta Park.”

Q: How do these stakeholders(new residents, property developers) impact the problem of gentrification?

A: “ They are the problem that is contributing to gentrification! Because of the new condos and apartments, people can't afford rent and have been pushed out. It's impossible for low-income families and individuals to afford these neighborhoods anymore.”

Q: There are programs opening up affordable housing to Black individuals whose families lived in Portland for generations?

A: “ I heard that they are and I think it's great but, I've also heard it hasn't been effective. I don't wanna be pessimistic but I don’t think programs like that will bring the former residents of Portland back. I just think it's hard to move in general and also the community they knew back when they were living in Portland is gone.”

Citations:

Bodenner, C. (n.d.). Gentrification in portland: Residents and readers debate - the atlantic. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/08/albina/493793/

Sevcenko, M. (2018, March 1). Un-gentrifying Portland: Scheme helps displaced residents come home. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/01/portland-anti-gentrification-housing-scheme-right-return

#gentrification

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brandonimhotep · 3 years ago

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This Refugee-Turned-Entrepreneur Owns 2 IHOP Restaurants, Her Own Soul Food Restaurant, and a $250 Million Real Estate Portfolio Adenah Bayoh was born in the small town of Foya, Liberia. She got her first taste of entrepreneurship at 6-years-old carrying bread baskets. At the end of each day, she would lower her prices to ensure all her inventory was sold. Bayoh’s family fled Liberia when she was 9 due to civil war, and immigrated to the U.S. at 13. Her first taste of the food franchise industry was as a teenager working at McDonald’s. Franchise ownership wasn’t part of Bayoh’s plan. She attended New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. After graduating, she worked in banking and began investing in multifamily homes. She has a real estate development portfolio with over $250 million dollars in urban redevelopment projects. Because of the success of her flagship IHOP in Irvington, she is the second largest employer in the Township. Recently, Adenah launched Cornbread, her signature line of fast casual, farm-to-table, soul food restaurants. Adenah is also philanthropically involved in the communities where she does business. At IHOP Irvington, she runs a free breakfast program for children under 12, and she hosts dinners for needy families during the holidays. In addition, she allows local nonprofit organizations to hold charitable events at both IHOP locations. Sources: #businesswomen #blackenterprise Kindly FOLLOW Our New Page @wonderwombman2 👈🏾✨✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/CVjvkiJrpCm/?utm_medium=tumblr

#businesswomen #blackenterprise

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everthegirlanachronism · 4 years ago

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Charnette Frederic, Irvington Council Member, Builds Bridges Through Education

Charnette Frederic, 2nd Vice President of the Township of Irvington, New Jersey. Courtesy photo.

By Larisa Karr

Growing up in the quaint village of Cazale, Haiti, Charnette Frederic’s parents always put education first for their family. Later, when she gave birth to her son in Irvington, New Jersey, she sought to put his education needs first too.

Little did Frederic know that would lead to her entering politics and then becoming the first Haitian-American woman elected to office in New Jersey. As a council member and second vice president in Irvington, Frederic now spends much of her time educating Haitian-Americans in Irvington about resources available. She also teaches city officials about the needs and power of her vibrant community.

“My biggest accomplishment as the only Haitian-American on the council has been to encourage people to work together for the betterment of our community,” said Frederic, 42. “You have immigrants coming in that I constantly try to support, especially with the language issue.”

Recently, Frederic’s efforts to drive voter turnout, reduce insurance burdens on taxi drivers and create an environmentally sustainable city have cemented her reputation as a bridge-builder. Particularly, between the immigrant community made up of mostly Haitian-Americans and city officials.

“She’s a dominant star in bringing people together,” said Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss. “She calls me on behalf of her constituents and she’s constantly connecting them with people in the administration through the different departments they need to be in contact with.”

Lessons in determination

Frederic began developing knowledge of immigrants’ needs when she immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 17 from Cazale. Her mountain village, about 45 miles north of Port-au-Prince, is known for its Polish settlers.

Growing up, Frederic’s family instilled a love of education at a young age, she said. Her parents, Marie Charite Orelien and Joseph Orelien, sent her to strict schools in Port-au-Prince where failing a class meant expulsion. That level of rigor taught Frederic the importance of determination, a trait she would carry with her when she moved to Irvington in 1999.

In the working-class township, Haitians make up about 14.1% of Irvington’s 54,233 residents. From that established enclave, Frederic faced new challenges — chiefly, completing her education.

