Salim Muwakkil of WVON 1690 AM
Culture Matters interviews Salim Muwakkil of The Salim Muwakkil Show on WVON 1690 AM. Muwakkil is a Senior Editor of In These Times, and an op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune. He is currently a Crime and Communities Media Fellow of the Open Society Institute, examining the impact of ex-inmates and gang leaders in leadership positions in the black community. Currently, Muwakkil is working on a documentary titled Chicago Gangs: An American Story and wrote the text for the book, HAROLD: Photographs from the Harold Washington Years, a book of photographs documenting the tenure of Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor.
Muwakkil is a frequent contributor to Chicago Tonight and Beyond the Beltway with Bruce Dumont, two Chicago-based public affairs programs. In his spare time, Muwakkil serves as a board member for the Progressive Media Project and the Chicago-based Public Square. He is a faculty member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest’s Urban Studies Program, and a former adjunct professor at Columbia College, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Culture Matters Podcast: Salim Muwakkil
Culture Matters interviews artist, Jennifer Scott, whose art will be featured at the festival this year. In 2010, Jennifer Scott, had two solo exhibitions of the ‘Jim Crow’ lynching series. Both were well received by hundreds of art aficionados. The most recent exhibition was at the HumanThread Center, in November, and the first was at the Murphy Hill Gallery, in January. There was a panel discussion at the HumanThread Center featuring Professor Prexy Nesbit, a historian on race, racism and US race relations, from Columbia College who commented on her series. The discussion was favorably attended and rich in content. In October, the three collage pieces from this series were featured at the DuSable Museum of African Art: Chicago 2010 Read-In. In addition, three of my pieces from the lynching series “Stories Behind the Post Cards-Jim Crow” which were exhibited in February 2011 at the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry.
Jennifer B. Scott was born in Westchester, NY, in 1962. She now resides in Chicago, IL. In 1993 she received a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI, and in 1989 a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Binghamton State University in Binghamton, NY. Scott also graduated from the Tamarind Institute of Lithography, Albuquerque, NM, in 1996. For the past twenty eight years, printmaking (in particular intaglio and lithography), painting and collage have been Ms. Scott’s primary means of expression and concentration. In Chicago, Scott has exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Museum of Science and Industry, Harold Washington College, South Shore Cultural Center, the School of the Art Institute, Murphy Hill Gallery, the Arena Atelier Creative Zone, and at the Commission on Human Relations September ‘Unity’ Month Celebrations, which are held around the City. Scott’s work has also been displayed in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Up-State New York, Providence, and Minneapolis. Ms. Scott is affiliated with several organizations in Chicago, including the South Shore Cultural Center Creative Artist Association, the Chicago Artist Coalition, Woman Made Gallery and the American Indian Center. In addition to exhibiting, Scott has taught in numerous schools, institutions, private and public agencies, universities and colleges from 1979-2001. She moved to Chicago in 1997 and taught printmaking at the Art Institute of Chicago and figure drawing in their Continuing Education Department. Scott was also an instructor at Robert Morris Collage, Harold Washington Collage, and Oakton Community Collage. She was also an instructor with the Gallery 37 After-School-Program, for five years, and work in several Chicago public high schools. Ms. Scott is a professional artist, art educator, and community builder whose work with ethnic/indigenous groups informs the content of her artwork, and who uses art and art education to build community and to improve the lives of individuals within diverse communities.
Culture Matters Podcast: Jennifer Scott
Culture Matters presents comedian Lil Rel, who hosted our ‘Libations and Laughter’ at the DuSable Museum on August 19. Lil Rel is someone who keeps you smiling from his amazing spirit and character. A comedian/actor/writer, and native from the West side of Chicago, realized that he wanted to become a comedian at the tender age of eleven. Martin Lawrence was a definite inspiration to him as he faithfully watched him on Def Comedy Jam. He has been a comedian/actor for over six years, obtaining an array of experience under his belt from films to television, theatre, and radio.
You may have seen him on Barber Shop 2, BET Comic View, Last Comic Standing, and may have heard him here in Chicago on WGCI’s Bad Boys. Lil Rel is a Chicagoan we are truly proud of and who we appreciate his support of the African Festival of the Arts Chicago. You must stay tuned for more of our great acts!
