A Graduation Gift for our Little Brothers--for $2 per month!

Thank you, Everyone, who has followed our journey as five years ago, producer J. Tiggett and I began a film project like no other:  10 short documentaries, 10 cities across the U.S. filming young Black men (nine to 13 years of age) and their thoughts on Love. As you will see at LittleBrotherFilm.com it has been quite an adventure and this year's production of Chapter 5 leaves us more inspired.

While keeping this annual filming schedule, we have met many beautiful families in the following cities:

Camden, NJ

Chicago, IL

St. Petersburg, Fl

Muskogee, OK

Tucson, AZ

Guess what. Our Little Brothers from Chapter 1, Little Brother:  Things Fall Apart, are not so little any more.  And we would like to send them into adulthood with a proper graduation gift directly from the fans.

So many of you have helped us with many resources needed to continue as an independent production that has aided in the shift of perception of young Black men through our national media lens. We still have a long way to go, but we are pleased that Little Brother is responsible for bringing positive images of Black boys to the screen.  We are happy to say that audiences are supporting the educational distribution of our films through Third World Newsreel. And they are ready for more.

So why I am requesting $2/month of you today? 

As an executive producer of content I've joined this wonderful new platform called PATREON. My production company EPIPHANY Inc. has been producing films for 15 years and we are pretty sure we will continue to work outside the system to bring films to the world that matter.

On average each Little Brother chapter features six to seven young men. They have a lot of fans in our EPIPHANY Inc. network.  We are at the halfway mark with our 10-chapter filming goal and in reviewing the numbers I have exciting news. We have enough fans now to begin distributing a $1,000 stipend to each young man as he enters into adulthood.

Will you help us?

By visiting www.Patreon.com/NicoleFranklin you will see how easy it is. There are a number of levels to contribute to keep the films of EPIPHANY Inc. going.  But I've started a $2 per month level to be able to turn a large portion of that amount into a significant gift directly to our young men from you, our audience. There's strength in numbers. And by design this donation amount of $2 monthly/$24 annually will hopefully not be too much of a burden.

If you feel it is, there are other ways to assist! 

Would you please consider one or all of these options today?

1)   Visit www.Patreon.com/NicoleFranklin by January 31, 2015 (extended deadline) and pledge $2 per month. A large portion of Pledges at this level go directly to each Little Brother of the early chapters in time for a $1,000 gift toward their college or professional future in May 2015. 

2)    Please consider sharing this post with three friends. If I have at least half of my social media followers on board for $2 per month, we would have successfully covered a one-time gift for Little Brothers in all of the chapters already filmed and those to come by graduation day 2016!

3)    Please share this post with your social media network. Here is the Bitly link: http://bit.ly/1uaimxK.

4)    Volunteer with EPIPHANY Inc.  We have plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer with us to continue the Little Brother films and more. Please e-mail me at Nicoleedits@gmail.com with inquiries!

5)    Please share this post with businesses or entrepreneurs who would like to sponsor EPIPHANY Inc. productions at $15 per month! As of September 2014 we have 500 views per month on our AnEPIPHANYConversation.com website and 10,000 views per week on Google+. We will get you maximum exposure to customers for bargain prices.  See our sponsor page here:  NicoleFranklin.com.

6)    Not a fan of subscription-based giving?  Not a problem. One year of contributions at $24 or a two-year contribution of $48 can be contributed as a tax-deduction through Fractured Atlas, the fiscal sponsor of An EPIPHANY Conversation. You may easily contribute a $24 or $48 lump sum--again as a tax benefit to you--through Fractured Atlas by clicking here. 

7) Enjoy the $2 per month but do not wish for it to be an unlimited deduction from your account? No problem! When you subscribe as a $2 (or any other level) per month Patron, just let me know that you only want to do so for whatever length of time you choose. Twelve months, 15 months, or 36 months? That's fine. We'll mark our calendars to remind us to remind you to cancel at Patreon.com/NicoleFranklin. You may also cancel at any time. Thank you!

