Warfield Warbler Worldwide Family Media Production Kalamazoo, Michigan

TRANSITION

Happy New Year, Family! The theme for this issue is transition. a: passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : b: a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) This word sums it up for many of us as we reflect upon our life experiences in this past year. We said so long to Whitney Houston, Michael Duncan and Donna Summer, danced to Gangnam Style, survived Hurricane Sandy, cried tears of joy with Gabbie Douglas and entered the holiday season shedding tragic tears of grief along with the Sandy Hook community’s loss of 26 children and teachers at the hand of yet another gunman. So I look around and remember just how blessed we are in the midst of it all and pause to give thanks. Learning to value moments like never before and taking time to see, smell, buy and even give away to others some roses in the now. Embrace transitions along this journey and as you lay your head upon your pillow at night, give thanks for all that you have learned in the process. Welcome to the rest and the best of your life.

CONTENTS

• Thanksgiving in the ATL........................... 2

• • Zumba Studio.......... 4 • • Oregon Challenge.... 5 • • What’s in a Name?... 6 • • Trip to Bangor.......... 7 • • Welcome Edition.... 10 • • Cousin Connection. 10 • • Grand Prize Winner 11 • • Music News............ 12 • • Merry Christmas..... 13 • • Legacy...................... 14 • • Family Tree............. 15

THANKS to all contributors.

You know who you are and you are appreciated!

Welcome Back, Mr. President

Special Guest Pass, Michael Humphrey

January 2013

January 2013

Cousins, Njeri Warfield and Cheri Dixon opened their homes and hearts to host a gathering of some of the Warfield clan for a weekend filled with lots of fun, food and fellowship. Many thanks to Cheri, Thomas, Dion, Christopher and Alexandra for a grand feast fit for queens and kings. It had been several years since we’d laughed so hard and paused to give thanks for the many blessings that have come to each of us over the rivers and through the woods of transitions. I see nothing but love in this picture that captures some of the welcome and warmth of family. You can’t put a price on this kinda love. Thanks again for the open hearts and hearth.

Thanksgiving in Atlanta

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January 2013

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Atlanta (cont’d)

I have been teaching hip-hop classes since 1995

for several fitness facilities, hoping to have my

own studio one day. It’s so great to watch God's

timing in my life! After being laid off in April of

2012, a friend of mine came to me 3 months later

with the idea of opening up our own fitness

studio. We then gathered two more partners,

and have opened up our own fitness studio

called Caliente Fitness in Austin. We opened

our doors on September 21st of 2012, and we

feature Zumba® Fitness classes, Yoga, Pilates,

Hip Hop, n'Barre, and Karate. People Magazine

has recognized us nationally for our 1200.00

donation to the victims of Hurricane Sandy via

the Red Cross. Many great things to come in

2013!!!

January 2013

Step-by-Step! Go, JABARI, Go!

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January 2013

Congratulations, Ajeyman!

The Oregon National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is an Alternative High School. It is a residential school where cadets (students) live on site for 5 months while attending the military model school. This period is followed by a mandatory 12- month mentor phase back in the community. Eligible individuals are accepted from all 36 counties in Oregon. The school is a non-traditional model that operates similar to a military academy. The program is guided by military principles, structure and discipline. Staff utilizes a "Hands Off", tough love, caring, disciplined approach to instill values, train, and instruct cadets. Students are eligible to earn a high school diploma, GED or credit recovery of 8 certified credits if they complete the required class work. Way to go! Ajeyman Rober-Warfield.

On that midnight train to Georgia....

Maya Joy Johnson

Warfield Warbler January 2013

WARFIELD- “What’s in a Name?” I ran across the book, The Complete Registry of the Warfield’s in America by Sharon Taylor while Rajdulari and I were thumbing through boxes of photos and memorabilia that belonged to my mother, Irene E. Warfield-Baker. Irene knew very little about her birth family and spent a large portion of her retired years attempting to put together family puzzle pieces.

The surname Warfield is a comparatively rare name, and appears to be locational in origin. Our research indicates that it can be associated with the English meaning, “one who came from or lives near Warfield (cleared land on Wearne River).” The Warfield Coat of Arms as well as the arms for most American names are associated primarily with European medieval culture and have been recorded in heraldic archives. The Warfield name is intertwined with heraldry and history. The book also includes information about where our ancestors came from and how the coat of arms was granted, the Warfield population as of 1984, how to find your ancestors, tools of genealogy etc.

