The LAULYPS: A Blessing That Keeps On Blessing

So by now, I am pretty sure you know how the story goes. In October 2011 I made the track for Kansas City to Los Angeles with nothing but my car, a few belongings and a whole of faith. One of the biggest concerns for me was making new friends and finding people to connect with who not only looked liked me but also shared some of the same beliefs, thoughts and common visions. Not that I did not have that in Kansas City, but I was leaving that behind. I knew why I was coming to L.A for and what the purpose was so I needed people that would help get me there. I also knew that I needed to be doing more civically and politically in helping my community prosper and move forward.
Of course I already had mutual friends though my relatives and I had watered the seeds of those relationships and they embraced me with loving and open arms and for that I am most grateful.
However, I needed something that was mine that I accomplished on my own, that was very important to me to come out to Los Angeles and succeed on my own terms. I needed to succeed in my goals, make friends, make powerful connections, and connect and serve this great city that I moved out here to be a part of. I was unsure of how to make this all happen until one day my cousin Nailah said to me, “Chris you need to go to a Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals meeting. You need to be a part of that organization. It is so for you.” When she first told me, I kind of thought about it but put it on my backburner of things of “Yeah I will get to that later….” I kept putting it off until I went to one of their first events I want to say in early 2012. I went to a meeting at the Writers Guild of America in West L.A/Hollywood. I was hooked instantly. To see people of my age group be connected with some powerful players in the entertainment industry. It was definitely an eye opener and I knew that I was in the right place. I then went from there to a general body meeting and met Chanelle Brown who was (and still is) so passionate about this movement. I was interested but did not have the $100 membership fee and was not really trying to do that so I was like I will just come to the meetings and not pay for now. I was afraid to pay the dues but eventually I decided that $100 would be okay to pay, after all look what it connected me too.

I finally became a member and met our fearless and honorable President Abby Harris and she told me about a vacant Secretary position on the Executive Board of the LAULYP that I might consider. I was a little hesitant because I was not sure if I was ready for such a responsibility but I remembered what my goal was when I traveled out here and so I decided to go for it. I did some minutes for a meeting and submitted them and the rest is history. Fast-forward to almost three years later and I cannot imagine my life without the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals. It has helped me to push forward with all of my goals. I have met so many important people. I know that whatever I want to accomplish the LAULYP can help me get there. It is like a really good and planned out buffet – there is a lot to choose for everyone, but there it’s organized that it’s not overwhelming. I have made friends that I know will be friends for a lifetime. Now, I no longer just think of them as my YP friends but just friends who happen to be YP’s. We have common goals and visions. We work together to empower the community and then as result, we become empowered. I do not any regrets, but one every now and then I wonder what might have been had I went to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and pledged a Greek fraternity. While there is nothing that can compare to those experiences I am sure, there is a connection here as well with the LAULYPS. Like Greek organizations, it’s a brotherhood and sisterhood that you can use to connect with other individuals like yourself. No matter where you go in this country, you can find other young professionals and it’s a bond their that you can instantly connect with for others.

Joining the LAULYPS has also helped me become more civically engaged. Through our Civic and Public Engagement Committee there have been plenty of events to help us understand more about our local and national government and how its policies affect us as young professionals. We are no longer the voice of tomorrow; we are the voice of today. We are the ones who elicit change. Dr. King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and Nelson Mandela were young professionals who were age when they made their impact. We must know what is going around us if we truly want to grow our communities and see change happen. I cannot think of a better organization then the LAULYPS.

Our Community Service Committee works their behinds off with organizing events that help us empower the community. Just recently on Sunday, we helped to serve food to the homeless down in the Skid Row area of downtown L.A at the Midnight Mission. That was definitely an eye-opening experience. There are the events that make you feel good in the sense that you are giving back a little bit of what has been invested in you with your talents, gifts, and blessings. There was a time I was unemployed and the LAULYP was there to help. The Professional Development committee has events designed to help you find employment and our President has a goal of 100% employment before her term ends later on this year. Even if you just need encouragement on your current job or need strategies to be more successful on your current job, my LAULYP crew is there.

