For many, the start of a new year means a new job, new internship, new semester, and new opportunities. Today on the HBCU Buzz Show, we are honored to have Ms. Janet Owens lending her expertise to get you tight and right when looking to apply for a new job or internship in the new year!
With more than 20 years of professional business experience, Ms. Janet L. Owens has dedicated her life to helping both corporations and individuals grow and succeed. Currently, she is a career coach specializing in career readiness strategies and training in addition to being a business development consultant supporting federal government proposal responses.
In conjunction with her proposal work, Ms. Owens is an active career coach who recently established Career Essentials Inc., a career coaching organization wherein she conducts online career coaching and training to equip job seekers with her five-part career readiness program. In addition to her online training and coaching, Ms. Owens has supported various organizations with onsite seminars and support including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundations, 41st Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, in support of their annual job fair. Additionally, she supported the American Small Business Alliances’ 5th Annual HBCU Career Marketplace, providing professional resume critique and coaching to university student leaders. She has also supported Savannah State University’s Empowerment Week as a Keynote Speaker for their Career Readiness Day.
In addition to her career coaching, she runs a consulting practice in the Washington, DC area DC Proposal Professionals, wherein she has worked with various cutting-edge technology giants including L-3 Communications, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), British Aerospace Engineering Systems (BAE), and Scientific Applications International Corporation (SAIC) working various multi-million/billion dollar proposal development efforts in support of the Department of Defense (DoD) Intelligence Community.
Ms. Owens attributes her career and business-related success to providing exemplary customer service while also delivering quality products. She has found that operating in her gift of administration and passion for helping people gain economic stability, as well as mastery of skill and attention to detail, has served as a formula that has contributed to both her personal and business growth and success.
As the holiday season approaches and more clothes are worn, many people stop picking up weights and start picking up plates. There are some easy steps to take if one wants to maintain their current weight, or even lose some pounds, this season. (Remember, ‘Spring Break’ is right around the corner!)
Trick your body into thinking that you’re full
The easiest way to maintain or lose weight is to drink plenty of fluids before you eat, so you won’t have the stomach to gorge yourself throughout a meal.
Pick a smaller plate. A lot of your stomach’s appetite has to do with your eyes. When grabbing for a plate, try small proportions of each side you can get your hands on: your eyes will be satisfied because it looks like you’re eating more, but you’re really eating less.
Ignore grandmas’ charm, and Don’t take leftovers
As tempting as it might be to take some of your grandmother’s world famous mac and cheese home with you this is season, don’t! You’ll only be adding extra carbs along with cutting out healthier options that you may have available in your refrigerator.
Go Green
Eat fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables with every meal. This will help fill you up as well as give you a healthy alternative to the heavy fatty foods.
Stay active!
Treat your body like a well oiled machine. Try to go to your local gym, walk the dog, or even implement a simple workout routine into your schedule. This is a simple way to help burn calories and condition your body to the point that it becomes accustomed to working out.
Opening with a prayer, a distinguished group of panelists at ‘Striking to Zero,’ one of the many FAMU World AIDS week events, welcomed the somewhat apprehensive attendees into room 450 in the Alfred Lawson building Wednesday night to educate people about HIV/AIDS.
The panelists did not thrust statistics to the attendees, instead they took rather a parental and compassionate approach to entice the younger of the crowd.
With an audience filled of students, adults, and community members, the panelists captivated each person by being interactive and asking direct questions — Males: Have you had a significant male figure in your life? Has this male figure taught you how to put on a condom? Females: Should it be the male’s responsibility to supply birth control to you? How many of you have spoken with your partner about prevention methods?
Less than one quarter of this audience, of about 100, raised their hand for each question.
Free condoms and information were available for students
But, Dr. Marie Okeke, a professor in the Health Science dept., was not going to allow ignorance of HIV/AIDS to continue to roam among university community. Her mission is to strike HIV/AIDS cases on FAMU’s campus to zero, pun intended.
Dr. Okeke has been advocating for HIV/AIDS prevention at FAMU for years, but she said this annual event has brought more passion out of her than years before.
