real talk: counseling that highlights mental health · 2019-02-13 · tameka brewington opened real...

In retirement it's not always about the money you have, it's about how much you are spending.

As you prepare or revise your retirement plan, one of the most important steps that you can take is to en-sure that your projected future budget is accurate. Any

oversights or poor estimations can un-fortunately lead to financial shortage in retirement. However, the flip side of this is that overestimating expenses may lead to unnecessary financial anxiety. It could cause you to scale back your lifestyle so dramatically now that you cannot main-tain a comfortable lifestyle. In some cases, it could cause you to work for sev-eral additional years than you actually need to.

When you read retirement planning books and articles, you will commonly see advice that tells you estimate future financial needs at 80 percent of your current monthly expenses. However, the Bu-reau of Labor Statistics indicates that actual retirees spend approximately 25 percent less than they did in their working years. This 5 percent difference may not sound like much, but it can result in a significant re-duction in the amount of money that you need to save for retirement.

These are some of the major expenses that may de-crease after you retire. Transportation Your current transportation expense may include

two car loan payments, auto insurance on two vehicles and gas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that fuel expense may decrease by more than 30 percent annually after you retire.

In addition, many married couples are able to down-size from a two-car household to a one-car household. This eliminates a substantial amount of money on car loan payments and auto insurance premiums. Food Working adults may go out to eat more frequently

than retired adults. For example, it may be convenient to drop by a fast food restaurant on your lunch break at work or to pick up a

It pays to be part of Village HeartBeat.

The Mecklenburg County community health and well-ness program earned a $500,000 grant as one of two grand prizewinners of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. The program’s aim

is to combat cardiovas-cular disease in the community. Gov. Roy Cooper, repre-sentatives from the

Challenge partner or-ganizations and community members marked the occasion Tuesday at the Charlotte-Meck-lenburg Government Center on Feb. 12.

Heart disease kills more people than it should. February calls to mind both the literal and metaphor-

ical connotations of the word, representing heart health month. We caught up with cardiologist Dr. Sandy Charles of Novant Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute on our podcast In Other Words to examine the root causes of cardiovascular disease, and how to stop literally breaking hearts.

What to know about cardiovascular disease: 1) It’s the ultimate killer “It kills more men and women than all forms of can-

cer combined,” Charles said. 2) Know your risks “A lot of the risk factors for heart disease are things

that we don’t see, we don’t feel, and for many, many years, we didn’t know about a lot of things,” Charles said. “We also have to appreciate the fact that with ad-vancement in medicine we learned about how a heart attack actually happens.”

3) Coronary disease versus heart disease “Heart disease is an umbrella term that just means

anything that could possibly be wrong with your heart,” Charles said. “The majority of heart disease is coronary disease. That’s when plaque builds up in the vessels of our heart, and that is what puts us at risk for heart attacks.”

4) Preventing heart disease

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019 SECTION B

Real talk: Counseling that highlights mental health

Everyone has the capacity to heal. Tameka Brewington opened Real

Talk Counseling (1713 East Blvd.) with that in mind. The licensed psy-chotherapist, who specializes in sub-stance abuse and trauma, went into private practice to help people heal.

Brewington’s stepsis-ter came to live with her family in Ala-bama at 10, and was a victim of sexual

abuse and child pornography. Brewington

was 14 years old at the time, but it was not until she took her first psychology class at Troy University that she un-derstood the mental gravity of the sit-uation.

“Throughout the time that she lived with us, I noticed all of the problems that she had,” Brewington said. “I did-n’t understand what was going on be-cause I was a teenager. When I went to college and I took my first psychology class was when I realized what was going on with my stepsister, and I was just like, ‘oh, I want to help people

heal, and know that they can over-come any of those types of obsta-cles.’”

Brewington has been practicing for 20 years, and is pursuing a Ph.D Capella University in advancing human services where she earned her master’s in mental health counseling. Brewington recently added professor to her resume, teaching two online classes at Central Piedmont Commu-nity College. Whether she is teaching or communicating with patients, the basics remain the same.

“When I talk about mental health, the first thing I tell someone is that everybody has the capacity to have a mental illness,” Brewington said. “Everybody has the capacity to be de-pressed. Everybody has the capacity to have anxiety. That is not the issue. The issue is how that condition im-pacts your life that gives you the men-tal illness. Does it take you outside who you normally are? On any given day, I could be depressed. On any given day, I could have anxiety. When it takes you outside of yourself and it impairs your ability to function on a daily basis that is what gives you the label of a mental illness. If it happens

ANN HULL

Psychotherapist Tameka Brewington is owner of Real Talk Counseling on East Boulevard.

Please see LESS | 2B

Health initiative earns $500,000 prizeThe Challenge, co-founded in

2016 by the Aetna Foundation, American Public Health Associ-ation and the National Associa-tion of Counties, encouraged 50 cities and counties across the U.S. to make measurable improvements to public health issues. The initiative has awarded a total of $1.5 million in grants and prizes to partici-pating programs.

Village HeartBeat built rela-tionships with 60 faith-based organizations to reduce cardio-vascular disease risk among black Mecklenburg County res-idents, who are disproportion-ately impacted by nearly 20 percent compared to their white neighbors. More than 20,000 people accessed health

resources to reduce risk factors from smoking, which fell from

17.4 percent to 13.9 percent,

a couple of times that does not neces-sarily mean that you are diagnosed. It is a prolonged period of being im-paired from that condition.”

Brewington wants people to under-stand that there is nothing wrong with having a problem, but not seeking help allows the issue to fester.

“Why would you not want some-body to assist you in being the best person you can be?” she said. “That is what it is to come into counseling, and to come into therapy.”

Brewington explained how speaking with a professional allows individuals to dissect a situation.

“You have your own perspective, and this is how you think the world is operating, but that is your perspec-tive,” she said. “When you come into counseling, you are having someone listen to those thoughts that are in your mind, and restate it to you so that you can see what is making you feel the way that you are feeling. When you are doing that, you have the op-portunity to take a look at it and see if that is real or is it distorted? If it is dis-torted, how do you want to manage changing that so you can have the re-ality that you want to have?”

Heart disease: How to stop the silent killer

Please see MECKLENBURG | 2B

On the Nethttps://the-

realtalkcoun-seling.com/

JASON E. MICZEK | AP IMAGES FOR AETNA FOUNDATION

Dr. Garth Graham, left, president of the Aetna Foundation and Gov. Roy Cooper award Mecklenburg County's Village HeartBEAT the grand prize winner of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge Feb. 12 at the Government Center.

DETROIT – Kia made some incremental yet substantial changes to the Kia Optima for 2019.