8) Is PayPal your preferred method of giving? We accept that too! By donating $24 or $48 to the PayPal account at Nicoleedits@gmail.com, you will be making an enormous contribution to our Little Brother Graduation Gift in a way that is more convenient for you. Thank you!

9) Do you want to cover one or more of gifts to the Little Brothers for $1,000 per student on your own without waiting for the $2 community ask to reach its goal? We would be delighted! Please contact me at Nicoleedits@gmail.com for this tax-deductible option! 

10) Keep the faith and send our Little Brothers encouraging notes and messages. Either through our Little Brother FB Fan page or at LittleBrotherFilm.com, a kind note from you goes a long way! Thank you!

Thank you for considering the $2/month pledge toward a Little Brother Graduation Gift. You may increase or cancel your payments with Patreon at any time.

EPIPHANY Inc. productions are top quality community films and digital media. This is a global community. Please consider becoming a Patron with us. These are your films.

Thank you!

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Father Figure

I am excited to have published my latest article on documenting the African Diaspora here in the Toronto-based publication ByBlacks.com. It's titled Father Figure.  I never had to search far for my father.  He committed to being a family man when he married my mother in the late 60s and he still takes my calls when I now want to know what he's up to instead of the other way around.  I, thankfully, do not understand the pain, anger, loss, abandonment that comes with growing up without a father in the household. With feminism at the forefront these days, I have probably--and naively so--been a believer that healthy families are in abundance in the form of single mother households. I have friends and family who have proven that with their successful sons and daughters.  But we cannot gloss over those who find the absence of their biological father too much to bear. It is a burden that keeps on giving.  And when does one start healing? My Black Dox article this week was very special to me in that I was introduced to street photographer Zun Lee by photography curator extraordinaire Deb Willis. She found our work similar in that we pursue documentary stories that work to heal young Black men.  Zun Lee discovered he was of African descent as a young child born to what he thought were two Korean parents. But, he found out the truth: His Black father left them upon learning his mother was pregnant.  Zun's reconciliation with his feelings has come in the form of a collection of extremely personal images in the book titled Father Figure - Exploring the Notions of Black Fatherhood. It is set for release this month by Ceibafoto LLC.  Insight to the incredible work of this physician turned photo artist may be found in my article here.  Well done, Zun Lee. Well done. 

Photography by Zun Lee.

Nicole and Donald Franklin.

Hands Up for Gideon's Army

I'm honored to have another article of mine published in ByBlacks.com.  This Canadian magazine focused on the Black community has kept a close eye on what has captivated the world as of late:  Our U.S. justice system.  I have been quite distressed this past week as I am from St. Louis.  I grew up there.  It's my hometown. Ferguson was right up the highway from me. The fact that racial strife is being played out from the Heartland for the world to see just says to me that our dirty little secret is finally out.  At the time I am writing this, it has now been more than a week since an unarmed Black teen was gunned down on the street by a white police officer. Again. When are the scales of justice ever going to balance?  My interview with filmmaker and former litigator Dawn Porter on her exceptionally engaging and raw film, Gideon's Army, was already in the works when Michael Brown was shot. If this young man, who is no longer with us, would have been given the opportunity to have his day in court, he may have had the good fortune to be represented by one of the talented public defenders we talk about here.  Please visit our Black Dox article in ByBlacks.com at this link. And let's keep our Hands Up for the children.   

A CyberParty with a Purpose

It's mid-August, the weather in the NorthEast is gorgeous and I've decided to host my first CyberParty!  Why would I even entertain a party atmosphere when the world is exploding in my hometown of St. Louis?  Well, I'm the kind of #STLWoman that likes to party with a purpose.  For four years now I and producer J. Tiggett along with film consultant Dr. Raymond Winbush and a team of soldiers have dedicated our skills and resources to the film series I executive produce titled Little Brother.  Little Brother is a 10-chapter anthology featuring young Black men on camera expressing their thoughts on love. We hear about relationships, family, hopes and dreams.  We designed this series as 10 chapters so that we would saturate the market with positive media images of young Black men.  Maybe if there are more options of how Black boys are portrayed on screen, they would not get shot.  