“Do not be afraid!” she said while addressing the audience, “…a part of learning is using the message you are receiving today…even the longest journey begins with a single step and you can start right here at FAMU!”
World AIDS Day at FAMU began 24 years ago, in 1988 to be exact. Dr. Okeke believes that students are not receiving or comprehending the advice from herself and her colleagues in FAMU’s Health Department.
“You can get the results of your HIV test in 15 minutes, just stop by the student health services office. Services are free to the students.” Dr. Okeke said.
Environmental health students performed a short skit, in attempt reach students in a creative way, although some members of the audience did not receive the message.
One student raised her hand and explained what her sexual health professor said in class. Her professor told her that condoms cannot protect people from infections all the time because the infections can slip through the tiny pores of the condom.
Dr. Melvena Wilson, director at Center for Advocacy & Research on Health Equity located in Tallahassee, Fla., immediately stepped in and cleared up the confusion as chatter in the audience increased.
Her remark, “Purchase thicker condoms! If you like rough sex, you need thicker condoms!”
A wave of laughter from the audience soon descended into a void of silence as Dr. Emmanuel Inwang, founder of WCRX, a local pharmacy, approached the microphone.
“Folks come in our office, who look just like you all, near death…there’s no time for me to sugar coat!” he said, “It’s time to become serious and start talking about sex and prevention!”
He adds, “Men have been told to put on condoms, but not taught,” as Dr. Wilson, steps in again to address the audience.
Students at last year’s candlelight vigil
“Many of you all think tests will protect you, but there’s no test alive that has prevented anything!”
She also warns the students of the crowd, “We will continue to have jobs as long as you continue have unprotected sex.”
Dr. Wilson also goes onto explain how there are multiple strains of HIV/AIDS and that recurring infections can cause sterility, which is another reason to use protection and get tested every three months.
“It’s [referencing AIDS] called acquired immunity deficiency syndrome – which means you had to do something to get it. If you cannot trust them with your life, you should not trust someone with your body” Dr. Wilson said.
Dr. Wilson dismisses the crowd, “We give this info year after year in hopes that it will not only change your lives, but the people around you.”
In an attempt to follow up with FAMU’s Health Department and Student Health Services, HBCU Buzz was told that records on the amount of students who come to receive services are not kept. Staff could not provide an estimate on how many students at FAMU request services each year.
Some other events FAMU has hosted this week included a visit from actress and HIV/AIDS advocate, Sheryl Lee Ralph for her book signing tour, and a candlelight vigil.
For more information about World AIDS Day, visit www.worldaidsday.org
Students at last year’s vigil give respect to victims of HIV/AIDS | Photographer: Kendrick Joe
Adam Badger, 20, is a certified personal fitness trainer and student at Florida A&M University.
Ever since his mother put him on a work out plan at a local gym at the age of 15, Adam Badger, now 20, has been proactive in maintaining his physical image, to say the least.
This Washington D.C. native and Louisiana raised fitness entrepreneur is studying criminal justice at Florida A&M University, but he is involved in far more outside of academics. Not only is Badger an athletic guy, he is certified by the American Association of Fitness Professionals as a personal trainer. Badger has earned a significant amount of awards from local to national levels, in fact, majority of his clientele are FAMU students and this has given him the opportunity to leverage his brand.
Badger has a unique goal in mind; he wants to be the voice of reason and the face of fitness at FAMU. That is why he is pushing for more students to consult him if they are seriously considering fitness training.
By choosing to sign-up for Badger’s training, those individuals will have to make a lifestyle change, he warns.
“Working out is not the only aspect to fitness training. Staying away from McDonalds and other fast foods is a must!”
So how does Badger keep away from the fast foods, when so many other individuals are having a hard time doing so?
“It’s all discipline! Every month I have a cheat meal,” he said,” where I divert from my regular diet. I look forward to it each week because it has a psychological aspect.”
Badger asserts that he is not a nutrition expert, but a part of being a personal fitness trainer is showing people how tangible the results can be when hard work and discipline are implemented while training. Badger’s website, www.AdamBadger.com, features some testimonials from his clients.
