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Intown Detroit Magazine 248-270-8338

www.intowndetroitmagazine.com

twitter:intowndetmag facebook: Intown Detroit Magazine

Credits Editorial Director: Leslie J. Griffin

Publisher: ES Communications Agency Associate Editor: Cierra Wallace

Contributing Writers Jerome Espy Naomi DanielLeslie J. Griffin

Rachel Kingstrom Nicole Roland Tonya Shirelle

Kyle Smith Cierra WallaceKaren McCray

Contributing Photographers

Karen FoxWayne Norman

Graphic Designer Melissa Grant

copyright 2013 Intown Detroit Magazine

Intown Detroit Magazine makes a conscious effort to insure complete accuracy in all editorial content, however we accept no liability

for any inaccurate information. We do not necessarily support any products/services advertised herein. No part of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed in any manner including print, electronic or

otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

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IN STYLE: Young Mover & Non-Profit Shaker Andreana Beard

IN THE NEWS: City of Highland Park Embraces Community Development

IN HEALTH: Healthy Hearts

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Motown's Literary Scene

IN SPIRIT: Healthy Relast ionship Lessons

IN LITERARY VIEW: Beverly Jenkins

NIKKI WOODS: Just Keep Going

FRED HAMMONE: United Tenors

IN FASHION: Tawni Haynes

IN FINANCE: Determine Your Creditworthiness

CONTENTS6

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Don't Count You Out!Time flies whether we are having fun or not. Let's face it, we are three months into the new year and we've come to the realization that when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve there was no magical transformation. The same problems we faced last year carried over into this year, for some of us those problems did not diminish but have all the more intensified. They definitely have for me!

Over the last 24 months I've weathered a raging storm. My grandfather was diagnosed with brain cancer in December, 2010 and passed away in August 2012. In the midst of coming to grips with his illness, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just when I thought we were getting over the hump and just 4 months after my grandfather passed, my grandmother was diagnosed with a Melanoma (skin cancer). My 16 year old son has had two major surgeries on his knee and is scheduled for another one at the end of this month.

As a Christian and life coach, I knew it was imperative to hold on to my faith and the principles of life coaching. However, life was knocking the wind out of me. I decided I'd approach 2013 with all I had to give, because I knew it was time for the tide to turn. Turn it did from bad to worse. I lost 2 cousins one in January from a heart attack at the age of 57, and another cousin earlier this month at the age of 50, she took a nap and didn't wake up.

While life was draining me, it was also pushing me. Pushing me to take better care of myself. Pushing me to enjoy life more and work a little less. Pushing me to tell my loved ones that I love and care for them. It has also pushed me to help others change. While what is ahead is unknown, what I know for sure there are certain practices and mindsets we can use to weather the storm and be our best in the midst of it all. Through my storm I finished my non-fiction novel, Don't Count YOU Out, The Journey to the Other Side of the Storm. I write this to encourage you Don't Count YOU Out, you can make it to the other side! Hold on!

From the Publisher

Tonya Shirelle

IN STYLE

Andreana Beard“¢ƘŜ ¸ƻdzƴƎ aƻǾŜNJ ϧ {ƘŀƪŜNJ"

by Camille Burke

Beauty & Brains

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Being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 23 months, doctors didn’t expect her to live long. Not only has Andreana Beard recently celebrated her 9th birthday, she has accomplished more than many adults living a full life. The seven time title holder with Dream Girls USA Pageant Systems has made her mark and currently holds the 2012-2013 title of Michigan’s High Point Champion. As if that isn’t remarkable enough, baby Lil, as her family so affectionately calls her, is the CEO of The Andreana Beard Help the Children Foundation; her own non-profit organization. The foundation supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation which is geared for children with life threatening medical conditions. Additionally The Andreana Beard Foundation supports the Christmas Adopt a Family Program.

In 2009, Andreana made congressional history on Independence Day when there was a flag flown over the United States Capital in honor of all of her services. Andreana loves to sing and act and has been cast in many stage plays, including Annie and The Wiz. It doesn’t stop there, this little genius was the national super model for Jabo Model Management, children’s division.

In addition to all of her accomplishments she is a great student and all of her teachers and administrators just love her, not because of her illness which causes her to take lots of medication and miss days of school, but because of her genuine spirit. She loves her family and her friends and is always in an upbeat and ambitious mood. Her drive and ambition in spite of her diagnosis should be a lesson to us all. Andreana’s foundation hosts an annual ball for adults at the Embassy Suites in Livonia, MI. Help support this worthy cause. For ticket information call 734-444-9168.

