urban views weekly, march 9, 2016

Mar. 9, 2016 Scholar of the Week - Ja’Mya Roots

Here Come The Brides

2 Urban Views Weekly | March 9, 2016 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

VOL. 9, ISSUE 10

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FUNdraising Good Times

Civic Beat

What is your brand?Discussions of branding can quickly turn to logos, colors, or your online presence. Are those your brand, or are they expressions of your brand? We believe they are brand expressions and that your brand isn’t as neat and tidy as a logo. In fact, defining your brand (or story) can be a messy process. It’s emotional, bringing dreams and unanswered questions to the forefront: a group process that engages diverse constituents. Your brand should be what comes to mind when people think about your organization. The simplest way to get there is to ask yourself,

“what is our story?”

We start our clients with a series of exercises that include defining their unique niche and projected impact to what it would cost to truly implement their mission and vision. The conversations start slowly, but eventually get heated. The greatest challenge: defining the niche. No one wants to “close the doors” to opportunity. But you need to know your niche in order to tell your story – and at its heart, that’s what brand is all about.

A colleague of ours, David Riemer, shared his perspective on how to think of your brand as a story. “Any good story begins with a protagonist; so an organization has to first identify who it serves. Next, you need to

think about what makes them tick and what challenges they face. Any good story has a big conflict that the main character has to overcome, and likewise, organizations need to articulate the main problem they solve for their core constituents. Then you talk about how you uniquely help them overcome this challenge, again, just like a character in a story. ‘We help the character improve their

lives in these ways ... and this is what makes our organization different from other organizations who do similar things.’ Once you sort out these core questions, you can craft the story about your organization. This is effectively what the brand is. Once you

know the narrative in words, you can hire designers to interpret the brand via your website, logo, social media posts, case studies about constituents, videos, etc.”

Riemer, a former vice president of marketing at Yahoo! has shaped stories and brand for startups, established corporations, and nonprofits. We enjoy checking in with him for inspiration and confirmation. Our recent conversation focused on the challenge of defining a niche. Organizations often resist focusing on an ideal client or customer – those who will benefit most from your

“Your brand should be what comes to mind when people think about your organization.”

continues to page 9

3 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com Urban Views Weekly | March 9, 2016

Welcome to Urban Views Health News , a bi-monthly article focusing on health, specific health-related issues, fitness and fun and giving tips on how we can become healthier individually and as a community.

This week, we discuss youth health disparity. Oddly enough, there is not a lot of research out there about this issue, but it is a very real problem in our communities. Simply put, we know that where someone lives could change their health outcomes. How can we as a community address this?

“In general, children are a marginalized group to begin with,” comments Alex Sims, a community pediatrician in Washington, DC. “Children are, somewhat, a neglected population when compared to adults.”

So, when we talk about disparities existing in our communities, we often overlook that those affecting mom and dad can have the same, if not worse, effect on the children.

Although the term disparity is often interpreted to mean racial or ethnic disparities, many dimensions of disparity exist, particularly in health. If a health outcome is seen to a greater or lesser extent between populations, there is a disparity. Race or ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status and geographic location can all contribute to an individual’s ability to achieve good health.

But why do disparities exist and, more importantly, how can disparities develop so early in a child’s life?

“A disparity is an unequal distribution of resources,” says Tiffany Cox, Community Health and

Prevention Supervisor for the Virginia Department of Health – Crater Health District. “To start addressing these issues, we first need to recognize that they exist. Equal means providing the same for all people and this is hard to do when people are not even starting at the same level from birth.”

“We still have strides to go to define what they (youth disparities) are.” said Sims.

Disparities that we see in adults can affect children, as well. This is more likely in communities that have challenges. Lower socioeconomic demographics have an impact on more than just healthcare outcomes for youth, including: infant mortality, low birth weight, tobacco use, education, greater risk factor for chronic diseases, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, and access to healthcare. Minorities are also less physically active across the board, so this leads to other issues later with having poor diets and limited physical activity.