“My discipline keeps me on track. I know that I will wake up each morning at 6:30 even if I have a fast-food burger.” he said,” but genetics plays a good role!”
Although Badger has been training for years to reach the level he is at now, he is finding it difficult to meet a special someone who can keep up with his level of fitness activity, “I’m looking for my fitness wonder woman!” he adds.
While he is not busy training clients or doing school work, Badger is working on another aspect of his fitness expertise — he will be releasing two fitness products, exclusive to his clients. Badger hopes that his products and training plan will encourage more students to become more engaged in fitness and overall health.
“Pain is weakness leaving the body. If it was easy, everyone would do it!” Badger said.
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans native and veteran democratic political strategist Donna Brazile urged the audience to use President Obama’s re-election as an opportunity to bring people together at the Louisiana Women’s Conference held at Dillard University on Tuesday.
Brazile, the keynote speaker delivered her address to a crowd of about 120 people including faculty and students discussing how the U.S. should find political compromise, the dignity of the presidential election and the opportunity it provided for more civility in media receiving a standing ovation. About 50 Dillard students and faculty were also in attendance in Georges’ Auditorium.
She often repeated, “Let’s have a conversation.” challenging Americans to discuss the need to define what a “so called post- racial society” looks like. She added allow that experts should be allowed to contribute, providing non-partisan perspectives.
The political analyst also listed seven directions America could have taken in the election: truth or lies, money and people, economic fairness or capitalism, diversity vs. homogeneity, door opened or closed, hope vs. fear and choice itself.
“Leaders need to start with courage, hope and belief in something greater than oneself.” said Brazile. “Leaders should be champions in equality and listed leadership qualities: disciplined, modest, humble, honest, and willingness to share with others.”
Jada Pinkett Smith questions her daughter’s hair critics opinion on individual freedom when she posted on Facebook recently. Check this out:
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The question why I would LET Willow cut her hair. First the LET must be challenged. This is a world where women, girls are constantly reminded that they don’t belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power or self determination. I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit and her mind are HER domain. Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It’s also a statement that claims that even little girls have the RIGHT to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother’s deepest insecurities, hopes and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be. More to come. Another day.
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Smith is exactly right, and more parents should instill similar beliefs onto their children.
If “age ain’t nothing but a number,” then Willow should be allowed to make her own decisions. (The rising star will be more in tuned with herself than most other woman her age by doing so.)
Father Will Smith took to her defense, too, saying in an interview, “We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body?” said the actor. “If I teach her that I’m in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she’s going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world.”
Foreign hairstyles is no stranger to Willow Smith. She’s rocked everything from the infamous “Cassie fade” to a classic but tough Elvis Presley ‘do.’ And it looks like Will and Jada aren’t looking for any parenting advice on the matter.
On Sept. 8, 2012, Nathanael Gay married Robert Brown in Lexington, Ky. About a month later, on Oct. 4, 2012, Brown uploaded a video of the wedding to YouTube. Their wedding was only slightly remarkable given our society’s changing attitude with respect to marriage equality. Something about their nuptials was striking, however. The wedding’s color scheme (red and white), as well as Gay and some wedding attendees holding aloft the same hand signs (representing a Playboy bunny), bespoke Gay’s fraternal affiliation: Kappa Alpha Psi. Here enters the controversy: The wedding brought unwanted national attention to the fact that some black fraternity members are gay and may be inclined to marry other men.
Given the controversy, Gay participated in a radio interview with Tom Joyner to clear up the misconceptions surrounding the wedding ceremony. Gay noted that the wedding was not meant to be affiliated with Kappa, despite the fraternity’s crimson-and-cream color scheme. To Gay, the wedding colors were intended to represent love and his husband’s favorite color (red), not Kappa. Gay also noted that the image of him photographed with his pledge brothers, performing their signature hand sign, was not intended to convey a “gay Kappa wedding.” Rather, it was a mere show of brotherly solidarity and support.