The Andreana Beard Help the Children Foundation's 5th Annual Benefit GalaSaturday, April 27, 2013

Ticket Information 734-444-9168

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Community Empowerment

Pontiac BusinessDevelopment Expert

Sandy-Michael McDonald

HelpsThe City of

HIGHLAND PARK Fight for a Comeback

Nicole Roland

IN THE NEWS

Despite its’ early triumphs, by the late 1950s, Highland Park’s population had once again diminished, leaving remaining citizens to cope with the consequences of a mounting fiscal crisis. Subsequently, events like 1967’s 12th Street Riots and the loss of both the Ford and Chrysler plants resulted in job loss and departure by many longtime residents, and as of the 2010 census, there were only 11,776 people, 4,645 households, and 2,406 families residing in the city.

Today, the city of Highland Park is slowly recovering in hopes of becoming the burgeoning economic powerhouse it once was. One very influential force in the recreation of Highland Park’s prosperity comes in the form of its’ Community and Economic Development Director, Sandy-Michael McDonald, a Pontiac native and specialist in business and community organizing.

As a former executive Downtown Development Authority director within his hometown, McDonald has extensive experience in reconstructing urban communities facing financial hardship. Both Pontiac and Highland Park operate under emergency financial managers, and during his employment with the city of Pontiac, McDonald worked primarily with property owners, businesses, and community organizations to assure that each had the necessary components to be successful in a struggling municipal economy. Currently, McDonald is working to rebuild homes within the comparably smaller, 2.89 square-mile radius of Highland Park.

More than a century ago, when Americanindustrialist, Henry Ford purchased 160 acres of land in the little-known village of Highland Park, Michigan, it was clear that he had a vision, and in 1910, after completion of his second automobile production plant, Ford was finally able to see his prophecy realized. The following decade would see Highland Park’s population increase by more than 10 times, and in the next 30 years, the city would become home to the nation’s first paved road, the Chrysler Corporation, the Davison Freeway, and several other economic and community successes.

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“There is so much history in Highland Park,” commented McDonald in a recent interview. “From the Ford Plant to the first paved road, it is really an honor to be working here. These are some of the best model communities you can have, and by building homes, we are allowing Highland Park citizens to participate in sustaining and preserving their own neighborhoods.”

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and regulated by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program was established to erect 32 new homes in Highland Park. An approximate $14.8 million was allotted to the city for demolition, rehabilitation, blight elimination, and neighborhood rebuilding. Many of the new homes are located along Midland Street. According to McDonald, concentrating the rebuilding in a specific area is a beneficial strategy in urban development.“So often you see new houses in an area surrounded by structures that have been demolished or are in need of renovation,” said McDonald. “When you do construction, you have to revitalize communities block by block. We have 26 new homes being built in the Midland area with 95% of the construction already completed. By the end of January 2012, we should be 100% done.”

In addition to bringing homes back to the city, McDonald and his community development team are also creating jobs. Grosse Pointe-based Trivium Partners, LLC. has performed the majority of the physical construction, but this project has also employed dozens of Highland Park residents in the rebuilding efforts. In the future, more citizens will be put to work by way of property, utility, and income taxes as well as housing maintenance. “We are looking to put people back to work,” said McDonald. “This project has helped us do that now and will help us in years to come.”

With construction being near completion, new homes in Highland Park have already gone on the market and are selling. Several of the homes are energy efficient and equipped with high-end amenities like granite countertops, garages and Energy Star rated appliances. Each newly built home costs anywhere from $212,000 to $230,000 to construct, but they all have a sale price of $49,000 -$50,000. In addition, refurbished homes that cost $185,000 to renovate are selling for $18,000. Trivium Partners’ developer, Paul Hubbard estimated that the average homeowner would only spend about $800 per month on mortgage and home insurance payments combined.

Furthermore, purchasing these new homes at a price below market value will increase the rate of Highland Park residents who are homeowners.“We want to appeal to people who have low to moderate income,” explained McDonald. “But we are also marketing the community to people in business districts. The owners of these homes will be people of all economic statuses, from lower to upper middle class.”As the project draws to a close, McDonald continues to work with the Detroit Housing Commission to ensure that homeowners are properly screened and MSHDA to ensure that new homes are HUD-approved. McDonald also fosters a strong relationship with U-SNAP-BAC, a nonprofit community building organization that has also aided in construction.

