Newsletter for the African American Community of Topeka, Kansas July 2012

Heavenly Visions Foundation Youth Photography Program

The photography students of Heavenly Visions Foundation have been very busy this summer. They worked

hard to raise money through various fundraising activities for their visit to Washington DC scheduled

August 4-8, 2012. Top picture are the students in front of the

Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site. Also pictured

are three of the sponsors featured in the students Photo Book

Fundraiser....Eugene Williams and staff (KTWU), Carolyn L.

Wims-Campbell (Kansas State Board of Education) and Sheyvette

Dinkens (Womens Enpowerment, Inc). A special thank you to all

sponsors who will be featured in the Heavenly Visions Foundation

Photo Book. A Book Signing/Reception is scheduled for

September 21, 2012 (6pm-8pm) at the Topeka and Shawnee

County Public Library. During this event, members of Heavenly

Visions Foundation and our photography students will personally say thank you to our sponsors. There will

also be an opportunity for everyone to view the photographs taken by our students in Washington DC.

The Young Lions Mentor Program

On May 8, 2012, The Young Lions Mentor Program invited 2

female exchange students from China (Washburn U. students)

to share cultural information and gifts. Even thought their

English language wasn’t very good they were able to have an

engaging dialogue and had fun in the process. The Young

Lions' members learned about their life style, values and

educational commitment in America compared to China. One

of the most important values that the Young Lions took an

interest in was China educational values. The students mentioned that performing below expectations in

school is not an option in China and they respect their parents/elders. This was a great way to expose the

Young Lions to diversity.

Thanks goes out to the exchange students from WU for volunteering their time during finals week. These

students were in America for one year and now back in China.

Bill Russell visits Topeka

Youth from the Young Loins Mentoring Program pose with Bill Russell at banquet

commemorating the 58th Anniversary of Brown v. Board Education/Brown Foundation

Negro Baseball League History comes to Prairie Band Casino and Resort

The African American Male Leadership Council arranged for

youth from the Boys and Girls Club and Heavenly Visions

Foundation to attend an event where Bob Kendrick-President

of the Negro League Baseball Museum, MLB players Frank

White and Willie Wilson spoke on how African Americans

changed the game of baseball. Former professional

basketball player Bud Stallworth joined the players where he

provided insight on the game and signed autographs.

The men of the Delta Eta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi

Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate fraternity for

African-American men, held their 2nd

Annual Gospel Fest

Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Not

only did Topeka and surrounding communities get to

witness some great expressions of Gospel music, but they

also got to give to the worthy cause of scholarship. This

year, the chapter gave away its first scholarship of $500 to

Ms. Shantaé Talbert, a 2012 graduate of Highland Park

H.S. who will be attending Kansas State this fall.

Furthermore, the chapter used this opportunity to educate

the congregation on the new voter identification laws. Additionally, it provided the chance for people to

register to vote. If you missed the event, you can view a video of it on Words2Eat.com Please mark your

calendars for the 3rd

Annual Gospel Fest Scholarship Fundraiser taking place on Saturday, July 20, 2013.

Corner of Truth with Author Chris Bush, MCJ GCDF

Your KNOWLEGE or tech KNOWLEG E… Don’t Allow Technology To Replace Your knowledge…

In this article I will reference technology as (tech-knowledge-e) .Too much tech-knowledge-e can impose a

threat to how you communicate, socialize and retain information. It is evident in our youth and even with

our adult population that there has been a lack of skills lost do to so much time now spent in front of

computers, cell phones, tablets, (and newly created gadgets) that all you to be engaged in chat rooms, on

facebook. texting, twittering and several other social media outlets.

This new way of socializing quickly grew over a short of amount of time and so did the downward spiral of

socialization skills of individuals. Many individuals who spend a great deal of time on these social media

sights become adapted to the environment of which they start speaking broken language; there presentation

style of introducing themselves is lost, They start losing sight of who they are and what they do for a living

by deceiving others by living a lie behind computers, cell phones,, tablets, (all other newly created gadgets)

while in chat rooms, on facebook, texting and twittering and so forth.

