DAD IS NOT A NOUN

Jazmine Cooper is a dance teacher at CICS Wrightwood Charter School on Chicago's Southwest Side.  In 2019, Ms. Cooper and her students broke the internet with their performance of Michael Jackson's  "Thriller"with a Twist. At the time, Ms. Jazmine Cooper of CICS Wrightwood was nine months pregnant.

This year, Ms. Cooper and her students broke the internet with their dance routine inspired by 'Candyman' movie(https://youtu.be/9E6Y8J0vhF8) and (

did another version of the famous dance that included her two-year-old daughter. So her baby was included in both videos, but she's more prominent in the 2021

On this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun  with  my cohost Uncle Mike from the Real Dads Network. We had the opportunity to talk to Pierre Lucien about building character through adversity. Pierre's dream as a child was to become a police officer and in 2007 while on a training run with the Atlanta Police Department his life changed forever, Pierre fell to the ground unconscious when he experience massive organ failure. In an effort to save Pierre’s life, doctors were compelled to amputate both of his legs above the knees and told he would never again walk. He talked to us about his mental and physical health journey through adversity to triumphant and why he loves being dad 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Thank you again VtHeroes for sponsoring this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun go to https://linktr.ee/vtheroes and support this amazing game.

On this episode the two things I love is hip-hop & fantasy fiction. Creator D.D. Turner & Chaz Stats merge the two to gives us The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend, Paths of Grand Wizardry back in 2010 .  A novel about an extraordinary teen with an extraordinary destiny. I hope you enjoyed  Preface & Chapter 1!!!  Here is Chapter 2

The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend details the story of a young Cris Alexander Ellison, whom with great pride, overtly claims and supports the culture of Hip Hop. Unbeknownst to Cris, he has a direct genealogical link to an ancient, African, prophetic tribe said to have sown the seeds for the Hip Hop ideal some several thousand years ago. As a result of this unique link to the past, Cris finds himself the sole holder of the freeing key that will release a current Hip Hop from its dwindling existence and place it back on the golden path of resurgence. But up against Roger "Feedback" Cromwell and his Hip Hop for Destruction clan, this will prove to be no easy task.

Thank you again VtHeroes for sponsoring this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun go to https://linktr.ee/vtheroes and support this amazing game. On this episode the two things I love is hip-hop & fantasy fiction. Creator D.D. Turner & Chaz Stats merge the two to gives us The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend, Paths of Grand Wizardry back in 2010 .  A novel about an extraordinary teen with an extraordinary destiny. I will be sharing the Preface & Chapter 1. I hope you enjoy!!!! The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend details the story of a young Cris Alexander Ellison, whom with great pride, overtly claims and supports the culture of Hip Hop. Unbeknownst to Cris, he has a direct genealogical link to an ancient, African, prophetic tribe said to have sown the seeds for the Hip Hop ideal some several thousand years ago. As a result of this unique link to the past, Cris finds himself the sole holder of the freeing key that will release a current Hip Hop from its dwindling existence and place it back on the golden path of resurgence. But up against Roger "Feedback" Cromwell and his Hip Hop for Destruction clan, this will prove to be no easy task.

Thank you Real Dads Network for sponsoring this Episode!!!

The Real Dads™ Network creates a culture where Black fathers are actively involved in the parenting process, and are portrayed and viewed as exemplary role models by society.

www.realdadsnetwork.org

Follow Real Dads Network IG : https://instagram.com/realdadsnetwork?utm_medium=copy_link

Gil Scott-Heron is one of the forefathers of rap and  was recently inducted into Rock and Roll Hall Fame. My guest Malik Al Nasir was a protégé of Gil Scott Heron and he  just released his memoire entitled Letters To Gil, Malik Al Nasir’s profound coming of age memoir – the story of surviving physical and racial abuse and discovering a new sense of self-worth under the wing of the great artist, poet and civil rights activist Gil Scott-Heron.

Born in Liverpool, Malik was taken into care at the age of nine after his seafaring father became paralysed. He would spend his adolescence in a system that proved violent, neglectful, exploitative, traumatising and mired in abuse. Aged eighteen, he emerged semi-literate, penniless with no connections or sense of where he was going – until a chance meeting with Gil Scott-Heron.

Letters to Gil will tell the story of Malik’s empowerment and awakening while mentored by Gil, from his introduction to the legacy of Black history to the development of his voice through poetry and music. Written with lyricism and power, it is a frank and moving memoir, highlighting how institutional racism can debilitate and disadvantage a child, as well as how mentoring, creativity, self-expression and solidarity helped him to uncover his potential.

Available on Amazon

Letters to Gil: A Luminous Memoir of Racism, Life in the Care System and the Power of Discovering Music under the Mentorship of Gil Scott-Heron – with a Foreword from Lemn Sissay https://www.amazon.com/dp/000846443X/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_VV2P4S8FRYQFSM7V5FE8

Follow Malik Al Nasir on IG: https://instagram.com/malikandtheogs?utm_medium=copy_link

Thank you Real Dads Network for sponsoring this Episode!!!