“My dad did not like the Irvington school system and he made me apply to the community college, despite having limited English,” Frederic said. “Because I had excelled in math and science in Haiti, I received strong grades in both of these fields.”

And despite the language barrier, Frederic became a math tutor by her second semester at Essex County College. She earned an associate’s degree in biology and two years later, Frederic graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s in biology and chemistry.

Later, Frederic earned a master’s in health care administration from Seton Hall University, where she is now pursuing a doctorate in biochemistry. She began to use her scientific background to actively pursue making Irvington an environmentally-friendly city.

While working toward her advanced degrees, Frederic also married Joseph Betissan Frederic and gave birth to her only son Ben. She also learned to navigate life as an immigrant, including becoming fluent in English and accessing various systems, offices and information.

It was after attending the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University that Frederic learned more about local government and its impact on citizens’ day-to-day lives, especially those of immigrant backgrounds. She decided to run for a board of education seat, in 2009 and 2010. Frederic was unsuccessful then, but did not rule out another run in the future.

“A friend on the council”

In 2012, an opportunity opened on the city council, and Frederic successfully ran.

“I wanted to be the voice to help out other Haitians whose first stop was Irvington,” Frederic said. “I was able to change certain laws to give Haitian-Americans more opportunities and remind them that they have a friend on the council.”

Recently, when drivers with the Irvington Taxi Committee complained about insurance prices, Frederic helped amend an ordinance to lower their insurance rates. In the lead-up to the November elections, even though she was not on the ballot, Frederic encouraged the community to be civically engaged. She took to Haitian radio to instruct residents in Creole how to properly complete voting ballots.

“It’s so amazing when you can speak to someone in Creole and be able to use it to help others,” Frederic said. “It’s really important that we provide that kind of support by letting them know that it’s OK to feel welcome and it’s OK to speak Creole. [Being] able to connect with people is priceless.”

Through her eponymous nonprofit civic organization, Frederic also organizes a Haitian Independence Day celebration, brings Haitian-American artists to Irvington for Haitian Flag Day, and otherwise highlights the talent and creativity of Haitian-Americans.

“Anytime I’m holding an event, like a clothing drive, she is always there to support financially and brings other council members to our events,” said James Louis, who works with the Haitian-American Civic Association. “This is not just for me and the organization, but this is the testimony from everybody I’ve talked to within the community.”

Besides lifting up Haitian-Americans, Frederic has also focused on making Irvington part of the Sustainable Jersey program. In 2014, the city became bronze certified, a designation awarded to cities that implement sustainability measures, and she was named a Sustainability Hero.

Her current focus is on educating residents about the impact of lead paint on children and how to remediate such structures and promoting health and wellness in the township.

Balancing city council, her full-time job and a family can be overwhelming and she sometimes feels like giving up, Frederic said. But, remembering the residents in need renews her determination.

This article was originally published in The Haitian Times.

#Charnette Frederic #NJ #New Jersey #Irvington #politics #Haitian-American politicians #Haitian-Americans #Larisa Karr #The Haitian Times

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go-redgirl · 4 years ago

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Biography of Madam C.J. Walker, American Entrepreneur and Beauty Mogul

By Mary Bellis

Updated April 28, 2020

Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove; December 23, 1867–May 25, 1919) was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist who revolutionized the hair care and cosmetics industry for African American women in the early 20th century. By leveraging her beauty and hair care products company, Madam Walker was one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire, while offering African American women a source of income and pride.

Also known for her philanthropy and social activism, Madam Walker played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1900s.

Fast Facts: Madam C.J. Walker

Known For: African American businesswoman and self-made millionaire in the cosmetics industry

Also Known As: Born Sarah Breedlove

Born: December 23, 1867 in Delta, Louisiana

Parents: Minerva Anderson and Owen Breedlove

Died: May 25, 1919 in Irvington, New York

Education: Three months of formal grade school education

Spouses: Moses McWilliams, John Davis, Charles J. Walker

Children: Lelia McWilliams (later known as A'Lelia Walker, born 1885)

Notable Quote: “I am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavor to provide employment to hundreds of women of my race.”

Early Life

Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, to Owen Breedlove and Minerva Anderson in a one room cabin on the former plantation owned by Robert W. Burney in rural Louisiana, near the town of Delta. The Burney plantation had been the site of the Battle of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, during the United States Civil War. While her parents and four older siblings were enslaved on the Burney plantation, Sarah was the first child of her family to be born into freedom after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Sarah’s mother Minerva died in 1873, possibly of cholera, and her father remarried and then died in 1875. Sarah worked as a domestic servant and her older sister Louvenia survived by working in the cotton fields of Delta and Vicksburg, Mississippi. “I had little or no opportunity when I started out in life, having been left an orphan and being without mother or father since I was seven years of age,” Madam Walker recalled. Though she attended Sunday school literacy lessons at her church during her earlier years, she recounted that she had only three months of formal education.

