Five years later……Ten years later……Twenty years later……..Now we are parents ourselves. Did we keep our promise not to ever do to our kids what our parents did to us? Do we still fell as if our parents were the worst in the world? Well, let me tell you my story. I was raised by a single mother. She was married when I was conceived, but my Father met his demise while she was caring me and my mother chose not to remarry. Anyway, my mother was a very strong willed and mined woman. She went as far as to get her PHD. Because of all of the years of education she had, that gave her high expectations for me. Well, I wasn’t ready to shoot that high. I also was an only child and very shy. My only friends were the individuals in my room that would collectively form a line across my bed every morning. You would call them dolls. When I reached puberty and started smelling myself, I just knew I was the queen and my mother was my peasant. I wanted to go the neighborhood least desired because there was more action over there. My mother did not want me going certain places. “ I am 16. I can go wherever I want to. You are the meanest mom in the world. I won’t be that way with my daughter.. I will let her go wherever she wanted to as long as she made it home on time.” Again, Five years later…..Ten years later…….Twenty years later…….My 15 year old son says, “Mom, why can’t I ride my bike to FYE? I am on a bike , dugh. Not walking. I know it is getting dark, Mom but I am on my bike. I will get there and back faster. Man, you Bogus!!!” Did I keep my word about not treat-ing my kids like my mom treated me? When we become parents ourselves, we do not look back at the time that we were growing up so much. We look at the here and now. I care about my son’s safety so if I am not going to ride to FYE with him when it is getting dark, he is just not going to be able to go. I don’t care what he thinks about me. Just like me, when he grows up and becomes a father he will under-stand. Just like Five years……Ten years……Twenty years later, I finally know why my mother gave me boundaries that I tried so hard to cross. Parents of Color magazine would love to here your stories. Do you Parent like your Parents? In next months issue we are going to have a Child Psychologist speak about where our parenting skills derive from and what it tells up about us a parents. Please email your comments and stories to

natasha@parentsofcolor.us. We will publish your story in next months issue as well as on our website .

Parenting Like Our Parents

We all have said when we were growing up, “I will never treat my kids like that.” That comment usually followed an action that we did not agree with from our parents. Let us tell it, when we were grow-ing up, we were just going to be the best parents in the world and we were not going to do anything that our parents did to us. Our parents were just the worst people in the world. How can they treat us like that?

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

Natasha Sankey

APRIL 2010

PUBLISHER’S CORNER………………………………………………….

Columns:

WOMAN – Shari C. Hill

Living on Purpose

MEN – Jonathan Ratcliff

World’s Greatest Parent

INSPIRATION – Cathy Mulligan - Upshire

Starting From Scratch

INTERRACIAL NETWORK - Kelly Kay Wynn

Initiation into Motherhood

ENTREPRENEURSHIP – Dwayne Hirsh

The Essence of Entrepreneurship

Business Spotlight

FEATURE STORIES:

Quenching Fiery Darts

Composting 101

Earth Day

Red Moon

The Unbalanced Portrayal

Mommy Fast Track

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

MISS BLING, The Bling Diva & Queen of Bling Radio has had a vision since 2006 to do a baby contest.

When it comes to children, I have a soft spot, noble heart and thus, always wanted to include them into

my company Miss Bling’s World, in some way or another. I have teamed up with Parents of Color

Magazine and was given my own column to write, titled “Blingy Babies, Blingy Kids.”

Monthly, Miss Bling will have tips on parenting, and Blingsclusive information that parents can use for

their children both now and in the future. There will also be different picture contests with blingsclusive

categories to change every month! There will be a Blingsclusive photo shoot done with babies featured

in her Blingy line she created for newborns & toddlers called Konfident Blingy BABY Wear! Following the

magazine’s initial feature, Blingy Babies, Bling Kids will be heavily promoted and featured on

www.blingradioshow.com, www.missblingsworld.tumblr.com, as well as other sites affiliated with Miss

Bling’s World!

The categories for this month contests are:

Hello World (specifically for newborns) please include the date of birth, weight and name of

babies

Most Konfident Smile

Kutest Eyes

I BLINGY LUV My . . . (i.e., Mom, Dad, Sister, Cousin, should appear in the picture with the baby)

Koolest baby (A picture with sunglasses on)

Sleepy time (Most unique picture of the baby sleeping)

Blingy Random picture (This is the cutest picture you have ever seen of a baby regardless of

category! Send it! )

This applies to newborns and toddlers. Different categories will be posted each month.

Submission Info & Requirments

1. You are allowed to send only one picture per category. Miss Bling and the Bling Team will select

the winners and notify you with the date of the Blingsclusive photo shoot and magazine feature!

2. Parents’ contact name and number/Name of the child/age on MUST appear with all submitted

pictures

3. Be sure to enter the category in the subject line

4. Email to blingybabysearch@gmail.com

Good Luck & Blingy LUV!

Miss Bling

In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month, a

movement dedicated to the struggle for equal treat-

ment of women. Great strides were made throughout

the past years, and now women are busier than

ever. Women are pulled in many directions by the

demands of jobs and families, resulting in self-care

being last on their “to-do” list. This creates imbal-

ance, which leads to stress. Left unchecked, stress can

result in heart disease, high blood pressure, an unful-

filled life, weight gain/loss, insecurity, rage and much

more.

What is this imbalance all about? Due to our nurturing

nature, we as women often take on anything and eve-

rything that comes across our path allowing our own

lives to get out of balance. Time and again we find

that we put others priorities ahead of our own. In addi-

tion, we lose sight of our dreams and become compla-

cent in our actions of accepting being less than the

best we could possibly be in our daily lives.

Why do some women seem to be totally self-aligned

while others feel as if they are not balanced at all?

Well, the truth is that the answer is different for each

and every one of us. As a result of taking on too

much, decreasing self-care activities, and lacking self-

confidence some women may feel as if they don’t

have time to do the things they want to do, go the

places you want to go, or even live the life they truly

want to live.