As a community, what can we do to change this paradigm?

Cox suggests that we look at the data we do have for adults to help shape the programs we provide for youth and the entire family. “Comprehensive health education is important to have in schools and where families live, learn and play. This is not a problem we will fix without involving our families.”

Addressing these disparities is critical during a child’s early years because these are their formative years - they are building lifelong behaviors, retaining learned behaviors and we have to show children healthy behaviors to have healthy outcomes for their futures.

“Cavities are the most common infectious disease for children.” comments Sims. “Children that are in lower socioeconomics have higher risk of having cavities, and not having a dental medical home. Since we know this disparity exists, a local school, afterschool program or even a babysitter could implement a teeth brushing program for our youth.”

This leads to a direct improvement in oral health and chronic pain, which translates to the child missing less school days and, ultimately, normalizing the idea of brushing teeth and dental care. It is truly a collaborative approach that needs to happen to change the pattern.

“Pediatricians are doing advocacy work by educating families and helping with access to care,” said Sims.

“Research is a big way to change this paradigm, but we need to have everyone at the table including the children. Ask them what they need and want and establish a pipeline, including strong mentors in a child’s life to close up the leaks in the pipeline. We have to incorporate all age groups in the decision making process.”

sponsored by VCU HealthJ. Chevonte’ AlexanderHealth News

The ABC’s of Youth Health Disparity

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The Deal

If you’ve thought about renting property on vaca-tion, keep in mind that it’s become a lot easier – and in some ways, harder.

Much of the vacation rental process has moved online, making the pro-cess simpler and more accessible. Also, the so-called “sharing economy” has allowed more people in the lodging busi-ness renting rooms and dwellings. In fact, a 2015 study by consulting firm EY notes that in one year alone, the world’s dominant online room-sharing company – less than 10 years old – added more listings to its inventory than the largest global hotel companies added rooms during the same period.

So vacation rentals are easier than ever, right? Possibly, but you still need to protect your money against disappointing choices and possible fraud. Before committing to any kind of property rental or property-sharing vacation, do your homework. Here are five tips to get started:

1. Evaluate your destination fully. The busiest tourist destinations generally have the broadest range of lodging options – from luxury hotels to hostels. Vacation rentals are usually a happy medium, located in desirable neighborhoods with a homey feel and kitchen availability that can make a stay a lot cheaper. However, every destination has certain ways of handling vaca-tion rentals. While the newer generation of property-sharing companies might be active here, evaluate traditional options like vacation property brokers and listing services to compare prices and offerings. Also, search the name and address of the vacation property you’re consid-ering with the words “vacation rental scam” to

see if any indication of fraud, crime or other trouble turns up.

2. Check local short-term rental laws. While it’s generally easier to do this domestically than abroad, make sure the kind of vacation rental you’re considering is legal. Check recent news clips or contact a local tourism bureau or chamber of commerce to see whether your target municipality doesn’t have legal or zoning restrictions on your chosen rental.

3. Verify the renter personally and with local experts and agencies. If your renter is reputable, he or she should be more than willing to have a detailed conversation about the property, costs, financial arrangements and onsite rules – in-cluding deadbolt locks you can control if you are renting rooms within their residence. Make time to call the local tourism bureau, chamber of commerce, or the local chapter of the Better Business Bureau.

4. Look for any details about the renter or the property. Ask the renter for referrals from previ-ous renters, if possible, and consider the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Scam Watch travel page for extensive updated advice on renting out-of-town property.

5. Ask for all com-pleted agreements and liability insurance docu-mentation before pay-ing. Before you reserve, ask to see all contract information with pricing and scheduling informa-tion filled in as well as proof of insurance on the rental property. You should understand all payment and property rules affecting your stay and what might hap-pen if there is accidental damage to the property while you’re there. Share these documents with

your home or rental insurer for input before you sign. If a renter hesitates to share this informa-tion, you might want to consider other options. Also, review your personal health, property and liability coverage to make sure you’re protected during the trip.

