Real Talk, Real Solutions

 When Jaylen Christie walks into a room, he is all smiles, handshakes and even hugs.

He’s not afraid of going all in—Christie describes himself as a full-time extrovert and hardcore nerd.

Growing up, being called a nerd was hardly a badge of honor. Nowadays, Christie has embraced the moniker in all its glory.

On Real Talk, Real Solutions, he opened up about how as a young boy, he decided to just be himself.

“When I was a kid, being a nerd was not cool even though I fully embraced it,” Christie said. “Being a nerd now is also a part of my brand. I am on Instagram as thesuperflynerd. That’s my handle. Fast forward to 2023 and Black nerds are affectionately referred to as ‘blerds.’ I am a card-carrying blerd through and through. I make no apologies.”

Christie also makes no apologies for creating comic book characters who look like him.

For 10 years, he has been working to make “Stink Bomb Man and The Brain Kids: Vol. 1,” a reality. It’s the first in a planned six-volume series set to be released as Black History Month comes to a close.

Now, this public relations expert-actor-motivational speaker hyphenate can add the title of author to his extensive resume.

Christie, who grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, has always loved comic book superheroes, what they stood for and everything they represented.

He said the one downside was that so few of those superheroes represented him.

In elementary school, he took pen to paper and created a world where he could see himself, his family and friends represented.

“Stink Bomb Man was invented when I was in the third grade. The Brain Kids were invented when I was in the first grade,” he told News 6.

It’s pretty heady stuff for a kid in elementary school, especially when you consider “The Brain Kids”—Jesse and Brittany McBrilliant, who are siblings—don’t use their hands to fight crime.

“They fight crime using their aptitude—science, technology, engineering mathematics. STEM,” Christie said.

Even Stink Bomb Man who is an intergalactic peacekeeper has a unique way of diffusing tense situations.

“Whereas other superheroes from Marvel and DC, they fight using their hands, their fists, Stink Bomb Man uses his stink bombs to diffuse situations because he’s a peacekeeper,” Christie said.

But Christie wants to make clear his goal wasn’t to just shine a spotlight on African American characters. He wanted everyone to see a piece of themselves with every turn of the page.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion are important. I think that representation is important so even though my leading characters are Black, I was sure to include characters across the dimension of diversity,” Christie said. “For example, the Brain Kids, their grandfather, Dr. Beaumont McBrilliant is a proud and openly gay man.”

Jesse McBrilliant has a friend, Elle Yamamoto, who is a young Japanese-American girl who attends James Baldwin High School with the Brain Kids. Her best friend, Trish, is disabled.

Jesse’s best fiend Riley has two dads and Brittany’s best friend, Fatima, is Muslim.

“I try to include as much diversity as possible,” Christie said. “There are also characters of different body types as well.”

“Stink Bomb Man and The Brain Kids: Vol. 1″ will debut Feb. 28.

It is the first in a series of six volumes available on Amazon, barnesandnoble.com and at jaylenchristie.com.

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At 76 years old, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Herman Cole will tell you he’s experienced things that most people will never.

When he was in high school, he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“As a child in Charleston, I saw the Ku Klux Klan come out and burn crosses in front of my neighbor’s homes,” Cole said.

Growing up in the segregated deep South, he witnessed to horrors of racism firsthand, but at a young age, he realized the power of unity.

“When I was in third grade, my aunt was an elementary school teacher and they would plan trips to Charleston Air Force base,” Cole said.

He tagged along on one of those trips and saw Black and white people getting along, a rarity in 1954.

“It was not something you saw,” Cole said.

That trip to the Air Force base changed Cole’s perspective and his life. It’s part of the reason he’s been able to build relationships and rise through the ranks in the Air Force during his 26-year military career.

After high school, Cole attended Tuskegee University and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force. His military assignments took the Vietnam War veteran all over the globe, from London to Saudi Arabia.