Aunt Delma Grier-Warfield and DaVeena Johnson- Warfield visit Guthrie, Kentucky

Birthplace of Bernis Warfield, Sr. (2009)

Larry Warfield visits Guthrie, Ky (2009_

Warfield Warbler January 2013

The Trip to Bangor (Mi) By Zhia M. Martin (The Mitchell’s Blueberry Farm) Associate Illustrator, E. Kasi Martin, Jr.

“The Trip to Bangor” by Zhia Milan “We are at Bangor. Time to get out and pick blueberries”

The American Anthropology Association of America put together a museum exhibit as an apology for their part in the Race Construct. This exhibit is coming to Kalamazoo in 2010. Martha Warfield, PhD Associate Vice President of Western Michigan University and the Director of Diversity and Inclusion oversees the grant while Deborah Warfield of Worldwide Family Media Productions serves on the Community Leadership Board and the Youth Sub-Committees that facilitate the community-wide preparation of events leading up to and beyond the exhibit. The exhibit has some controversial sections to it but it is an attempt to right a wrong and to offer a catalyst for community dialogue around exploring and learning to begin to dismantle racism. I encourage you to check out the site for yourself and make your own assessments. The coming of this exhibit has sparked some challenging groundwork here in Kalamazoo among individuals and organizations that have been working for years around these issues. We are discovering together how difficult it is to tackle these baked-in systemic connections but also how rewarding it is to have so many pockets of support for change moving in the same direction towards the same goals. Paste to browser http://www.understandingrace.org

January 2013

The Trip to Bangor (Mi) Cont’d

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Let’s go play on the tire swing

Derin_ Thank you....you’re welcome

Oh no! We are in mud! It’s fun....

It’s getting dark. It is time for bed time.

January 2013

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Some of Zhia and KJ’s cousins on Jeanne’s side of the family in Bangor, Mi

E. Kasi Martin, Jr. Illustrator Written by Zhian M. Martin

Warfield Warbler January 2013

Welcome to the Latest Edition- Amari Leon Adams Chicago, Illinois 3lbs 15 oz. 17 inches Son of Latifah Warfield Grandson of Bernis Warfield, Jr.

Latifah reports that Amari is doing fine and should be heading home after gaining another pound or so. Other than being a little tired and missing her son being home with her, Latifah is doing fine also. Congratulations, Sis. Stay in touch.

Worldwide Family Media Productions 2013

(269) 830-1783

January 2013

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Chrysler Grand Prize Winner $5,000: Nick David (THIS is how we do it!) Congratulations, Nick!

http://www.behance.net/NicholasDavid (click link to view more projects)

January 2013

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Pandora Internet Radio - Listen to Free Music You'll Love

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Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas, Momma

I will turn 59 years old this year and I have NEVER screamed a day in my life......until December 26, 2012. In fact, I think I actually screamed three times in a row. I was truly taken aback when Ryan Landell, (Rajdulari’s sweetheart from NY) opened the door and softly strolled into our kitchen. Ryan and I had chatted several times on the phone in the past few months and “face timed” once or twice. But the LAST person that I expected to walk through our door was Ryan... everybody knew but me, and they had been keeping it a secret since Thanksgiving!. Needless to say, they got me gooooood! The days spent connecting with Ryan were short but sweet. We broke bread together as his parents sent some traditional holiday bread along, as an additional gift on top of the gift of their strong but gentle and warm-hearted son. He certainly brightened up an already very bright holiday! It was MORE than a pleasure meeting you, Ryan...... Be blessed!

Happy New Year, Friends and Family..... From our hearts to yours!

January 2013

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A Legacy Worth Preserving..................

Warfield Warbler January 2013

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place throughout all generations. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Psalm 90:1,2

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer it sings because it has a song” Maya Angelou

Next Generation.............. Family Reunion? Warfield Intranet? Quarterly Conference Calls? Womyn’s Retreats? Family Cruise? Online Family Resource Directory? Recorded Storytelling? Family in the Recording Studio? WE GOT THE POWER!!!!!!!!!!