In 1884 at the age of 14, Sarah married laborer Moses McWilliams, in part to escape her abusive brother-in-law, Jesse Powell, and she gave birth to her only child, a daughter named Lelia (later A'Lelia), on June 6, 1885. After the death of her husband in 1884, she traveled to St. Louis to join her four brothers, who had established themselves as barbers. Working as a laundry woman earning just $1.50 a day, she managed to save enough money to educate her daughter A'Lelia and became involved in activities with the National Association of Colored Women. In 1894, she met and married fellow laundry worker John H. Davis.

Madam Walker Builds Her Cosmetics Empire

During the 1890s, Sarah began to suffer from a scalp ailment that caused her to lose some of her hair, a condition likely caused by the harshness of the available products and her profession as a laundry woman. Embarrassed by her appearance, she experimented with a variety of homemade remedies and products made by another Black entrepreneur named Annie Malone. Her marriage to John Davis ended in 1903, and in 1905, Sarah became a sales agent for Malone and moved to Denver, Colorado.

In 1906, Sarah married her third husband, newspaper advertising salesman Charles Joseph Walker. It was at this point that Sarah Breedlove changed her name to Madam C.J. Walker and began advertising herself as an independent hairdresser and retailer of cosmetic creams. She adopted the title “Madam” as an homage to women pioneers of the French beauty industry of the day.

Walker began selling her own hair product called Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula. To promote her products, she embarked on an exhausting sales drive throughout the South and Southeast, going door to door, giving demonstrations and working on sales and marketing strategies. In 1908, she opened Lelia College in Pittsburgh to train her "hair culturists."

Eventually, her products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation that at one point employed over 3,000 people. Her expanded product line was called the Walker System, which offered a broad variety of cosmetics and pioneered new ways of marketing. She licensed Walker Agents and Walker Schools that offered meaningful training, employment, and personal growth to thousands of African American women. By 1917 the company claimed to have trained nearly 20,000 women.

Although she did open some traditional storefront beauty shops, most of the Walker Agents ran their shops from their homes or sold products door to door, dressed in their characteristic uniforms of white shirts and black skirts. Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with her relentless ambition led to her becoming the first known female African American woman self-made millionaire, meaning she neither inherited her fortune nor married into it. At the time of her death, Walker’s estate was worth an estimated $600,000 (about $8 million in 2019). After her death in 1919, Madam Walker’s name became even more widely known as the market for her haircare and cosmetics products spread beyond the United States to Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Constructed in 1916, for $250,000 (over $6 million today), Madam Walker’s mansion, Villa Lewaro, in Irvington, New York, was designed by Vertner Woodson Tandy, New York state’s first registered Black architect. Featuring 34 rooms in 20,000 square feet, with three terraces and a swimming pool, Villa Lewaro was as much Walker’s statement as it was her home.

Walker’s vision for Villa Lewaro was for the mansion to serve as a gathering place for community leaders that would prove to other Black Americans that they could achieve their dreams. Shortly after moving into the mansion in May 1918, Walker held an event honoring Emmett Jay Scott, then the Assistant Secretary for Negro Affairs of the U.S. Department of War.

In her 2001 biography “On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker," A'Lelia Bundles recalls that her great-great-grandmother had built Villa Lewaro as “a Negro institution that only Negro money bought” to “convince members of [my] race of the wealth of business possibilities within the race to point to young Negroes what a lone woman accomplished and to inspire them to do big things.”

Inspiring Black Business Women

Perhaps above and beyond her fame as a self-made millionaire, Madam Walker is remembered as one of the first advocates for the financial independence of Black women. After establishing her own thriving cosmetics business, she threw herself into teaching Black women how to build, budget, and market their own businesses.

In 1917, Walker borrowed from the structure of the National Association of Colored Women to begin organizing state and local support clubs for her sales agents. These clubs evolved to become the Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culturists Union of America. The union’s first annual conference, which convened in Philadelphia during the summer of 1917, hosted 200 attendees and was one of the first national gatherings of American women entrepreneurs.