We had the SX Turbo which is the top of the line. It was powered by a 2.0-liter tur-bocharged four-cylinder en-gine that was mated to a six-speed automatic trans-mission. The combination made 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

The EPA fuel rating was 21 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg

By Frank S. Washington AboutThatCar.com

combined. Although Kia does-n’t say it, the SX is the sporty rendition of the Optima. My test car had paddle shifters, two-toned red bucket seats and as slick a set of 18-inch alloy wheels as I’ve seen in a while.

For 2019, Kia added some high-tech equipment that amounts to a safety suite. The sedan had blind spot col-lision warning, parking dis-tance warning in reverse, rear cross traffic collision warning, front collision warning, lane change assist, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning

and an updated UVO infotain-ment system.

But none of that mattered because I had the Optima dur-ing the deep, deep freeze. I mean when temperatures did not get above zero for a cou-ple of days and it was in the low teens the day before and the day after the big chill. I wasn’t straying too far from home.

When I did go out this is the equipment that the Kia Op-tima had that made a differ-ence: There was push button lock and unlock. That meant no fumbling with keys. The

same was true for the push button start and stop.

Heated and cooled front seats made a big difference. Guess which feature I used when it was 10 below zero. The heated steering wheel was a bonus. It meant after perhaps five or so minutes I could take off my gloves. I’ve never liked driving with my hands covered.

The turbocharger pumping hot gases back into the engine caused it to warm up a lot faster and the heat came on quicker than I expected.

Kia Optima SX Turbo morphs into apex sedan

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

The 2019 Kia Optima SX Turbo.Please see KIA | 2B

JOYCE PALMER

Please see HEART | 2B

Spending less in retirement years

By Ashley Mahoney [email protected]


On the www.he

althiestci-ties.org

By Herbert L. White [email protected]

LIFE | The Charlotte PostThe Charlotte Post2B Thursday, February 14, 2019

Kia Optima SX Turbo morphs into top sedanContinued from page 1B

And even though they are required, the backup camera kept me on a straight path as I backed out of the driveway. I once got stuck in the driveway with a car that was rear wheel drive and had no back up cam-era. It makes a difference when you stay out of deep snow while driving, no matter what speed you are going.

There were some exterior enhance-ments. The wheels were redesigned and there were new LED fog lamps.

Inside, there was a flat bottom steering wheel, sport bucket seats and soft red am-bient lighting. That matched the two-tone black and red seating. The dash remained black. Kia was one of the first automakers to switch to a horizontal layout for the center stack. It still looked good but could use a little updating.

The retractable panoramic roof on the SX trim level has been made standard. There were four drive modes: comfort, eco, smart and sport. I climbed into the back seat easily. The doors were wide and the seats were comfortable.

Because the Optima was a front-wheel-drive midsize sedan the tunnel reaching to the rear wheels was minimal. Three people could have sat abreast in the back

seat. Perhaps not for long but for a short haul it wouldn’t be bad. There was plenty of head room even with the panoramic roof.

There was a USB jack and one 12V socket for back seat passengers. Add that to the two 12V sockets, the USB and aux-iliary jacks up front and the USB jack in the center console.

There were paddle shifters which rounded out the sportiness of this trim line. Of course, there was a navigation system, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a TFT screen, smart cruise control, adaptive LED headlights and taillights, a premium sound system, android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Kia never fails to impress me with the quality of its products as well as its pric-ing. My test car had a sticker of $33,315.

Pros: • Styling still top notch • Good power out of four-cylinder turbo • Comfortable rear seats Cons: • Dash layout is getting a little old • Heated seats, steering wheel need to

be turned back on upon restart Frank S. Washington is editor of About-

ThatCar.com.

Continued from page 1B“Eighty percent of heart disease is prevent-

able,” Charles said. “That is a striking num-ber, because when we think of things like cancer, we can’t prevent that. There are a lot of things is we empower ourselves with the right lifestyle changes can help us avoid heart attack.”

5) High blood pressure “[It] is something that is very common in

the American population,” Charles said. “About one in three people has high blood pressure, but unfortunately those numbers are much higher in the African American community. The thing about high blood pres-sure is it is something you do not see, you don’t feel, usually. The only way that you know that you have it is if you go see your doctor or a medical professional, and get it checked.”

Heart disease: Empower yourself to stop the silent killer with these tips

6) What is the goal? “That misconception that being on no med-

ications is the goal, if you go back 100 years ago when there weren’t good medications, we take for granted that midlife was like 25 years old,” Charles said. “People were dying in their 50s from things that are reversible. Now we have things that can help us, but a lot of times for people they come in the form of medica-tions. There is this psychological thing where people feel that they are sick if they are taking pills, and more sick the more pills that they take.”

Continued from page 1Bpre-made meal on your way home in the evening.

When you are retired, you may have more time to make thoughtful grocery store pur-chases and to prepare afford-able meals at home. In fact, you may expect to spend up to 25 percent less on food after you retire.

Housing The primary housing ex-

penses for older adults are a mortgage payment, property taxes and home insurance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that almost 62 percent of retirees have paid off their mortgage, and this number increases as seniors continue to get older.

While property taxes and home insurance premiums remain, the elimination of a mortgage payment can result

Less spending in retirementin significant savings in your budget.

Insurance Insurance costs fluctuate in

retirement. After all, as you get older, you may pay more on medications and related expenses regardless of the in-surance plan that you have.

However, you may qualify for auto and home insurance discounts. You also may no longer have the financial need to maintain life insurance, and you may be able to elim-inate this premium from your budget.

Entertainment As you prepare for retire-

ment, you may believe that your entertainment expense would increase dramatically because you seemingly will have more time to spend golf-ing or watching movies at the theater.

However, as you get older, your energy level for partici-pating in these types of activ-ities can decline, and you may feel more content to simply spend time at home or in the company of family and good friends. You may expect to spend a decreasing amount of money on entertainment as you continue to advance in age.

As you can see, you could actually spend considerably less in retirement in many areas than you currently do. This information can help you to create a more realistic budget based on your pro-jected lifestyle.

Joyce Palmer is CEO and managing partner at JP Finan-cial Group LLC in Charlotte. Telephone: (704) 543-6269.

Continued from page 1Band obesity rates from 70 per-cent to 64.7 percent in two years.

“It was a program that started out very small, but as the program developed, more and more citizens got in-volved and I can tell you that Mecklenburg County is a much healthier place because of Village HeartBEAT,” says Mecklenburg County Com-missioner Chair and NACo board member George Dun-lap.

Mecklenburg initiative earns $500K national health prize

The Challenge prize, funded by the Aetna Foundation, is part of a $100 million com-mitment by CVS Health and affiliates to raise awareness of community health and well-ness. The new Building Healthier Communities initia-tive, which will be funded over five years by CVS Health and the CVS Health and Aetna Foundations, aims to help people on their path to better health.