There are parties with a purpose. There are red carpet events that I have attended, award shows I have been invited too. None of this would be possible without the LAULYPS. God sent this organization into my life and it is one of my greatest blessings. The same could hold true for you.

I could go on and on about what the LAULYPS means to me, but I think you all get the point. It is a great movement to be a part of. It is a family, a network, a resource, a lifeline, whatever you want to make it, is there. So I encourage you to join this great organization. It is money well spent, that money is an investment into you and your community. It’s a deposit into your dreams and goals. Its time to get started and as our President would say, “keep is pushin!”

See you at the next meeting! #wegotnow #joinweek #ypsrunla www.laulyp.com

Everyone Sits On The Toilet

Does it seem like lately or maybe it has always been this way that we tend to put certain people on pedestals and keep them there? What is up with that? There a lot of examples of people in our worlds that we hold in such high regard that we have convinced ourselves and often ties convinced them that are a bit superior to us. It seems like it happening so much more lately.
Look at how popular culture celebrates our celebrities now. Often times the trivial things such as Prince William and Kate eating a pizza, and Kim and Kanye shopping at a store make even the world news. We celebrate these stars and hold them to such high regard, yet often times, our public figures let us down, they prove that they are human just like us, yet when we find out we get so bent out of shape. Since I moved out to California, I have encountered a few celebrities here and there and have even worked with a few. Sometimes, I have been apprehensive about approaching them because I do not want to encounter a possible “attitude” that some have been known to possess. It can be intimidating for sure to approach people that you hold in high regard.
Often times if it’s not a celebrity or a public figure, it can be people at work. Often times at your place of employment you get some higher up boss that is coming in for a visit to observe and inspect your department. You are told to make sure on that day to cross your t’s and dot your I’s. You have to be on point, and be ever so productive, or “heads will roll” so to speak. Often times, that higher up person does not even show up or make an appearance and when they do its brief, yet our day is stressed and strained because we anticipate their visit. And while yes, you should be on top of your game at work, sometimes these higher ups are so out of touch with reality and day to day operations, their visit is often resented and unappreciated as if gracing us with your presence is some type of huge honor.
It is very frustrating at times to deal with larger than life personas, you may feel intimidated or frustrated at having to deal with them, but there is something that I remember my favorite singer Chaka Khan saying a long time ago, she said that “Everyone sits on the toilet. And if you can remember that you can’t go far wrong.” Yes that ay give some of you a visual image, but hey why not? It is like when you are afraid to speak in public and someone suggests for you to imagine them naked. That breaks the ice most of the time. It is basically the same principal. We all sit on the toilet. It’s a part of life, even CEOS of companies, even Justin Timberlake, pastors with their fancy entourages, and our bosses and supervisors. They are really no different than us. Maybe they have a bit more money, more power, more prestige but that should never intimidate us because again everyone sits on the toilet.
Its even trickled into some of our churches, some of our leaders in ministry are so high up that we cannot even access them. They have their cliques and assistants and its like getting through secret service just to get to them. None of my pastors have been that way but their have been so many that are like that. It’s a shame. Yes, we should hold our clergy in a high regard, but even our religious leaders sit on the toilet.
So its time to stop putting so many people on that high horse. We do it so much that we become fearful, envious, jealous, and resentful of people who are in higher rankings. Why do we do this? Yes, maybe their ship came in a little earlier than ours has, but does that make them better? Does that give justification for some of their actions, and some of ours? I think humbleness goes a long way in helping some of these leaders and public figures and those close understand that we are all human I mean after all, everyone sits on the toilet.

Random Thoughts Part 2

Here is where My Head Has been since July. Sorry for the delay...




1. Why is it that the Wal-Mart’s in the suburbs are really nice, and you still get great customer service, but the ones in the neighborhood or in the boonies are a ratchet mess (merchandise all over the place, long lines, consistently out of merchandise)?


2. People are really confused about what “turn it up” and “turndownforwhat” means. Example: “We going hard on this rocky road ice cream at Baskin Robbins..” #turndownforwhat.. umm…no.

