May ~ 2013

Happy May! Happy Clean Air Month!

This Month, Pledge to: Be Merry! Walk, Ride Your Bike, or Take Public Transportation to Work (as often as you can)! Celebrate Spring! Support Local Farms / Farmers!  Take a Walk After a Rain and Breathe Deeply! Be Grateful for Rain! Try (Again) to Quit Smoking &/or Encourage Someone Else to Quit! Give Someone a Plant!  Plant something that will bloom! Support Restaurants & Grocery Stores that Support Local Farms / Farmers! Observe Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10)! Do Something Nice for Someone Who Taught You or Your Child! Love and Forgive! Be a Part of the Solution!

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This edition of The Crystal News is dedicated to Lou Myers, who always had a smile in his eyes, a song in his heart and a kind and encouraging word for me, and Jonathon Winters, who I never met, but who showed me early on, that I was not alone in my habit of oddly interpreting the world through bursts of characters. They, among others, will be missed...

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Keymáh  Joins BET's "Let's Stay Together"

T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh guest stars in two episodes of BET's adorable hit show, "Let's Stay Together," (starring Bert Belasco, Joyful Drake, Nadine Ellis, RonReaco Lee, Erica Hubbard, and Kyla Pratt) now in its third season.  In "The Other Doctor," airing May 7, May 8, May 12 and May 18, 2013, Keymáh's character, Dr. Blair Riley, sets up her practice across the hall from Dr. Stacey Lawrence (Ellis).  She is seen again in "Buyer Beware,"  airing May 14, May 15 and May 18, 2013.  Check your local listing for times.

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WHERE THE ACTION IS: Formerly "T'Keyah Fights City Hall"  which was formerly the "Do Something" and sometimes the "T'Keyah's Two Cents" columns of this newsletter,  this is what the action should be...

According to the Miami New Times, "Kiera Wilmot got good grades and had a perfect behavior record. She wasn't the kind of kid you'd expect to find hauled away in handcuffs and expelled from school, but that's exactly what happened after an attempt at a science project went horribly wrong. On 7 a.m. on Monday, (April 22) the 16 year-old mixed some common household chemicals in a small 8 oz water bottle on the grounds of Bartow High School in Bartow, Florida. The reaction caused a small explosion that caused the top to pop up and produced some smoke. No one was hurt and no damage was caused. According to WTSP, Wilmot told police that she was merely conducting a science experiment. Though her teachers knew nothing of the specific project, her principal seems to agree. 

"She made a bad choice. Honestly, I don't think she meant to ever hurt anyone," principal Ron Pritchard told the station. "She wanted to see what would happen [when the chemicals mixed] and was shocked by what it did. Her mother is shocked, too."  Should she have been disciplined?  Of course.  Citing their zero tolerance code of conduct, however, which is supposed to take intent into account, but in this case, didn't, the school went beyond appropriate discipline.  The school expelled Wilmot, called the police and had her arrested.  She is now set to be tried as an adult on a felony charge that will haunt her for the rest of her life, regardless of the outcome.  change.org has a petition asking Bartow authorities to drop the charges against Wilmot and treat her fairly.  "To join T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh in signing this petition, Click Here:  This is where the action is...  
  

Mother's Day is May 12, 2013!

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Cast Your Vote for Directing Change

As part of the Directing Change Video Contest high school students throughout California directed change and used their creativity to tackle the important topics of suicide prevention and eliminating stigma about mental illness. Out of 371 sixty-second videos submitted, 24 regional winners advanced to the statewide level of the contest. A judging panel that included long time EIC Review Panel members performer / director T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, casting director Pixie Monroe, and comedian / television personality Brook Sylvan, as well as EIC's Marie Gallo Dyak, decided on the top three videos in each category. And now it’s up to Californians to vote on the winner in each category. Winners will be announced and recognized at the award ceremony in Sacramento on May 23rd. Cast your vote until midnight PST May 14th, 2013 by clicking on the link below. http://www.directingchange.org/time-to-vote

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Sit with the Chair at the 2013 CHARM GEMS Ball

CHARM Outreach And Mentoring Services' Board of Directors invite you to support the 2013 CHARM GEMS Scholarship Ball, Saturday, July 27, 2013,  Hilton Hotel, Oak Lawn, Illinois. Founder  Support the event and have a chance to win two tickets at the CHARM Board Chairperson, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh's table.  To enter: 1) Purchase an ad of any size in the souvenir book, purchase a ticket to the event, or retweet one of Keymáh's tweet's with details about the event; 2) identify yourself with your purchase or tweet as a contestant by writing or tweeting, "I'd like a chance to sit at the Chair's table!"; 3) Email tkeymah@mycharm.org with a confirmation of your purchase(s) or retweet(s) by June 15, 2013, along with the name of the two people you would like seated at the Chair's table. Contestants will be given one entry per ticket purchased, ad purchased, or tweet retweeted (one retweet per day will count). Transportation to the event will not be provided.  No purchase is needed to enter.  The winner will be notified by email and the tickets will be left under the names given at the door.   The winner's names will be announced in the July issue of The Crystal News. CHARM is a 501c3 women's organization created to assist women of all ages build self-esteem; to empower, encourage, and inspire them to passionately pursue the highest purpose for their lives. Michele Traylor, Founder / CEO.  Still thinking about last month's call to join our board?  Check out http://mycharm.org/ 

Challenge Yourself. 

