The People Speak with LUPE FIASCO . . George Washington University

Posted on 11/23/2009 by NWtoSE

“THE PEOPLE SPEAK COLLEGE TOUR will bring the film’s producers and cast members to eight universities across the country for live readings, clip screenings, and in-depth discussion!” . . . . and they did. Please excuse my late posting. Life has been a bit crazy! Didn’t Seal say something about not surviving unless we get a little crazy! I agree.

Yes it is true Lupe Fiasco was at GW. I was lucky enough to attain two tickets after I mistakingly saw the announcement for the event two days before. GW likes to hide cool events from people and then basically make it impossible to attend after you find out about said cool events. After basically begging via e-mail to attend the event along with one of my friends, Sharday. She is someone who I would hope I am somewhat of Mentor to, even though she has no idea how much I look up to her. Sharday graduated from Anacostia High School and is member of a local DC up and coming hip/hop group TopShelf Starz.

We were both quite impressed with Lupe’s candid appearance, his remarks and the up-close and personal nature of the event. (Is he single??!!) In fact, I personally wish it could have gone on longer so that I could have made my way up to the microphone to ask my compelling and down-to-earth question. The one that people are always saying “did she just say that?” It was amazing to me some of the “questions” that were filtered by the audience. I am not judging (well maybe a little) but it was as if some of these folks had never stepped outside their dorm room. While I appreciate the struggles in Iran, I can assure you the struggles in DC are right outside your door, literally. In fact inside the very room in which you are posing questions. STOP asking START doing. I thought about starting out my question with a little song from my favorite soundtrack clip in Sister Act II- “If you wanna be somebody and you wanna go somewhere you better wake up and pay attention!” I am constantly reminding myself of these very words on a DAILY basis.

Mr. Fiasco did admit that YES he is “PROUD to be an AMERICAN” and all I have to say to that is “AMEN.” So am I! He said that it was through the making of the movie “The People Speak” which I will put in the plug for the History Channel- (airing on December 13). It is because of The People and MY PEOPLE like my friend Ms. Sharday Jenkins (who attended the event with me), of Washington DC that I am proud to be an American. She is a constant inspiration of hard work, dedication and most importantly a GREAT ATTITUDE. This is an attribute that I was not blessed with however, I am of the opinion that it is one that can be attained.
So. . . for anyone looking for as I say “A FANTASTIC VOY-AGE” (said like Coolio’s hit) of service opportunities or simply something to raise your voice about in the District contact me I can filter you to the right person if you don’t already have something to say or do. But c’mon now, you got style you got grace (like the Nanny) “Democracy is NOT a spectator Sport!” (from The People Speak)

UPDATE: Chiron Hunt

Posted on 04/01/2009 by NWtoSE

For those that read my blog or that know me they know about Chiron. Basically the man changed my life. I met him almost a year ago when he was working in my neighborhood we became good friends and the rest is history. I haven’t seen Chiron since last August so I am not going to lie and say I don’t miss him! Ahhh to be 19 again. . . the good old days Y2K 01.

I know I give GW a hard time so that’s why I am so thrilled to report of Chiron’s successes which can partially be attributed to the The George Washington University’s Prime Movers Media Program which pairs veteran and retired journalists from leading news media companies with students in elective media classes at Washington, D.C., high schools to help them create or strengthen student-run media. (GW Media & Public Affairs, Newswise)

“The Prime Movers program gave me hands-on experience of what it is like to work as a broadcast journalist,” said Chiron Hunt, a 2007 graduate of Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., and a three-year student participant in the program. “The professional mentors who came into my classroom brought real life experience that you can’t get in a normal class.”

Hunt added, “At first, I just took the course as an elective. After a while, I got a feel for what I was doing and started to feel comfortable on screen and was enjoying it. Now, I’m majoring in broadcast journalism at the University of Nebraska and hope to someday work for ESPN as a sports broadcaster.”