“We recognize to solve our most pressing public health

issues, we have to start at the local level – acknowledging the solutions to our problems are as diverse as the commu-nities facing them,” said Dr. Garth Graham, president of the Aetna Foundation. “It is our hope that the outstanding achievements of Village HeartBEAT will serve as a cat-alyst for collaboration in local communities around the country working to move the needle in combating health disparities.”

DJENEBA ADUAYOM | TIME

Actress Cicely Tyson, 94, is on the cover of Time’s Opitimists edition.

At 94, legendary Cicely Tyson remains an optimist

At 94, the legendary actress and freedom fighter, Cicely Tyson, absolutely stuns on the cover of Time magazine.

Clad in an elegant Michael Couture dress and stylish Taffin earrings by James de Givenchy with hair and makeup by Armond Ham-brick, Tyson graces Time’s cover this month in celebrate of the magazine’s second an-nual “Optimists Issue.”

In the issue, Tyson talks openly about her more than six-decade acting career, from her film debut in “Carib Gold” in 1956, to her most re-cent role as Annalise Keat-ing’s mother in ABC’s “How

By Stacy M. Brown NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

to Get Away with Murder.” “When I made the decision

to use my career as a plat-form, to try to make a dent in some of these injustices that I witnessed and experienced in life, I said if I just reach one person, one person, then I will be happy,” Tyson told Time.

Born in Harlem New York City on December 19, 1933, Tyson’s parents were immi-grants from Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies, ac-cording to her biography at BlackPast.org, the website that records African American his-tory.

After graduating from Charles Evans High School in Manhattan in 1951, Tyson landed a position as a secre-tary for the American Red

Cross. Unsatisfied with the work, she enrolled in the Bar-bara Watson Modeling School to pursue a career in model-ing, according to her biogra-phy:

By the late 1950s, Tyson had become one of the top black models in the United States. Her face appeared on the cover of black-oriented magazines, such as Ebony and Jet.

While waiting in the offices of Ebony Magazine, she was encouraged to audition for a role in the film, The Spec-trum, which discussed con-flicts between dark- and light-skinned blacks.

Tyson won the role but The Spectrum was never com-

Please see AT 94 | 3B

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At 94, legendary Cicely Tyson remains an optimistContinued from page 1Bpleted due to financial problems. This ex-perience however, persuaded Tyson that she should pursue a career in acting.

Tyson began her career on the stage. In 1961, she appeared in the original

cast of French playwright Jean Genet’s The Blacks, which became the longest running non-musical of the decade with over 1,400 performances.

In 1963 at the insistence of Academy Award-winning actor George C. Scott, she became a part of the cast of East Side/West Side of which Scott was the star.

By the mid-1960s and early 1970s, Tyson was a frequent guest star on tele-vision appearing in I-Spy, Naked City, The Nurses, The Bill Cosby Show and a num-ber of other programs. Her movie career progressed more slowly. Like many black performers of her generation, Tyson was leery of the “blaxploitation” films of the era and held out for a film that promoted positive images of African Americans.

That film came in 1972 when she was cast in the role of Rebecca Morgan in “Sounder.”

The film examined the life of a black family in the Depression-era South with dignity and compassion. Tyson’s per-formance garnered positive reviews from critics and she was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

In 1974, she broke new ground for black actors when she earned an Emmy for her portrayal of the character Jane Pittman, based on a novel written by Ernest J. Gaines.

Her performance made her one of the premier actresses of her generation.

Tyson appeared as Coretta Scott King in the 1978 movie “King” opposite actor Paul Winfield.

Other acclaimed movie roles included “Roots,” “The Marva Collins Story,” “When No One Would Listen,” and “The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.”

“There isn’t a day – I’m grateful to say – that when I walk out of my doors, I don’t run into somebody who says, ‘I can’t tell you what you’ve done for me. ‘You changed my life,’” Tyson shared with Time. “It just confirmed for me that I was on the right track and I stayed on the right track.”

A Kennedy Center Honors recipient who also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama, Tyson said she has no plans to re-tire.

In keeping with the article’s theme of optimism, she said, “Look at the world today, you better be an optimist.”

“You really do have to have faith and be-lief and understanding in order to survive. And know that you will not be defeated if you really think positive, about yourself and the life you’ve chosen to live.”

Levine Museum explores neighborhood changes

What’s your neighbor-hood’s story?

Levine Museum of the New South is curating and creating #HomeCLT: People. Places. Promises. – an exhibit that ex-plores Charlotte communi-ties as they’ve changed over

the years. #HomeCLT, which opens Feb. 27, is told through

the stories of residents in

chapters and Pokémon Go-style technology to augment reality and bring stories to life.

“#HomeCLT honors Levine Museum’s commitment to use history to build commu-nity by giving voice to people who may not make headlines but whose stories reflect the issues, conflicts and tri-umphs of this growing, changing city,” Levine Mu-seum President and CEO Kathryn Hill said. “Because we’re experimenting with augmented reality as a way to add dimension to the stories and the history, we are launching this exhibit as a prototype, inviting audiences to explore, comment and contribute their own stories in the gallery.”

#HomeCLT launches with stories of Eastland Mall, En-derly Park, Hidden Valley, Dilworth and Sedgefield neighborhoods told through an augmented reality app de-veloped by UNC Charlotte professor Ming-Chun Lee that allows visitors to see demo-graphic changes over time with visuals and graphics projected on mobile devices.

The exhibit includes a video recording booth where visitors can tell their own neighborhood stories as well as the photography of ac-tivist Alvin Jacobs and videography of David Butler, and is made possible by gen-erous support from lead sponsor, Crescent Communi-ties.

“At a time when Charlotte is diving into the challenges


that we face as a rapidly grow-ing city, it’s important to take a meaningful look at the past,” said Todd Mansfield, CEO of Crescent Communi-ties, which sponsors the ex-hibit. “We carefully consider the unique story of each com-munity we develop. With our legacy of building communi-ties throughout the region

since 1963, we have wit-nessed a great deal of the change highlighted by this ex-hibit, and we are inspired by the opportunity this explo-ration provides.”

#HomeCLT will expand to include stories from more neighborhoods in coming months.

On the Netwww.muse-

umofthenew-south.org

BRANDPOINT

The first step in a more efficient home office is tidy area.

Setting up your home office for heightened efficiency

So, you've been running your business from your home for some time now, and with the busy holiday season upon us, you find yourself overwhelmed, stressed and your office is a mess.

When running a business, there are so many things you need to think about to maxi-mize efficiency, from having a clean setup to ensuring that you are well equipped with the supplies you need to get things done.

First things first. To help in-crease productivity and get things started, it's time to tidy up your space. Start by going through any old files you may have and determining whether you really need them, then get rid of things that no longer are relevant. Next, start organizing and getting your layout set. Arrange your space in a way that is functional and will en-sure that you are able to ac-cess the things you need easily, like your phone and computer.

