Tag Archives: black history month 2009

My Black History: Maisha Mims and LaShell Thomas

Posted on
Reply


LaShell Thomas, Maisha Mims

For a short time I lived in the ATL. . . sadly, this was a time in my life where my health and wellbeing was not in sync. I went to Atlanta to start my Masters in Public Health and I quickly learned that was in no shape to be there. I know that if it had not been for the strength of these fine ladies who lived a floor up from me I would have not had the courage to make it through the time that I was living in Atlanta.

Maisha a Michigan native and LaShell Thomas US Virgin Island and New Orleans Native both finished their MPH in 2006. I wish I could have been there with them. I will never forget when Hurricane Katrina Hit and Lashell told us that her family had been affected. Being a graduate student there was not a lot that we could all literally do except pray. I think what I appreciate the most about both of these women was/is there devotion to God and also their willingness to open their arms to a friend in need even when they didn’t know her well. I will never forget the time we went to Morehouse College and as long as I am speaking about Black History I will mention that as usual I was basically the only white person in attendance at an event and even when the Reverend Jesse Jackson was speaking about the “They’s” and how “They” were doing this and that. . . (I am the “They” :) never once did THEY not have my back!

Maisha, Atlanta, GA and LaShell, Chicago, IL are still going strong in the Public Health field and I hope that our paths cross again. We do keep in touch which I am so thankful for, and I will be thinking of them when come this May I finally have my MPH, I would not have made it here without them.

My Black History: Maisha Mims and LaShell Thomas

Posted on
Reply


LaShell Thomas, Maisha Mims

For a short time I lived in the ATL. . . sadly, this was a time in my life where my health and wellbeing was not in sync. I went to Atlanta to start my Masters in Public Health and I quickly learned that was in no shape to be there. I know that if it had not been for the strength of these fine ladies who lived a floor up from me I would have not had the courage to make it through the time that I was living in Atlanta.

Maisha a Michigan native and LaShell Thomas US Virgin Island and New Orleans Native both finished their MPH in 2006. I wish I could have been there with them. I will never forget when Hurricane Katrina Hit and Lashell told us that her family had been affected. Being a graduate student there was not a lot that we could all literally do except pray. I think what I appreciate the most about both of these women was/is there devotion to God and also their willingness to open their arms to a friend in need even when they didn’t know her well. I will never forget the time we went to Morehouse College and as long as I am speaking about Black History I will mention that as usual I was basically the only white person in attendance at an event and even when the Reverend Jesse Jackson was speaking about the “They’s” and how “They” were doing this and that. . . (I am the “They” :) never once did THEY not have my back!

Maisha, Atlanta, GA and LaShell, Chicago, IL are still going strong in the Public Health field and I hope that our paths cross again. We do keep in touch which I am so thankful for, and I will be thinking of them when come this May I finally have my MPH, I would not have made it here without them.

My Black History: Ceci Ahanonu

Posted on
1

I was trying to think back of the actual first meet and great of Ceci and Jana. . . but it seems so long ago I believe it was at the Leadershape seminar that took place in 2001. (Correct me if I am wrong Ceci!) This woman is amazing.

We became quite close when we taught a low-income school class of 4th graders Basic Aid Trainer (BAT) certified through the Red Cross in Salt Lake City. We were to say the least the “odd couple” in Utah in fact I think one the students called us “Salt and Pepper” which is really why children are so amazing, they just tell it how it is. We had some real “challenges” (she knows who I am talking about :) in the classroom and Ceci came up with the greatest ways to engage the kids. Talk E. Toad was one of my favorites. This was a Toad that was passed around and the kids could only talk when they had the Toad in hand. We probably had more fun than the students even knew. Ceci is conquering the world! She has worked at Utah State Health Department in TB control, Reproductive Health, with The Youth of Today, and she is now a PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT in family practive and urgent care. This does not even scratch the surface on Ceci’s accomplishments but I think above all her wisdom, kindess, grace and her example to me have been qualities that I cherish the most.