6. Weigh all spending risks of the rental transac-tion. If you’re planning to rent vacation proper-ty, take the extra step of calling your credit card and travel insurance companies to determine whether they offer any particular protections in case something goes wrong with the rental. It’s a good way to review the full range of protec-tion available to you on any out-of-town trip. And if a vacation landlord asks for advance cash payment – particularly wired money – be very cautious. Many travel scams begin with wired cash.

Bottom line: Planning an upcoming vacation? Be-fore you commit to a vacation rental, vet the owner and the property thoroughly.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education pro-grams. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

5 Tips for Planning a Property-Sharing VacationBy Nathaniel Sillin

6 Urban Views Weekly | March 9, 2016

The spring is the most popular time of year for wed-dings for a number of reasons. The weather gives you options not available during the potentially hot summer months or unpredictable winter and fall. For the most part, you can count on spring’s mild tem-peratures and its steady weather patterns — especially in late spring.

Spring Bridal ShowersThe spring also gives you flexibility when it comes to planning a bridal shower. Friends of the bride have long put their heads together to pull off a memorable shower experi-ence that all involved parties remember for years to come. Here are some of the most impor-tant things to remember when throwing a shower: • Decide on a date that is ideal for all attendees — usually a weekend day when getting off of work isn’t an issue. • Choose your venue and make sure you book it months ahead of time. There’s nothing worse than having to go to your backup plan just because you didn’t plan ahead. • Plan (and stick to) your budget. Set a budget for the entire event and make sure you follow it during both the planning and execution phases. Your fellow bridesmaids will likely pitch in to help you avoid over-spending on this special event.

Shower IdeasHere are some ideas for what kinds of spring bridal showers you can plan for your friend or family mem-ber. Don’t forget to incorporate the bride’s likes and

dislikes into the festivities. For example, if the outdoors isn’t really her thing, a day-long event filled with lawn games probably isn’t your best bet. Be creative, be prac-tical and most of all be fun.

Spa PartyA spa bridal shower is a great way to relax the bride during this anxious

time. Consider booking your local spa or hiring a couple of professionals to come to you.

A DIY spa station could include a massage table, a facial space and

a mani-pedi seat. Be sure to play relaxing music and deck

your place out with soothing decorations.

Perfume BarIf your venue allows it, a perfume bar is a unique addition to your bridal shower. This is a great

complement to s spa loca-tion.

Ask the company’s manage-ment if they would permit you

to put together a table area full of perfumes for sampling throughout

the shower.

Add Hanging Decor From flowers and lanterns to everything in between, hanging decorations can add a special touch to any church, hall or reception area. The best part is that you can find — or make — a hanging decoration to match any theme. Consider the space you have to work with when coming up with

hanging decor ideas. If your banquet hall is on the large side, it may be difficult to make enough pieces to fill it. On the other hand, you don’t want to overwhelm a small, cozy room with too many materials hanging from the ceiling. Find a balance to pull off the perfect look.

Flowers Fresh or dried flowers make for the perfect touch sus-pended upside down from the ceiling. They provide vibrant colors and distinctive smells, perfect for an entryway or spaces between tables. Mix them with ribbons, strings and other garnishes to make them even more attention-grabbing. A colorful mix of flowers and ribbon can help you pull off the perfect soft design complement to nearly any theme.

Hanging BackdropsIf you’re looking for a stunning, yet practical, back-drop for reception photos, consider handing a back-

drop made of a combination of paper cutouts and other special touches that comple-

ment the color of your wedding. You’ll enjoy seeing guests flock to

capture their own memories of your wedding in front of your spectacularly designed back-drop.