Dorothy Gilliam, founder and director of GW’s Prime Movers Media Program & prize-winning journalist who retired from The Washington Post after 33 years to start the program at GW in 2003 and Sam Ford, general assignment reporter with WJLA-TV (ABC-7) have been two major VIP’s in Chiron’s life. Ms. Gilliam and I spoke once last summer and we both agreed that Chiron was going places! It’s official I have got to meet her! I know I could have some fun discussions about my constant fight against the evils of tobacco marketing to the black community

I hope Chiron remembers the fan club he has rooting for him! There will never be anyone that will ever have made such a direct impact to change the course of my life. Thank you Chiron.
Last fall Chiron had me proof read a paper and he said that I could use this quote in my blog this is the first time I am using it. .

These [gangbangers and drug dealers] are the names and stereotypes I deal with everyday. Majority of the time people don’t even say anything, you can just look at their facial expression and tell! Some are good and most are bad, but I’m trying to change that by going to school and graduating. By doing this, I am showing people of the world that an African American Male born and raised in “the hood” and being surrounded by guns, gangs, and drugs everyday made it out with a degree in his hand!

-Chiron Hunt

*For information about Prime Movers please contact Dorothy Gilliam @ 202 994 0761 or visit http://www.gwu.edu/~primemovers

UPDATE: Chiron Hunt

Posted on 04/01/2009 by NWtoSE

-Chiron Hunt

*For information about Prime Movers please contact Dorothy Gilliam @ 202 994 0761 or visit http://www.gwu.edu/~primemovers

Alive and Well?? C’mon NOW GW! Really?

Posted on 03/22/2009 by NWtoSE

Sorry. . . call me a prude, call me a cynic, call me a public health crazy person, just don’t call me on my sidekick- unlike lil’ wayne I don’t have one. . ANYWAY, I just don’t think it is cute, funny or even good marketing for the bookstore to be selling shot glasses with the promotional phrase “Alive and Well.” It does however go right along with the GW’s “Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education” Mission Statement:

The Center for Alcohol and other Drug Education (CADE) at The George Washington University (GW) serves to educate students so that they can make informed and responsible decisions regarding substance-related behavior and other student-wellness issues. Through collaboration with other service areas and departments on campus, CADE provides programs, services, and resources that encourage students to recognize that their decisions impact not only themselves, but also the greater GW and District of Columbia communities.

Alive and Well?? C’mon NOW GW! Really?

Posted on 03/22/2009 by NWtoSE

The Center for Alcohol and other Drug Education (CADE) at The George Washington University (GW) serves to educate students so that they can make informed and responsible decisions regarding substance-related behavior and other student-wellness issues. Through collaboration with other service areas and departments on campus, CADE provides programs, services, and resources that encourage students to recognize that their decisions impact not only themselves, but also the greater GW and District of Columbia communities.

Finally! Foggy Bottom with a side of DOWN-TO-EARTH, GW’s Multicultural Student Services Center

Posted on 03/09/2009 by NWtoSE

Recently I have been so thrilled to learn about, what is in my opinion basically one of the only “real”/ down-to-earth havens on GW’s foggy bottom campus- The Multicultural Student Services Center. A place where people can just chill, a place where discussions about gender, race, politics and topics that I live for are discussed. I am not saying by ANY REGARD that I am a regular, and lets be honest, I am grad student and my days are numbered at GW. I will say that for the first time I have not felt “threatened” by the undergrads, or irritated, and I have yet to hear statements like “I only have $7000.00 in my checking account” or “the money on my GWorld [student ID card] is not real money.” WHAT????
I was also really impressed to be involved in various activities to celebrate Black History Month, from hearing Michael Eric Dyson speak, to watching an amazing entertainment with South African Dancing. The month ended with a real SPLASH (oh that is real bad ha ha!) on a Boat Cruise around the DC Harbor. . . where I couldn’t help myself but try and do a little public health outreach!
Yesterday, MPA students along with MPH students at GW who tutor at Anacostia High School were able to show some of the youth of today what college life is like at GW and show the students the ropes to prepare for college admissions. We were able to give them an array of fun from an info session about financial aid (FAFSA=love/hate) to an amazing panel discussion by undergrads at the Multicultural Student Services Center ending with a GW Men’s Basketball game. Thank you MSSC!