Here we are again. This time in Ferguson, MO. 

We may not know all of the details of the officer-involved shooting, but having anyone's child laying on the street for four hours is a situation not even suitable for a dead dog.  Period.

So, we have a CyberParty coming up with a $2500 sales goal for customers. Details may be found here and by clicking on the flier below.  If we raise our goal, then our Little Brother team goes into two schools or community organizations--for free--to donate a chapter of the film series and host an interactive presentation for students and the educators who work with them. As many times as we can present positive images of young Black males--and their testimonies on camera which also come with their fears--we believe this will help change the landscape of how they are perceived, treated, respected in the United States where we clearly seem to have a problem.  

Help us meet our sales goal. Shop and share our news! Meet us in the field and suggest our next venue for our assemblies.  We're calling them "Little Brother has Class." We have the voices of young Black men that apply to all races and that, my friends, is something to celebrate.   

Image consultant Winston Smith is offering a free session and shopping assistance for one of our first 10 customers who spend $100. Shop with us! And Winston!

#TBT + #1World1Family - 2x's!

I just came home from a fantastic screening of Through A Lens Darkly. This incredible documentary of African American history through photographs brings the accuracy and inspiration of Black culture in the United States through images of which most of America seems to have drawn a blank.  No more.  Thomas Allen Harris, his muse Deb Willis, and producer Ann Bennett have almost 1,000 rarely seen photographs in this beautiful story of resilience and dignity and it is coming to an NYC theatre to qualify for some top awards and a place at the box office. We need to be there. Here are the details of the run: August 27 through September 9, Through A Lens Darkly will be at the Film Forum, 209 West Houston St., NYC 10014. Advanced tickets are available now. The filmmakers also want you to know that group rates are available for a class, department, organization, or social group.  Every seat needs to be filled for these two weeks. 

There's one more call to action I'd like to share. We have two more Thursdays before the opening. Let's make Throwback Thursday one to remember.  When posting photos of your history this Thursday, August 14 and Thursday, August 21, let's include two hashtags:  #TBT and #1World1Family.  This film more than ever illustrates the importance of documenting our true history by starting with our family.  Congrats to the film team--of which I was thrilled to be a part of as well--and here's to a packed Film Forum opening weekend! #TBT #1World1Family. Let's do this!

The PINK Media Club starts off with Flying Colors

The Pink Media Club launched Thursday, August 7, 2014 in Bergen County, NJ. The goal for the club:  a community of beauty entrepreneurs who support other visionaries in the arts and media landscape nationwide. The PINK Media Club celebrates creativity, community and, above all else, the beauty within. With "A Film Short & A Facial" theme to launch the Club in Hackensack, New Jersey I introduced the idea of having artists nationwide bring a short presentation to the beginning of Mary Kay beauty meetings. I was also so humbled to be honored that night as an "Everyday Hero." Thanks, Ladies! And thanks for joining The PINK Media Club. For a network of three million beauty consultants, this art + commerce + beauty is a perfect match for the independent scene all around. We're a movement.  To set up a PINK Media Club evening in your area to boost your independent beauty business (and if you're an artist, info on presenting in front of such a committed group of entrepreneurs), stay tuned. We are developing a handbook, referral guide and calendar of events.  This is an exciting time. It's all about building a supportive family around the modern literature in films, books, visual and audio media that we are all compelled to create. Join the PINK Media Club here.  Let's do this!

What I Learned from a Sister Filmmaker

Courage.  Filmmaker Alison Duke was introduced to me by colleague Renee T. Robinson as a subject for my Black Dox series of articles for the Toronto-based publication ByBlacks.com.  Thanks to Alison's persistence accompanied with warmth, talent combined with gut instinct, and overall concern for humankind we have an inside view of how rulings from the Canadian courts escalate the stigmatization of women afflicted with HIV.  My article on Alison's incredible work--of which she continues to receive commissions--may be seen here.  You will also see within the article a link to her latest film on the topic. It may be screened in its entirety. Thank you, Alison Duke, for your exceptional dedication to storytelling. And thank you ByBlacks.com for having me on board to report on the work of my talented neighbors to the North.    