Gay indicated that he believed the wedding video’s dissemination to have been at the hands of a member from a “rival” black Greek-letter organization (BGLO). While BGLOs are notorious for their intergroup rivalries (see Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and CNN’s Roland Martin’s tweets and Facebook posts about other black fraternities), one should not be too quick to mock another organization. For example, on Oct. 13, 2012, “Shaun T” Thompson, a fitness enthusiast who is famous for his workout videos, including Insanity, Insanity-Asylum and Hip Hop Abs, married his longtime boyfriend. Thompson is an Alpha.
I’ve researched and written about BGLOs for almost 10 years. Therefore, I can say that there is a range of internal issues and dynamics that these organizations either ignore or engage in ways that skirt the data and facts. Chief among these issues is the place of gay members in black fraternities. There have only been two groups of scholars to research issues around gay men in black fraternities. Dr. Alan DeSantis and Marcus Coleman (Kappa) studied the attitudes of members of four black fraternities about gay members, and Drs. Rashawn Ray and Kevin Spragling (both Alphas) studied the experiences of gay Alphas. These researchers found that homosexuality is rarely if ever openly discussed in black fraternities and is only engaged in order to condemn it.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to make a public case this week for his strategy for dealing with the looming fiscal cliff, traveling to the Philadelphia suburbs Friday as he pressures Republicans to allow tax increases on the wealthy while extending tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or less.
The White House said Tuesday that the president intends to hold a series of events aimed at building support for his approach to avoid across-the-board tax increases and steep spending cuts in defense and domestic programs. Obama will meet with small business owners at the White House on Tuesday and with middle-class families on Wednesday.
Obama’s strategy is two-fold: Negotiate behind closed doors with Republicans while taking his agenda outside the Beltway only weeks after winning re-election. The president’s visit to a small business in Hatfield, Pa., that makes parts for a construction toy company will cap a week of public outreach as the White House and congressional leaders seek a way to avoid the tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
Obama’s tactics were quickly panned by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who said Tuesday that “rather than sitting down with lawmakers of both parties and working out an agreement, he’s back out on the campaign trail, presumably with the same old talking points we’re all familiar with.”
“If the president wants a solution to the challenges of the moment, the people he needs to be talking to are the members of his own party, so he can convince them of the need to act,” McConnell, R-Ky., said.
Young Money founder Lil Wayne is calling it quits after “The Carter V” album drops, spending 20 or so years in the game. (He signed his first contract with Cash Money Records at age 9 and went platinum at age 14!)
For years now, Lil Wayne has proven that his brand and the word ‘respect’ goes hand in hand: he has more entries on Billboard’s Hot 100 than Elvis Presley, and respect define as, to admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
So, what’s left to do?
Check out The Urban Daily‘s Jerry L. Barrow piece on why the rap mogul should retire.
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Lil Wayne signed to Cash Money Records before he could even pee straight and went on to sell millions of records. After two decades of making girls wobbledy-wobble Weezy is ready to hang up the mic. In 2011 he told radio host Angie Martinez that he’d retire by age 35, and he has now reinforced that statement with MTV’s Sway Calloway, insisting that Tha Carter V would be his last album.
Given recent events we have five good reasons why retiring from music is a good idea or Lil Tunechi.
Health
Despite early reports by his handlers, Weezy’s work schedule is effecting his health. Wayne suffered seizure like symptoms aboard his private jet and is now taking prescription medication to keep it in check. Given that his homey Rick Ross and record exec Vince Herbert suffered from the same condition and we lost Heavy D to blood clots related to excessive flying, cutting out the need to rejoin the Mile High Club each week might be wise.
Fashion Sense
In July of 2012 Lil Wayne joined the long list of rappers to launch clothing lines. But have you seen these clothes? Zebra striped jeggings and neon T-shirts? It looks like Bret Michaels’ tour bus was raped by an Army surplus store. He clearly needs to spend more time on his sewing skills and less time in the studio if he’s serious about this.
In an initiative to create schools exemplifying 21st century innovation, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a leading HBCU advocacy and support organization, and its member universities are collaborating to establish college prep academies that combine classroom learning with online instruction.