In delivering the convention’s keynote speech, Madam Walker, after calling America “the greatest country under the sun,” demanded justice for the deaths of some 100 Black people during the recent St. Louis race riots. Moved by her remarks, the delegation sent a telegram to President Woodrow Wilson asking for legislation to avoid "a recurrence of such disgraceful affairs."

"With that gesture, the association had become what perhaps no other currently existing group could claim," wrote A'Lelia Bundles. "American women entrepreneurs organized to use their money and their numbers to assert their political will."

Philanthropy and Activism: The Harlem Years

After she and Charles Walker divorced in 1913, Madam Walker traveled throughout Latin America and the Caribbean promoting her business and recruiting others to teach her hair care methods. While her mother traveled, A'Lelia Walker helped facilitate the purchase of property in Harlem, New York, recognizing that the area would be an important base for their future business operations.

After returning to the United States in 1916, Walker moved into her new Harlem townhouse and quickly immersed herself in the social and political culture of the Harlem Renaissance. She founded philanthropies that included educational scholarships and donations to homes for the elderly, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the National Conference on Lynching, among other organizations focused on improving the lives of African Americans. In 1913, Walker also donated the largest amount of money by an African American toward the construction of a YMCA serving Indianapolis’ Black community. She was also a major contributor to the scholarship funds of the Tuskegee Institute, a historically Black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, founded by early Black community leaders Lewis Adams and Booker T. Washington.

As her notoriety increased, Walker became vocal in expressing her social and political views. Speaking from the floor of the 1912 convention of the National Negro Business League, she famously declared, “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there, I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there, I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. I have built my own factory on my own ground."

Madam Walker appeared regularly at conventions sponsored by powerful Black institutions, delivering stirring lectures on political, economic, and social issues facing the African American community. As some of her closest friends and associates, Walker often consulted with prominent community organizers and activists Booker T. Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, and W.E.B. Du Bois

Philanthropy and Activism: The Harlem Years

During World War I, Walker, as a leader of the Circle For Negro War Relief organized by Mary Mcleod Bethune, advocated for the establishment of a camp dedicated to the training of Black army officers. In 1917, she was appointed to the executive committee of the New York chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) founded by Mary White Ovington. The same year, she helped organize the NAACP Silent Protest Parade on New York City's Fifth Avenue, which drew some 10,000 people to protest a riot in East St. Louis in which at least 40 African Americans had been killed, several hundred injured, and thousands displaced from their homes.

As the profits from her business grew, so did Walker's contributions to political and philanthropic causes. In 1918, the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs honored her as the largest individual contributor to the preservation of the historic house of abolitionist, activist, and women’s rights advocate Frederick Douglass in Anacostia, Washington, D.C. Just months before her death in 1919, Walker donated $5,000 (nearly $73,000 in 2019) to the NAACP's anti-lynching fund—the largest amount ever donated to the NAACP by an individual at the time. In her will, she bequeathed nearly $100,000 to orphanages, institutions, and individuals, and specified that two-thirds of future net profits from her estate be donated to charity.

Death and Legacy

Madam C.J. Walker died at age 51 of kidney failure and complications of hypertension at her Villa Lewaro mansion in Irvington, New York, on May 25, 1919. After her funeral at Villa Lewaro, she was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City, New York.

Considered the wealthiest African American woman in the country at the time of her death, Walker's obituary in The New York Times stated, “She said herself two years ago that she was not yet a millionaire, but hoped to be some time, not that she wanted the money for herself, but for the good she could do with it. She spent $10,000 every year for the education of young negro men and women in Southern colleges and sent six youths to Tuskegee Institute every year.”

Walker left one-third of her estate to her daughter, A'Lelia Walker, who along with becoming president of the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, continued her mother’s role as a vital part of the Harlem Renaissance. The balance of her estate was bequeathed to various charities.

Madam Walker’s business provided access for generations of women to, in her words, “abandon the washtub for a more pleasant and profitable occupation.” In downtown Indianapolis, the Madam Walker Legacy Center—built in 1927 as the Walker Theatre—stands as a tribute to her determination and contributions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, Walker Theatre Center housed the company's offices and factory as well as a theater, beauty school, hair salon and barbershop, restaurant, drugstore, and a ballroom for the use of the community.

In 2013, Indianapolis-based skincare and haircare company Sundial Brands purchased Madam C.J. Walker Enterprises for the purpose of bringing Walker’s iconic products back to store shelves. On March 4, 2016, more than a century after her “Wonderful Hair Grower” made Madam C.J. Walker a self-made millionaire, Sundial collaborated with Sephora of Paris to begin selling “Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture,” a collection of all-natural gels, oils, cremes, shampoos, and conditioners for different types of hair.

