King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

Jay Reed was born and raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School where he was an Art major. He graduated in 1991, and shortly after, served in the United States Marine Corps as a Food service Specialist until 1995. Jay came home and started to work in Food service as an Executive Chef, for about a year. He decided to explore another one of his God-given talents as a Barber. Jay went to Tri-City Barber School, graduated and received his Barber's license. Shortly after, he opened up several Barber Shops where he employed other Barbers. Jay has serviced several different communities throughout the Philadelphia area for over 25 years and counting. He is currently working on an LLC for his Food business @Castiron_Kitchen1.He will be starting out with a Food truck first then maybe in the near future move to a brick and mortar location. Jay’s favorite Bible verse is Phil. 4:13, “I can do ALL things thru Christ who gives me strength!”  And yes, he is a Man of GOD.

Kenneth York is the Proud father of 2: a handsome 8 year old son and a beautiful 3 year old daughter. He’s been married to his beautiful high school sweetheart for 9 years. He is a proud Air Force veteran, and served for 6 years at Barksdale Air Force base. During that enlistment Kenneth had the honor to serve in the honor guard. It was during his service in the honor guard where he began his advocacy for suicide awareness. Kenneth’s message to you: “I love all people, and I’m always willing to be an ear for anyone that needs it. You are loved, and you deserve  a wonderful, magical, and positive experience in your life.”

In his own words: “Imagine if Malcolm X collected comic books and played sports as a child . Then grew up into a blerd that sought autonomy from the government. To pursue black liberation . In support of strong black families and communities . Movies, pop culture, politics, black history and culture nothing concerning the diaspora is off limits follow me on Instagram - @17soulja.8

Richard A. Oliver Jr. is  a dynamic 25-year-old hailing from West Philadelphia, where he was born and raised. Richard's educational journey has been marked by determination and a commitment to public service. In 2020, he proudly graduated from East Stroudsburg University of PA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and Cum Laude Honors, showcasing his passion for physical health and wellness.

Richard's thirst for knowledge and desire to make a positive impact on his community led him to pursue further education. In 2022, he successfully obtained his Master's Degree in Public Administration from West Chester University of PA with a 4.0 GPA, expanding his expertise in leadership and public policy.

Throughout his academic journey, Richard embraced extracurricular involvement as a means to foster personal growth and cultivate lasting relationships. As a distinguished member of the Mu Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. at East Stroudsburg University, he demonstrated leadership and dedication to his fellow fraternity brothers.

Richard's commitment to community service was further exemplified by his role as the 4th District Youth Commissioner for the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement. In this position, he championed the needs and aspirations of young people, working tirelessly to ensure their voices were heard and their concerns addressed.

Currently, Richard holds the esteemed position of Youth Engagement Coordinator at the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of PA. In this critical role, he spearheads the youth engagement arm of the office, where he focuses on various initiatives such as Civics Education, Federal Law Enforcement Career Exposure, and Community Outreach. By engaging with youth and providing them with the necessary resources, Richard actively contributes to preventing violence and fostering a safe environment for future generations.

Richard's dedication to public service, his academic achievements, and his involvement in various organizations have shaped him into a well-rounded individual poised to create a lasting impact in his community. With his unwavering commitment and passion, Richard continues to be a shining example of how one person can make a difference.

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V. Shayne Frederick is a rising star vocalist and pianist with performances spanning two decades. He has been featured at TEDx, NPR's Jazz Night in America, John Coltrane Jazz Festival, Center City Jazz Festival, The Barnes Foundation, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, among a myriad of jazz venues throughout the nation.

Cited by the Broad Street Review as “one of the region’s busiest and best jazz singers,” V. Shayne has been appointed “one to watch” and a “shining light" by All About Jazz. "V. Shayne's repertoire is vast but curated, reaching deep into the jazz songbook for forgotten songs that he makes feel like standards. He’s an artist’s artist, in part because it seems almost effortless—like he’s never been anything but."  According to WXPN, "Frederick’s vocals are constantly (and rightfully) at the forefront. His stunning baritone effortlessly soars.” His official debut album Lovesome was released in 2019, followed by a single, Gleaming, and a holiday EP Evergreen. His latest recording, The King's Suite, was released in 2022.