TMCF officials have announced that the initiative aims to launch as many as 10 college prep academies over the next five years at or near HBCU member campuses. TMCF, which counts 47 public historically Black universities as member schools, has turned to Connections Education, a division of education services giant Pearson Education, to provide online instruction and the technical support for the new schools.
The “blended” secondary schools “will deliver students a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, while also addressing 21st century learning needs,” according to officials.
Designated TMCF member schools will join in the collaboration by hosting the new secondary schools, supporting them with professional development and student teacher placement, and delivering early college programming.
TMCF president and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. says each fully blended instruction school will be designated as a ‘TMCF Collegiate Academy.’ The academies will be developed as tuition-free, public charter schools and enroll students between sixth and twelfth grades. High achieving students will gain eligibility to receive TMCF scholarships to attend member schools.
“We believe that blended [education] is where everyone is going and we better make sure that HBCUs and the students that are likely to matriculate on [HBCU] campuses know how to perform in that environment,” Taylor says.
The Urban Daily‘s Ariel Cherie hooks us up with the hottest albums yet to come in the 4th quarter. Check this out:
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Here’s a look at when the hip-hop and R&B albums from your favorite artists will be available through the end of the year.
11.27.2012 Alicia KeysGirl On Fire
11.27.2012 FreewayDiamond in the Ruff
11.27.2012 FuturePluto 3 11.27.2012 Flo Rida Wild Ones (Holiday Edition)
12.04.2012 Wiz KhalifaO.N.I.F.C.
12.11.2012 GameJesus Piece
12.11.2012 Big BoiVicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors
12.18.2012 T.I.Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head
12.18.2012 Chief KeefFinally Rich
The fellas over at The Princeton Review recently named Tuskegee University as the ‘least awesome college town’ in the nation. Hmm…I wonder why?
Blacks represent 95 percent of the population in Tuskegee, Alabama, where TU was founded in 1881. Famed educator Booker T. Washington got the nod to become the university’s ‘first teacher’ and took the century old school from “no land, no buildings and no teachers” to a worldwide history bank.
Note: Tuskegee University, (whose students are 80 percent black) was founded in 1881, and the town within the school is populated mostly by blacks, who make 22 times less wealth than whites.
With all the statistics stacked up against TU, for the historically black university to still stand today is simply impressive. And though it may be ranked as the least awesome college town, I’m more than positive the campus community makes up for it tenfold.
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So, what’s your college town like? Join the discussion below.
Dr. Glenda Glover has been named the next President to replace Portia Shields, who was President for the past two years.
The boards Chancellor, John Morgan, said, “Her experience as a faculty member, campus administration and an engaged member of the civic and business communities will serve TSU and the entire region well.”
Glover, a TSU alumna, served at Jackson State University since 1994. She was selected from a pool of 86 applicants where nine candidates were interviewed and four finalists were selected.
In addition to her bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Tennessee State University, Dr. Glover holds degrees from Georgetown University, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. in business economics and policy from George Washington University.
In an earlier interview with HBCU Buzz, Glover said she plans to ensure that TSU remains competitive, TSU forms business partnerships for fundraising and TSU increases in enrollment, and believes that the areas that she has studied and worked in make her great for the position. “I want to give back to the University that gave so much to me,” said Glover.
She released a brief statement to HBCU Buzz about her appointment, saying, “I am honored to receive the recommendation from Chancellor Morgan. I look forward to the meeting this coming Tuesday.”
Dillard University President, Dr. Walter Kimbrough, e-mailed students Thanksgiving week, indicating if they needed a place to eat, he would have seats. Check out his reasoning in a interview with HBCU Buzz.
Q. How long has this tradition been at Dillard?
Kimbrough: This is my first Thanksgiving here, and I am not aware of it being done before. We started doing this in 2009 when I was president of Philander Smith College. We knew there were students who needed a place for Thanksgiving dinner and we decided we would host a group. My mom taught at Clark Atlanta University so we always saw CAU students at the house during Thanksgiving.