Sources and Further Reference

Bundles, A'Lelia. “Madam C.J. Walker, 1867—1919.” Madame C. J. Walker, http://www.madamcjwalker.com/bios/madam-c-j-walker/.

Bundles, A'Lelia (2001). “On Her Own Ground.” Scribner; Reprint edition, May 25, 2001.\

Glazer, Jessica. “Madam C.J. Walker: America's First Female Self-Made Millionaire.” Catalyst by Convene, https://convene.com/catalyst/madam-c-j-walker-americas-first-female-self-made-millionaire/.

Racha Penrice, Ronda. “Madam C.J. Walker's legacy of empowering black women lives on 100 years after her death.” NBC News, March 31, 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/madam-c-j-walker-s-legacy-empowering-black-women-lives-n988451.

Riquier, Andrea. “Madam Walker Went From Laundress To Millionairess.” Investor’s Business Daily, Feb. 24, 2015, https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/madam-walker-built-hair-care-empire-rose-from-washerwoman/.

Anthony, Cara. “A legacy reborn: Madam C.J. Walker hair products are back.” The Indianapolis Star/USA Today, 2016, https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/10/02/legacy-reborn-madam-cj-walker-hair-products-back/91433826

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OPINION: This history of someone very, very long ago that was a very successful Black American Women that made a difference in a time that would be very hard or difficult for those today to imagine.

The purpose of sharing this History is to educate those that just don’t realize how many Black Americans bet the odds at a that you would not have expected.

History is a wonderful thing so lets not destroy any history in our country good or bad because it teaches us life of the past that makes us so grateful of what we have accomplished as a country/nation.

In other words in destroy ‘statuses’ are ignorant and respects a ‘MOD’ mentality. Don’t allow the ‘mod’ to rule. Denounced them quickly before they destroy our history good or bad. If not, the bad will repeated its self.

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televisedbirdwatching · 5 years ago

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A Picnic against Harbor Drive: Neighborhood Associations and the Fight Against Freeways

In his book “Portland in Three Centuries,” historian and PSU professor Carl Abbott writes: “On a summer day when the mountains and coast beckoned many Portlanders, 250 adults and 100 children spread their blankets and opened their coolers and baskets on a barren strip between four lanes of busy traffic on Front Avenue and an even busier four lanes on Harbor Drive.”

This postcard shows Front Street to the left, a grassy median, and Harbor Drive plus offramps. Steel Bridge in the background. From here.

The picnic took place on August 19th, 1969, organized by a fresh group of political activists. From the 1950’s through the 1970’s, traffic planners got a little highway crazy: a 1955 report by the Oregon Department of Transportation recommended the construction of 14 new freeways in the Portland Metro area. Even after Interstate 5 was constructed on the east side of the river, city planners wanted to expand Harbor Drive on the west side of the river, completely cutting off pedestrian access to the Willamette downtown.

Harbor drive no longer exists- today, we know of it as Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Though the park bears Governor McCall’s name, we can thank the efforts of a few civic-minded Portland families hosting a picnic on a busy median on a summer day. They called their group Riverfront for People.

Here’s a photo from one of the picnics. From here.

The picnic was the first of a number of such demonstrations over the course of that summer. The protest was organized by Allison Belcher and her husband Bob. Allison said, “I was ironing clothes, as was the wont of females to do of that time and I heard on the radio that the Highway Commission was going to put this road right down through where the Oregon Journal property was along the river, so I called up Ira Keller [chairman of the Portland Development Commission—one of the city’s most powerful, mercurial figures] on the telephone and I said, ‘what are you doing, why are you doing this?’ He said, ‘You shouldn’t be bothered—you’re just a housewife.’” This quote and many of the other quotes from the RFP organizers come from an excellent interview conducted by Tim DuRoche, here).

Allison started making phone calls, reaching out to people she had met through a shared interest in the upcoming 1970 City Council election. In the meantime, her husband Bob got in touch with his architect coworkers- folks interested in the historical preservation of west-side waterfront buildings and folks with a vision for a more vibrant Portland than the east side riverfront’s maze of concrete represented.

This is an image from a 1932 planning report by Harland Bartholemew. Notice the riverfront green space on both sides of the river. During the war, the eastside riverfront would be lost to industrial uses and freeway I-5. Notice the “city beautiful” style buildings. City of Portland Archives.