3. Why do some people get so mad and worked up at fantasy football? It’s called “fantasy” for a reason. Unless you owe money to a bookie or something…. I’m just sayin…

4. When will this Kanye/Kim & Miley Cyrus nonsense be over with? Does anyone else get severely irritated when they see him or her on the television especially on local and world news. Is it a slow news day? I doubt it.

5. Why do people consider sagging your pants artistic? What is artistic about seeing your draws? When will this fad end?

6. Why do people say “no offense but…” then say some really ignorant BS like the “no offense” part makes up for it.

7. When will we get that racism and discrimination are still very much a part of the equation in 2013 going into 2014?

8. There are many things that make you a man. Sleeping with different women each night should never be one of them especially if you are not taking care of the kids that result from it.

9. Why in the world is American Idol still on the air? At this point does anyone even care about the contestants? That horse has been beat. Pull the plug!

10. It seems like Spike Lee is the ultimate Hollywood Hater. Unless his name is attached to it, he finds it offensive, buffoonish, or degrading (Have you seen Girl 6? Summer of Sam?)

11. I tried to get on the Aresenio late night bus...I tried. I went to sleep.

12. I am really glad that I am seeing less and less of the bathroom mirror pics on social media. THANK YOU.

13. Arrogant people really, really annoy me but none more than arrogant men. You make us all look bad. You are not as good as you say you are or you would not have to tell us all the time.

14. You can always tell when somebody’s bark is bigger than his or her bite. Always.

15. In my day my authority figures (parents, teachers, etc) were just that, they were not my friends. There is a level of respect that you have in regard to the people who have authority in your life. I wish I would have called my teachers and parents by their first name, kicked it with them, etc. Times have certainly changed.

16. When you talk about a genuine person who is universally liked behind their back, it will always get back to that person. Busy bodies and two-faced folks always show their poker face.

17. I really, really try to watch the news to stay informed but sometimes its just too much from the ignorant to the depressing to just the WTH?

18. For those that say “Down with the Government!” You should be at least able to tell me who your local city officials are or what the local issues are in your city or neighborhood, otherwise all I am hearing is well....nothing.

19. The Best Man Holiday is one of the best movies that I have seen in a while. A great story about African-American people without having to be about African-American people. This is where our stories should be going. Figure that one out!

20. It annoys me that people hate on Scandal with Kerry Washington. She plays a strong, independent woman with flaws. Isn’t that pretty much all of us? I mean I thought we were all flawed? Its one of the best shows I have seen in a while.

21. I wonder if Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Al Green ever get together and talk about the state of music today. I wonder what they really think of Miley Cyrus and Two Chainz?

22. The same goes for Robert Dinero, Jack, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, Sidney Potier, and other legends for the state of Hollywood. How do they feel about Kim K, and all of these other flashes in the pan?

23. The safe and easy route always leads to boredom and misery and then you spread that to others. DREAM BIG.

24. Your blue print may not match other people’s and that’s ok. Quit making people feel bad for not living the life you think they should be living.

25. Is it me or is it too early, too soon and in bad taste to be asking, “What is gonna happen to the next Fast & Furious movie?” That really should be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. Those actors will still be rich, the producers will still get their cut. There is a void in two people's families that can never be replaced especially during this holiday season. That is always worse. It always amazes me at the level of insensitivity that our culture, particularly our media can project.

26. Everyday that I walk into my new apartment, I still smile. Its been so long. To have my own place again. My own personal hideaway it feels so good.

27. For those that are so impressed and in awe of Lady Gaga's weirdness and out of the box antics. Let's remember she was not the first. Grace Jones and David Bowie truly changed the game back in the day..and they were not even trying to. It was just who they were.

My How We Have Forgotten

“ Can it be it was all so simple then…”?