Honor Yourself. 

Arm Yourself With Knowledge. 

Restore What Was Broken

Motivate Others

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The California African American Museum (CAAM) has extended the deadline for accepting applications to the CAAM Young Docent High School Internship.  They pay and train high school students ages 16 through 18 during the summer.  The application DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO:  MONDAY, MAY 13^TH BY 5:00PM.  APPLICATIONS ARE ON THE CAAM WEBSITE at www.caamuseum.org.  Or youth can come to the museum to pick up a copy.  APPLICANTS NEED:

1.      AN APPLICATION  from the website or from the information counter at CAAM

2.      A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION  from a responsible adult in their life, who is not a relative

3.      A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE expressing why they would be good for the job

If you know young people who are mature and enjoy engaging people and learning about History, Art and Culture, please inform them of the program!

Someone Sent Me an Email That Said... 

Wisdom to live by... written by columnist Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH.  Ms. Brett says, “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

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 WHERE THE ACTION IS:: My Black Year...

As you read in the last four issues of The Crystal News, Maggie's Anderson's "Our Black Year" inspired me to up my own support of Black business, and I decided to find and champion at least one business per month. Last month's business: Bowers & Sons Cleaners, 2509 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011  ~  (213) 749-3237. 

A family owned and operated business since 1950, this place is worth the trip!  Expert, individual service and attention to detail, plus a great conversation with the owners about other Black businesses in the area (that's I'll be able to talk about next month).     http://bowersandsonscleaners.com/ Of course back to Hooper Shell, (11913 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA, (323) 566-1667) for a fill-up and more gas cards, and a few meetings at Coley's.  And yes, I'm still bragging that my St. Sabina Birthday Benefit was sponsored entirely by Black businesses! This is where the action is...

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The Walker Group, LLC

(TWG) is a Certified Public Account & Consulting firm concentrated primarily in performing audits for not-for-profit organizations, local governments and municipalities, and entities regulated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our professionals take a risk-based approach to each engagement, insuring performance and operating efficiency. We go beyond traditional fundamentals to add tangible value and elevate the audit to an even more strategic and productive role in today’s corporate governance environment. 

   *Auditing   

 *Accounting   

 *Management Consulting 

 *Business Information Systems

TWG - 1431 Huntington Drive Calumet City, IL 60409

twg@thewalkergrpllc.com, rwalker@thewalkergrpllc.com

(708) 868-2545 
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 Vincent E. Walker Photography

(312) 719-6830

Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic

makes its Symphony Center Jazz debut as part of our 2012/13 RIVERS exploration in a newly commissioned work celebrating the Chicago River and the impact it has had in making our city a great American metropolis. The Chicago Tribune wrote, "bristling innovation and mainstream melody-making, classical modernism and free jazz improvisation—all these elements, and others, converge when CJP takes the stage." 

 

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Thank you to: EIC on another terrific Prism Awards presentation; everyone who attended and supported the CHARM Women's Retreat; everyone who supported the Century City Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta's March of Dimes Walk; Florida A & M University Interim (for now) President Dr. Larry Robinson, First Lady Sharon Robinson, costumer Edith Conley, stage manager Nicole McLaughlin, and everyone else at FAMU who supported, gave generous feedback and otherwise made the workshop of Bryan C. Jones and my new show "Sellout!?!" a success; the ladies at Kathy's Boutique in North Hollywood who helped me coordinate one of my outfits for the film "Unsolved;" and again, my St. Sabina Birthday Benefit sponsors: Florida A &M University, Orbert Davis’s Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Nubian Heritage, Vincent E. Walker Photography (312) 719-6830, The Walker Group, LLC, CHRIS CURSE & Co, Pierce Pediatric Association, Southside Community Credit Union, Alpha Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta's Inseparable Nine and Human Resources Development Institute, Inc. MUAH!  And I mean it!!!!

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1-5 PM
Bar Gouden Leeuw

May, 18 2013

Gouden Leeuw 900 1103 KV Amsterdam Zuidoost
(next to Ganzenhoefstation)

Tickets: http://www.yourticketprovider.nl/events/172-natural-hair-movie-inspirations/

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KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS

Congratulations to:  My line sister Jaqueline Bostic's son, Jonathan Bostic, on being picked by The Chicago Bears; director Julie Camara and the cast and crew of "Unsolved;" and  Kelsey Scott for landing the role of Dr. Melody Lam on the "Treasure and Blood" episode of Army Wives, (also starring fellow Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member Ryan Michelle Bathe) her upcoming appearances on Treme, and the December feature film release, "Twelve Years a Slave" - go on girl  woman!

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The Crystal News respectfully acknowledges the life and transition of: Eugenia Boykin, Kathryn Lynch Campbell, Council Cargle, Roger Ebert, Annette Funicello, Otis Harris, Jane Henson, George Henry Jackson, Lou Myers, Samuel Payton, Eula Dean Roby, Donald Shirley, Cleotha Staples, Richard Street, Carolyn Stuckey, Maria Tallchief, Margaret Thatcher, Garland Watt, Jonathon Winters and too many beautiful children (lost on and to the streets of Chicago and other places) to name...

We are blessed to have known their warm heart, bright smiles and good works.  We are inspired to follow their brave and noble examples.

Have you hugged someone you love today?

Stay Tuned... for more theater, film and TV updates!

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