Check Out Bridal Fairs

The greatest benefits of attending a spring bridal fair involves being able

to ask professionals what they can offer

As the 2016 spring weddings begin, it’s time to start planning for 2017

in the way of your unique wedding wishes. If you have an idea for a hanging decoration that you haven’t seen at weddings in the past, you can find out the possibili-ties of pulling it off by asking a designer or planner at a bridal fair. They also may come up with additional ideas that you hadn’t considered. This kind of collaboration is key in exploring all options for your perfect hanging decor.

Wedding Party BondingComing up with the final roster of wedding party participants can seem like one of the biggest chores of planning your wedding. You don’t want to leave out anyone, and you also want to pair the right grooms-man with the right bridesmaid to match your vision for photos. Once you select your party, it’s up to you to help them form a bond ahead of your wedding. That way everything from the rehearsal to the recep-tion can go that much smoother. You want your wedding party feeling relaxed and able to have a good time, so do your best to bring them together. Ways to do so can range from throwing a party at your home or inviting everyone out for a fun evening on the town. What-

ever you decide, be sure to include everyone to make sure you create the strongest bond possible.

Play Sports One of the best ways to build a bond

is through a little friendly competition. Set up a half-day of fun on your local golf course, your local bowling alley or even your local paint gun range. Make sure everyone can attend well ahead of time and consider splitting teams strate-gically, so people outside of your normal social circle can easily get to know those who aren’t. Your wedding party will appreciate your efforts in trying to bring everyone together before the big day.

Choosing Performers

Music is one of the most important parts of any

wedding celebration. Finding the perfect mu-

sical act or DJ can be a frustrating exercise if you’re not prepared for the search. Before deciding on your final choice for

music, make sure to ask some basic ques-

tions — along with any others specific to your wed-

ding — to make sure you find the one most aligned with your

nuptial needs.

Do you perform original music or play cover songs? This is a question for a band you are considering hir-ing. You want to make sure their musical preferences match what you’re looking for. Weddings are generally

an atmosphere where cover bands may be a better fit, but this is up to you.

What is your price range, and can I get a quote on paper?

Making sure you have a writ-ten quote will help resolve any confusion come pay-ment time.

How many weddings have you performed for in the

past couple of years? This answer may be one of the

most important, as you want to make sure the company is experi-

enced and up to the challenge. Will you be providing the equipment and song list? Can you take requests? A “no” answer to any of these questions could lead to more work for you as you try to coordinate what will be played during your ceremony.

Do you only play one event per day? You want to make sure you have the full attention of the musical act or DJ during your wedding. Are you easy to get in touch with if I have questions throughout the music planning process? A good musical act or DJ will surely answer “yes.” A good follow-up question is for a list of references just to make sure you can conduct a little follow-up research.

Do you also do announcements? It’s a great bonus to have your wedding band or DJ make announcements throughout the night. That’s one less thing for you to worry about.

7 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

continues on page 8

As the 2016 spring weddings begin, it’s time to start planning for 2017By Bernard Freeman


Tips for Perfect NailsOne of the finer details of the perfect wedding day look is in your nails. You will be showing off your new wedding ring to all of your guests at the reception, so you want your nails to look their best.

As you know, the options for how to prepare and design your nails are endless. Choosing the right color of polish is just the beginning.

Prepare Your NailsSince you know your nails will be near the center of attention when the focus is on your ring, start taking care of them months ahead of time. This means stop biting your nails and cuticles. It also means moistur-izing your hands often to get them ready to shine on your special day.

You can’t expect a nail technician to be able to fix damage caused by improper care. This comes down to your effort in maintaining healthy hands and nails today and beyond.

Know Your Preferences You probably already have a favorite nail look from past formal events you have attended, such as other weddings or your prom. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

This day is all about you, so the more familiar you keep these kinds of details, the more relaxed you will feel throughout the day. There’s nothing worse than experimenting with a new nail application only to find it makes your hands feel clunky and awkward when you want them to feel comfortable and natural.