That was the first line of the hit Barbara Streisand or Gladys Knight song, “Memories (The Way We Were). Think back to being a kid, especially in the summertime. It was a time of playing kickball in the streets, running hide and go seek, listening for the Ice-Cream man, and enjoying all of those goodies that mom, and Grandma would make for us. We loved those days, and sometimes we long for those days as adults. Life was drama free, and exciting. We could not imagine being older adults and having children of our own.
Now we have become adults and with all that is going on the world, we have forgotten some of what it was like to be a child. We have gotten so sensitive as a nation that we have begun to make life much more harder then it needs to be. What memories are we depriving our children of now? For the most part, I have kept silent on the matter because I have no children of my own and felt my input on this subject was somewhat skewed but last week when I found out that certain cities are trying to ban the ice-cream man because it was too loud and causing too much of a disturbance. That is when I had enough. It is bad enough that we have gotten rid of children being allowed to bring in homemade snacks for holidays parties in grade school, it is crazy that we no longer make our children go outside and play, but banning the ice cream truck man? Come on! This is where we should draw the line.
Now I am a full total advocate of healthy eating and I believe that a lot of health issues are formed in our childhoods, but we want to also deprive our children of the snacks we used to eat as children. No longer can a kid have a lollipop, eat a Popsicle, and eat a potato chip without it being made a federal case. I think we have really forgotten what it was like as children. Think back to that simple time. What would our lives have been without a Bomb Pop, Eskimo Pie, or Jell-O Pudding Pop (speaking of which bring those back too)? We have gotten too uptight as adults in some cases. Who would have ever thought that as kids? As I was writing this article I thought of what Adam Sandler’s character in Mr. Deeds said, “You know, if your nine-year olds saw you guys the way you are, you'd get your butts kicked right now! I mean, look what's happened to us!”

We need to grip and not be so uptight about everything. With all that is going on in the world, our children of today need the children of yesterday to really teach them what it is like to be a child before the children of tomorrow have nothing to look forward to.

Marinate on that…
CG2

I'm Already Doing That!

I’m Already Doing That!


Imagine this scenario. You are going through the eye of the storm. You are frustrated, your car broke down, your girlfriend left you, and your family is causing all types of upheaval. You go to your friend or family member for some much-needed advice and you are expecting some life epiphany from them, and you get those three dreaded words, “Hang In There!” Seriously?? That is what I get? Hang in there? That is so profound. Thank you for that because of that my life seems so much better….
Why do I seem so angry about those three little words? Because that is not really offering anything concrete or sustainable that actually just seems really passive and not a real offer of any advice. Now I am not exempt from using these words, there are times when I have been guilty of using or offering up that advice. A friend or loved one sends me a text or post something on social media and I respond back with “Hang in there!” Then I go, “Really Chris? Did you just offer up that lame advice?” My second point is that when someone tells me to “Hang in there.” I want to tell them, “I’m already doing that!” First of all, I am “hanging in there” when I get out of bed each morning and put one foot in front of the other to face the challenges of another day. I am already “hanging in there” when I put my clothes on and go out into that cold, cold world prayed up and ready for whatever challenges face me and I know that there are some. I am “hanging in there” by not totally withdrawing from the world and becoming a hermit. I am “hanging in there” by not going off on someone who went off on me. I am already doing that. What else do you got?
I am not angry, most people’s hearts are in the right place when they offer up that advice but more is needed most of the time when someone is coming to you with a problem. And sometimes, "Hang in there." is all we know how to say because we just do not know what to say. Sometimes, saying "I am clueless as to how to help you, let me just pray for you." Or, "Let me pray for you or get someone that knows about this.." That would be better. I am always inspired by someone who has went through a similar situation and they actually explain how they “hung in there” they do not just say the words. Of course it is no problem to share your advice, share your testimony, then say “Hang in there.” Of course the phrase then has more meat to it.
So the next time somebody comes to you with some advice and they pour their hearts out to you, at least pray for them, mentor them, give them some good advice, but the last thing you want to say is just “Hang in there…” they deserve more than that. Remember your challenges and situations, hang in there is the least we can do especially if we are Children of God. It is how we hang in there that counts.

Just my five cents…

Gimmie Gimmie: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money!