When asked what others can do to assist in the rebuilding efforts, McDonald suggests submitting creative ideas for gifts to new homeowners or even putting together welcome baskets.

“We have families moving into new homes, and we want to give something that familiarizes them with the neighborhood,” said McDonald. “We are asking individuals, churches and businesses to provide items to give.”

To submit creative ideas or ‘Welcome Home’ gifts for new Highland Park residents or homeowners, contact Sandy-Michael McDonald at 313-252-0050. For individuals or families looking to move into any of the new or refurbished homes in Highland Park, please visit http://www.hpnsp2.com or contact Liz Tintinalli from Real Estate One at 313-617-2699. Interested parties will need to complete an eight hour home counseling session as well as put down a deposit of $1,500; possibly less if the buyer is low income. The Highland Park website also shows a variety of housing styles to choose from in addition to video footage of the new homes.

With the help of dedicated community officials like Sandy-Michael McDonald, the city of Highland Park is gradually charting its’ return to excellence. The building and renovation of homes is but one facet in its’ development, but with the success of the neighborhood stabilization program, Highland Park citizens and city officials are certain that their hometown will once again be the thriving metropolis that it was nearly a century ago.

IN HEALTH

Healthy Hearts

Carol Josel

In case you missed it, red was the color of

choice when choosing what to wear, as the first of February marked the tenth anniversary of the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day. Its purpose: to help raise awareness of heart disease in women, while at the same time, launching American Heart Month.

Be aware, too, that The Million Hearts™ national initiative sponsored by the American Heart Association and others is also making headlines right now. Introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services in September, 2011, its aim is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over a 5-year period. To that end, this month Walgreens has engaged "its 26,000 health care providers to offer free blood pressure testing in consultation with a Walgreens pharmacist."

Is the need great? You bet. Just take a look at these unsettling facts of life about cardiovascular disease, the umbrella term for all heart and blood vessel diseases, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and aortic aneurism:

1. Heart disease is the leading cause of death forboth men and women.

2. About 600,000 people die of heart disease in theU.S. every year-or one in four.

3. Every year, some 935,000 Americans have aheart attack; about 610,000 first-timers.

4. Coronary heart disease is the most common typeof heart disease, killing more than 385,000people every year and costing the U.S. $108.9billion annually in services, medications, andlost productivity.

Meanwhile, recognizing the warning signs is key to survival; experience any of them and call 911 immediately:

• Chest pain or discomfort• Upper body pain or discomfort in arms, back,

neck, jaw, or upper stomach.• Shortness of breath.• Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

Know, too, that while the most common sign is chest pain or discomfort, women are somewhat likelier to feel short of breath, nauseous, and/or experience jaw pain.

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Meanwhile, be advised that lifestyle is a determining factor, so be forewarned if you don't exercise, enjoy a high fat, sodium, and/or sugary diet, smoke, are overweight/obese, and/or have diabetes. To be in the know, head to your primary care doctor for a physical and make it an annual event. These are the numbers you'll want to hear:

• A blood pressure readingless than 120/80

• A total cholesterol that'sless than 200 mg/dl

• An LDL ("bad" cholesterol)that's less than 100 mg/dl

• An HDL("good"cholesterol) that'smore than 50 mg/dl forwomen and 40 mg/dl orhigher for men

• Triglycerides that areless than 150 mg/dl

• Blood glucose levelsthat are less than 100 mg/dl

To get you there, take time to de-stress every day, allowing yourself some "chill" time to meditate, garden, walk, and so on. You get the idea.

If you smoke, promise to stop. There's lots of quitting help out there, everything from gums and lozenges to patches and hypnosis. Online assistance is right at your fingertips, too. Need motivation? Quitting before 40 reduces the risk of death by about 90% finds an American Cancer Society study. Plus, smokers die, on average, about 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Get moving, aiming for at least 30 minutes a day of low to moderate intensity activity. The upside: lower blood pressure and triglyceride numbers, as well as higher HDL levels. Do it all in one outing or break it up into 10- or 15-minute workouts that can include walking, jogging, dancing, gardening, even playing outside with the kids. Then add just two weight training sessions a week-about 20 minutes or so each-and you're on your way.