Once your office is cleaned up, it's time to take a step back and ensure that your of-fice is equipped with the lat-

BRANDPOINT est equipment and stocked up on supplies. Your technol-ogy and hardware are key components to running things efficiently, so making sure your computer and pe-ripherals are up to date will be crucial. A printer is a critical component in your home of-fice setup and it's important that it is compatible with the latest technology and that there is enough ink to fulfill your business needs.

When it comes to smoothly running your business, there are many things you need to help maximize productivity, and replenishing office sup-plies should not be a worry. As it is, the holidays are a stressful time, and buying of-fice supplies is an added stress you don't need on your list. Say you need to print an important document for a meeting and you're alerted that you are low on ink, but you are completely out, and you don't have time to get to the store to replace it. Accord-ing to a new independent study from YouGov, 57 per-cent of Americans find that it's a pain to buy new car-tridges for a printer. That is where a replenishment serv-ice comes in.

Having your items delivered

right to your doorstep will help alleviate the time it would take to do this on your own and eliminate the guess-work in knowing when you need to stock up on supplies. In fact, over one-third of Americans think that ink and toner replenishment is a good idea. All you need to do is en-roll in the service and you are guaranteed to get your items right when you need them. You don't even have to know what model your printer is and what kind of cartridge it takes. Services like Amazon Dash, Brother Refresh and Best Buy Easy Replenish allow customers to quickly and eas-ily replace their ink and toner without having to think about it.

"Running out of ink is al-ways frustrating but it's espe-cially infuriating when it happens at an inconvenient time, like when you are in a rush to get a print out," said Rafi Haqqani, Marketing Di-rector, Brother Genuine Sup-plies and Auto-Fulfillment at Brother. "Through our Refresh service, we are helping office users run their business more efficiently by removing the bottlenecks and stress that comes with running out of ink and toner."

BRANDPOINT

Toto’s flotation tub combines a spa aesthetic with space-age technology.

Today’s Space Age home changes definition of luxury

In 2019, the "space-age" home will become a reality with modern innovations that are poised to change the way we think about luxury, elegance and comfort. Incor-porating advanced technol-ogy into your home is essential when elevating its overall style, design and functionality.

What better way to create a futuristic environment than by living like an astronaut in your own home. You can do exactly that with the new Flotation Tub with Zero Di-mension from Toto. Made from proprietary Galaline man-made marble, the styl-ish tub combines a luxury spa aesthetic with space-age technology that simulates zero gravity by offering bathers a weightless experi-ence.

After more than a decade's research, Toto discovered that a unique posture - with the reclining body stabilized and the hips, knees and an-kles flexed - reduced the joints' mechanical energy/load to nearly zero. Astronauts sleep in this posi-tion; it enables the most re-

BRANDPOINT laxing rest possible. Cerebral blood flow studies show ac-tivity in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain responsible for lan-guage - is dramatically re-duced, enabling a meditative state.

With the Toto Flotation Tub as a bathroom focal point that showcases luxurious design, add sleek accessories to en-hance your space, such as a smart mirror that doubles as a TV monitor.

Imagine checking the weather as you put on your makeup or watching the news as you shave, creating a dual functionality and must-have futuristic design component.

Space-age aesthetic is all about blending minimalistic features with high-tech de-vices, allowing for a seamless transition between design and innovation. But why stop with just the bathroom? Con-sumers will continue to see a vast range of technological in-novations throughout 2019, inspiring home transforma-tions that are out of this world!

To reach new worlds, inno-vation is key, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. For state-of-the-art elements

both inside and outside your home, consider installing the highly anticipated solar win-dows that will collect solar en-ergy while remaining transparent. The windows uti-lize photovoltaic technology, similar to what's being incor-porated into solar blinds and solar roofs. These kinds of en-ergy-conscious building ma-terials will add a space-age look and functionality to your home, bringing you into the next century.

Make everyday life more ef-ficient with a home automa-tion system, a rapidly growing innovative technol-ogy that allows users to man-age various household settings with one single com-mand. Users have control of their entire house at their fin-gertips including their secu-rity, lighting, climate and entertainment systems, even their household appliances.

By incorporating an innova-tive and design-forward cen-terpiece like Toto’s Flotation Tub, along with additional subtle, sleek tech accessories and gadgets into your living space, the space-age, futuris-tic home can become your re-ality.

Kick morning off with yogurtBy Ashley Mahoney [email protected]

ASHLEY MAHONEY | THE CHARLOTTE POST

A good breakfast sets the tone for the day. Whether it’s a weekend indulgence, or just waking up

early to kick the day off with more than whatever you grab on your way out the door, breakfast matters.

Do. Not. Skip. It. We have you covered with fruit, coffee and a bit of crunch to go the distance.

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1 cup yogurt 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds 1 banana 1 grapefruit Preparation: Place yogurt in desired bowl Add banana slices, layering them on the edge of the

bowl Top with pomegranate and chia seeds In a separate dish, place grapefruit slices Serve with a cup of coffee or tea Enjoy

Yogurt with pomegranate seeds and chia seeds.


C.M.E.

BAPTIST

Find the right church for your faith walk PRESBYTERIAN

COURTESY

A showcase at Jazz Arts Initiative’s Jazz Room featured several musicians celebrating the saxo-phone with a show titled Tenor Madness.

COURTESY

Singer Valerie June played to an adoring audience at the McGlohon Theater on Feb. 5.

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Ashleigh Fields, a senior at East Mecklenburg High School, signed copies of her book “Caged” as part of a fundraiser and birthday party Jan. 31 at Town Brewing Company.

BRANDPOINT

Homemade remedies like honey can help ward off winter illness.

Ancient ingredients can give your winter health a boost

Whether it's a hot drink of honey, lemon and brandy, or a steaming bowl of chicken soup, many families have age-old home remedies, passed down through the generations, that they still use today when winter kicks into high gear. Grandma knew a thing or two about soothing a sore throat, quiet-ing a cough or settling a rum-bling stomach without a trip to the pharmacy.

Many of those passed-down secrets originated in ancient times, and were im-plemented to boost the im-mune system to help fight off bugs before they took hold. While some of those age-old remedies are still in use today, there are some more modern ways to help support your health.

"Today, many of us rely on the convenience of vitamins and supplements to help support our immune sys-tems, which is a beautiful thing," says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, and consult-ant to Swisse Wellness. "It's much easier than making batches of soup from scratch and finding endless obscure herbs and remedies. How-ever, it's important to find high-quality supplements that have these immune boosting ingredients that are trending today."