Self-care leads to balance and should be viewed as be-

ing much more than just physical habits such as eating

healthy and/or working out. When thinking about bal-

ance, it’s important to take a look at total body well-

ness which encompasses mental, physical, emotional

and spiritual alignment.

I believe stress or “dis”ease increases when you’re not

in alignment with your core values. Your spirit - your

core - defines who you are. We need to learn to listen

to our spirit; live from the heart. Living from your

heart ignites passion and enables you to live on pur-

pose. Activities such as life coaching, women’s em-

powerment groups, exercise, volunteer initiatives and

spiritual practices all can help women build upon their

capacity for greatness.

It’s important to remember that we all were born with

a vision and purpose to fulfill in life.

By living an unbalanced one, you are saying “No” to

your authentic self. It’s time for women to start be-

coming a #1 priority in their own lives and re-ignite

their passion flame!

Leading from a place of abundance, being present and

living your life on purpose is a guaranteed formula for

becoming a whole, healthy and complete woman.

Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, passions and

desires of your heart because everyone is destined to

be great.

What are you waiting for? Make HERstory TODAY!

All the best,

Shari

Inspirational Corner

I like to begin my day each day with a positive affirmation/

quote because I believe staying in the flow of positive energy

truly sets the tone for how you choose to add to the blueprint of

your life. So, here’s my inspiration for the month of March to

share with you…

"If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.

Anything you want to [do], do it; Want to change the world?

There's nothing to it. There is no life I know to compare with

pure imagination, living there you'll be free if you truly wish to

be" - Willy Wonka.

Remember, inspiration comes in many forms, shapes and fash-

ions… from various people, places and things. And do you

want to know the best part? It’s free! Always keep an open-

mind and be ready to receive the motivation that is right in

front of you. ~SCH

Ask Shari

When we as women collectively share ideas & concerns as well

as provide insight & encouragement to one another we become

an unstoppable force. What questions would you like to ask

Shari or inspirational stories would you like to share? Email the

editor at natasha@parentsofcolor.us today! ~SCH

Shari C. Hill is Founder & CEO of schill inc., a boutique consulting

firm designed to help individuals and corporations create, manage,

and maintain their personal and/or professional brand. She is also a

Certified Life Empowerment Coach with Compass, an organization

devoted to life development for women. For more information visit

www.schillinc.com

Living on Purpose by Shari C. Hill

Compass Life Coaching for Women

Compass is a nationwide personal development company for women and teens. We provide support in the life areas of Health & Wellness, Money & Career, Life Balance, Relationships and Spirit. Compass is the first company to offer powerful and affordable coaching programs and services through a network of independent Representatives. Compass combines 4 of the fastest growing global trends: Social Networking, Network Marketing, Personal Wellness/Self Improvement, and Professional Coaching to provide women and teens the support they are seeking.

Shari C. Hill and Fenesha N. Hubbard, Certified Compass Life Empowerment Coaches and Representatives in Chicago, are on a mission to heal the nation, one woman at a time. Hill and Hubbard believe that our women are the threads that tie our communities together and they are weaving circles of healing. They are truly making a difference in the world, one woman at a time. Hill and Hubbard offer free “Take Back Your Time” workshops and “Energy Makeovers” for the community. Their company’s coaching programs and services inspire, empower, and connect women to themselves and to each other through a web-based delivery of powerful, affordable and convenient professional coaching.

For more information, please contact Shari C. Hill at (773) 570-0638 and/or Fenesha N. Hubbard at (773) 969-6374. Visit them online at http://gogetternetwork.info.

If you are in the Chicago Metro area, please join them on Saturdays from Noon until 2p at Studio 18 Spatique, located in Pilsen at 1834 S. Ashland Ave., for weekly women’s workshops.

You can also meet Hill and Hubbard at the Take Back Your Life retreat on March 27th where their company, Compass, will be featured. Guest speakers include Iyanla Vanzant and Michelle McKinney Hammond.

Empower YOUR Summer Camp with a dynamic Martial Arts program.

Young’s School of Martial Arts has some of the most talented Instructors who are ready to inject a great

and dynamic Martial Arts program into your summer camp program.

The Martial Arts programs are tailored to your needs as a summer camp provider.

Our instructors are qualified to teach the basic ideas like Respect, Honor, and Self-Confidence. Our

incredible instructors will teach some of the Martial Arts Ancient self-defense techniques that has been

shared with Martial Artist a-like

Each program is Unique in which it can be structured to your needs and affordability.

Call TODAY for more Information

Tips for Pampering your Natural Hair By Nyesha Samuel

Natural butters are not only good for nurturing

your skin, but condition your hair like nothing

else! Shea butter is makes hair smooth and luxuri-

ous, and will help your hair maintain a smooth

and hydrated look. These are non-guilty pleas-

ures, such as you might experience when you get

a massage, a pedicure or a manicure.

Shea Butter Body

When you think about creamy hair butters, one of

the first types that comes to your mind will be

Shea butter. Some creams will all rehydrate your

hair to some degree, but Shea butter is one of the

most lavish ways to keep your hair healthy.

Shea butter helps to rehydrate your hair, and it

forms a protective coating that aids in preventing

loss of moisture in the winter months or in dry

climates. When you add Shea butter to other in-

gredients that nourish your hair, they will help

keep it radiant and healthy.

Hair butters are luxuriously hydrating, due to the

nut and seed oils that form the basis of the blends.

The oils in Shea butter creams are made by press-

ing the kernels or seeds of the nuts from which

they are derived, and cooking the mixture that

remains until the oils and fat are released.

Clarifying Shampoo

You probably have days when it seems that your

hair is heavy and in a mood to misbehave. Afri-

can American hair may react to exposure to pool

chemicals and other outside influences, and it will

be harder to comb. That's how you will know it's

time to use a good clarifying shampoo.