Start every day with a heart-healthy breakfast, as in oatmeal, a smoothie made, for example, with frozen berries, a banana, yogurt, and skim milk, a veggie-filled egg-white omelet, or even peanut butter on whole wheat toast sprinkled with ground flaxseed. Tempted to skip it and go right for the coffee? Keep in mind that eating breakfast cancels out the need for a mid-morning pick-me-up or heavy lunch, thus helping prevent weight gain.

Eat a heart-healthy lunch and dinner, too, ones that are rich in fruits, veggies, fiber, whole grains, low-fat, calcium-rich dairy, and lean protein. Aim for two servings of fish each week, too. Not sure how much produce you should be consuming every day? The CDC has the answer for you.

Take an inventory of what's on your pantry shelves when it comes to snacks, soups, salad dressings, etc. and consider tossing a few of them. As you read the nutrition labels, keep in mind that you want to limit your daily sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg and less than 150 mg of cholesterol. Then opt for better-for you alternatives like baked chips, nutrition-dense granola bars, heart-healthy soups and frozen dinners, and so on. While you're at it, put away the salt shaker and replace sugary drinks with plain water or sparkling water with a spritz or two of lemon juice.

Be heart-savvy when eating out, too. Need some help as you peruse the menus of your favorite restaurant chains? There's actually an app for that, and it's called "Restaurant Nutrition."

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Naomi Daniel

Motown's Literary Scene

A conference just for writers is like putting a bunch ofkids in a candy store full of resources and workshops to sharpen the tools of the trade, networking with like-minded people, and books galore to skim through and purchase.

There are several writer’s conferences in the Metro Detroit area, but one that is intent on making a distinct difference in Detroit is the annual Essence of Motown Literary Jam & Conference, hosted by the Motown Writers’ Network. Last year the organization held its ninth conference over the weekend of November 9.

Sylvia Hubbard, conference chairperson, and founder and president of the Motown Writers’ Network, is passionate about all things literary and literacy related. She makes sure the conference takes place every year, financing much of it out of her own purse, along with co-sponsorship from the non-profit organization Detroit Impact, and other partners.

“I started the conference nine years ago because I felt that there was a lack of education in Detroit about writing, publishing and marketing,” says Hubbard, who is the author of more than 30 independently published books including e-books, an avid blogger, literacy advocate, social media expert, and single mother of three.

"I realized there was, also a lack of knowledge about local authors, and I wanted to connect authors, and writers with readers,” she says.

The three-day event was packed tight from start to finish, with 200 attendees at multiple locations around the city.

An intimate crowd enjoyed thought-provoking poetry on the evening of November 9 at Sound Cloud Studios in Downtown Detroit. At the mic was Ajanae Dawkins, an InsideOut Detroit Youth Poet, and comedian Mic Larry brought the laughs. The EchoVerse Passion Fruit Erotic Poetry Festival closed the evening with open mic, and featured Detroit’s own poet, actress, and singer Rosemarie “One Single Rose” Wilson.

The Saturday conference offered an array of workshops at the Northwest Activities Center, covering such topics as Journalism and Publishing in the 21st Century, E-booking, Blogging and Digital Marketing, and The Business of Being an Author. Luncheon keynote speaker Charlie Curve, social media expert of CurveDetroit addressed using your brand to help the community.

Rounding out the conference were two engaging panel discussions. The first was The History of Poetry and Spoken Word in Detroit, with local

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poets Chantay “Legacy” Leonard, Mick E, Chris Rutherford (Broadside Press), and Detroit Blue. The panel was moderated by poet, and singer Victor “Billione” Walker.

The was also an all male panel Literacy Panel Discussion with community leaders, educators, authors and literacy advocates, including Jesse Cole, John Cromer, Chris Lee, Eddie Connor, City of Detroit Councilman James Tate, Dr. Ray Johnson, Yusef Shakur, and Truman Hudson, Jr. Vickie Thomas, City Beat Reporter with WWJ Newsradio 950 moderated the panel.

“This was the third time for our all male panel discussion on literacy,” says Hubbard. “I wanted to get leaders out from the community to talk about what they’re doing to increase literacy in Detroit and talk with attendees about increasing literacy. It was a great discussion.”

For the conference’s final activity, Hubbard partnered with Detroit playwright Raquel L. Draper to attend the November 11 performance of her play “Chatline” at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Museum.