My Black History: Ceci Ahanonu

Posted on
2

I was trying to think back of the actual first meet and great of Ceci and Jana. . . but it seems so long ago I believe it was at the Leadershape seminar that took place in 2001. (Correct me if I am wrong Ceci!) This woman is amazing.

We became quite close when we taught a low-income school class of 4th graders Basic Aid Trainer (BAT) certified through the Red Cross in Salt Lake City. We were to say the least the “odd couple” in Utah in fact I think one the students called us “Salt and Pepper” which is really why children are so amazing, they just tell it how it is. We had some real “challenges” (she knows who I am talking about :) in the classroom and Ceci came up with the greatest ways to engage the kids. Talk E. Toad was one of my favorites. This was a Toad that was passed around and the kids could only talk when they had the Toad in hand. We probably had more fun than the students even knew. Ceci is conquering the world! She has worked at Utah State Health Department in TB control, Reproductive Health, with The Youth of Today, and she is now a PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT in family practive and urgent care. This does not even scratch the surface on Ceci’s accomplishments but I think above all her wisdom, kindess, grace and her example to me have been qualities that I cherish the most.

Black History Month 2009

Posted on
Reply


February is Black History Month. I am going to do my very best to blog daily about something different in regards to what I typically post that may be related to the Black Community. I would also like to highlight someone of color in my life. . . so maybe I can call it “My Black History” :)

One of my favorite black history memories would include the viewing of the PBS Series “Eyes on the Prize” I remember coming back to class every day and wanting to learn more. The interviews and the original footage that was shown from the civil rights era clearly made an impact on my 13 year old mind. Apparently it has still NOT been released to the public for sale which is a shame.

Eyes on the Prize is an award-winning 14-hour television series produced by Blackside and narrated by Julian Bond. Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985.

Series topics range from the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965; from community power in schools to “Black Power” in the streets; from early acts of individual courage through to the flowering of a mass movement and its eventual split into factions.

Eyes on the Prize

When Eyes on the Prize premiered in 1987, The Los Angeles Times called it “an exhaustive documentary that shouldn’t be missed.” The series went on to win six Emmys and numerous other awards, including an Academy Award nomination, the George Foster Peabody Award, and the top duPont-Columbia award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

Eyes on the Prize was created and executive produced by Henry Hampton (1940-1998), one of the most influential documentary filmmakers in the 20th century. His work chronicled America’s great political and social movements and set new standards for broadcast quality. Blackside, the independent film and television company he founded in 1968, completed 60 major films and media projects that amplified the voices of the poor and disenfranchised. His enduring legacy continues to influence the field in the 21st century.

Black History Month 2009

Posted on
Reply


February is Black History Month. I am going to do my very best to blog daily about something different in regards to what I typically post that may be related to the Black Community. I would also like to highlight someone of color in my life. . . so maybe I can call it “My Black History” :)

One of my favorite black history memories would include the viewing of the PBS Series “Eyes on the Prize” I remember coming back to class every day and wanting to learn more. The interviews and the original footage that was shown from the civil rights era clearly made an impact on my 13 year old mind. Apparently it has still NOT been released to the public for sale which is a shame.

Eyes on the Prize is an award-winning 14-hour television series produced by Blackside and narrated by Julian Bond. Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985.

Series topics range from the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965; from community power in schools to “Black Power” in the streets; from early acts of individual courage through to the flowering of a mass movement and its eventual split into factions.

Eyes on the Prize

When Eyes on the Prize premiered in 1987, The Los Angeles Times called it “an exhaustive documentary that shouldn’t be missed.” The series went on to win six Emmys and numerous other awards, including an Academy Award nomination, the George Foster Peabody Award, and the top duPont-Columbia award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

Eyes on the Prize was created and executive produced by Henry Hampton (1940-1998), one of the most influential documentary filmmakers in the 20th century. His work chronicled America’s great political and social movements and set new standards for broadcast quality. Blackside, the independent film and television company he founded in 1968, completed 60 major films and media projects that amplified the voices of the poor and disenfranchised. His enduring legacy continues to influence the field in the 21st century.