Your hair develops a build-up of many different

kinds of hair care products. Gels, mousses and

hair spray, as well as mineral and hard water de-

posits can cause a build-up on your hair over a

period of time. Even some conditioners and

shampoos can make your hair feel limp, greasy

and dull. Using a clarifying shampoo can help get

rid of those deposits, and will make your hair

shinier, and give it a new star

As a rule of thumb, you can use

clarifying shampoo once or twice a

week, to help your hair rebound

from everything you put it through.

If you swim often, the chemicals in

pool water will cause your hair to

become dull and lifeless. Even if

you only use small amounts of prod-

uct in your hair, it can still need

clarifying once a month or once

every other month.

Here’s an Herbal Shampoo recipe

that you can try at home:

Organic Herbal Clarifying Sham-

poo Recipe

Two cups of distilled water

1 1/2 tsp. Soapwort root

*30 drops of essential oil

Decorative bottle

Directions for Organic Herbal

Shampoo

Bring water to a boil

Add soapwort root, reduce heat and

simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and cool for an

hour.

Add oil and stir thoroughly

Bottle and store in the refrigerator

for up to two weeks.

If you don't grow your own soap-

wort, you can find soapwort root

(dried) online or at your neighbor-

hood health food store.

*You can use a number of different

essential oils, either alone or in

combination to create a signature

fragrance. Lavender, rosemary,

geranium, rose, and sandalwood are

only a few.

Rosemary Hair Oil

You can create a lavish lavender and

rosemary hair oil to treat your hair and

bring back its lustrous look. Rosemary

harbors antioxidants that will help to

nourish and strengthen African Ameri-

can hair. Avoid buying products over

the counter, because these may have

synthetic ingredients rather than the

natural ones that will help your hair

recover from the rigors of work and

play.

The best way to purchase rosemary

hair oil is in a bottle with tinted color-

ing, because excess light can cause a

breakdown in the ingredients that

could result in the oil losing its effec-

tiveness. Lavender is sometimes

blended with the rosemary oil, to

make an essential oil mixture that will

treat your hair gently and naturally.

Below is a great hair oil recipe you

can make at home:

*1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves

*1/2 cup olive oil

Combine ingredients then heat up until

warm. Strain. Coat the entire scalp

and ends of hair with the oil mixture.

Wrap hair in a plastic bag or shower

cap. After that you can wrap a towel

around the plastic bag or cap. Alterna-

tively, you can sit under a hood dryer

with just the plastic wrap and no

towel. Either will aid the oil in pene-

trating your scalp and hair. Do either

method for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash

hair twice to remove the oil. Use the

treatment twice a month or when your

hair needs a deep conditioning.

These 3 products are the perfect com-

bination to keep your hair healthy and

moisturized this season.

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel, Master Loctician

http://healthylocsblog.com

Starting From Scratch By Cathy Mulligan Upshire

Have you ever looked

at the life you’ve lived

and wished you could

go back and live it all

over again? Well I’m

sure we’ve all had

moments like that

where we’ve taken a mental note of our

current state of affairs and traced them

back to a series of bad choices, blunders

and mistakes; even playing out in our

minds sometimes over and over again

what we could have or should have done.

Well that’s hindsight. Though hindsight

is 20/20 it doesn’t do us much good, if

any, because it’s after the fact. It’s easy to

conclude we should have taken a left turn

when the right turn we took landed us in

the middle of nowhere or in a set of not so

favorable circumstances.

Living our lives in hindsight causes us to

live a life of regret. However, a life of

regret is no life at all. It’s much easier to

drive a car when our focus is on what’s

straight ahead as opposed to focusing on

what’s in our review mirror. If we keep

our focus on our rearview, we are bound

to have or cause an accident. How about

looking ahead and instead of mulling over

the mistakes of the past we use the

insights we have gained from our past as a

road map or compass to live the life we

would have had we known better.

Have you ever heard the cliché “Starting

from Scratch?” Gary Martin, creator of

The Phrase Finder, noted that in the 18th

century “scratch” was a crease scratched

or etched into the ground and served as a

boundary line in the game of Cricket. It

later came to be used as the name of any

starting point for a race.1.

Sometimes in

life we just have to “Start from Scratch”.

Why not make today your Starting Point.

Remember, it’s never too late to start over.

We may not be able to change the past or

the way others interact with us because of

our past but we can take what we have

learned from the past and make the

present a much brighter one; so that down

the road when we look back over our lives

we will have had no regrets going all the

way back to “scratch”.

The Apostle Paul who at one time was

known as the persecutor of the brethren

said, “…forgetting those things which are

behind…and reaching for those things

which are before, I press toward the mark

for the prize…”

Phil. 3:13,14 www.cathyupshire.com

1 Gary Martin, The Phrase Finder.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/start-from-

scratch.html

Book : Relationshhhh vs Relationships Stores Amazon.com Will also be hitting stores in Barnes and Nobles and Borders, on line Book amount is 17.00

Lyrical Eyes is a well known poet and songstress from the suburbs of The Windy City of

Chicago. She is also a motivational speaker.

This book is for those that have endured pain and then found happiness along the way. For

relationships that have hurt and left your soul for dead and then when you realized that God was

in the storm with you, the thunder stopped rumbling. This is for women and men that did not

know how to love themselves and then found the greatest love of all that had been there all

along. This is for the relationships that festered to long because of the words "time invested".

This is for those that have loved and almost let go because they got lost. This book is their

destination to being found. There are 3 simple chapters in this book. Chapter 1.... The

relationship that you learned from, that hurt you, that haunted you, that crippled you, that was

good while it lasted, that kept you lost (The storm). Chapter 2..... Is the walk of truth. When you

begin to realize that there is something out there that will never take you through, which is the

going through process and soul searching agonizing progress that you go through with you and

God alone. I call it the scream room. (The forecast is changing) And finally Chapter 3......is

happiness, because you made it through the Date of conception, chapter one, the famous (-)

which is the in between chapter two and then the End date of reality which is when you reached

happiness, whether that be you found happiness in your self, God, or both and then you found the

person that was created for you. Your soul mate. (The sun is out, happiness is here)

This book will take you through my gut wrenching pain, in hopes that it will guide you though

the fire with out getting burned like I did.