Hubbard’s tireless work in the name of literacy was awarded the Congressional Community Service Award from Congressman Hansen Clarke, which was presented by author Eddie Connors, who works closely with the Congressman on literacy efforts in Detroit.

Tatiana Grant

Sylvia Hubbard receives Congressional Award for Community Service from Congressman Hansen Clark. Eddie Connor, Sylvia Hubbard

To learn more about the Essence of Motown Literary Jam and Conference, and Motown Writers’ Network, visit the website at www.MotownWriters.com.

L-R: Jesse Cole, John Cromer, Chris Lee, Sylvia Hubbard, Vickie Thomas, Eddie Connor, Detroit City Councilman James Tate, Yusef Shakur, Truman Hudson, Jr. Photo credit: J. Michael Collins.

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Sports in the DDetroit's Own

Beverly Jenkins

Award-winning, Detroit native, author Beverly Jenkins never intended to be a groundbreaking writer. All she ever wanted to do was work in the library. I kinda stumbled upon this,” Jenkins says of her of 30 published romance books. “I was working in the library at Parke-Davis (pharmaceutical company) in Ann Arbor at the Reference Desk. I had been working on this little story just for me, and I told a woman I worked with about it. I never thought is was gonna be published. She read it and told me I need to get it published.”

It turned out, that co-worker was a member of the Romance Writers of America, the trade organization for romance writers. The co-worker found Jenkins an agent, Vivian Stephens, a former editor for Dell Publishing company, and co-founder of the Romance Writers of America. “She’s this black woman who’d been one of the top editors in New York in the mid-70s, but had started her own agency house (a company for agents). I sent her my little raggedy manuscript, and she said ‘we gotta get this published’.”

“I never thought I’d be the groundbreaker. I wasn’t writing for publication.”

Her historical romance book covers depict tantalizing bare-chested African American men and brown female beauties of all complexions, caught up in passionate embraces.Of her attraction with 19th century African American romance, she says, “I’ve always been very fascinated with our history. And if you look at what we were taught in school, black folks were brought here in the bottom of ships, we were slaves, we were freed in 1865, and when we show up in history books again it’s us rioting in Watts in 1965.

So there’s a whole century where there’s nothing. And in that century all we hear about is the Jim Crow, the lynchings, which were horrible. But you don’t hear that we founded colleges, we founded all black communities, we raised our kids, we had birthday parties. There’s nothing about everyday life, and how we took the

IN LITERARY VIEW

Naomi Daniel

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lemons that America gave us and made our own version of lemonade out of it.”

Jenkins found additional success with her “Blessings” series that follows the activities of Bernadine Brown, a divorcee with a large settlement she used to buy and revive a modern-day small town whose residents had put it up for sale on eBay.According to Jenkins, people who claimed not to read romance books started reading them because of the first book in the series, “Bring on the Blessings” released in 2009. The fourth book in the series, “A Wish and a Prayer” has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Jenkins’ next historical romance novel, “Destiny’s Embrace” will be released on January 29, 2013. It’s the story of a rancher, and a housekeeper, set in California.

“I’m doing my ‘Blessings’ series, and I’m doing my historicals, and I’m content. Life is good,” she says

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Healthy Relationship Lessons

Love Lesson 1I believe the basis of all positive relationships is

friendship. Real romance starts & ends on this shore. It may flow on the tide of insatiable passion or beat

against the rocks of partnership and parenting. But when age has finished its gradual erosions and

additions and all the children now have their children, if you can land the boat on the dock of friendship and join the elderly couples who go to the mall early in the

morning purely to hold hands and walk, you have come full circle to the “Inseparable” bond of a friend

for life!

Love Lesson 2Rat a tat tat, like the beating of a drum. We may be two

drum sets but we beat like one! True love is the synchronous of life’s rhythmus. Our differences add

texture, color & flare. We will spend a life time blending those colors on a pallet, turning them into a rainbow of family & destiny. When all is said & done, love is like a marching band, when we have God as our Director, He gives us the rhythm & we move to the beat. I am asking

God to give unity in our homes. If you won’t give up some of you and I won’t give up some of me, there will

never be the wonderful sound of “us”

Bishop T.D. Jakes

IN SPIRIT

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It's Simple!Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthian 13:4-7

Love

IN LOVE

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By Tonya Shirelle

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The name Nikki Woods and the phrase

“this girl is on FIRE,” go hand in hand.