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Dr. Kenneth Scott, President/CEO,  Beech Companies is well known throughout the Philadelphia region for his support and commitment to community service. His work has produced comprehensive development in the areas of Business, Education, Finance, Media, Philanthropy, Real Estate Development and Technology. Dr. Scott currently serves as the President of the Beech Companies (Beech Interplex, Inc., Beech Capital, Beech International, The Alston-Beech Foundation, Beech Community Services Corporation, Beech LLC, Beech Technologies and the Beech Network – (Publisher of The Cecil B. Moore Community Times and Media/Technology Studio). He is also the Executive Producer of several documentary films including the award winning “Barnes and Beyond” and “The Beech Experiment”.

Over the past 30 years The Beech Companies non-profit operations has leveraged over Two (2) Billion dollars in Community and Economic Development in the Philadelphia area, Created 6,000 Jobs, awarded Millions in Grants to Non-Profit Organizations, Provided Hundreds of College Scholarships, and Produced thousands of Units of Affordable Housing and over a half million Square Feet of Commercial, Retail, and Educational Facilities.

Dr. Scott is recognized as a fellow in the global network of thought leaders in Public Policy, Urban Affairs, Social Enterprise and Innovation. Ken is a noted speaker and has had the honor to speak at the United Nations and as an advisor to U.S. Department of State in Washington, Europe and the Caribbean. He is a regular lecturer, commencement speaker and panelist at conferences, universities and television news. Ken has received numerous acknowledgments in his career including being recognized by The White House, The United States Senate, and The House of Representatives.  In 2007 he received The “Liberty Bell Award” one of the highest honors from The Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.  Dr. Scott was also recognized by organizations such as “Habitat for Humanity, Philadelphia Naval Base & Shipyard (NAVSEC) Engineering Award, Fox Chase Cancer Center Service Award, Black Journalist Award, Philadelphia School District Service Award, Father’s Day Award, Frontiers International Leadership Award and several other awards for his commitment and dedication to family and community.

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Charles Watkins was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. He attended McDonogh 35 Sr. High, Columbus State University in Columbus, GA and law school at LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Charles has been a prosecutor his entire career. Starting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana then going to Waycross, GA and Atlanta, GA. Currently he is a federal prosecutor in Buffalo NY.

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Shane Nelson is a Black and Indian educator, social impact innovator, and entrepreneur. He thrives off of building value-based collaborations for students and organizations. Shane graduated from Drexel University in 2016 and Syracuse University in 2019. Outside of work, Shane reads, cooks, and sneaks a tv show in when he can.

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John William, Flautist, born John William Conner, is vastly emerging as one of the premier flautist in the music industry. The Atlanta native prides himself on producing a unique sound that keeps his audience captivated until the very last note. From the mesmerizing melodies to the hypnotic harmonies, John believes that music is a conduit for one to achieve inner peace and tranquility. John prides himself on the versatility of his performance repertoire, which includes the genres Gospel, Light Jazz, R & B, Motown Oldies, Soul, Pop, Hip Hop, Light Rock and Neo- Soul. With an ever-growing desire to entertain, John has performed all over Atlanta at establishments such as Apache Café, Kat’s Café, Venkman’s, Copeland’s of New Orleans, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, FUMI Hibachi and Sushi Bar along with a host of others. John has galvanized thousands while performing for weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate events, graduations and reunions. Recently, John performed the National Anthem for the WBCBL’s Atlanta Monarchs and WNBA's Atlanta Dream. In 2017, John gained placement on the soundtrack of “Superfly”. Produced by DJ Burn One and performed by Sleepy Brown and Scar, John had the opportunity to lace his dynamic style to the song entitled “If You Want It” which is the first song found on the soundtrack. On May 2019, John released his debut album entitled "Melodic Ascension." The project spanned from a variety of genres including Jazz, Blues, and Neo-Soul. 

Brandon Chastang aka B Mcfly  which stands for Being Motivated Comes From Loving Yourself, reenacts real life scenarios through skits to spread awareness while being sober. He has been clean since 2018 and serves as a powerful role model for others and activist for change in our community.