I've lived it and I made it with God…

"Greatness & Beauty in all shades"

Interracial Family Network Mission

The Unbalanced Portrayal of Interracial

Families in Primetime Television

By Nick _______

With the exponential growth of interracial families in America, the standard of primetime television

has changed. There exists an increased quantity of new shows with more modern reflections of

American families and couples as opposed to the strictly homogenous representations that have

dominated the screen over the years. Such primetime shows as Lost, My Name is Earl and Grey’s

Anatomy all have characterizations of interracial couples and families billed in the cast of characters.

Although the quantity of interracial couples and families on television is evident, there exists an unfair

and unbalanced portrayal of them.

Television shows such as those mentioned above have complex storylines and character arcs that

appropriately create the desired dramatic effect. For instance, it is not uncommon for relationships to

experience excessive trouble. Here are a few examples from NBC’s Heroes. Mohinder Suresh enters

into a love affair with Maya Herrera. As their romantic relationship begins to blossom, Suresh literally

transforms into a monster which served as a beginning to the end of their relationship. A more readily

popular example would be Nikki and D.L. D.L, an African American man, escapes from prison to be

with his Caucasian wife, Nikki and their son Micah. While D.L. was in prison, Nikki provided for

their son and kept the finances together by borrowing from loan sharks and strip teasing on the web.

Sometime later on the show, D.L. is killed with little explanation other than he became a victim of gun

violence. With these examples in mind, there appears to be a dramatic standard on the show that the

character’s lives must be chaotic and filled with peril. What audiences may take from these

circumstances is that when interracial and ethnically different people form bonds on this show, they are

not everlasting and end in death and disaster. There exists a subversive context that implies these

relationships are immoral.

Their homogenous “counterparts” on the show share some of the same issues, but the consequences of

their circumstances do not guarantee them an exit from the show. On the contrary, most of the

Caucasian couples and families are on the forefront of the drama but do not suffer the same fate of

vague disappearances and death. Their relationships often thrive and mature, even if the circumstances

and peril are on par with that of the culturally diverse characters.

Although the characterization of interracial and multi ethnic cultures are exemplified on screen, the

conditions and “reality” of their relationships are most often ignored. It is implied in shows, such as

“Heroes” mentioned above, that the race and ethnicity of these couples is not an issue in their social

constructs, but this is far from true. Interracial couples and families face racism and discrimination.

There is no simpler way to state this fact. To portray these couples in an existence without

discrimination, and ignore their ethnicity and race, serves to make it seem as if the producers of these

shows have quotas to fill and do it so to appease their respective audience. This example also fuels the

notion that the production of shows such as “Heroes” is willing to cast interracial people, families and

the like, but is not giving a fair portrayal from the perspective of the characters. This may also bolster

the view that a need for a better interracial and culturally diverse perspective on the screen exists.

Though interracial couples and families portrayed on television are growing and more recognizable on

most television networks, Caucasian characters still dominate the staring roles and storylines of

primetime television. As primetime television learns to reflect the true demographics of their

audiences, the issue of quality and fair portrayal of characters will be more prevalent. As long as a

case, no matter how small, can be made that an unfair and unbalanced concept of interracial family life

is written for these shows, change is needed.

Coming Soon...with YOUR help...

Got a question, issue or concern?

Then, ASK KELLY -

Kelly is a psychotherapist and life coach

in an interracial marriage with a biracial

child ready to provide

guidance, insight, and/or advice to your

problems.

She is eager to hear from you at

kelly@parentsofcolor.us.

The small print:

Even attempt will be made to address all

correspondence. Not all responses will be

published in the magazine. All feedback

provided is intended to information to

help alleviate a problem. Kelly nor the

magazine take any responsibility for the

choices an individual makes as a result

of the information provided.

ASK KELLY…………………………….

June 11th, & 12th, 2010 June 11th, & 12th, 2010

“Fostering that Defining Moment in a Young Woman’s Life”

2010 Conference2010 Conference“Real Girls Under Construction”“Real Girls Under Construction”

We are an organization uniquely designed to reach out to young women during their most formative years (10-24).We have a Biblical worldview, which emphasizes the vir-tues and practical teaching of the Bible. Our ultimate goal is to help young women un-derstand who they are, and who God created them to be. Our programs build and rein-force for young women the concept that God has given them a purpose only they can fill, and that he desires for them to have a healthy and happy life.

Located at the Double Tree Hotel 5000 W. 127th Alsip, IL 60803

The Weekend Includes:Over night Accommodations (2 per Room)Welcome Gift Bag upon Arrival Friday Night Pizza, Games, and Pool PartyOn site Mini Facial, Mini Pedicure, Mini Manicure (Select 1)Saturday Breakfast Buffet, and Plated LunchWorkshopsEntire Package $120 Per Person (Payment Plan Available)

For More Information:www.chosendaughters.org or info@chosendaughters.org 708.899.9911