BRANDPOINT 1. Honey. Honey has been used medicinally for thou-sands of years. Ancient Egyp-tians used it to treat skin and eye conditions, and added it to their beauty treatments, too. It was so revered that pots of honey have even been found in Egyptian tombs, un-spoiled after thousands of years. Today, people tout honey as a superfood and natural remedy for many ail-ments. Honey is rich in vita-mins B and C, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc and more. Manuka honey, out of New Zealand, is getting a lot of attention lately for its super beneficial qualities. A great way to get it into your diet is with the Swisse Vitamin C + Manuka Honey supplement. It's a chewable antioxidant that makes it easy for you to give your body the benefits of this amazing honey without needing to keep little bear-shaped jars of the stuff lying around.

2. Echinacea. Grown in North America, echinacea, which comes from the cone-flower, has been part of Na-tive American traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Its use was passed on to pioneers and settlers, and became part of their tradi-tional remedies, too. It has historically been reported to support the immune system, and today, we know echi-nacea to do the same. You can

find it in liquid form, or in supplements. Swisse Immune Forte combines echinacea with elderflower, vitamin C and zinc for a powerful com-bination of immune-support-ing effects.

3. Andrographis. Another key ingredient in Swisse's Im-mune Forte, andrographis is a plant native to South Asian countries often used to make medicine. Andrographis is rich in compounds called an-drographolides (hence the name), which are said to have anti-inflammatory and antiox-idant properties.

4. European elder. To round out Immune Forte, European elder, also known as Sambu-cus nigra, is expected to be a breakout trend this year. While it's been around for a long time, it's just becoming a popular ingredient for well-ness enthusiasts. Boasting a wide range of benefits useful in winter months, European elder is another ancient ingre-dient that can still be helpful today.

Many of these ingredients still emulate names and de-scriptions that aren't as com-mon today, but are starting to break out in the approach to holistic wellness. We are lucky enough to have access to high-quality supplements that are easy to intake while still getting all the benefits of these incredible ingredients.

Bathroom as eye-catcherWhen it comes to real es-

tate, you've probably heard kitchens and bathrooms typ-ically sell houses.

While you may not have enough money for a kitchen remodel, adding a bathroom can be a more affordable way to enhance your property and catch buyers' attention.

By adding another bath-room to your home, you im-mediately increase your chances of the property get-ting noticed. Technology makes it simple for buyers to search properties of interest by their designated criteria. One of those is “minimum number of bathrooms.”

By adding to that amount in your listing, you'll be getting in front of that many more potential buyers.

Add bathrooms to difficult spaces Bathrooms increase a

home's value and add to its functionality - both elements that buyers desire. Home-owners can begin to research opportunities to add bath-rooms to their properties pre-sale. This often means enhancing basements, garage slabs and other spaces that can be more difficult for con-tractors to add plumbing sys-tems with conventional in-floor drainage.

If you have a space that would be ideal for a bath-room but appears to be im-possible due to the need to break through concrete or other types of flooring, there's another solution to consider: above-floor, macer-ating plumbing systems. De-veloped a half century ago in Europe, these systems are still relatively unknown in the United States; however, they offer a vast opportunity for homeowners.

Macerating systems from makers like Saniflo reduce waste and paper from the toi-let and send it under high pressure through piping di-rectly into the septic or sewer system. No waste is stored, and the systems are low-cost compared to traditional plumbing. Systems are dis-creet, quiet and open the pos-

BRANDPOINT sibilities of affordable addi-tions in less time. Learn more at Saniflo.com.

If you want to add a bath-room to prepare your home for resale, don't be limited by the seemingly impossible. Here are five "impossible" home improvement scenarios where above-floor plumbing may be the solution:

Main floor on-slab construction Owners of slab-built homes

may hesitate to cut into the concrete foundation in order to accommodate conven-tional plumbing. No matter how careful a contractor is when cutting into concrete, a variety of problems can arise - from unexpected obstruc-tions to poor-fitting patches and even stress cracks. Above-floor plumbing sys-tems eliminate the need to cut into the slab, so integrity isn't compromised.

Basements If your home is built with a

basement, bathroom addi-tions can be problematic due to concrete and existing plumbing limitations. Above-floor, macerating plumbing is a smart solution for fast, cost-effective bathroom additions in lower-level rooms. Now you can highlight the com-fortable living space and make it feel like a true enter-tainment center or like home to prospective buyers.

Historic homes Opening walls or floors to

accommodate piping may jeopardize important historic elements, such as original wood flooring or plaster walls. Systems like Saniflo's macerating toilet and plumb-ing technology eliminate the need to cut through a floor to install new drainage, while minimizing the impact on walls as well. The system also fits easily into small areas like a closet or the dead space be-hind a stairway, meaning homeowners don't have to compromise the flow of their historic homes to add a bath-room.

Raised homes Bayou and beach towns

often boast charming raised homes. Adding a bathroom to

the lowest floor of a raised home can be problematic; conventional plumbing pipes may detract from the aes-thetic value of the space be-neath the home, which is often used for car ports, porches and decks.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019 PAGE 6B

FILE PHOTO

Homegrown celebrities power All-Star parties

OK, so you’re not going to the NBA All-Star Game.

There are still celebrity sightings and par-ties if you’re not into hoops.

There’s Rick Ross headlining an event on Feb. 16, at Founder’s Hall, 100 North Tryon St., with Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and comedian Michael Blackson.

If that’s not enough, there’s the Diddy Dance Party on Feb. 17 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., also at Founders Hall. DJ Infamous and DJ E Sudd will provide the music.

“It’s going to be epic, it’s going to be leg-endary,” said Rhonda Mapp, a former WNBA player with the Charlotte Sting, Charlotte entrepreneur and a partner in Premium Events, which organized both events.

Some of the proceeds will go to Mapp’s Follow Your Dreams foundation, which sponsors an annual back to school supplies event for underserved Charlotte-Mecklen-burg students. It’s a way to give back to the community and have some fun in the

process. “We have all these professionals getting

together for this event,” she said. It’s black excellence, and Diddy didn’t want people to just come in and sit around.”

No tickets will be sold at the door for either event, so go online:

www.crossover2019.eventbrite.com Other party highlights: Feb. 14 • Charlotte’s Grammy winner Anthony

Hamilton at Stats Restaurant + Bar, 3425 David Cox Road. Music by DJ Shaun Nyce. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 25-and-older progressive professional set. Mingleberry.com is giving away a pair of free tickets online.

Fantasia is guest of honor at an All-Star Weekend and Valentine’s party at Club One, 950 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd. Cocktail attire is required. DJ Puff has the music and Tone X is the host. For VIP, call (704) 777-1645; for tickets, go to fantasiaall-star.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 15 • Fat Joe hosts an All-Star Day Party with

Jasmine Bell is a dreamer. The freshman at East Mecklenburg

High School is one of 100 students from across the nation participating in the 12th annual Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. From March 21-24, students will experi-ence not only the theme parks, but also mentoring experiences through discus-sions with industry giants like Steve Har-vey, who co-presents DDA along with Essence magazine. Students will also en-

gage in deep dives in his or her field of interest. For Bell, that means exploring the culinary world of Disney.

“Jasmine is a dreamer,” said her mother, Sherritta Bell. “No matter what she is doing, she is always coming up with something that is for ‘next: where I want to go

to school, what restaurant I want to open, what TV show, cookbooks,’ whatever it is. I felt like [DDA] was the perfect oppor-tunity for her to go learn and grow.”

Bell and her father, Norman Bell, listen to “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” on the drive to school, which is how she learned about the program.

“The alumni from the Dreamers Acad-emy will come back and tell their story on his TV show, or come back on his radio station, and [Jasmine] just seemed perfect for that particular opportunity, because she dreams big,” Norman Bell said.

Some of the dreamers have already begun interacting through social media, counting down the days until they fly to Disney.

“I am just excited about the friends that I will make, and the experiences and knowledge that I will gain from all the people who will be speaking to us, and the workshops [we will attend],” Jasmine Bell said. “I’m just excited to gain as much as I can from this experience. I’m also just really excited to go and experi-ence Disney World again.”

Bell finished in the top five of “Top Chef Junior” in 2017, appeared on “Mas-terChef Junior,” and dreams of opening her own restaurant in Los Angeles, which she’d call Brunch at Jasmine’s. Before that, she wants to attend Johnson & Wales University, which could allow her to stay in the Charlotte area, but hasn’t decided which location or what to study yet.

Said Norman Bell: “It is kind of amaz-ing, the stuff she has been through al-ready, but she is still dreaming bigger dreams versus, ‘OK, I’ve done some na-tional TV shows, and I’m content with that,’ but she’s not content with that. She wants to do bigger and better things. We continue to push her so she is able to ful-fill those dreams.”

Her love for competitive cooking is largely due to her relationship with her older brother, Jon, a senior at Phillip O. Berry Academy.

“It all started with my brother,” Jasmine said. “We had competitions about every-thing. We still have cooking competitions now.”

Dreaming big for the next great adventure

Charlotte native and Grammy winner Anthony Hamilton will headline a party at Stats Restaurant + Bar as part of NBA All-Star Week events. Hamilton will sing the national anthem before Sunday’s basketball showcase at Spectrum Center.

special guest Murph Lee at Stats. Doors open at 3 p.m. and DJ Nick Lake will spin the tunes.

• Kofi Siriboe headlines Queen City All-Star Weekend at Club One. Music by DJ Puff and DJ E-Clazz. For VIP, call (704) 777-1645. Doors open at 2 p.m.

• Peter Thomas hosts Welcome to Char-lotte with Kid Capri at Club One starting at 8 p.m. For VIP, call (704) 777-1645. Kid Capri plays downstairs, while DJ Daddy D handles upstairs.

Feb. 16 • The Real Five-O Day Party hosted by J.B.

Smoove at Club One starts at 2 p.m. Cream attire is suggested. Basketball legends Charles Oakley, Ron Harper and Jason Caf-fey are expected. Music by DJ D Nice. DJs Tab DiBiassi and DJ Daddy D play upstairs; DJ Puff downstairs. On the Net: www.there-alfiveo.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 17 Fabolous & Friends hosted by Bernice Bur-

gos and Mr. Ruggs Feb. 17 at Club One from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets: http://fabolousall-starsunday2019.eventbrite.com.



Life of a DJ: Have beats, will travelNBA All-Star Weekend has Charlotte

buzzing. As the city gets ready to welcome people

of all walks of life and celebrity status, the question on everyone's mind is: where’s the party, and how to get in? Chances are DJ Jroxx will be performing at events all week leading up to the big game.

Originally from Washington D.C., DJ Jroxx has lived in Charlotte for 10 years and a DJ for five. Inspired by his uncle DJ Swift, Jroxx started off with friends of friends doing per-sonal events around Charlotte.

“I was really rocking house parties like non-stop,” he said. “Anybody needed a house party, I was there.”

Going from venue to venue, Jroxx name

eventually caught traction with the party scene in Charlotte. As his hard work was paying off, Jroxx has recently begun hosting at clubs such as Uptown’s Kandy Bar, one of Charlotte's premier venues.

Sticking to his roots, DJ Jroxx personal tastes are far from what younger listeners prefer.

“Nowadays this generation wanna hear twerk or trap music but me, mostly I listen to like neo-soul, John Legend, Ryan Leslie, India Arie,” he said. “I actually like to hear instrumentals and stuff.”

Jroxx’s personal tastes don’t take away from the routines and queues in his music portfolio, which evolves to keep audiences lit. In addition to his craft, DJ Jroxx is en-rolled at Johnson C. Smith University, where he’s pursuing a degree in information tech-nology and plans to continue in that field

By Jeremy Gibson SPECIAL TO THE POST

Please see ARTIST | 7B

Approach complicated conversations with childlike curiosity.

Creative Lakeetha Blakeney wrote “Sweet Jenn: A Living Exhibit” as a win-dow into the world of Jenny Butler, an en-slaved woman in the antebellum South. Matthews Playhouse presents the show, which won Best Original Script at the 2018 Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, on

Production blends slave narrative

Please see SWEET JENN | 7B



Bell

The murals coincide with the Second Ward Gym (710 E. MLK Jr. Blvd) renovation as part of the 2016 capital improvement plan with a $52,792 budget. Robinson’s work titled “Go Tigers!” and “We Too, Shall Rise,” reflect the school’s significance in Charlotte’s history. Second Ward School, with the exception of

Telling Second Ward story, a stroke at a timeEye surgery could not stop Tommie Robin-

son. The 71 year-old Charlotte native underwent

surgery on both while creating a pair of mu-rals to commemorate the former Second Ward High School, which were dedicated in Second Ward Gym earlier this month.

“It was difficult, because I had two cataract operations during the process, and the proj-ect made me realize how old I was,” said Robinson, who will turn 72 on March 31. “At 72, you don’t celebrate a lot. You’re just glad to be 72. My life has been great. Someone asked me if I could be reincarnated who would I come back as. I told her I would come back as me, because nobody has had a better life than me.”

Said Lisa Lewis DuBois, chair of the Public Art Commission, the entity responsible for selecting the artists in programs like this: “When this public art opportunity arose, the desire was for the artwork to tell the story of Second Ward High School and the positive im-pact it had on its students.”

Robinson had to wait approximately five months between surgeries but he is in good health.

“During the time I was doing the project I had a couple health issues, but I was glad the Arts & Science Council was patient enough to wait on me,” Robinson said. “I’m sitting here working on a painting now. The surgery came out real well.”

Said Carla Hanzal, ASC’s vice president of

public art: “As (ASC Public Art Project Man-ager) Randella Foster and I visited his studio to see the progress of these paintings, we had the opportunity to see beautiful, detailed line drawings beneath the layers of paint, which testify to Robinson’s love of drawing as well as painting. It was a pleasure to see these meaningful paintings come to life.”

Murals by artist Tommie Robinson in Second Ward High School’s gym.JON STRAYHORN

I was really rocking house parties like non-stop. Anybody needed a party, I was there.

DJ JROXX

as well as DJing, which as a side business comes with a cost.

“Throughout five years I’ve spent at least $200,000,” he said.

The night life, though, has given him more opportunities than he could’ve imag-ined in North Carolina alone. He’s gained skills, credibility and financial wherewithal.

“Beforehand I [didn’t] know what I was doing,” he said. “Now it’s like people are asking me how do I do certain things and maneuvers as far as mixing and what not.”

Going from student to teacher, DJ Jroxx’s skills will be challenged at All Star weekend.

You can catch DJ Jroxx at a slew of NBA events, including venues such as La Revo-lution, Atrium Charlotte, and of course, Kandy Bar.

More on The Creatives podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud. Also available on the Post’s website.

A&E | The Charlotte PostThe Charlotte Post7B Thursday, February 14, 2019

Continued from page 6B

‘Sweet Jenn’ production blends slave narrativesFeb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $5 and the presentation is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Creating “Sweet Jenn” took roughly three years. While Jenny is a fictional character, her story draws inspiration from real figures.

“I spent two years research-ing female slave narratives from North and South Car-olina, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia,” Blakeney said. “Then I picked six women, took their stories and merged them together to create this one woman, Jenny Butler. Everything Jenny talks about happening to her did happen to someone.”

Blakeney also includes fa-milial elements in the piece.

“One of the characters in the show is named for my third or fourth great grandmother, Lucy Harris,” she said, adding that including her serves as what Blakeney describes as “paying homage to her sur-vival.”

“It is because of it that I am here,” Blakeney said. “I am able to write this play. It took me a while, too, because I had to stop because the stories are so heavy and I needed to step away from it and then come back to it. Those characters would keep talking, so I would have to get back up and start to write again.”

“Sweet Jenn” has evolved from a one-person show to in-

clude multiple people—con-tracting and expanding as Blakeney sees fit.

“It sparks conversation that needs to be had about the time period,”she said. “We have to talk about it. I didn’t write it to make anyone angry. I didn’t write it to make any-one feel guilty. I wrote it to spark conversation, because we have to talk to one an-other. We have to understand one another.”

Following the performance, there will be a conversation.

“After the show, we do a 10-15 minute talk-back,” Blak-eney said. “It usually goes beyond that.”

Blakeney was initially con-cerned about how the show would be perceived by chil-dren in elementary school who may not fully grasp the treatment of African Ameri-cans during that point in time.

“We were at the Charlotte Museum of History,” she said. “These kids were 9-10, maybe a little younger, and their questions were amazing be-cause they were not afraid to ask the question. They didn’t have that wall that adults have built up. They were not apprehensive. They were not embarrassed. They didn’t have any preconceived no-tions that I might feel of-fended by whatever they may ask. They just simply asked the question, and I simply an-swered it. They were with me the whole time. They were not

jittery or fidgety. They were with me, and I was like, ‘wow, I guess younger kids can han-dle it.’ They can handle a lot more than we give them credit for.”

Blakeney interacts with stu-dents on a daily basis, but in her case, they are older. She is the theater/arts director at Lake Norman High School.

“We are currently in re-hearsals for our spring musi-cal, which is ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,’ which opens March 6,” Blakeney said. “I get to school roughly around 7:15 a.m., and I leave roughly around 7:30 p.m.”

On the Net: www.matthewsplayhouse.co

m / s h o w s / u p c o m i n g -shows/sweet-jenn-a-living-ex-hibit

NNirected

keney

SWEET JENWritten and Di

byLakeetha Blak

-

-

Lakeetha Blakeney stars in “Sweet Jenn,” which plays Matthews Playhouse Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

MATTHEWS PLAYHOUSE


Artist tells Second Ward High story a stroke at a timethe gym, which was built in 1946, was demol-ished in 1969 to make way for urban renewal.

“I enjoyed doing the project because I re-member urban renewal,” Robinson said. “When I was 14, I had a job working on a milk truck. One of my milk routes was in Brooklyn. I was glad I was chosen to do the project be-cause I was very familiar with the school and the community.”

Said Hanzal: “Through the advocacy of Sec-ond Ward alumni, Mecklenburg County Park

and Recreation renovated and preserved the gym and dedicated this facility on Labor Day weekend, …2018. The county has made a concerted effort to document and celebrate the history of Brooklyn and Second Ward School through historical panels and display cases.”

Said Mecklenburg County commissioners Chair George Dunlap: “Tommie’s work cele-brates the history of the Second Ward High School’s academics and cultural activities, as well as the pride of the school’s alumni.”

‘What Men Want’ over top

It’s about time Taraji P. Hen-son, after a string of B-movies (“Proud Mary,” “Acrimony”), rocked a bonafide comedy.

On talk shows her innate sense of humor is evident. On the big screen (“Hidden Fig-ures,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and small one (“Empire”) she’s built a solid, award-winning rep in drama. Now she’s digging into ribald humor and has surrounded herself with the right producers (“Girls Trip”), director (Adam Shankman, “The Wedding Planner,” “Hair-spray”), screenwriters (Tina Gordon, “ATL;” Peter Huyck, “Veep”) cast and crew. If most of the ingredients are right, the cake will turn out just fine.

The source material for this flagrant, shameless comedy is “What Women Want” (2000), directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Mel Gibson. (Remem-ber the days when he was loved?). He played a chauvin-istic advertising executive who, after a freak head injury, could hear what women thought. He used that advan-tage to rally against a female exec who got a promotion he wanted. In the process he learned life lessons. Hold that thought.

Fast forward 19 years. Ali Davis (Henson) is a top agent at an elite sports management firm. She drives a Porsche (leased), has an overly-atten-

tive assistant (Josh Brener, “The Front Runner”), whom she treats like a dog and a bevy of girlfriends (Tamala Jones, Wendi McLendon-Con-vey, Phoebe Robinson) she counts on for moral support. Ali needs all those trappings if she is to survive the con-stant stream of disappoint-ments and derision she encounters with her male peers at Summit Worldwide Management.

The source of Ali’s biggest frustration is that she can’t make partner and is con-stantly over-looked by her boss Nick (Brain Bosworth, former Seattle Seahawk), who stifles her: “You don’t connect well with men. You do well in your lane. Stay in your own lane.” Even though she han-dles top star athletes like Lisa Leslie and Serena Williams, her achievements are margin-alized by her colleagues.