This gif from this bikeportland article shows ODOT’s proposal to widen I-5 along the eastbank of the river even further, creating a ridiculous overhang over the eastbank multi-use path.

The picnic worked. The Riverfront for People organizers got the attention of Governor Tom McCall, who, even before the picnics, had spoken about his hope of creating a public greenspace along the waterfront. The alliance between the regular folks- the 350 people who showed up to have summer picnics on a highway median- and the political establishment built a powerful coalition able to resist the 1970’s hunger for more miles of concrete.

However, despite their new and powerful ally, Harbor Drive wouldn’t officially close until 1974. That’s five years of difficult political work to achieve their goal. This political work helped inspire a new generation of citizen leaders in Portland politics. Carl Abbott writes: “The process of neighborhood planning between 1957 and 1967 was as straightforward as its content. City Planning Commission reports make no reference to neighborhood groups or citizen involvement. They were prepared by city employees for their colleagues in city hall.”

However, as part of the Harbor Drive campaign, Belcher and others began showing up to city hall meetings, demanding to have their opinions considered in the decisions that shape their city. Belcher said, “It was something new for Portland to go down to City Hall and testify—everything had always been run by these people who’d been in power for a long time and they didn’t discuss it with anyone. There really hadn’t been much change or access up to that point.” PSU professor Ernie Bonner notes that 120 people attended the January 14th, 1970 meeting of the State Highway Commission, where a closure date for Harbor Drive was officially set.

Harbor Drive helped usher in a new era of citizen engagement in local issues. Allison and Bob Belcher protested alongside Vera Katz (namesake of the Eastside Riverfront Recreational path) and Gretchen and Steve Kafoury (Parents to commissioner Deborah, and longtime political officeholders themselves) to demand that the City Club of Portland allow women as members. Bob Belcher: “What began with Model Cities and then Neil Goldschmidt coming on to Council … was part of this something wonderful that was happening in Portland of that time. It was post-Kennedy—there was a huge energy in the air … there was a lot going on, all that turmoil in Vietnam, but there was an underlying current of all these things on a national level. …Our great virtue was the times energized us—it was a hopeful time. We were pretty outraged and we were young enough that we thought we could make a big noise about this.”

Their ‘young outrage,’ ability to build connections with establishment politicians like McCall, and savvy campaigns for councillors Anderson, McCready, and Goldschmidt would create the initial energy required to defeat the proposal for the Mt. Hood Freeway when it came up in 1975, and would then help to divert the funds necessary to create the first branch of the MAX light rail line in the metro region. Activists were also successful in defeating a plan to build a 12-story parking garage on the site that is now Pioneer Courthouse Square.

A picture from the early days of the Marquam Bridge. Photo here.

The west side of the city, with Harbor Drive. Look at all of that open space between the Standard Insurance Building on 5th and the riverfront! Photo Here.

In 1973, councilman Goldschmidt became Mayor Goldschmidt, and created the Office of Neighborhood Associations. This plan helped formalize a pathway for democratic engagement in city politics. However, the neighborhood associations could be an institution that’s beginning to show its age. In 2019, Commissioner Chloe Eudaly picked a fight with the neighborhood associations in Portland. Quoting from this article in the WW, she argues “Eudaly says neighborhood associations too often represent white homeowners and exclude renters, people of color and immigrants. And, she says, they serve as gatekeepers who stand in the way of denser development and the construction of more affordable housing.”

Eudaly proposed an ordinance that would help bring new voices and interest groups to official budget, land use, and development discussions; discussions currently limited to the formally-recognized and geographically-based neighborhood groups. The WW notes “currently, six identity-based groups—including the Urban League, the Latino Network, and the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization—receive funding,” but are not currently invited to participate in those discussions. Eudaly’s ordinance hoped to change that.

2019’s Eudaly v. Neighborhood Association title fight portrayed the neighborhood associations as the white, home-owning, baby-boomer villains: a political vanguard keeping people with younger, fresher ideas out of the traditional channels of political access. These, of course, being the same villains who once organized to stop the expansion of two freeways, created a key downtown greenspace, forced the city to adopt a progressive view of transit planning, and helped establish systems for democratic engagement in city government.

The Portland west side waterfront today. Photo.

In his interview with the Belchers, DuRoche asked “if we were in danger of becoming complacent or resting too much on the laurels of past successes —and forgetting how to organize and coalesce around neighborhood, regional issues—I was greeted with a rousing, “Yes.”