I have witness individuals struggle with the intimidation of walking up to a stranger in a welcoming

professional place of business stumble with introducing themselves. In the same environment I have also

witnessed the same individuals sit down just as quickly and reach for their gadget and rely on the tech-

knowledge-e to advance their communication to make a so called “friend(s)”

The definition of friend in Facebook terms has quickly out shadowed the true definition of how friends are

met these days. Today most kids don’t have a true friendship because of the lost connection of feelings and

sympathy is replaced through cyberspace. Even adults have quickly lost touch with the true way of meeting

someone by replacing being introduced with request…since when do we request a friend. Ask yourself

would you walk up to a person and state…”I am adding you as a friend….or I request you as a friend, etc”.

Well if it has not already happen, in time it will because of the adaptation of dysfunctional skills gained on

social media will have you doing this without you realizing you have taken on the behavior of degrading

yourself to speak the language you engage in through social networking.

I have witness youth address letters to each other written in text format, I have witness even adults submit

professional emails with text jargon, I have witness individuals to not know there on wife or husband cell/

home number because it was stored in the memory of their phones and when the battery goes dead they

can’t retrieve the number. I have witness conversations become bolder behind keyboards and keypads, etc. I

have seen these same individuals struggle in person to be weakened behind their own voice because they

relied so much on tech-kwoledge-e.

This is Chris Bush reporting to you from the corner of truth and hope no one take offense to information that

has been provided. I suggest you look at the ones you engage with that depend on tech-knowledge-e and

how they communicate, and interact. This could be your friends, children, family, coworkers, or even

yourself. Use the technology for it worth (networking, advertising, etc.) and don’t allow it to use you and

transform your knowledge to depend on tech-knowledge-e. This behavior affects how you do on the job,

interviews, school, how you communicate with your children, how your children communicate with you,

others and so forth. So what is going to be? Your knowledge or tech-knowledg-e?

Become one of the 300--$100 Donors to help Re-elect

Carolyn L. Wims-Campbell for Kansas State Board of

Education (District 4).

Please note that donations of any amount will be appreciated.

Make checks or money order payable to Campbell for State

Board and mail to: 3824 SE Illinois Avenue, Topeka, KS 66609

Tobias Schlingensiepen is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the

2nd District Congressional seat. Schlingensiepen (pronounced schling-in-zee-

pen) grew up in Topeka and lives there today. He is a pastor on leave from the

First Congregational Church, a community leader, a chaplain with the Topeka

Police Department, a husband and father. He earned a BA from the University

of Kansas in 1986. After attending seminary, he returned to Topeka to live and

work. "I believe our nation is strong," Schlingensiepen said. "We can create

new jobs, educate our children, give workers a fair deal, and care for the elderly

and the vulnerable without bankrupting ourselves, but we have to choose better

priorities. "We can end the gridlock in Congress, but we have to send people to Washington who are willing

to pay attention to the voters." More information on Schlingensiepen is available on his

website,www.TobiasforCongress.com.

Voter identification law raises concern for Kansas nursing homes residentsResidents might not have the paperwork required to vote under the state's new voter identification laws. An

option available to residents include going on a permanent advanced ballot list so they wouldn't have to

show an ID to participate in each election. Registered voters are eligible for a free photo ID if they sign an

affidavit stating they lack one that would qualify them to vote. They may apply for a non-driver ID card if

they have proof of identity and proof of residence. Those who lack proof of identity but were born in Kansas

may apply for a free birth certificate. If they don't have proof of identity and weren't born in Kansas, they

must apply for a state voter ID card with the secretary of state's office.

Let us do our part to make sure that every resident in Topeka nursing homes VOTE

Upcoming Events and Activities

"STEP in for 6 weeks"

Learn Basic Gospel Sign Language

Objectives: *Learn to introduce yourself in sign language *How to sign the letters in the alphabet *Basic understanding of the deaf culture *Completely sign a gospel song, and much more