Media mogul Nikki Woods has been there and done that. Born in Rock Hill, Missouri, Nikki attended Howard University majoring in education, and also pursued journalism at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Her continuous journey has landed her positions others only dream of, from a television personality in S. Louis; a radio personality in Boston and on Chicago’s most popular radio station WCGI; to her current position of contributor and senior producer of the Tom Joyner Morning Show in Dallas, Texas.

With broad experiences, comes broad expertise and Nikki capitalizes on it all. As senior producer of the acclaimed, nationally-syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” her multi-faceted responsibilities include securing engaging on-air content for the 100 plus affiliate radio stations, and managing a large production staff, as well as keeping a team of contributors that include high profile comedians, political analysts and commentators on track daily. When taking off the producer hat, Nikki’s gears switch and she becomes on-air contributor herself dishing out the goods with her own brand of info-tainment. She delivers a spirited line up of weekend events and activities in her segment, “What in the Weekend with Nikki Woods,” she partners with a co-worker hosting “Mama’s Gone Wild” a series celebrating busy moms with a purpose on Blackamericaweb.com.

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Woods can also be seen and heard on a variety of other programs, including "The TJMS Community Watch" on WSRB Soul 106.3, their Chicago affiliate; "Beyond the Studio" celebrity interviews on BlackAmericaWeb.com; her "Women On the Go" podcast found on iTunes, and "Full Circle with Nikki Woods" on Blog Talk Radio, to name a few.

In addition to her gamut of duties affiliated with the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Nikki is a published author, her first fiction novel, Easier Said Than Done, received rave reviews and captured the attention of readers across the globe. Using her Jamaican heritage as a base for a successful page turner, Nikki continues to work on subsequent novels.

Keynote speaking has been a part of Ms. Woods’ agenda for many years; however she has just officially launched

her keynote speaking platforms coupled with a black college tour where she will share her success, experience and expertise, which she points out didn’t come as easy as some may think. “I’ve had major hurdles, setbacks and pain along my journey, but I know that it has all resulted in where I am, right now and that’s a good place,” Nikki says. Her relatable backstory of hope, courage and self-reliance makes her speaking platform’s “Just Keep Going” tagline a perfect fit.

A social media mogul, Nikki has earned ihe title of Global Visibility Expert. On any given day, engages with a staggering 100,000 followers and the best news… she shares her secrets to achieving cyber success in seminars across the country.

Her message on the importance of personal branding as a bridge to artistic, creative and financial freedom is one she embraces whole-heartedly.

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“Too many women tie their identities so closely with their jobs, husbands and even their children that they forget what they bring to the table on their own,” Nikki says. “We should constantly promoting and marketing ourselves to ensure that we’ll be able to stand on our own when inevitable change happens in our lives.” She goes on to say, “We need to remind others … and even ourselves of our fabulous-ness.

In addition to her professional duties Nikki is very actively engaged in the community and serves as an OWN ambassador and serves as a Pretty Brown Girl ambassador. She supports several domestic violence awareness programs and serves as a mentor for youth. She is the mother of two boys and believes in giving her boys the attention they need in spite of her crazy work schedule that has her up and at it at 4am. Many days you’ll find her in the classroom serving as the classroom mom and cheering at the baseball and basketball games and any other activities and events her boys are a part of.

Yep, she’s on fire and to get a glimpse of her remarkable glow you can find this media superstar on Facebook, Twitter or to book her seminars you can contact her at TheGlobalVisibility@gmail.com.

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Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:00 PM

Motor City Sound Board

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Derschaun Sharpley What happens when you combine the legendary gospel artist, Fred Hammond with other phenemonal singers, Brian Courtney Wilson, Dave Hollister and Eric Roberson? The dynamic new gospel group, The United Tenors. This diverse group of R&B and gospel performers bring something new to the table. These four united in Christ to bring men to the forefront in the gospel arena.

The album features songs of praise and worship, inspiration and songs which magnify just how big God is. The premise behind the formation of the group wasn’t to just bring back male ensembles like Commissioned, the group Fred Hammond began with, but also to get men back to the center of worship. Check out the new album set for release on March 26th and get your praise on.

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IN FASHION

Celebrity Designer

Tawni Haynes

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Imagine a passion and calling so defined it

literally keeps you awake at night and ultimately causes you to pack-up your things right before lunch on your corporate management job; leave for lunch and never return. That’s just what happened to the designer for the stars, Tawni Haynes. She hasn’t looked back since. She knew God was pushing her in the direction of perfecting her craft.