Composting 101 By Fyre Mouff

It's still light out after 4:30 P.M. The heavy winter coat has been upgraded to a mid-weight coat. No more confidently standing on top of dirt patches as the mud now gives under me. All the bulbs that we raced to plant by last Halloween have now pushed their leaves above ground. The seed and plant orders have all been mailed off. Yep...it's spring. In the midst of our preparations, we are preparing for a familiar spring sound at our house: “Ewwwwww!” This is, of course, accompanied by the exaggerated pinching of noses. Both gestures laughingly go ignored, but silently validated, as the compost bins are opened. The pre-teen and pre-schooler stand at a safe distance on the patio gulping fresh air. They curiously crane their necks for signs of “Punkin Patch,” last fall's jack-o-lantern that was tossed in the bin by Thanksgiving. Nothing. Just wet, black, stinky stuff. The strawberry plants are the first to get the steaming kitchen sewage. Done on purpose for our own amusement as the strawberries are right by the patio. “Today's stink is tomorrow's sweet!” My tag line fruitlessly, (no pun intended), reminds them that they will soon be slipping out to the backyard to pick big, red, juicy berries from the June bearer plants. This does not coerce their hands from their nostrils. After a few hours, every square inch of gardening soil is covered with compost. The electric tiller is plugged in and the mixing begins. This does not, however, ease the stress on my children's olfactory nerves. To be honest, it will take at least a week for the smell to subside. Its potency will continue to make itself evident straight through to the first frost as we harvest the biggest vegetables, the sweetest fruits and cut the most colorful blooms. Composting is not a concept that has caught on among our neighbors on Chicago's far South Side. In fact, our next door neighbor is the only person who we can share our organic treasure with. The secret to our family's successful garden is as easy as, well, putting out the garbage. We simply toss our raw, natural kitchen trash (i.e. fruit/vegetable peels, produce that's aging or rotting, shrimp and egg shells and fish guts/parts) into a large outdoor Rubbermaid trash can in the back yard. Some composting pros add worms and other fancy things to their compost. We don't. Yet somehow we find the fattest worms in our compost every spring. The mystery of their appearance is fine with us because it's Mother Nature doing her perfect work. Thinking back to my childhood in the 70's, we were composting then. They just didn't call it that. My mother would put eggshells in houseplant soil. Once large-scale composting became a part of our lifestyle, we became more conscious of what went into the kitchen garbage can. Then came the day that the compost bin became full. “What do we do with this?” I asked my mother, pointing to the plastic bag of banana and cucumber peels. “Put them in the planters in the yard,” she said. When that practice exhausted itself a few months later, I raised the question again. “Just throw it in the garbage,” replied my mother in a “well duh” kind of tone. I obeyed. My conscience gnawed. “We're out of options,” I reasoned to myself and to the kitchen waste that I swore was sad that it had been rejected. A few years later, I throw out excess kitchen waste as effortlessly and unceremoniously as feeding the dog. At the height of the summer, like maybe mid-August, I cannot describe the sheer satisfaction of looking around the backyard at the lush greenery and kaleidoscope of colors. Butterflies, bees, ladybugs and other helpful insects can be found in abundance. Squirrels don't fail to pilfer snacks. Both the apple and magnolia tree are a sanctuary for countless birds. The ensuing harvest renders us more than enough frozen and canned goods to get us through the winter. We share the abundant extras with family and friends. Composting is not attractive, but the results are absolutely beautiful.

-

By Adrienne Grant

In the beginning, and according to the Bible, when God created the earth it was free of

destruction, and harmful elements. Today we know and call the earth home. We also know that it

is now a home of destruction, and of humans who sometimes neglect the beauty that God

created. As we come together and celebrate Earth Day, let’s think of the beauty within this world

and be aware of the ugliness that is to become if we continue to be careless. There are many

things that people of all ages from many nations can do to show their appreciation for the planet

we all share.

Earth Day is celebrated on the 22nd

day of April. On this day, many people across the globe

promote awareness and appreciation for earth. Involvement can be of any form from planting

seeds to something as simple as petitioning. When it comes to Earth Day, involvement is

countless. Earth Day was founded by the late Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. He believed that

by educating people about the environment, they would become more aware of the harmful

changes in our environment. The first celebration occurred in, 1970 with millions of Americans

across the U.S. expressing their concerns about the environment, and wanting to know what they

too can do to help make a difference.

People of all walks of life continue to express their concerns about pollution, and hazardous

materials that adversely affect the atmosphere. Forty years later, Senator Nelson’s vision still

lives on with more and more people becoming involved in the awareness, especially as

technology grows and wars continue. So what can you and I do to increase the awareness? How

can we become involved in the awareness of environmental changes of the Earth? We can start

by planning activities that help people to become involved and also researching organizations in

our local city or find neighborhoods that are involved.

Awareness at an early age will also help the earth; it will allow the next generation to express

concerns about the future. After all, Earth Day takes place in the spring - a great time for

growing. So this is a time to get out and sow, for starters sowing is one step. Consider planting

would be vegetables, herbs, fruits, plants, or grass in places where it’s scarce. You can plant

inside your home or in your yard. This is also a great way to purify the environment in your

immediate surroundings, while building a healthier lifestyle.

Other than planting, another great way to get involved is to reduce the use of harmful chemicals

and replace them with natural cleansers. The chemicals that are found in household cleaners are

both deadly to your health, and affect the climate, becoming toxic if over-used. There are many

natural non toxic products to use and they can be found in almost any large grocery store. More

and more corporations are also becoming involved in the awareness and importance of a clean

environment and that is why many of them are focusing on becoming greener. This is important

Earth Day Come Together

to Save Our Planet

to parents as well, because children who are exposed to too many toxins can develop health

problems like asthma and learning disabilities.

Schools can do their part by planning trips around the neighborhoods for the cleanup of litter.

This will encourage the students to help keep the neighborhoods clean, not only during Earth

Day, but all year around. The lessons definitely stay with the children: My 12-year-old daughter

advised me to adopt the practice of throwing peelings from fruits and vegetables onto the soils,

as it helps to fertilize the earth.

Recycling is also a big step in change. Take advantage of recycling everything in your household

from papers to even clothing. Recycled papers save millions of trees that are destroyed to make

new paper. These saved trees to help the environment by providing oxygen. Computers, for

instance, that are thrown in the trash instead of being taken to a recycling agency, become life

threatening, as they can leak toxins such as mercury, posing as a threat to drinking water.

Donating clothing is another great idea that helps both the earth, and the people who live here.

There is always someone that is less fortunate than we are. Any clothing that is not wanted

anymore can always be used elsewhere. Clothing can be picked up by your local Salvation

Army, or dropped off at local green drop boxes, the Red Cross or local places of worship.