Instructors: Sylvia Hopper, Emeri Calhoun and Chris James

~~~FREE~~~ Donations accepted to benefit S.T.E.P.S.

(Students Trained to Excel with Purpose for Success) A non-profit organization with programs designed by and

specifically for ages 13-25 Visit our website at www.stepsks.org

Starts: Monday, July 16, ‘12

Ends: Monday, August 20, ‘12

City of Light Worship Center,

2300 SE 6th

Ave, Topeka, KS

Contact Sylvia Hopper for

more information at (785) 969-8957

True Holiness Family Church

Youth Conference August 1-4, 2012—6:00pm

1244 SE Republican Avenue Topeka, KS 66605

Pastor Theodis Williams

Classes will be held each night with a featured speaker. The

conference will end on August 4th

at 6:00pm with a block

party, free food, fun games and open mic. Come Everyone.

SUNSET OPTIMIST CLUB OF TOPEKA

Chartered: 09/18/1972 A FRIEND OF THE YOUTH

MEETING 1ST- 2ND & 4TH

Wednesday; @ 6:30 PM

TOPEKA PUBLIC LIBARY

JAMES E. MURRAY, President 785 221-2166

jemurray12@cox.net

My number is 845-9724. Classes are held at the

Antioch Family Life Center 1921 SE Indiana Ave.

Regional Revival Crusade 2012

The Call to “Evangelism”

International Department of Evangelism

Church of God in Christ, Inc.---Region 15

August 6-11, 2012

Services Nightly at 8:00pm

at First Church of God in Christ

614 SE California Ave. Topeka, KS 66607

785 235-6113

Hosting Jurisdictional Leader

Pastor Theodis Williams

Jurisdictional President Kansas Central

Gold and White Prayer Breakfast

Saturday--9:00am to 11:00am

To include information on an event or to make

announcements in the October issue of The Ebony Review,

email information to yyotylr@hotmail.com

by October 15, 2012.

Heart of America Black Expo present Grant Fest

September 1st, 2nd & 3rd 2012 (Labor Day Weekend)

Theme “A Season of Giving”

Cusinberry Park & Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

15th & SE Monroe St. Topeka, KS

Saturday, Sept. 1

9:00am-State Capitol Building---Walk for Kansas Families

9am-5pm-Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site:

Kids Activities, Games, Storytellers, Zoo Animals

9:00am-Golf Tournament-Western Hills Course-785 478-4000

At Cushinberry Park:

10am-5pm--“Joyland” Free Carnival & Rides, Booths, Games, Food and Business & Health Fair

11am-A Taste of Cultures

12noon-Classic Car Show

6pm-Gospel Concert

8:30pm-Movie on the Lawn at Brown v. Board—Barbara Johns: The Making of a Icon

Sunday, Sept 2

9am-5pm Self-Guided Tours of Brown v. Board Site

5pm-Midwest Music Showcase & Community Social

8pm-Old School Block Party Featuring the Band Zapp

Monday, Sept 3

8am-5k Run & Walk at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

For more information call 785 383-1476 or visit our website at www.naaausa.com

Forum for Black Businesses in Topeka

“A Meeting of Minds”

Focusing on our Future-Our Youth

Sunday-September 16, 2012---3pm

Topeka and Shawnee County Library

Heavenly Visions Foundation

Book Signing and Reception

(Recognizing Sponsors for Photo Book Fundraiser)

Friday-September 21, 2012—6pm

Topeka and Shawnee County Library

For information on the Forum and Reception,

contact Yolanda at 785 608-3291 or email at

yyotylr@hotmail.com

The National Park Service is planning a student

art contest to commemorate the 150th anniversary

of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation

Proclamation ordering the freeing of slaves.

Park Service director Jonathan Jarvis says the

contest encourages young people to reflect on

their personal meanings of freedom and express

those thoughts creatively.

Students 13 to 18 years old may enter

photography, poetry and digital short films. The

first-place winner in each category will receive a

$2,500 academic scholarship and the second-place

winner will receive a $1,000 academic

scholarship.

Entries are due Oct. 15, 2012. The Emancipation

Proclamation was issued Jan. 1, 1863.

American Royalty Supreme presents

Elegant Young Lady/ Lady Plus Size Pageant

and Elegant Moms and Grandmoms pageant

Saturday October 27, 2012

Location: Kansas Historical Society -- Topeka,

Kansas

This pageant is for all young ladies:

Pre-Teens 9-12, Teens 13-15, Teen Miss 16-19,

Miss 20-29,

Ms. 30+ single ladies and Mrs. All married ladies.

Open to all states

Our Elegant Moms and Grandmoms Pageant : All

Moms and Grandmoms this one is for you.

So hurry and sign up now!!!! To secure you place

in this wonderful pageant.

Applications are being accepted.

For additional information, please visit our

website at americanroyaltysupremepageants.com

For only $20.00 ADVERTISE your business or organization in the next issue of THE EBONY REVIEW

EMAIL yyotylr@hotmail.com or CALL 785 608-3291 for information.

The Ebony Review Newsletter is published quarterly by Heavenly Visions Foundation