A Referral, a Sponsor and a PayDay--All are welcome!

We have An EPIPHANY Village on our website (click here) and it takes a village to build it! Are you enjoying our posts and our media? Do you find yourself bringing our filmed subjects up in conversation? Would you like to get paid for talking us up so much that a business or angel becomes a tax-deductible donor? Refer us and reap the rewards. Here's how:

*Refer a business or individual to our website and when they become donors you receive a commission

*We have all of the information you need to lock in that sponsor by sending them to the link provided here

*Donors must secure payment and supply your full name and email address for you to receive commission (the name and email of the reference must not be the proprietor nor the individual donor--no double dipping please)

*Donors may hail from any and all industries (with discretion when it comes to those who engage in questionable activities, of course). Let's keep it clean. :) 

*Commission is based on the payment schedule of the donor (monthly vs. annual). Commission payouts will occur by the 15th of the month following the donation.

*We have the utmost gratitude for our references. Stay tuned for special incentives for those who refer 10 or more!

Thank you for helping us grow and bringing our films and digital media to communities everywhere!

Populating the EPIPHANY Village

I'm thrilled to announce our new page on this site, An EPIPHANY Village. By clicking on the enticing "For You" title on our menu, you will find a growing business community for networking, support and wide exposure.  These are our sponsors, and they're wonderful.  We have clothing and lifestyle resources for infants and youth, broadcasters, podcasters, media consultants, alternative health suppliers, business and acting coaches, choreographers, photographers, culture curators, a brewing company and more! We would love to include the local dry cleaner and car dealer once in awhile too!  All are in support of the media products and web programming we produce. Sponsorships are possible through an affordable tax-deductible donation.  More information may be found by clicking here.  The demographics and number of visitors who visit our site and associated web profiles are documented and made public.  You may see these at any time by by clicking here.  Welcome to our Village. Please join us as we look forward to meeting new neighbors and publicizing your ventures! 

Photography by Peter Z Jones, www.PeterZJones.com.

PRESS RELEASE - Women's Financial Liberation coming to #EConvo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      

Success coach and prominent

New Jersey Executive Sales Director Juanita Gaddy  

teams up with An EPIPHANY Conversation

for a series of free classes

designed to liberate women financially

Nicole Franklin’s online educational dialogue An EPIPHANY Conversation (#EConvo) offers simple solutions toward financial independence with the author of “Under-earning is a Curse. Let’s Break It.”

Teaneck, NJ, August 4, 2014 - Women everywhere may now join those who have adopted the key principles “God first, family second and career third” of a growing beauty company with success stories across the globe.  One of the company’s top tier directors Juanita Gaddy has parlayed her individual success story into inspirational lectures geared toward liberating women financially and ultimately uniting communities in peace. Now, film and digital media company EPIPHANY Inc. invites Gaddy to share her message through an accessible online training program.  “An EPIPHANY Conversation: Women’s Financial Liberation” launches bi-monthly online sessions to empower women and men through 10-minute web interviews.  Click here for a preview episode.

Gaddy’s story begins with her leaving a secure corporate job in order to make money independently.  She has been so successful she authored and volunteers her “Under-earning is a Curse. Let’s Break It” seminars to communities in need. And she constantly receives invitations to return—for pay.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2012, the family poverty rate and the number of families in poverty were 11.8 percent or 9.5 million.  Almost 31 percent of families with a female householder lived in poverty.  Poverty represents an annual income of $23,492 in 2012 and it was noted that 16.3 percent of females lived at this income level. The Bureau notes that significant changes are not apparent between 2012 and the numbers from the previous year.

With Gaddy, An EPIPHANY Conversation plans to reach hundreds of women monthly who are ready to dramatically improve their livelihood.  Outreach at no cost to attendees includes both web and in-person sessions. 