Have a Backup PlanNails break and paint chips. Will you be prepared if something like this happens on your wedding day? It’s a good idea to keep extra bottles of polish in multiple locations.

If you will be sporting artificial nails, be sure to pack a repair kit comprised of extra nails, glue and other items that will enable you to make a quick fix in the case of a nail breaking.

Consider having one in the room where you will be preparing, as well as one in your purse or the purse of your bridesmaid — that way you’ll be prepared to handle an emergency situation without stress.

Weddings from page 7

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www.CVAACC.org


The Moton Fellows Program offers a select group of highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to experience one-on-one coaching and mentoring from some of the leading experts and practitioners in business, government and nonprofit organizations. The program recruits exceptional students to a fellowship designed to produce the next generation of world-class leaders.Fellows are selected to work at the Gloucester Institute’s administrative office in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Projects and responsibilities are determined based on the Fellow’s career and educational interests.During the course of the experience Fellows will perform a variety of administrative, marketing, public relations, strategic planning, program support and event planning duties within the office.The program will include weekly seminars on subjects such as time management, critical thinking, decision making, and personal branding. Fellows are paid a

$1,500 stipend over the course of the summer.The Moton Fellowship requires a minimal eight-week commitment between May 29

- July 22. The program schedule is flexible and designed to meet individual student needs.The program primarily operates in Richmond; however, occasional travel is required throughout Virginia and to

Washington, DC.Qualified applicants must be current undergraduate students

or enrolled as degree candidates in a graduate or professional school. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to excellence in academics, proven leadership ability, involvement in extracurricular activities, and record of community service.To apply for the Moton fellowship, complete the application form atWWW.GLOUCESTERINSTITUTE.ORGApplication and all supporting material are due March 21 at noon.

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly Poll

The LAPD confirmed that a knife was allegedly found two decades ago by a construction worker on the property where O.J. Simpson lived at the time Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. Although Simpson was acquitted of the murders, he is serving nine to 33 years for a 2008 armed robbery conviction and could be granted parole as early as next year.

What’s your take? Should, and will, OJ Simpson’s upcoming parole hearing be impacted if tests reveal that the knife is in fact the murder weapon of Brown and Goldman?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com. You can now watch us LIVE at TanyaFree.com and ustream.tv

FUNdraising from page 2 organization. But unless you

can articulate the main character, you’ll have a hard time telling a clear story!

“Once you identify your core audience, you will find people who sit on the shoulders of the core who aspire to the core audience. Those who aspire to your core audience can be visualized as outlying concentric rings.”

We love that image. Defining your unique niche allows others to “aspire” to your

core audience. Now that’s different from exclusion!

Contact Riemer at [email protected] or take his storytelling course at www.avanoo.com/davidriemer.

Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw

For help growing your fundraising, visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Applications Are Being Accepted for: The GLOUCESTER INSTITUTE’S

MOTON FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 2016


GPA: 4.3

College of Interest: Howard University or Old Dominion University

Major Community Service: Mentoring, Girl Scouts, Summer Camp Counselor

Strong Interests: Counseling & psychology

Favorite Activities: Working

Growing up, one lesson that Ja’Mya Roots learned and wants to pass on to others is that “you are who you are, you don’t have to fit in.” Unfortunately, Ja’Mya learned this while suffering from bullying. “I tried to make friends but I would always get judged because of my size, so it was kind of hard,” Ja’Mya said. At a young age, her view of the world went from a loving and caring place to a place she described as full of hate and judgement. Although it was tough, she credits this experience to making her into the strong person she is today. If she could offer advice to someone going through similar things, she would tell them “that it’s going to get better and just love yourself.”

With encouragement from her mother, she was also reminded to love herself. She would constantly tell her, “God made you beautiful just the way you are and you are one of a kind.” With time, despite being bullied, Ja’Mya learned that the skin she was in was beautiful and was what made her stand out from others. “If I never went through that situation I do not think I will value myself as much as I do now,” she said. “I have so much respect and confidence for myself now.” Looking back, she would never have thought that she would be satisfied with both herself and her weight like now.