Culture Matters Podcast: Comedian Lil’ Rel
Culture Matters presents one of our sponsors, Margaret Dorsey, an independent distributor with Zija International. She is always working with the Tennis Clinic sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield, which she speaks briefly about in this podcast.
When Dorsey’s youngest son started college, she joined a direct marketing business because she realized that she had more talent and time than she had money to actually start my own business. She was introduced to a telecommunications reselling organization that was structured as a network marketing company. The personal development training offered by this company accelerated her confidence in her ability to market items to the public as well as recruit other individuals to do the same. Her monetary success was marginal but she was able to experience the benefits of tax write-offs as a result of being a business owner.
As a result of needing HEALTH CARE because of her law firm’s dissolution in 2006, she researched other options not as costly as the COBRA package that was offered to us. It was at this time that she discovered IAB (International Association of Businesses). Their comprehensive and affordable plans gave her the opportunity to have quality health coverage and reject COBRA at such a high cost.
She believes in multiple streams of income and finds that network marketing is the perfect opportunity for individuals to supplement their current income or create a new career. She likes offering the variety of network marketing products and services to individuals as an opportunity for themselves and for marketing products and services to earn residual income. Zija International has quality products made from the Moringa plant that are sorely needed today.
Being an avid tennis player and an entrepreneur at heart, She finds marketing Zija products and building a team of distributors is a perfect match for her at this time in her life.
The Moringa plant is renowned among health and science experts, and is considered the most nutrient-rich plan known today. Containing dozens of various vitamins, minerals, omega fats, antioxidants, vital proteins and more! And Zija captures it all in its Liquid Nutritionals for enhanced nutritional support, energy metabolism, and overall wellness.
Culture Matters Podcast: Margaret Dorsey, Zija International, AFA 2011 Sponsor
Culture Matters presents one of the 2011 African Festival of the Arts Chicago’s sponsors, Bill Walsh, CEO of Powerteam International.
As a successful venture capitalist, Marketing Expert and International Entrepreneur, Bill has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy practical message full of great content through real life examples! He helps people understand specifically what it takes to achieve even greater success! He shares with them how to create and execute mega-successful winning plans! Bill will share with the audience the power of success starts from the inside first! In order to live up to one’s potential they must realize how to tap into their inner-strength. His ability to lock people into the message through engaging real life stories creates a very emotional connection to the deep rooted trainings that Bill will share! Bill has experienced so much in his own life and now he is helping others apply these principles to create success in their lives.
Bill Walsh is the CEO/Founder of Business Coaching/Venture Capital firm Powerteam International. Bill hosts events all over the world presenting with Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen, Les Brown, T. Harv Eker, Stephen Pierce, John Gray and several other well-respected authors, speakers and business coaches. He delivers a message of transformation and practical applications through life stories that empower people to understand specifically what it takes to build successful companies. As an accomplished author, speaker, radio personality and movie celebrity, Bill has the background to connect instantly with the audience by sharing the mindset, methods and systems required to win really big in the current economy.
Currenty Bill spends most of his time growing Powerteam International around the world including funding and coaching companies from all industries in the Unitied States, Canada and Europe! If would like to schedule the man many say has the most practical and useful education programs for entrepreneurs and business owners around, call a member of Bill’s staff today.
Culture Matters Podcast: Bill Walsh, Powerteam International
Culture Matters presents another one of our 2011 African Festival of the Arts sponsors, Melvin Buckley of the Black McDonald’s Operations Association.
Melvin Buckley is a native Chicagoan and an alumnus of Chicago State University, where he received a full athletic scholarship to mix it up on the hardwood. Since that time, Buckley has coached several youth basketball leagues and local high school teams (angle #1). A chance encounter at the Jordan Basketball camp led him to meeting a dean at Hamburger U, and the rest is history.
Buckley consistently gives back to the community. At his McDonald’s restaurant in Richton Park, he staffs seven upper managers and more than 50 employees. He commits himself to hiring males from the African-American community as a way to rejuvenate the work ethic in this population.