An encounter with Gaddy’s engaging style and positive message of building wealth for women through “Under-earning is a Curse. Let’s Break It” prompted Franklin to suggest the launch of free online web sessions for a global reach.  Nicole Franklin is the president and senior producer of EPIPHANY Inc. and the fiscally sponsored An EPIPHANY Conversation, the in-person and interactive dialogues with accompanying media balancing the equation for marginalized communities. “I approached Juanita Gaddy when I overheard—possibly eavesdropped, if I must admit—her conducting her sales business on a phone call. I have always been impressed how women in her position were successful and happy.  A quick conversation informed me of her willingness to not just sell a quality product and business opportunity but change women’s lives on a grand scale.  Gaddy has designed a success plan to adopt for any entrepreneurial effort of which women could relate. I knew her enthusiasm would be appropriate to change women’s lives via the web. It fit perfectly with our #EConvo series of inspirational stories.”

In addition to the online sessions, An EPIPHANY Conversation, will team up with women’s support organizations to reach out to their population with in-person training sessions and small group counseling featuring Gaddy and her inspirational life plan, applicable to any industry.

Gaddy, occasionally seen bouncing from event to meeting to party to prayer service, is eager to enter into the web space:  “You would be surprised how many women are being mistreated, or mistreating themselves, and don’t know it.  Always the question should be who are you at your best? And I love helping women who are stuck. They make great leaders. There are steps to success.” 

Online web sessions may be viewed live on YouTube and begin Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 8:30pmEST.  For more information about free online sessions or in-person seminars, subscribe to www.YouTube.com/NicoleFilms and e-mail Nicoleedits@gmail.com.

About Juanita Gaddy

Juanita Gaddy started her direct sales career on August 27, 1992 and has earned the use of 10 free cars.  She currently has four first-line directors and four second-line directors which earn her the title Future Executive Senior Sales Director. She has won various awards such a queen court of recruiting where she recruited eight women in one day.  She works part-time as a life coach at a high school encouraging young adults on how to excel in life.  She is happily married with two adult children and five grands.  Her belief is that if you do the possible God will do the impossible.

About An EPIPHANY Conversation 

An EPIPHANY Conversation (#EConvo) is the community dialogue that follows the media presentations of EPIPHANY Inc. The forum invites a global discussion among the inspiring people behind incredible stories. Fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, An EPIPHANY Conversation is the natural educational extension of films and digital media produced by EPIPHANY Inc., founded by Nicole Franklin, an award-winning filmmaker, television director, stage manager, editor, educator, public speaker, web event host and contributing writer to The Good Men Project and Toronto-based publication ByBlacks.com. EPIPHANY Inc. independent films have been distributed on numerous cable networks including Showtime, BET, IFC, Nickelodeon, Sundance Channel and The Documentary Channel.  Credits include The Double Dutch Divas!, Journeys In Black:  the Jamie Foxx Biography, Kids Around the World, Gershwin & Bess: A Dialogue with Anne Brown and the 10-chapter series Little Brother, the latter two titles distributed by Third World Newsreel. Little Brother is a recipient of the Foundation to Promote Open Society/Campaign for Black Male Achievement Award, fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas. More information may be found at NicoleFranklin.com.

Executive Sales Director and Success Leader and Motivator Juanita Gaddy joins #EConvo this August 5, 2014.

Our Conversation about Money

One of the most exciting circumstances happening right now with EPIPHANY Inc. is the building of our EPIPHANY Village on our web platforms. You can read more about that here.  One of our sponsors is the direct sales unit under uber entrepreneur and motivator Juanita Gaddy. When I met Juanita and found out that she started volunteering her time lecturing about how to attract wealth and a strong family (with faith first on the list), I knew she would be perfect for our #EConvo audience.  So I have now launched a series of 10-minute web events where she can impart her knowledge to the masses. And our events our free!  Our series is called "An EPIPHANY Conversation:  Women's Financial Liberation."  The subtitle:  "Under-earning is a curse. Let's break it." Juanita and I will also be appearing in person as well.  Stay tuned by joining our Event Page by clicking on this link.  See you the web! And no more complaining about not being able to afford your dream!