Ja’Mya also stands out academically as a student at John Marshall

High School where she currently has a 4.3 GPA. While maintaining a part time job, she also mentors with “Girls for Change.” With this organization, she is able to give motivational advice to girls between the ages of 12 and 15. She is the executive of photography for her school magazine. In the past, she was a summer camp counselor and she was also a Girl Scout. Currently a senior, Ja’Mya

plans to continue her education by attending college. “My great grandmother, she passed last year, but she’s still my motivation because she wanted to see me graduate so that just gives me drive,” Ja’Mya said.

Howard University in Washington D.C. and Old Dominion University in Norfolk are her top choices for college where she plans to major in psychology. Ja’Mya first became interested in

psychology when she took an intro course at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. She was able to learn the basic fundamentals of the mind and why people act certain ways. After getting her degree, Ja’Mya plans to come back and work for Richmond Public Schools as a counselor. “The reason I want to come to RPS schools is because I want to help children that’s often overlooked,” Ja’Mya said. She wants to be the adult connection and role model for students in the future who may struggle with poverty and other issues. With plans to one day make a difference in others’ lives, Ja’Mya’s other goals are just to be happy and successful.

Scholar of the Week By Janeal Downs

Ja’Mya Roots of John Marshall High School

Scholar0of the Week™


Flowers talk. They say a lot about the person giving them, the person receiving them or the event they are decorating.A bouquet is the perfect gift for a housewarming, wedding, corporate dinner or birthday party. A beautiful arrangement creates a happy and celebratory atmosphere. It brightens up a room. Getting just the right flower arrangement is the key to your success. A professional florist will know how to make the colors, types of flowers and even scent work for your occasion.Research the FloristIf you are purchasing a floral arrangement for an event, ask the venue staff for recommendations. They are often familiar with the best florists in the area. Popular florists are usually quite busy year-round, so begin the process right away.Family and friends may also have suggestions. Be sure to ask them for their experiences, as well as how much they paid for the services.Call each florist to check their availability. If a florist is unavailable, scratch them off your list. Meanwhile, determine your flower budget. It will be a factor in your decision-making process.Also, look for floral arrangements in magazines. Clip out your favorite photos and put them in a notebook. Put a note about why you like these particular flowers. Once you have a list of florists who are available, visit their shops and interview them.Interview the FloristObserve the shop when you get there. Are the pathways clear of plants, tools and debris? Is the staff friendly and warm? The answers to

these questions will help you understand each shop’s level of customer service and care they give to their products. All plants and flowers should be well-maintained and attractively arranged. Employees should be attentive. The best florists have a wide range of options in their showroom.

During the interview, ask if the florist has previously worked at your venue. Each facility has unique rules about what they will allow in their location. If the florist has worked at the venue, that is a big advantage. They will know and can adhere to the rules.Inform the florist of your budget and ask for recommendations. The florist should be able to give you numerous suggestions about flower arrangements. Most florists have a scrapbook of their previous work. Each professional brings a sense

of personal style to their arrangements. Be sure to show the florist your notebook. Discuss the arrangements you prefer. Perhaps the florist could produce similar arrangements.If you are holding a large event, the florist might have recommendations about other event professionals. Once you have chosen your florist, be certain to confirm the type of arrangements you will receive. You should also know when the arrangements will arrive at the venue and who is responsible for placing the flowers in the

appropriate spots. Confirm when payment is expected. Understand the floral contract before signing anything.Get it in WritingWhen you are pleased with a company’s work, you might assist the shop with providing positive references and reviews.A professional florist will help you go a long way toward establishing the right environment for your event. The vivid colors and pleasant aroma will convey the right feeling for your special day. Follow us!

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urban views weekly, march 9, 2016

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