Finally, petitioning to politicians about the importance of energy saving, the usage of natural

gases and other natural resources has become an even more important issue because of the

climate changes. Organizations such as Earth Hour, Boys’ Scouts and Girl Scouts are among the

many across the world that are involved in organizing awareness and forming groups to help

during Earth Day and beyond.

Awareness and appreciation for earth is important for the future generations to come. We must

start now by planting the seed of knowledge in our children, so that they create a healthier future.

Making a difference and creating change that will save the planet and make the environment a

much better place will save the place we all call home. It starts with us.

Green Art at the Redmoon Theatre

The greenest, and perhaps most creative theatre company in the Midwest, is

celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a series of spectacular

performances in their indoor space on Hubbard St. and outdoors all over

the city of Chicago.

By Juan Laverde

Twenty years after the first Redmoon Pageant, the company is currently

playing “The Cabinet,” a haunting adaptation of Robert Wiene‟s “The

Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (a classic staple of German Expressionism cinema);

It will be running through April 4th

and has gotten excellent reviews from

well respected critics and publications in Chicago.

“Founded in 1990 to promote a unique brand of performance committed to

the highest quality artistic product and to civic well-being. Pulling with

conviction from contemporary art forms and ancient theatrical forms,

Redmoon has created a performance style that is equal parts pageantry,

gadgetry, acrobatics, and ephemera.”

Parents of Color spoke with Frank Maugeri, Artistic director of Redmoon

and Animation professor at Columbia College Chicago, about this

remarkably beautiful and environment conscious theatre company, which

was a part of the Halloween celebration at the White House Last year. It has

also been a part of such important Chicago events as the inaugurations of

Millennium Park and the North Garden of the Art Institute.

When and how was Redmoon born?

In 1990 three artists-- Laurie Macklin who was a dancer, Blair Thomas who

was a puppeteer artist, and Claire Dolan who was a performance painter

artist, got together to make what you could call at that time in 1990 sort of a

“homegrown performance art” …shows that had a real coalition of esthetics,

dance, painting sculpture, puppets, transforming objects… Those three

people came together (two of them knew each other from Oberlin College,

OH) and they formed Redmoon with the mission of creating both midsize

multimedia experiences and community projects.

What can the public expect from a Redmoon show?

I think generally what the public can expect from a Redmoon show is

remarkable design, incredible craft, a great commitment to detail in craft.

They can expect riotous, rambunctious wonderful character; be it a character

that is personified by an object, or a character that is an actor in some kind of

flamboyant costume. They can expect most importantly and most

consistently extremely well designed, and extremely outrageous objects,

often some form of vehicle or device that begins as one thing and transforms

into another thing. They can expect generally stories that are very universal,

so that commonly anyone can understand them and more importantly

identify with them. Because the scenes are broad, the subjects are broad, and

the way in which we approach it, is often through images, lyricism and

celebration.

Frank Maugeri Photo Courtesy of

Mr. Maugeri

Other than giving new life to old materials, and parts, how does

Redmoon support the environment? How is it green?

There [are a] number of ways that we‟re green. You know, it‟s an interest of

ours unquestionably. We build a tremendous number of green items; last

year we were commissioned by the Chicago Department of the Environment

to create both a series of mechanical installation devices, as well as a

“rovering” momentary opera that was all about conservation. This opera

traveled to 14 different locations throughout the city last year: Merchandise

Mart, Millennium Park, Art Chicago, City Hall. It was widely seen by

thousands of people for free, and most of the content, or at least the early

content of the opera was all about different modes, methods, ways of living

differently in regards to conservation. And then the mechanical installation

was a bunch of pedal-powered objects that were momentary examples of

green initiatives; how to conserve water, things like this. Those objects were

on display for a period of time at Green Fest. And then in addition to that,

many of our objects - we build enormous carts and these big wild things -

have historically been pedal powered; partly because of environmental

consciousness, but also partly because it is super cool, and partly because it

provides an audience with a different way of thinking about how the world

may work. And that might associate itself to living green, might associate

itself to living different, making different choices, you know? But that‟s how

I think we‟re green.

Is Redmoon doing anything this year for Earth Day?

Currently, we‟ve not scheduled anything for Earth Day yet. I assume that

we‟ll bring one of our guerrilla images and elements out on to the streets, we

have a new roving character with a roving entourage, who is going to be

super wonderful and will premiere March 12 at our benefit spectacle

“Lunatique” and then will begin to travel the city streets over the summer.

Earth day will probably be one of the events we‟ll attend to.

How does Redmoon support and inspire youth?

Redmoon has a legacy of community building in the city of Chicago. We

work with thousands and thousands of untrained artists, both teaching them

the way in which we make things, the style in which we make things, as well

as the opportunities to perform in our varying productions. We have an

element of the theater called the “Neighborhood Arts Program,” run by

Angie Tilges‟ which has a number of departments that serve youth. We

have a long term residency relationship at the Audubon Elementary School

in Roscoe Village where there are year round classes, and we serve close to

350 students. We create with them a massive culminating ceremony for the

8th

graders every year. We provide individuals with short-term residencies

too, so we‟ll go into some social service institution or some public school

and we‟ll provide a 6 or 8 or 12 week residency. We also have 3 different

intern programs that cater to high school, college and recently out of college

students, which focuses in art administration, performance, design and craft.

We generally work with close to 100 to 150 of those youths through the year

training them to become professional artists.

So over the year we‟re working with between 500 to 600 young people! In

addition to that, this year in June and July, we‟re premiering our first

summer school. It will be a 2 week summer school for close to 40 kids at 2

different locations (one in the city and one in the suburbs) For more

information go to our website www.redmoon.org and click on “Education

Partnerships” and you„ll get all the info about our programming, everything

you need to know about how to see the work we do for kids, and how to

participate in the work we do for kids.

Frank, thanks for your time, is there anything else you want to add?