The Real Dads™ Network creates a culture where Black fathers are actively involved in the parenting process, and are portrayed and viewed as exemplary role models by society.

www.realdadsnetwork.org

Follow Real Dads Network IG : https://instagram.com/realdadsnetwork?utm_medium=copy_link

On this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun I had the opportunity to talk to professional basketball player Antoine Mason on mental health when comes to athletes..  We talked about his love for his  parents, video games, and much more.. 

Follow AM on IG: https://instagram.com/antoine_mason14?utm_medium=copy_link

DINAN intro produced by Amerigo Gazaway

Follow him on IG

https://instagram.com/amerigo.gazaway?utm_medium=copy_link

Check out his website

https://linkin.bio/amerigo-gazaway

DINAN intro lyrics by Skyzoo

Follow him on IG

https://instagram.com/skyzoothewriter?utm_medium=copy_link

Support his new project "All Brilliant Things"

https://smarturl.it/BrilliantThings

DINAN Logo by Demar Douglas

Follow him on IG:https://instagram.com/demardouglas?utm_medium=copy_link

https://demardouglas.com/

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and I have the privilege to talk to Sophrona  McLennen on the eve of her daughter Zoefia's Heavenly 8th Birthday.  Sophrona created the Zoefia Alexandria Foundarion in the memory of her daughter Zoefia Alexandria who passed at the age of 6yrs three days before Christmas in 2019 from brain cancer.

For more information go to https://www.zoefiaalexandriafoundation.org/

Follow

Follow Zoefia Alexandria Foundation on IG : https://instagram.com/zoefiaalexandriafoundation?utm_medium=copy_link

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFErlOkjc7t4fH3dQBHDaZg

On this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun Eyedea to us, Mikey to his mom Kathy Averill.

I had privilege to talk to Kathy Averill on how Mikey's music and his love for people impacted the world..

On Saturday, October 16, 2010, we lost our beloved friend, family member and artist Micheal “eyedea” Larsen at the age of 28. Eyedea, who was most notably known for his music with Eyedea & Abilities, Oliver Hart, Face Candy and Carbon Carousel, was an artist in its truest form. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. In the days to come, we feel the focus should be on Micheal’s life, music and legacy. Let’s celebrate his life, remember his music and never forget what he has given us all.

We miss you. We love you. And, you will not be forgotten.

Micheal “eyedea” Larsen 11.09.81 ”“ 10.16.10 R.I.P.

On this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun I had the privilege to have professional ping pong superstar Wally Green back on to talk about his experience in North Korea...

Check out my first interview with Wally Green https://youtu.be/ph5ukU9OCtY

Follow Wally Green on IG: https://instagram.com/wallygreennyc?utm_medium=copy_link

Follow Wally Green on Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRH7FV6r/

On this Episode of Dad Is Not A Noun I wanted to acknowledge the great work that Quebutter is doing  in the community with his non-profit organization XyayX The Movement and XyayX Institute.

Xyayx The Movement

XyayX The Movement serves as a platform for people of African descent to receive a strategic lifelong education that will foster the development of critical thinkers who are prepared to lead our communities to prosperity.

 

About Xyayx The Movement:

The mission of XyayX The Movement is provision of programs and founding of facilities that foster development and growth of Black African American and Afro-Latino communities. We will achieve these goals through community-wide culturally significant programs, social service advocacy, educational opportunities, community-based initiatives, and accountable fundraising strategies. The specific objectives of this organization shall be to:

 

• Improve the educational experience of youth by providing an outlet for creativity, individual uniqueness, and self-expression through music, dance, and arts programs.

• Sponsor, host and/or participate in events and activities that promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) within Black/African American and Afro-Latino communities.

• Create and maintain learning centers and educational facilities equipped with the necessary materials for participants to learn comfortably.

• Conduct educational activities that promote financial literacy, and positive credit management within the Black/African American and Afro-Latino communities.

• Establish programs and projects that promote healthy eating habits and positive use of cognitive capabilities.

• Provide free adult literacy classes.

To learn more information about  XyayX The Movement visit: https://www.xyayxthemovement.org/ourprograms

The XyayX Institute is a learning center that helps Black youth achieve academic goals, develop good trade skills, and make positive contributions to their communities. Located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, this center is a safe and comfortable space for the children in the city to develop a love for learning. The classes take place Monday – Friday, with their curriculum consisting of Literacy & History, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Writing/Literature. They also provide development initiative programs such as K-12 Enrichment classes, Project TAP (TASC assist programs), and C.V.T Initiative training.

https://www.thexyayxinstitute.org/

DINAN intro produced by Amerigo Gazaway

Follow him on IG

https://instagram.com/amerigo.gazaway?utm_medium=copy_link

Check out his website

https://linkin.bio/amerigo-gazaway

DINAN intro lyrics by Skyzoo

Follow him on IG

https://instagram.com/skyzoothewriter?utm_medium=copy_link

Support his new project "All Brilliant Things"

https://smarturl.it/BrilliantThings