Who remembers Michael Douglas’s infamous line in Wall Street where he goes “Greed is good.” ? I am sure most hard-core movie buffs remember that line. Often at times art imitates life. No matter how hard we say movies are fantasy escapism, they mirror something in reality. The movie Wall Street dealt with a lot of corporate espionage, the love of the almighty dollar, which of course leads to greed. We often associate that with the 80s, The Me Decade.
Fast forward to some twenty-six years later. Are we still seeing greed? The answer is quite simply yes. Greed is everywhere. We see people in our families that want more and more from us. It is like our children. We take them to store, tell them they can get one toy or one candy, yet they want more. They want a DVD, some new shoes. One thing is never enough. We give loved ones and friends help and money when they need it, yet they always want more. Often times at the end of the day, it is never, never enough.
Businesses are not exempt from being greedy. Today, I found out that a very famous amusement park was raising their prices once again charging hard-working citizens of this country and citizens of other countries who come to visit a mind-boggling $92 in lieu of their already expensive $86. When I found that out earlier, it blew my mind and instantly made me angry. I could not fathom how a company so big on family fun, love of people, and dream creations could be comfortable charging families such an expensive fare. It is hard to consider when you are already paying for parking, paying for the expensive food and merchandise that you have to pay even more in admission (which by the way does not get you anything but just entry into the park). I went to the Internet to see what was behind this rising price increase expecting to see something such as rising expenses, budget constraints, etc. What I found was it was just “market research” that showed that this was a reasonable fare. Seriously?? Reasonable?? If you ask me, it sounds like plain on greed. The company already racks millions upon millions of dollars in sales from admission cost, concessions, merchandise, and parking. Why justify another pay increase when so many are struggling in this economy?
Now I understand parents who say its worth it just to see their kids smiling faces and the joy that it brings to their children. Perhaps if I were a parent I would feel differently. But that should be the very reason that the prices should come down. There are a lot of parents who would love to see their children light up and go to the park. What parent would not want to take their child. My parents took us (of course it was the 80s and everything was considerably cheaper). However there are a lot of parents who simply cannot afford that especially if you have more than two children. A price deduction would be nice.
A few months back I went to a hospital and saw something extremely disturbing. Some hospitals now charge visitors of patients and in some situations potential patients going to the emergency rooms a parking fee. You have got to be kidding me. You are charging people to come see their loved ones? Again, people are struggling in this economy and sometimes even $5 is a lot to come by. I again went to the Internet to research the reasoning and the answer was quite simple, “To generate revenue” which to me equals greed. Hospitals already make huge profits from their patients by nickel and dimeing them on every little thing while they stay there. How can you in good conscious justify charging patients to park. Kudos to those hospitals and medical buildings that have not gave in to this method. There are other obvious ways to generate revenue.
Grocery stores and retail are not exempt from dealing with greed. How many times have you walked into a store and seen lines that mirror the Department of Motor Vehicles on the last day of the month? One store (who shall remain nameless) often times has only four lanes (out of 24) open. The shelves look as if customers just bum rushed the store due to a threat of a natural disaster. Now the merchandise is there ready to have a home just like the Island of Misfit Toys but to no avail, the corporate Santa refuses to pay or hire new elves to stock or check the people out at the store because they do not want to take from their billions of profits. If this is not greed, I challenge you to find me a better example or definition.