“I would frame it this way,” Bob Belcher elaborates. “With this event of 40 years ago, this was kind of like our neighborhood—downtown. We lived in Irvington, but in a way, we worked downtown, we played down there, we just wanted it better. …These days we’re grappling with a regional project [the Columbia River Crossing] that has a misunderstood impact on this city and surrounding, adjacent neighborhoods and all kinds of ramifications that we can’t begin to understand. It’s ended up to be not just a simple neighborhood issue that a lot of us in the past could identify with and get rallied to, with an Allison Belcher haranguing us to get out and go to the picnic. It’s far more complex … how do we make the point these days?”

The Columbia River Crossing is no longer the Freeway Fight du jour: attention has now shifted to the I-5 freeway expansion through the Rose Quarter. It’s worth taking another look at Bob’s words above: are freeway projects today really more difficult to understand, ‘far more complex,’ and not just ‘simple neighborhood issues?’

In my last article, I wrote about the Seattle Labor Temple; at one point, a bustling center for labor activism; today, nearly empty. Less than a mile away, three glass domes built by Amazon serve as a new kind of temple to the American Worker. It’s clear from these features of the built environment that the nature of labor has changed. Perhaps labor activism needs to change as well. Considering Bob Belcher’s perspective, how have the fights against freeways changed? How does transportation activism need to change? How do the traditional methods of civic engagement need to change?

However, I think the other thing to consider is the effectiveness of Allison Belcher’s simple protest- a picnic in an unlikely place- and the spirit of activism it inspired in the Portland community. At the end of the day, said Belcher and fellow organizer Jim Howell, it was really about giving their kids a chance to get to the river. If we let the freeway take over the riverbank on both sides, they couldn’t have that chance. “It wasn’t political,” said Howell. “It was Civic.”

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I tend to get deep into research holes while writing these. This is part bibliography and part recommendations.

Carl Abbott’s book “Portland in Three Centuries.”

Carl Abbott’s book “Politics, Planning, and Growth in a Twentieth-Century City”

https://www.pdx.edu/usp/planpdxorg-riverfront-people

https://metroscape.imspdx.org/a-riverfront-park-runs-through-it?print=print

https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2019/09/11/chloe-eudalys-neighborhood-war-the-populist-commissioner-hits-back-against-critics-who-say-shes-strangling-portland-democracy/

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/archives/article/24741

http://rebelmetropolis.org/the-portland-riverfront-that-almost-was/

https://portlandtribune.com/but/239-news/463929-376278-learning-from-portlands-harbor-drive

https://www.cnu.org/what-we-do/build-great-places/harbor-drive

https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2019/04/12/chance-repeat-history

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gregoryburrusproductions · 5 years ago

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Tonight's @Inkosi Cafe Live Music Pop-Up House band (Darryl Clark @dcfusionmusic on Bass, Brianne Ford @briannefordjazz on Keys and Steven Moore on drums) is ready to jazz it up along with some very special guests Bruno Lee @leetrumpetman and @Craig Mitchell on Guitar. See you soon Hello Live Music Lovers Tomorrow this Saturday 12/28/2019 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM InKosi Cafe is hosting a Live Music Pop-Up Event and you are invited to listen, jam and have fun with us. . We hope you can pop in, listen to some great jazz, r&b and some cool vocalist while you mix and mingle with neighbors, friends and others from the community. . . You will also get to hear about what's coming up that's new and exciting in entertainment at InKosi Cafe for 2020. . . For this special event you can enjoy some delectable eats and also know that BYOB is allowed. . . This inaugural event will be at Inkosi Cafe at 251 Irvington Ave. South Orange NJ (Cross street is Riggs Place ). . . Street parking is available and if you have questions, contact Inkosi Cafe at 1 973-327-4851. . . Please join us and Inkosi and I are hoping you all have a Great Holiday Season . . #inkosicafe #setonhalluniversity #setonvillage#soma #mapso #openmic #jamming #southorangenj #maplewoodnj #livemusic #jazz #blues #art #rock #country #soul #irvingtonave #southorangevillage #goodfood #goodpeople #greatvibe #yummyfood #brunch #comfortfood #lunch #dinner #dessert #gregoryburrus #intimateatomosphere (at Inkosi Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oZ-W6lgbE/?igshid=y4ibqskdrmdx

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fgiprinc · 6 years ago

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Portland’s White House Among Winners of 4th Annual “Experts’ Choice Awards”

(Criteria Based on 1.5 Million Professional Travel Reviews)