Hiring EPIPHANY Inc. PT Development Officer

Potential sponsors of EPIPHANY Inc. media and An EPIPHANY Conversation (#EConvo) events love to visit our website at www.AnEPIPHANYConversation.com.  We are in search of a part-time development officer to help us seal the deal. Candidates are welcome from all parts of the globe. We are the perfect telecommute! Our films and educational products have numerous audiences all over the globe celebrating the achievements of communities often ignored.  We are proud to be an independent production company with a 15-year history.  With 10,000 views per week on Google+, we know it’s time to expand our team.  The PT Development Officer will work directly with Executive Producer Nicole Franklin and the EPIPHANY Inc. Board of Director’s Development Committee.  Send a quick e-mail of interest, contact info and short bio to Nicoleedits@gmail.com with “PT Development Officer” in the Subject Line. Compensation and short-list of responsibilities will then be discussed.  Production company experience not required.  We welcome diverse industries! Talk soon!

The Black Dox Debut!

Published today is the inaugural article of "Black Dox with Nicole Franklin" where I am able to sing the praises of my fellow documentarians.  Putting in print the nonfiction stories of the African Diaspora has been a long-awaited dream of mine. And now I hope everyone joins me in learning about these filmmaking champions of such important history.  This debut comes with a fun twist! The online publication, ByBlacks.com, solely covers African Canadian events, personalities and news.  I was thrilled to introduce audiences to the work of Nova Scotia-born filmmaker Sylvia D. Hamilton who is a good friend.    And I am looking forward to expanding my circle beyond the East Coast and meeting more of my talented neighbors to the North.  Filmmakers with strong Canadian production and distribution involvement will be covered as well.  Thank you, Canada, and a special thank you to ByBlacks.com for accepting this semi-Southern girl into your fold.  Let's spread the good news:  Our history, our stories.

Little Brother documents our positive mental health

This week we are thrilled to have our documentary film series Little Brother screen for a fourth time with the Association of Black Psychologists. Their national convention is being hosted in Indianapolis, IN. Our fourth chapter of the series, Little Brother:  The Fire Next Time (filmed in Muskogee, OK) is a featured presentation. This is a very special endorsement for our film team since our series stresses the focus on the emotional health of African American young men.  Before branding a number of boys of middle school age as a "problem" or "bound for the system," has anyone thought to consider the influences and contributions to their mental and emotional health? We have. And if you have not seen our series, we invite you to visit our website at www.LittleBrotherFilm.com and purchase one or all of our chapters we have discounted with our distributor Third World Newsreel.  LIttle Brother is a conversation that will save a generation.  Join us!

Intern Needed

We here at EPIPHANY Inc. are seeking an Intern to assist in the many areas of research (editorial, technical and social media), production support for EPIPHANY Inc. media, and securing and promoting guests as well as affiliate partners for An EPIPHANY Conversation. Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop would be helpful.   Internship is non-paid, although a commission will be available per successful contracts secured by the intern with affiliate partners. This internship will involve a 5-hour per week commitment for six months beginning September 1. Hours may be modified during production.  Intern is able to work remotely as well.  Contact Nicole Franklin at Nicoleedits@gmail.com.  Thanks! Looking forward to meeting our next generation of media creatives!

                                                                 EPIPHANY Inc. Poster Puzzle available on Zazzle.

A Subtlety Statement

Here in the New York City area we are coming off a holiday weekend with a closing of a larger-than-life, yet most controversial, public art project by Kara Walker.  The project is titled "A Subtlety or the Marvelous Sugar Baby an homage to the unpaid and overworked Artisans who have refined our Sweet tastes from the cane fields to the Kitchens of the New World on the Occasion of the demolition of the Domino Sugar Refining Plant." Many have also labeled it, "The Mammy Sphinx."  My mother and I took a curious walk through the exhibit and came upon a young woman absorbing the power of Walker's work in quite a unique way. I recorded some of her thoughts.