Not only does Buckley provide a service to the area with his McDonald’s restaurant, but it is obvious that his main priority is giving back and helping those in need. He is a passionate restaurateur who strives to improve his business by helping his employees elevate themselves.
Culture Matters Podcast: Melvin Buckley, Black McDonald’s Operations Association, AFA 2011 Sponsor
Culture Matters is proud to present one of our 2011 Sponsors for the 22nd Annual African Festival of the Arts Chicago, State Farm. Keisha talks to Felisha Shaw, Enterprise Community Advisor, and her colleague, Cheryl Williams, who handles Multicultural Markets for State Farm.
Felicia began her career with State Farm in 1994 as a Fire Underwriter in Michigan. In her current job responsibility, she assists with State Farm Bank’s CRA programs in conjunction with State Farm Insurance Company’s commitment to community development. On behalf of State Farm, she speaks several times a year, as well as provides financial education for the community throughout the country.
In her role as a National Relationship Manager for State Farm, she manages the partnerships with organizations such as Center for Economic Progress, HomeFree-USA, YouthBuild, among others. Her role is to build and maintain relationships with key community groups, as well as identify profitable community and economic development prospects and partnerships.
Felicia received her BBA in Human Resource Management and an MBA in Strategic Management Resources, both from Western Michigan University. She received the NAREB Woman of Excellence Award in 2008. Her community activities include being the Radio Host at WXRJ for Minding My Business, serving as Vice Chair on the Board at the McLean County Urban League, and serving as the National Community Project Committee Chair for the local chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. In addition to her community work, Felicia also owns a business called Simply In Your Purpose, and provides services as a High Achievers Life Coach & Motivational Speaker.
Felicia lives in Illinois, has been married for 16 years, and has a 10 year old son. She enjoys developing her community and the people that live there.
Culture Matters Podcast: State Farm, AFA Sponsor
Culture Matters presents Susan D. Peters, a representative from one of The African Festival of the Arts sponsors, University of Chicago Medical Center.
Susan Peters received her Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Marketing from DePaul University and currently serves as the Manager of Community Relations for the University of Chicago Medical Center in the Office of Community Affairs. Her pivotal life experience and extensive work history prepares her to forge community partnerships while understanding the unique challenges inherent in building authentic relationships between corporate and grass roots entities.
Her current focus in on extending the community engagement of the Medical Center beyond the communities immediately adjacent as it implements, The Urban Health Initiative, a bold undertaking that has as its goal the measurable improvement of health on the City’s South Side.
Prior to her tenure at the University of Chicago Medical Center Susan served as National Conference Director for Marketing Opportunities in Business & Entertainment, a national series, that featured guest presenters such as hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Reverend Al Sharpton in a popular twice-annual business symposium.
Additionally, Susan was for four years the Project Manager for the Chicago production of Real Men Cook, a 21-year-old national Fathers’ Day program that has changed the way many in the United States celebrate Father’s Day.
She has worked in Resource Development, managing Corporate and Individual Giving and developing programs to encourage corporate citizenship with Alternatives, Inc., a youth and family service agency on Chicago’s far north side.
Susan is comfortable working with communities of diverse backgrounds, skills she honed during her eleven-year tenure with the Liberian National Red Cross of Liberia in West Africa. In Liberia, she directed the Red Cross Child Care Center, worked extensively on women’s development projects, and was a business owner until forced to flee during the Liberian Civil War in 1990. She has recently published her memoir, Sweet Liberia, Lessons from the Coal Pot, the story of her life as an expatriate in West Africa.
She has a love of Community and is active in her neighborhood Block Club in addition to serving on both the Clear Channel Radio Advisory and the Acts of Faith Board of Directors.
Culture Matters Podcast: Susan D. Peters, University of Chicago Medical Center, AFA 2011 Sponsor
Culture Matters is proud to bring you another one of AFA 2011 sponsors, Blue Cross Blue Shield who will be hosting “Try Your Hand at Tennis” workshops on September 3-4, 2011 at the African Festival of the Arts Chicago. Margaret Dorsey is not only an entrepreneur, but she is an avid tennis player and will be a part of this great partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Culture Matters Podcast: \"Try Your Hand At Tennis\" Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield
