Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week - Emmanuel Barbee!

EMMANUEL BARBEE

Emmanuel is a professional blogger, blogtalkradio host, an upcoming social entrepreneur and a new urban author of "The Solution For Black America: Reclaiming, Rebuilding, And Restoring The Urban Ghettos In America" second edition available on Amazon. His book is an autobiography about his experience growing up in the inner city of Chicago.

He wrote this book for three reasons. One - to raise awareness about the genocide which is taking place in our inner cities in America.

Another is to promote his virtual organization the Grass Roots Community Activist Movement. GRCAM will become a nonprofit and also a for profit service based business. It will have three main components: a social service component, a spiritual component, and a political component. Their focus is on providing goods and services to the low income African American community and working directly with single black mothers, single black fathers, and low income two parent families within the communities and cities they will serve.

Lastly, he wrote his book in order to generate capital/seed money so that he can hire thirty qualified individuals to assist him in the daily operation of his business. Emmanuel wants to make Chicago a model first before they expand to 10 other cities within 10 states. Once they're established in America he plans on having African Immigrants in America to assist him in setting up chapters in 10 countries in Africa.

Their mission is to end urban violence, poverty, structural inequality, institutionalized racism, and police brutality within the communities and cities they will serve if given a chance. His organization is open to all law abiding citizens, all racial groups, and undiscovered artist. This is his contribution back to his community and throughout the African Diaspora.


Emmanuel's Author Page on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Solution-Black-America-Reclaiming-Rebuilding-ebook/dp/B0742DGC2P/ref=la_B00J6IKRUK_1_1_twi_kin_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500589571&sr=1-1

Mindset Matters

Leadership and Mindset is a time when one learns how to develop and grow. Leadership requires a certain type of character. Everyone is not a well-developed leader. I have found that leaders are developed through education and lived experiences.

In becoming a great leader self-development is one of the greatest points that you grow into and are able to be proactive in all of your determinations, encounters, and accomplishments. When an individual takes action to be proactive, he/she is no longer in a waiting area for success, it begins to happen. An individual takes steps into living an essential lifestyle by starting with the mindset to go out and make things happen. You may not achieve every goal you set, but as you develop a daily plan on achievable tasks, you are guaranteed to live a lifestyle of purpose.

Taking time to make a commitment to learn and educate your own success plan is the first step on the path to living your life by your own design. The key is a self-development mind.

Taking steps of a leadership begins with awareness of who you are and what are your values, beliefs and your purpose. You have to know who you are and what you want. Take time to remind yourself other people’s opinions of you are not who you represent as an individual of purpose.

When you seek true satisfaction you cannot manifest by chasing someone else’s dreams but collaborating is very rewarding when you understand your role and not pursue or desire to live someone else life.

Developing a mindset with a firm sense of whom you are, you can start planning, designing and pursuing your own identified goals and objectives. The experiences you have in life and business can have meaning, only if you truly comprehend them. The pathway to understanding can come only once you've attained some level of self-knowledge and fulfillment that comes directly from the positioning your mind on your own journey.

The mindset is key to the leader in you and community to which one lives. Leadership is the outcome of a life lead by example.

Mindset Matters by Cassandra Williams

Contributing Writer

Raise 'Em and Praise Him - Testimony Tuesday! Wendy

ANEURYSM To AH NEW RHYTHM

Unapologetically living on PURPOSE with God's grace and embracing my New Rhythm after brain sugery! 

Last September on Labor Day, I was out with friends and out of no where, I got a really strange headache on the left side of my head...including my eye. At first I was like it's just to hot as we were on a rooftop... then I briefly questioned if I got a bad drink. After hanging out for a little bit longer I decided to go home, not telling my friends why, just saying I was going to spend time with my kids.

Once I got home, I washed up and got in the bed... totally in pain (I have a very high pain tolerance). Having the hardest time falling asleep, after two hours I gave in and took a 800 mg ibuprofen, which to my dismay, did absolutely nothing. This is when I KNEW something was really wrong, but I did not know what. The next morning on Tuesday I went to see my doctor. 

I had just lost my mom in June and for the first time, I had high blood pressure as a result of that stress. My pressure was high so my doctor associated the headache with that and gave me a shot (Cocktail) to reduce my pressure. He did advise me that if I didn't feel better to go to the Emergency Room. Bear with me, you can only understand the BLESSING if you understand the journey! On Wednesday, I drove myself to the Emergency Room where my blood pressure was over 200 so they triaged me as STROKE STATUS and got me in a bed right away. I got a "cocktail", had a CT Scan which revealed NOTHING, was monitored for a few hours, then sent home with a prescription.

I suffered through Wednesday, through Sunday. I was worried and confused about what was happening... knowing for sure that this was much more than high blood pressure or a headache. I felt like my left eye was being pulled out of its socket so I went back to the emergency room on Monday, September 12th. On this visit I saw a different doctor who did another CT Scan; this time with CONTRAST and found an acute aneurysm on my primary left brain artery!

I was whisked off to Emory... scared and completely confused, they were waiting for me! The testing, scanning, and medication began immediately. The aneurysm was so large that the risk was higher to remove it than it was to remove my artery. The catch was that removing the artery could cause me to stroke out or die! I laid under observation and medication to stroke out or die for several days. I had an awful reaction to morphine and that delayed the surgery a few days so I confined to wait on either a stroke or to die, but I KNEW that neither of those were God's plan for me.

My surgery was on September 20th, my daughter's birthday... I've never been that scared! Surgery lasted eight hours and I was in so much pain, but so grateful to be alive and see my family not have to bury another loved one in less than three months. My daughter's still had their mother, my husband his wife, father his daughter and sisters their sister.

They said recovery was going to be long, at least a year, as I also lost use of my left eye. I struggled for a few months but to God be the glory for his Grace and Mercy on me. I was of the mindset that He speared me so I had work to do. I pushed myself daily, challenging myself to get back to normal and then I realize that my normal was a new rhythm. Today I still have a long way to go, the side effects of brain surgery is real but I have nothing to complain about. My ANEURYSM to Ah New Rhythm journey continues as I remain committed to empowering myself and those that I am blessed with the opportunity to share with!

Introducing Simply Cindy's Newest Team Member - Patricia Hughes

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce Patricia Hughes, who joined my team as a Contributing Writer.

"Beautiful Custom Designed Cakes.....at an affordable price!"

Patricia Hughes, born in Chicago IL, is a Professional Cake Designer and owns her own business "Pat's Pastry Palace" which services the Chicagoland area's Event Planner's, Catering Companies and the general public by providing beautiful custom designed cakes.

Patricia has been designing cakes for the last seven years with most of her business stemming from social media, repeated customers and referrals. She is a self-taught Cake Designer that has never taken a class outside of her Food & Sanitation Licence, she has a passion for baking, art, and design.

As a Graduate of East Aurora HS, after graduation, Patricia entered the Corporate world as an Executive Assistant and after 25 years she was laid off and decided not to return, instead, she launched her Cake Design business, became successful at doing so and hasn't looked back!

Take a peek at the website:

http://patspastrypalace.wixsite.com/patspastrypalace

You'll find valuable information there along with some great examples of her work! You can also become a Fan of "Pat's Pastry Palace" on Facebook so feel free to visit and hit the "Like" button! Oh, and always remember to "Keep Calm.....and eat Cake!"

Patricia Hughes
Owner/Designer
Pat's Pastry Palace

Please help me welcome Patricia to the Simply Cindy Blog team and to our blogging community!

Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week - Angie

ANGIE REDMOND

Angie Redmond is a figurative and portrait artist from Chicago, IL. She received her Masters of the Science degree in Digital Art from Knowledge Systems Institute in Skokie, IL and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Studio Art (emphasizing in oil painting) from Albion College in Albion MI. 

It was during her final year of college where she met the professor who she credits for helping her develop her style of painting; Michael Dixon. Her pieces are representational, expressive, and contain both oil paintings and drawings.

Angie uses her personal experiences to focus her artwork on various social issues within a culture. For example, the subject of natural African American hair is a reoccurring theme within her art. Having natural hair herself, she's faced a lot of ridicule and negative views towards her coils. Drawing from those experiences, Angie creates paintings and drawings to celebrate natural hair for its unique distinctiveness and beauty.

It's the thick texture and vibrant colors of the oil paint and the love for the complexity of humanity that keeps the brush in her hand! She uses her personal narrative to honor her race and celebrate all of the human spirits.

Her artwork has been shown nationally in various museums, galleries, and universities ranging from Chicago, New York City, and Miami. She was a finalist in the first Rush Philanthropies Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. She also exhibited artwork in the 2015 Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity and was voted winner of the Ultimate Painting Chicago Live Painting Competition.

Angie's inspired by people and the elements of life. Whenever she sees a person with their natural hair proudly on display or the various deep expressions given by individuals going through everyday life, she immediately envisions the beauty of their image on canvas. She is also inspired by her cousin, Rob Juice (a professional Jazz Entertainer). "He always encourages me and gives me creative ideas for my art." She's also inspired by the artwork of Kara Walker, Beverly McIver, Jenny Saville, Kehinde Wiley, and Michael Dixon.

What’s next for Angie? She's working on completing her new series entitled, “Never A Bad Hair Day”. This series is celebrating the natural hair movement and will be displayed at Albion College in Albion, MI in November 2017. She is also developing her own workshop where she will teach art lovers how to paint.

Angie wrote a children’s book that focuses on natural hair that she's working on finishing the illustrations for and getting published. Along with her paintings on canvas, she also has hand-painted clutches that she will be selling on Etsy. She's building her brand by starting a YouTube channel that focuses on her journey of building her art career.

Finally, Angie's searching for gallery representation nationally and internationally. She would love to show her paintings in Paris. Her favorite quote is “Impossible is Nothing” because it reminds her that anything she wants out of life, she can make it happen with prayer and hard work and that's exactly what she intends to do!

Angie's artwork is available for purchase by sending an inquiry email to angieredmondartist@gmail.com. All prospective buyers can visit her website to view more artwork. Prints may be purchased through www.fineartamerica.com and www.redbubble.com. Follow Angie on social media to see what she's up to with her talent as a figurative artist.

https://www.instagram.com/angieredmondartist/

Humbly Yours

Thank YOU, ABBA FATHER for another chance; for the opportunity to reach another. Thank YOU for growing me through and never letting me go! Speak LORD – YOUR servant -daughter is listening! Please use this pen to grow, edify and strengthen another as YOU grow, edify and strengthen me. And we will continue to give YOU all the Glory, all the Honour, and all the Praise, In the Mighty Name LORD JESUS! 

In all honesty, I have been a little apprehensive about this week’s submission. When I accepted this assignment from GOD through Cindy, my greatest concern was that I didn’t want to ‘get in the way’ of the message. Another was that ‘my’ feelings of the moment might not let me see that I am (standing in the way of the message). Then GOD reminded me that HE is using my story to assist in pulling someone else forward. That did not actually relieve my anxiety. But it did bring me face-to-face with the root of my ‘issue.’ My Fear.

Marianne Williamson addresses that topic with decisive firmness in the first lines of her poem entitled “Our Deepest Fear.” The first time I heard the poem was not when Nelson Mandela recited it at his inaugural address in 1994, but in a movie about a little girl winning a bunch of spelling bees. In the poem, Ms. Williamson identifies first, what our greatest fear is not. And for me she is correct. I don’t feel ‘in”-adequate. My son (and several others) can attest to that. When someone has said to me, “You’re a great mom,” I will quickly correct them with, “No – I’m just adequate.” But then I read the “Our Deepest Fear.” And it begs the question, “who am I NOT to be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented and Fabulous? I read those words and I had to check myself, “As a matter of fact, Valerie – who are you NOT to be!?” I remind people every day that we are, according to 1Peter 2:9, a Royal Priesthood, a Chosen Generation. I am set apart for greatness and great things! Not by my power or my strength but by GOD’s Spirit! HE said so and I believe that! HE Promised!

Recently I was on my way home from work and this man randomly glanced back at me and said, “Hello Black woman.” I smiled because I like the way he called me what I am. But then he stopped and turned to me again and said, “Do not ever lose that strength I see in your eyes.” Then he crossed the street and walked away. “Wow”, I thought to myself, “Strength? In my eyes?” That comment gelled in my heart and mind with the words of the poem and another reading from ‘The Anointing of a Virtuous Woman’ – by Rev. Dr. Haile Lindsay. It is based on Proverbs 31 and inspired by the lives of the most significant women in his life. Day 6 talks about ‘What a Virtuous Woman Wears.’ Verse 25 of Proverbs 31 says that “…Strength and Honor are her clothing…”

Now - I am 99 & ¾ percent certain that I have never seen that gentleman before. Neither have I had the pleasure of meeting Marianne Williamson. But I am grateful to GOD the FATHER that HE took the words of Mr. Random-Guy-on-the-Street, Ms. Williamson, and Rev. Lindsay, bound them together with HIS WORD and used it to remind me that I have NOTHING to fear.

Even, as the Apostle James describes in James 1:4, when I “…fall into various trials…” Broken promises? Count it Joy! You don’t know it yet, but you’re getting Stronger! Broken Relationship? Count it Joy – You’re getting Wiser!

I know that while you are going through the pain of your current ‘issue,’ it doesn’t feel good, but this is when Patience is having “her perfect work.” You will discover that as Patience is working in and on you, your faith muscles are growing. And as you (we) are being perfected, strengthened and restored, you will begin, again, to “… like what I see when I’m looking at me when I’m looking in the mirror!” (thank you Mary J.)!!

As I am growing and with each new victory won, I am recognizing the Light, the Power, the Strength that HE is revealing in me and through my testimony! Come grow with me! We are, after All, MORE than Conquerors! And the only fearful thing about us is that we are “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!”

And by the way – We don’t look Nothin’ like what we’ve been through!

Humbly Yours by Valerie Crawford

Contributing Writer

Raise 'Em and Praise Him - Testimony Tuesday! Connie

For most of my life, my mother was a highly functioning alcoholic. She owned a home, kept a job and paid her bills. She even maintained a beautiful yard. But inside her neat and tidy home, she unleashed her anger, her hurt and her disappointments on me. Her name calling was a regular part of my day. She told me what I couldn’t do and what I wouldn’t be. Once I was in high school, I usually had to find a way to get myself to work and to meetings and practices. My mother acted as if she wanted me to fail.

When I completed college and law school and received a job offer several states away, I took it. I had no desire to stay close to my mother, physically or relationally.

Once I was a fully independent adult, I confronted my mother about all the awful things she had said to me. She didn’t exactly apologize. She said that if she did it, she must have been drinking.

One day, when I was in my early 30’s, my mother was about to light into me and call me names. I told her that I would no longer stand for it. I told her that if she couldn’t have a conversation with me without calling me names, we would never talk again. She never called me names again. Our relationship remained strained. I forced myself to call her once a month and I visited once a year. I still lived hundreds of miles away. My mother adored my oldest daughter, and I think that’s one of the reasons my mother and I maintained a relationship.

Late in life, my mother was diagnosed with dementia and began living with my brother. I knew my brother was not taking good care of her, and he was isolating her from friends and relatives. Although I became her legal guardian, my brother refused to release her to me, and the authorities would not remove my mother from my brother’s home. I hired a private investigator for protection and kidnapped my mother from my brother’s home. My mother’s dementia had progressed to the point that she didn’t know who I was. Shortly after she came to live with me, she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Once she was on medication for dementia, she recognized me, but she forgot that she couldn’t insult me. I had to establish that our roles had reversed. With excellent medical care, my mother did very well for 18 months. She gained weight while she was on chemotherapy, and she reminded me that I needed to take care of her teeth. One night, I overheard her talking to my oldest daughter about some family business. My mother said, “I know Connie will take care of it.” It warmed my heart to know that she had confidence in me.

My mother seemed to have a conflicted relationship with the Lord. I took her to church a couple of times, but she was not interested. When my mother’s cancer spread to her brain, I asked her if she knew where she would spend eternity. She confirmed that Christ was her savior and that her sins were forgiven. The last few months of her life, she made a point of thanking me for everything I had done for her.

I played Motown music for my mother. Sometimes I would dance to the Supremes, the Temps and the Miracles while she watched with a big grin. She really lit up when I wore red dresses and twirled around her room.

My daughters and I wore red to my mother’s funeral. Taking care of her the last two years of her life was difficult because I had a teenager at home and I was working full time. But I’m glad we had those years of peace and reconciliation. I’m glad she appreciated what I did for her. I’m glad she smiled when I danced.