Deceptive Advertising & Extra Fees
How many times have you walked into a grocery store and seen a sign in big black bold letters, “FREE”? You get super excited, you go over to the item, then you see at the bottom words in tiny, tiny writing that would require you to have Superman type vision to decipher and make out. You take the item over to the checkout to claim as free then you find out what the verbiage at the bottom says is “When you by two or more at original price.”
Now I love me some bacon, laundry detergent, soda, and chicken as much as the next guy, but what exactly would I be saving by buying two or more of the same item when all I really needed was one in the first place? Other false or misleading advertising includes things like on two-liter soda. Often times, when I walk in to a certain store, I see that that my favorite Ginger Ale, or other soda is on sale for .88 cents. The first time I fell for this, I went to the checkout stand with my bottle of soda and it rang up regular price. I politely corrected the cashier and said that it was on sale. The cashier then tells me that it is only .88 cents when you buy 10. Okay, why would I want to buy $10 worth of soda? Am I preparing for the apocalypse? And even then would I really be worried about consuming ginger ale or cola? How many times do you see some ad on television that advertises some new item that “you simply cannot live without for only $19.95. If you act now, you can get two for $19.95 (but you pay shipping and handling for both items). Do you see how this works? So I really do not get the second item free because I am paying double for the shipping and handling which sometimes cost more then the original item itself.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for increasing revenue and making money. You cannot be a successful business any other way, but when does increasing revenue give way to greed? This economy is tough on everyone and can companies can do their part to help people out. No, this is not an article about wanting “free stuff” or a “handout” but about not giving way to the greed monster. We are all guilty of being greedy at times, but it is nothing to be brag and be comfortable about. The opposite of greed is sharing. Sharing is caring. We can all afford to be a little more generous with our increases. If companies like those big amusement park chains decreased their admission cost by 3 to 10% just imagine how much more their revenue would increase. If certain retail stores hired more employees, the customers would come back to their stores and shop thus increasing the revenue. You have to look at the bigger picture. It goes back to that old adage, “You have to spend money, to make money.” This would seem to fit perfectly here.

Greed is not good. No not at all.

Be Optimistic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpvAil65yJc


"I know the storms and strife crowd up your outlook on life. Just think ahead and you’ll be inspired to reach higher and higher."
-Sounds of Blackness - Optimistic


I have always loved the song "Optimistic" by The Sounds of Blackness. I remember when the song came out in 1991 and I was immediately drawn to it. I first heard it on the way to Dallas and wondered who sung the song. I remember finally watching the video on Video Soul and I was just in awe of this large number of people singing. It was like the first time I saw a mainstream Choir nationally. It resonated with me. I remember always stopping whatever I was doing whenever the video came on. I found myself playing the song whenever I felt the need not knowing then that twenty years later what an impact the song would have on my life. …

Fast forward to the present day. Last night I played the video and when it got to the 4th solo by Sounds of Blackness member Patricia Lacy-Aiken I did not even realize that I had tears flowing down my face. For some reason that verse (see above) always gets me. I think it was because in the video Patricia had a warm and nurturing smile on her face as she was saying “Just think ahead and you’ll be inspired.” Tears were flowing down my face because of everything that I had been through recently with the loss of my Grandmother and Aunt, losing my job, and just feeling pretty low. I was not crying because of the situations, I was crying because I was feeling better. My pain was lifting. I felt like God was giving me a sign that a new season was coming.

I was also crying because I thought back to a few years ago, when I lost another job and someone close to me that night instead of encouraging me basically ridiculed me and made me feel even worse for losing my job, I felt sad until I remembered the song that had gotten me through so many difficult times. For that negativity, I popped up the video and saw a family of encouraging voices telling me, “You will always do your best, if you learn to never say never. You may be down but you’re not out.” I felt like they were also telling me, “Do not listen to that person. You are somebody, you matter, and God has you.” No, I never thought that when I first heard the song twenty years ago that it would still be such a force in my life today. For the last few weeks, I had not been inspired to write anything because of everything I had been through but thankful to God that he brought this song back into my life, it has inspired me once again to keep on moving and keep it pushing. The tears also came from revelation that God put this song in my life twenty-two years ago because he knew what my story was going to be and he knew I would need it. Isn’t it amazing how God works?

Mary J. Blige credits this song as one of the songs that got her through some of her darkest days and over the last few days I have read countless other stories of how the song saved people dealing with depression, struggling with grief, and having thoughts of suicide, it literally saved their lives. I read an interview where Sounds of Blackness bandleader Gary Hines said a woman rushed the stage to give him a note. The note said that the song saved her because she was struggling with the loss of her mother it saved her life.
As the song encouraged me, I want to use it to encourage you today. The video is included. Think of it as a family of people encouraging you and singing, “You can win, as long as you keep your head to sky…”

Music is truly a healer. It touches the soul through levels one can never imagine.

BE OPTIMISTIC!!