A Crisis surrounding the natural state of Giving Birth

I loved speaking to the mothers, midwives and activists during yesterday's #EConvo, An EPIPHANY Conversation:  Why Giving Birth should not mean Life or Death. Barbara Gremaud, Rhonda Haynes, Lorna Owens and, from the UK, Kirstin Hancock were incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to healthy initiatives on the maternity front. We all can do our part in helping women globally by donating clean birthing kits to women in the Congo and around Africa through Owens' Footprints Foundation. Owens mentioned that the cost of these kits are as little as $7! Please watch and share our replay of our Google Hangout/YouTube link: 

Father's Day Part 1

A special Father’s Day shoutout to Remicko George, a young, dedicated father who was introduced to us by the staunch and civilly engaged Dovetail Project.  The organization was founded by the incredibly dedicated Sheldon Smith whose team scours the sidewalks and El trains of Chicago, IL for young men who may identify as fathers who need support and structure while handling their most precious responsibility.  This past April 28, 2014, we were honored to feature these two men as part of an all-star panel on An EPIPHANY Conversation (#EConvo):  Fathers Speak Out on My Brother’s Keeper (Part 1) . Mr. George’s story brought this host and some stellar panelists including Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Incorporated, Dr. Raymond Winbush, filmmaker Mya B., Toronto podcaster Dr. Vibe and Friends of the Children of New York’s program director Kareem Wright to a moment where we had to pause and acknowledge respect to one of many men whom statistics keep in the dark. Click here for a Replay:

Hashing It Out

#GMP #GMPChat #EConvo #ThisWay2Tech

It has been an exciting past few days with having my latest article, “Why Lynching Still Resonates When Black Men Keep Certain Company,” published by The Good Men Project and a very informative and lively web event, “An EPIPHANY Conversation:  How Blacks in Tech are key to sustaining the My Brother’s Keeper Movement,” stream as part of our Monday night #EConvo series on Google Hangout. Hashtags, Tagging Photos and Monitoring what’s Trending are now my favorite impulses.  #ThrilledToBeWriting #InspiredByInterviewing.  The lynching piece is the second of three planned articles on forgiveness and race.  These are tough to write as I personally grapple with how the history of U.S. race relations still affects my generation’s civil liberties—for all ethnicities. There was much shame and secrecy years ago that kept many populations uneducated when it came to progress and survival. A code of silence that empowered the oppressive few. I still witness people of color falling into a submissive responsiveness vs. aggressive pursuit of their dreams. And if even a small percentage of talented individuals occupy this space, it disturbs me. 

There is still much work to do as we usher in future generations to an existence that is fair for all.  For me, jumping in with both feet into technology is going to level the playing field for many. As the co-founder of the web channel Midnight Media Capture and moderating the #EConvo Google+ Community Page and Hangouts, I take my role in opening the tech space to others very seriously.  Our panelists in this recent webcast on Blacks in Technology all noted how we have to prepare our young people for an industry that will quickly leave them behind, especially in the economic sense.  One of the ways we can ensure their inclusion is to place ourselves as tech professionals in front of them as mentors and provide them with a clear path to the resources available for success.

To all reading this post, please help us spread the word. Share our good news.  Upload information and include the hashtag #ThisWay2Tech in your posts.  The commitment from me and my team is here and it is now.  Let’ move forward, and embrace a new code of communication and succeed.  

#NecessaryDialogue #KeysToMovingForward #PathwaysToSuccess #NotToBeMissed 

Family Reunion

This past Memorial Day weekend was the latest of our decades-long tradition of annual family reunions on my Mother’s side. We danced, we ate, we worshipped and caught up a bit as well.  And though I have no claims to be related to her, I realize that the aura surrounding Dr. Maya Angelou’s transition last week also brought about those same feelings on social media. Sharing a post here and there containing a quote or some semblance of her being was something millions—globally—felt the urge to do. Her storied life and storytelling skills connected us.  The fact that she traveled so extensively and listened to her fans up close (me included) beguiled us. I am sure we all know family who extend beyond our bloodlines.  Family = Familiar.  And that comforts me.