As the saying goes, God knows best! Today, Tawni Haynes’ brand is growing exponentially. Known as a designer for the stars, Tawni’s original looks and classy designs are eye catching to say the least. When asked what prompted her to begin her fashion business, Tawni was quick to point out her love for fashion and the use of her family and friends as guinea pigs over the years. Capitalizing on basically untapped market Tawni’s designs are worn by many first ladies of churches all over.

I first came in contact with Tawni Haynes on Facebook. Someone posted a picture of the bow blouse by Tawni and I ended up browsing through her photos for what seemed to be hours. I was intrigued by her ability to create magic.

Celebrity Designer Tawni Haynes

As a publicist, I begin to wonder why I hadn’t heard of Tawni. Although she was in Texas and I couldn’t believe someone with such talent and apparently the knack for business wasn’t a household name. I reached out by sending a message on Facebook. The next day her husband and business partner Arbrook made contact. After speaking with him I was even more intrigued at their growing empire.

A few months later I saw a post that Tawni and Brook would be in the Detroit area because Tawni had designed choir robes for a choir that was singing at Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit. I contacted them and we met up the next morning at their hotel right before their flight back to Texas. One of the most phenomenal things I learned during the meeting and interview was that the brand was developed through Facebook, and because of that they are loyal to their Facebook Fans.

By Tonya Shirelle

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Spike Lee Hits ‘Em with a HOOK….Tawni, who at the time was six months pregnant shared her strenuous schedule, her dedication to God and her family are at the top of her priority list. With one physical location in Cedar Hill, Texas Tawni is busy beyond belief. The custom mail orders keep the staff busy at all times. Tamela Mann and Fantasia Barrino are two of many celebrities sporting Tawni Haynes attire, but Tawni believes that all of her clients are important and treats them all the same. Tawni has plans of expanding her brand internationally and possibly in small boutiques nationwide. For more information on Tawni Haynes visit her Facebook page.

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The credit worthiness of individuals varies depending on several factors. The bottom line, however, is the capacity to pay. This can be measured in terms of income, net worth, collateral, previous credit records, and type of profession or business.

Banks and other lending companies may categorize loan applicants based on the level of risks involved. Some professions, jobs or businesses are relatively unstable to be worthy of large loan grants. Others are too risky to even be granted any type of loan. Obviously, those who are out of jobs or merely starting their businesses are considered as high risk applicants even if they can provide collaterals.

Self-assessment

Hence, it is crucial for would-be borrowers to

have honest self-assessment of their personal

credit worthiness. This will significantly help

in facilitating the application process and will

also reduce the probability of rejections and

eventual frustrations.

“Determining Your Creditworthiness”

“ Always Know Your Credit Score”

By: Homar N Murillo

MMoney

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The ancient adage, "know thyself," can be considered as the first rule when applying for credit lines. Individuals must first identify some of the factors that could affect their credibility as borrowers. Records of defaulting or totally abandoning loan obligations, no matter how trivial, are typically red flags for lending institutions that can prompt them to deny the loan application of an individual.It does not matter if it is large business loan or standard credit card approval an individual is applying for. The same basic rules are applicable regardless of the amount of loan application. It might be more difficult to secure large loan grants as compared to ordinary credit card approvals but there are some simple practices that can increase the probability of being approved.

Pay on timeThe records about payment history about utility bills and other recurring financial obligations are basic factors in assessing credit worthiness. If you religiously pay bills on time, it implies that you are a responsible and well-organized person. If you have become delinquent on some payments, strive to update your payments and make them current.

Lenders will initially assess your application based on your bill payment history. The modern digital age makes it easier for lending companies to check your bill records. For instance, if you were blacklisted by a mobile service phone provider, your chance of getting a loan approval will be very low. Even seemingly trivial records on subscriptions such as magazine subscriptions can affect the verall credit standing.

Credit card disciplineAvoid over-stretching your credit limits or impulsively using credit cards for unnecessary purchases. Credit cards are convenient but they should not be abused. It is also important to stay with just one or a couple of credit card companies than keep on transferring from one company to another.Remember that credit card records are very easy tocheck. If you cannot avoid defaulting on some of your credit card obligations, try to consolidate or restructure your debts for more favorable repayment schemes.

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