Q- How many students shared dinner with you?
Kimbrough: We had 14 Dillard students, plus one of my students from Philander Smith College drove down from Arkansas.
Q- Who prepared dinner?
Kimbrough: My wife did the bulk of the cooking. We purchased fried turkeys and a Honey Baked Ham, but she made the sides and desserts. One of the students brought a cobbler and an acquaintance of my wife gave us a cheesecake.
Dinner included fried turkey, honey baked ham, macaroni and cheese, greens, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn bread and Hawaiian bread. And dessert consisted of: sweet potato pie, pound cake, Italian cream cake, peach cobbler and 7th Ward cheesecake
Q- Did you share any words of wisdom with the students?
Kimbrough: This was a real informal, laid back time. It wasn’t so much about being the president as it was opening the house to students who could not be with their families. So they could feel like they were having Thanksgiving by being in a home, especially one with a 6-year-old and 4-year-old running around.
Q- What are some of the reasons students cannot make it home for holidays? (Sports, financial hardships and etc.)
Kimbrough: Most who don’t go home do so because of distance. The bulk of the students tonight were from California, with Illinois and Virginia represented, along with Alabama and Texas. West Coast students just wait until the end of the semester since it would be expensive and time consuming
Q- What is your goal in hosting this every year?
Kimbrough: No real goal for this event except to provide a home away from home during a holiday that makes people think about family. In a few years there will be students who come who really know us, and will sit around and talk until after midnight (that happened last year in Little Rock).
Political Science student, Nicole A. Tinson, says, “Aside from the dinner (the ham and greens were amazing), I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to dine on Thanksgiving with Dr. Kimbrough, Mrs. Kimbrough, Lydia and Ben (children), along with fellow colleagues from Dillard University including my good friend Marques Reed, and a new acquaintance from Philander.”
Last year I stayed in my apartment, cooked, and invited those that were left to come and eat; I missed the ‘family environment.’ This year, being able to sit down at a long table, eat, converse, and laugh made me feel like I was back at home in Los Angeles, California; the atmosphere reassured me that I was part of a family here at Dillard University. It will definitely serve as an unforgettable experience.
Only in his first year on the yard, the ‘laid back,’ Hip Hop President made this past Thanksgiving memorable for many Dillard students, and we wish him and the campus happy holidays.
With the increased popularity of mobile devices on campus, having particular apps is an important asset for increasing student and community engagement. Thus why Howard University recently launched its own Howard Mobile app, which lets members of the Howard University community stay connected to university life information and services with the touch of a button.
Some features of the Howard Mobile app includes mobile access to campus maps and real-time bus schedules, the entire course catalog, the latest university news, sports schedules and more.
Blackboard and Howard University built Howard Mobile to support native device interfaces, meaning the app is built for performance while keeping the user experience in mind.
Based in San Francisco, the Blackboard Mobile Central team has partnered with hundreds of institutions to provide innovative mobile solutions that enrich teaching and learning and enhance campus life and community.
The Howard Mobile app is available for free on iOS, Android and all other web-enabled devices through the mobile web. A BlackBerry version is scheduled for release in December 2012. You can download Howard Mobile from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, directly from your device.
In his book, Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival, Leonard Sweet saysthe current generation can be identified as the (TGIF) generation, which means: Twitter, Google, iPhone and Facebook. With this in mind, benefits can only beckon efficient change to HBCU’s by immersing their selves in the technology savvy world.
Tougaloo College students were involved in a one car accident early Thursday morning off the I-55 South interstate in Jackson, Mississippi.
Senior Joshua Robinson, 21 of Jackson, was killed and driver Xavier Robinson, 23 of Monroe, Louisiana experienced life-threatening injuries and was listed in critical condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Backseat passenger Brennan Bell, 22, of Bay St. Louis was also injured and should be released from the hospital Friday.
The Jackson police Department received the call at 2:34 a.m. The vehicle struck a bridge pillar. The accident is still under investigation.
A vigil for the students was planned at 5:30 p.m. at the Woodworth Chapel at Tougaloo.