Portland’s White House, a luxury bed & breakfast and event space located in the city’s Irvington community, is among the winners of the 4th Annual Experts’ Choice Awards presented to the top hotels, restaurants and attractions in the U.S., Europe and Asia. According to Chris Blume, the organization’s chief content officer, the criteria are based on professional reviews from some 1.5 million travel writers, magazine and newspaper editors/reporters, bloggers and other industry professionals based on their “unbiased perspective.” “We’re delighted to have been recognized with this international honor,” said owner Frank Groff. Added partner David Krause, “In addition to having designed a stellar space for our guests, we work hard to exceed their every expectation. This means the world to us and our team.” Portland’s White House recently underwent a $1 million renovation of the main house to restore the property to its former glory. The main house features 6 bedrooms each with an ensuite bath while the carriage house offers three additional bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms. The main level of the home has a grand foyer distinguished by a hand-painted mural and sweeping staircase that leads to the upstairs bedrooms. Also on the main floor is a living room with grand piano, a game room, commercial kitchen, private office and the dining room where breakfast is prepared each morning by John Paulk, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef who operates his critically acclaimed Mezzaluna Catering out of the1910 mansion. Downstairs is an 85-seat ballroom that is an ideal space for larger events including wedding rehearsals/receptions, family reunions, corporate meetings other events. Paulk has earned a stellar reputation among Portland’s elite with a client list that includes Nike founder Phil Knight, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, world-renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Pink Martini founder Thomas Lauderdale and many others. Portland’s White House is set in an imposing 1910 Colonial Revival mansion that was built for an Oregon timber baron, Robert Lytle, who spared no expense in its construction. He made it fireproof with metal lath and plaster and tile roofs then carefully installed the very best materials, including Povey Bros. stained glass, known as “The Tiffany of the Northwest.” For more information about the Elopement Package or staying at Portland’s White House, visit portlandswhitehouse.com or call (503) 287-7131. It is located at 1914 NE 22nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97212.

#restaurant #portland #awards #food

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d4gprogram · 2 months ago

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After School Programs in Irvington and Newark & Party Hall Rentals

The after school program in Irvington is a valuable resource for parents seeking a safe, enriching environment for their children after school hours. Designed to support working families, this program offers a structured setting where children can engage in educational and recreational activities that promote their academic and social development.

The Irvington program focuses on homework assistance, providing children with the guidance they need to complete their assignments and improve their study habits. Additionally, the program includes extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and music, allowing children to explore their interests and develop new skills. The environment is nurturing and inclusive, ensuring that every child feels supported and valued.

Furthermore, the after-school program emphasizes the importance of social interaction. Children have the opportunity to build friendships and learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution. This program not only keeps children engaged after school but also helps them develop into well-rounded individuals.

For those looking to host events in Irvington, the availability of a party hall rental provides a convenient and versatile option. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, wedding reception, or corporate event, renting a party hall offers a space that can be customized to suit the occasion.

Party halls based out of Irvington typically come equipped with essential amenities such as tables, chairs, and sound systems. Many venues also offer additional services like catering, event planning, and decoration, making it easier for hosts to manage their events. The flexibility of these spaces allows hosts to create the perfect ambiance for their event, whether it’s an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration.

Similar to Irvington, the after school program in Newark is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for children during after-school hours. This program aims to enhance children's academic performance through homework help and tutoring, while also offering a variety of activities to stimulate their creativity and physical fitness.

Newark's After School Program is designed to cater to the diverse needs of its community, ensuring that every child has access to quality after-school care. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, the program helps children develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.

#After school program in Irvington #Party hall rental #After school program in Newark

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obsessiveviewer · 4 years ago

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045 - TV - The Word + Dirty (Castle Rock S02E07-08)

Tower Junkies - 045 - TV - The Word + Dirty (Castle Rock S02E07-08)

In this episode, Tiny and I continue our review series of Castle Rock season 2! This time, we review episodes 7 & 8: The Word and Dirty.

This week’s stinger comes from our Patreon-exclusive recording: 078 - TJ B-Roll - “Synchronized Yawns” - The Twilight Zone Season 2, Community Season 6, The Politician, Selling My Car, and COVID Stuff - June 25, 2020

Timestamps

Show Start - 00:19

News - 02:11

Check-Ins - 07:30

Castle Rock - 18:16

The Word - 19:44

Dirty - 40:18

Closing the Ep - 55:27

Patreon Stinger: “Synchronized Yawns” - 57:48

Pre-Recorded Outro - 59:04