The agency is trying to land the next big basketball draft pick, a skinny talented young player named Jamal Barry (Shane Paul McGhie). That’s the easy part. He’s managed by his pushy, stage-dad, health-freak father Joe “Dolla” Barry (Tracy Morgan), who is a pain in the ass. That’s the difficulty. The agent who signs Barry will be the next hot shot at Summit. Can Ali take the crown?

“What Women Want,” was a genteel, safe romantic com-edy. “What Men Want,” is not. Twenty minutes into it, the

outrageous sight-gag sex scenes, flippant dialogue and over-the-top performances yank the old premise firmly into the 21st century with a brand of humor fans of “Bridesmaids” will enjoy. There isn’t one subtle comic turn in this entire film. That gives Henson a chance to show her Tiffany Haddish side, which is more than will-ing to do anything to make viewers laugh.

Tucked into the debauchery are moral-to-the-story sub-plots that are somewhat touching. Ali’s romance with the hunky bartender Will (Aldis Hodge, “Straight Outta Compton”) involves his young son Ben (Auston John Moore) and Ali’s selfish deceit. Her egocentric antics test her friendship with her girl-friends. And, the way she treats her assistant Brandon, who is gay, goes from patron-izing and vile to dehumaniz-ing. Ali’s got issues. Lots. And when she’s being introspec-tive, she admits it: “Winning doesn’t matter if you’re a hor-rible person.”

The inciting incident that changes her trajectory comes when she meets a weird psy-chic named Sister (Erykah Badu) who gives her a cup of a magical, drug-laden tea. The mysterious potion, along with a head injury, makes Ali hear what men are thinking. As she hones this new talent, she picks up the hidden feelings

By Dwight Brown NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

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Taraji Henson goes over the top in ‘What Men Want’of her fellow workers (no wonder they never invite her to their weekly poker game), her assistant (he really wants a promotion) and even her supportive dad (Richard Roundtree).

The script was developed by writers whose wheelhouse is sitcoms, so this modern tale is told in broad strokes. If you’re looking for a demented and sophisticated comedy (“The Favourites”), look else-where. Every situation here is meant to make the targets (urban and female audiences) laugh until they lose bladder control.

Initial scenes lack the kind of dazzling cinematography (Jim Denault) audiences ex-pect from a motion picture, making sets and exterior scenes look like they belong on a TV show. Certainly, Shankman’s unimaginative direction (too many scenes are shot in rooms, offices, cars) lacks the style and cre-ativity top feature film direc-tors display.

The better tech elements belong to: Sekinah Brown’s

(“Ride Along”) costume de-sign; Emma E. Hickox’s (“Kinky Boots”) judicious ed-iting, which after a few initial slow scenes, makes the footage breeze by in 1hr and 57min; Brian Tyler’s (“Iron Man 3”) fun musical score is aided greatly by a hip playlist with vibrant songs like Jill Scott’s very upbeat and cool tune “Golden.”

Tracy Morgan is clearly in his element as the dodo-brain dad. Can’t tell how much of his dialogue is based on the script or improvised, but fair to say he’s never been fun-nier. The girlfriend trio is quite humorous. SNL’s Pete Davidson milks laughs as a lecherous officer worker. Hodge may be the new Morris Chestnut. And it is a gift whenever Richard Roundtree appears in a film.

Back to Henson. Given the chance, in a decently thought-out and developed comedy, she ups her game. Her Ali is manic and bossy with her as-sistant (bordering on distaste-ful), deceitful with her paramour, insensitive to her gal pals and able to stand up

to the brutal, self-entitled co-workers who play her for a wuss. The scattered string of emotions and feelings don’t stump Henson. She towers over all the other cast mem-bers with her bravura per-formance.

Except, the scenes in which she deals with the very enig-matic Sister. Somewhere hid-den under a gigantic wig that would even embarrass Diana Ross, lurks the very shrewd and hysterical Erykah Badu, who portrays the psychic who launches Ali’s outer and inner trek to salvation. Smug, ethe-real, dizzy and flaky as a pot-head, the “ T y r o n e ” singer dis-plays an a s t u t e comic na-ture that equals Hen-son’s.

“Girls Trip” is the alpha raunchy female comedy. “What Men Want” is not as strong. But it grazes that high standard thanks to Taraji P. Henson’s over-the-top per-formance.

“What Men Want” turns the original “What Women Want” on its head with a raunchy romp powered by the acting of Taraji P. Henson, left.

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Robin Givens stars in OWN’s ‘Ambitions’

Enduring actress Robin Givens spent the day promot-ing her new OWN television series, “Ambitions” at the 2019 SCAD a TVfest film fes-tival in Atlanta Feb. 7-9.

Produced by Will Packer Media, in association with Li-onsgate and Lionsgate-owned distributor Debmar-Mercury, and starring Givens (“Riverdale,” “The Fix,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”), “Am-bitions” is a multi-genera-tional family saga centered around one woman who, hav-ing recently relocated and in-tent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city of Atlanta.

Givens stars as Stephanie Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian White), whose true loyalty is to her family's prestigious law firm, where she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers.

Givens, who has had a long career in television and film is excited about her role as a dy-namic woman fighting for po-sition in a power-hungry city. “Ambitions” is a soapy, kind of campy family saga, about a woman who tries to take over her dad’s law firm and every-thing that goes on in this town,” says “The Fix” actress. “I use the word delicious to describe the role because it’s so fabulous. I really feel blessed to be able to play her.”

Givens, whose professional acting career spans three decades, stepped back from Hollywood in order to raise her two sons. Now that her youngest is in college, she’s ready to get back to her career at full throttle. “I’m becoming an empty nester. I’m making my way back into the busi-

ness, falling in love with this all over again and I’ve had the opportunity to play some great women recently.”

Givens played Mayor Sierra McCoy on “Riverdale,” (CBS) and will play Julianne John-son on “The Fix,” (ABC), a crime drama executive pro-duced by former prosecutor Marcia Clark, debuting in March of this year. Givens also stars in the indie film Gully (Romulus) about three teenagers in dystopian Los Angeles.

“The mayor of Riverdale is sort of a strong woman. The character I play in ‘The Fix’ is also a strong woman but in an entirely different way,” says

the Boomerang actress. “Stephanie Lancaster is defi-nitely strong and terrible and wonderful and all of these things. I find that stepping out of the characters and looking at them from outside, that they’re all sort of strong and connected.”

Not to worry, although Givens will be playing strong women, there’s still a little humor, at least when it comes to the character of Stephanie Lancaster in “Ambitions.” Givens says, “I love comedy so I’m giving Stephanie a little humor which I really love,” and hopefully audiences will too.

By Nsenga K. Burton NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

Robin Givens stars in OWN’s “Ambitions.”OWN

real talk: counseling that highlights mental health · 2019-02-13 · tameka brewington opened real...

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