2010 is Redmoon‟s 20th

year creating art in Chicago. This year includes

some incredible spectacle opportunities that we will soon be presenting to

the public. Beyond that, Redmoon is a theater group primarily committed

not only to the creation of spectacle, design and art but we are extremely

conscious of our responsibility towards civic wellbeing, which is why we

often talk about “unexpected theatre in unexpected locations.” You see, what

that element of the mission is about inherently, is our interest on going into

public spaces, public locations, and transforming them for a brief period of

time, permitting people a different sense of ownership over location and a

different sense of how can they celebrate in their own city! In many ways

that civic well-being is directly related to us wanting people to feel an

opportunity for ownership [of] their city.

Redmoon’s Halloween Celebration and Merchandise Mart Presentation

Photos Courtesy of _____________________

Peace, healthy habits, environmental awareness and the tools necessary to

build strong, meaningful relationships all have their foundations at home.

Spending time with your children, talking to them and leading them by

example into loving and respecting the planet and all the creatures within it,

is the foundation of a good education.

Below are a few ideas for you to spend this upcoming Earth Day with your

children, engage them creatively, and teach them about our planet, and how

to take care of it.

Say no to the car

Walk or bike to school (and work!). Not only is exercising good for your

health, but it helps the environment as well! If you don’t have bikes, or if

school is just too far away, you can use public transportation services.

Canvas instead of paper or plastic

Buy white canvas bags at your local crafts store and ask the kids to decorate

them and paint them. Making the bags will teach your children an alternative

to using plastic bags, and afterwards you can…

Go shopping at a Farmer’s Market

Support your local fresh foods market and let the kids pick all the fruits and

veggies that they want to eat for dinner. Entice the children with fun cooking

alternatives like making their own homemade pizza, smoothies, and other

recipes that make eating vegetables fun!

Creative recycling for presents

Grandma and Grandpa will be so proud of the kids when they see the crafts

they made out of recycled items for them! There are hundreds of sites on the

Internet that will show you how to make beautiful cards, buttons, mobiles,

musical instruments, and other crafts out of materials such as bottle caps,

egg cartons, and plastic bottles.

Feed the birds

Help the kids make a treat for the birds to celebrate Earth Day. There are

many different options for making birdhouses with materials you probably

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Your Kids

Kids are the future of the planet; teach them early on how to take care of it.

By: Juan Laverde

already have in your home; just roll a pinecone in some peanut butter, cover

it with bird seed and hang it with a piece of string from a tree in your yard.

You and your children could also come up with a creative approach to a bird

feeder with other materials like plywood or cardboard, and different feed

like popcorn.

Take it easy with the video games

Playing video games on the computer, Wii, Xbox and PlayStation uses a

great deal of energy! That’s why they’re so hot to the touch afterwards. Save

on energy bills by focusing on homework, playing outside, or playing board

games.

Garden time

Go out and plant something. Talk to your kids about how plants purify the

air, then plant a seed or a sprout. Maybe is time to move one of your potted

plants outdoors, and start a different plant in the old planter? Involve your

kids in the project. You’ll be amazed how much your children love playing

in the dirt and aiding a life cycle. If you don’t have a garden, try planting a

sunflower or some potted herbs for your windowsill or using egg shells to

plant lemongrass.

Go on a donating spree

Clean house and help the less fortunate by donating clothes, toys, and those

still-functional, but outdated devices that the kids leave behind in favor of

the latest technology. Make a day of gathering it all up and donating it to a

thrift shop or the Salvation Army.

Pay a visit to the zoo or the aquarium

Focus their attention on endangered species. Talk with your children about

extinction and why some of the animals are in danger of going extinct.

Think of things you can do as a family to help and protect them, then make a

plan to actually do it.

Learn more about the environment

Earth Day might be a good opportunity to learn more about the environment

and the things you and your kids can do to protect it. Go to the library and

borrow some books to read and research about issues such as contamination,

global warming and recycling. Learn about groups that are taking measures

to solve these problems, and consider joining one.

If you find yourself too busy this coming Earth Day, try your best to set

some time aside to take your children, find a spot outside to play, relax, and

teach your kids to appreciate Mother Nature.

Every day we are given a new chance to start over, let today be that day! For More Information about Mommy Fast Track email: Mommyfasttrack@yahoo.com

The Mommy Call By: Deborah Anthony

The Essence of Entrepreneurship -

How to Gain by Way of Giving

Among the greatest things that a person can achieve is the act of causing what is in his or her mind to be made

manifest in physical form. The idea of a thing produces a flurry of mental activity, which for some can only be sat-

isfied by the material creation of that object or concept. It is this notion that produces, creates and drives the entre-

preneur. The entrepreneur takes this idea, this concept, this faint blur of reality in his mind, and then takes on the

initiative and sacrifice necessary to bring it to reality. In this highly advanced world of science and structure, we

have benefitted greatly by the ideas and efforts of those who brought forth their ideas and helped in some way to

enhance the quality and ease of our lives.

The direction of the roads that we travel in business is no different from those giants of business and industry, they

all lead to success. They seem different because we take turns, detours, short-cuts and breaks, not knowing that we

often lend ourselves to failure in the process. They are the same in that the vehicle that drives us on those roads is

forged from the same sense of sacrifice and risk, determination and vision. The true entrepreneur must often be

willing to forego the comforts and conveniences that are offered through jobs, careers and status-quo membership.

We are all faced with tough decisions at the beginning of our journeys, because we have families, friends and peo-

ple who may depend on us for provisions. This fact should cause us to look at what our endeavor is meant to ac-

complish.

On one level you may be an entrepreneur in the most commonly known way, which is simply that you want to

own your own business, control your own life, labor, and earnings. You are not working to change the world, but

to simply be more comfortable in it. This degree of self-employment can consist of a home based business with

few or no employees. It offers you an opportunity to earn while you spend time with family and have a sense of

control over your life. This is an admirable position to take, yet still not easy. It’s not easy because you must learn

the art of self-management and be able to resist the desire to just “do you”. It requires the sacrifice of self-

discipline and you also have to work to ensure that the people around you understand you and support your efforts.

Often times people in our lives do not take us seriously if we don’t work and function inside the common employ-

ment structure. This part of the struggle knocks many people out of the race before they pass any checkpoint to-

ward success. We have to be loyal to our own ideas, and move beyond the limited thinking of other people. Sim-

ply put, being an entrepreneur will cause you to become a new person in many ways. The notion of change of per-

sonality and lifestyle is exciting to some and scary to others. Know your limits.

On another level you may be aiming to start a company or business that requires an office, store or facility of some

sort. It will require capital investment, business plans, employees and, of course, long hours. In this case, you’ll

have to have extended vision and discipline. The stakes are higher here, the sacrifice is greater, and so is the re-

ward and social impact. This is a position most often taken by the entrepreneur that has an intricate knowledge of,

and perhaps even a previous career in the business of choice. He has left, (or been removed from), the comfort of

his career in order to give himself the benefits that he has given to his previous employer for all those years. He

also has to make similar sacrifices to those that his former bosses once made and he must work with the same pas-

sion and commitment, all without an immediate paycheck for his services.

By Dwayne Hirsch

In order to do this effectively, you have to communicate with your family and loved ones and make clear

what your intentions are and work to achieve the agreement of your spouse or significant other before you

dive into the pit. You will find that it is vital to your peace of mind and confidence to have the full support of

your loved ones, however I must mention that your ability to succeed may be directly related to your knowl-

edge and belief in “your own assignment” and you will have to be willing to separate yourself from negative

-thinking people. Take the time to explain yourself and your vision first, but be prepared to move on your

own belief, not the disbelief of others. Your commitment to this sense of “assignment” may be the differ-

ence in not only your success or failure, but the degrees and consequences of each.

Ask yourself for a moment, “What is my assignment?” What is it that you are meant to do or to accomplish

with your pursuit? Your assignment is an indicator of the definite purpose that you strive for. It’s the burning

sense of need in your mind to do bigger and better things and it speaks directly to the specific nature of what

you have to do. In “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill speaks consistently about the need for a definite

purpose and how the knowledge and expression of that purpose is critical to success. The gravity and depth

of this assignment will determine the extent to which you must commit your personal resources and energies

to your goals. Some of us are in it to make some money, create a few jobs and live well, while others of us

believe that our pursuits have larger implications for the world and society as a whole. If this is your belief of

your assignment, could you possibly submit to detractors and disbelievers who have no stake in what you

pursue nor have the courage to do it themselves? When you know your assignment and refuse to be deterred,

this is where the lines of separation are drawn and you begin to achieve a higher level of self awareness and

determination.

Consider a few people who made our lives different in many ways through the things they gave to the world.

Put aside views on personal life issues for a moment and just deal with the business side of it. J.D. Rockefel-

ler, Sam Walton, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Ray Kroc, Dave Thomas, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Bob

Johnson, George Johnson. The list goes on and on. As an entrepreneur with proper knowledge of your as-

signment, you have to respect the ground on which you stand and know that you are no different from these

men, maybe. I say maybe because the one tie that binds them all together is the unwavering commitment to

what they were doing and a clear knowledge of their respective assignments. As it relates to intellect and

ability, you are no different from them. The thing that most easily distinguishes us from each other is the en-

ergy that flows from us as a result of an outward expression of that focus that we all must have. Do you think

that any of the men that I just mentioned allowed anyone to tell them that they could not succeed? Could

they have been successful while seriously considering the doubts of other people? A look at their histories

tells us that they were told no by many people, turned down for deals and some had their billion dollars ideas

flat out rejected by people.

The universe has a way of giving us back what we put out and many of our giants in business, civil rights,

religion and education were aware of this fact, even if on an unconscious level. Some people never had to be

taught to become a person made for a higher calling. They just walked the walk. We marvel at the millions

and billions they made and the lifestyles of those rich and famous people, yet we don’t always look at what

they gave up to give us the gifts of great products and services. What must you give up to bring your offering

to the view of the world? The time comes for us all to make tough decisions and you will know what to do

when your time comes. Know your purpose and take charge of the effort to achieve that goal and the greatest

benefit that you seek will be yours. Is it riches and wealth? Is it a desire for legacy that drives you? Is it the

common good, comfort at home or a combination of these things that drive you to be an entrepreneur? No

matter what, you must know that in front of all that you seek lies all

If you worked for someone 8-12 or more hours per day, you must be willing to give that to yourself. If you

ever had to say no to someone you love because of your commitments to your job, then you have to be will-

ing to do the same as an entrepreneur. We gain by giving the full extent of ourselves to what we intend to

offer to the world. We gain by accepting and facing the risk involved. We gain by providing opportunity to

others. We gain by giving all of what we have in order to achieve our purpose in life and we have fun and

enjoy the challenges and rewards associated with this life we chose.

:By Dwayne Hirsch

BBuussiinneessss SSppoottlliigghhtt NNeettwwoorrkkiinngg After a Hard Monday, Come Out and Network

Monday’s Business Spotlight Networking is a weekly networking

event that I host at the SL Sports Lounge inside the South Loop

Hotel. Each week we feature 4-5 business owners, service providers

or persons of interest, in an interview format that is designed to

assure that the featured guest conveys information that is

most impactful to the audience.

Through this unique format, the audience will get the opportunity

to each get a sense of connectivity with the featured guests, and

perhaps be more inclined to seek their service. The networking

experience at Business Spotlight Networking is made better and

stays fresh, because the audience is attracted by the industries

and interests of the guests. The intersection of those varied

interests makes for a high impact networking experience. The event

runs from 6-11pm each Monday at SL Sports Lounge inside the South

Loop Hotel at 11 W. 26th St (26th and State) in Chicago, Illinois.

With Thanks and Gratitude,

Dwayne Hirsch

The SL Lounge provides an inviting atmosphere for relaxed networking.