When he retired in 1994, he held the rank of full colonel. But his service did not end there.

Since 1994, Cole has served on numerous community and civic boards, taking up roles like chairman on the Board of Directors of Parrish Medical Center and president of the Titusville Rotary Club.

In 2019, he created the Humanity Task Force for Social Change.

“I see us reverting back to the ‘50s and ‘60s, so I formed this Humanity Task force,” Cole told News 6.

His focus now is to continue his service in his community in Titusville, where he’s currently running for city council.

This Juneteenth, Cole’s mission spans beyond just service—he wants to share his knowledge with the next generation in hopes of getting closer to equality for all.

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When you think of leaders, who do you think about? A CEO, an elected official, someone with a specific title or lots of money?

It turns out you don’t need any of that to impact your community. Sometimes helping others is all about identifying your passion and tapping into it.

That’s exactly what News 6 investigative photojournalist Corie Murray did.

You may remember him from a promotion News 6 ran on-air and online inviting viewers to get to know its employees.

During the video Murray talked about his passion for his work, capturing the important moments in Central Florida, and bringing them to viewers. That includes covering big trials and devastating hurricanes.

He also talked about the importance of giving back.

During an episode of Real Talk Real Solutions, Murray explained, for him, that means being a mentor to kids and adults.

He helps with “teach-ins” at local schools and also started a podcast to help build generational wealth. It’s called Black Men Sundays.

Murray says the two go hand-in hand. “I do teach-ins at Dream Lake Elementary,” he said. “The first instinct came from there was a little girl. I thought she was one of the best finalists for the shake competition that they do in Atlanta every year, but when I got the picture back the little girl that I really wanted to be there wasn’t there and I said why didn’t she go, they said well she didn’t have the money to go, so that’s when I started thinking.”

To make sure qualified kids aren’t left behind, Murray says he now helps provide funding as the president of the National Engineering League in the Orlando District.

As part of Murray’s podcast, which he does separately from his role at News 6, he focuses less on poverty and more on building wealth.

“I feel like I am basically giving you the journal to financial success,” said Murray.

Part of that journal/podcast includes a conversation with former president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, Emily Barr.

Murray said he asked Barr to talk about retirement on Black Men Sundays when she stopped by News 6 as part of her retirement tour.

After listening to the podcast, Murray says Barr was on board and willingly gave valuable nuggets on what it takes to retire well. That includes this tip about saving money, something she has been doing since her very first job.

“I wasn’t making very much money back then. I think my salary was $11,000 a year or $11,500. It seemed like a lot at the time. So, what I did was I made myself save something every month. Even if it was $25. It didn’t really matter. I had a separate savings account and I put that money in the savings account every month. It was like a discipline thing I made myself do and that’s how I started saving money,” said Barr.

In addition to Barr, Murray says he has sat down with real estate experts, accountants and financial advisors.

“I asked a financial advisor that I had on the show, I said so I had you on the show for two hours, how much would you charge me for a private consultation? He said, ‘Oh $200 to $300 bucks,’ so think about it, I am giving you gems every week for free,” said Murray.

To learn more about Murray, his commitment to the community, and how he is using his passion to get results during his free time, listen to Real Talk Real Solutions.

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Following the death of George Floyd, there was a racial reckoning that prompted some U.S. companies to commit more heavily to equity in their communities and workplaces.

In 2020, PepsiCo committed $570 million over 5 years to increase Black and Hispanic representation, help address systemic barriers and create economic opportunities for Black and Hispanic Americans.

Now, we are catching up with one of the leaders at PepsiCo responsible for driving that change.

News 6 anchor and Real Talk Real Solutions host Ginger Gadsden recently sat down with the first president of multicultural business & equity development at PepsiCo to learn more about his role and how he is using it to strengthen minority communities.

Derek Lewis spent 34 years with PepsiCo before stepping into this new position. He says he is passionate about diversity because it’s not just minorities who win when they have the resources they need to succeed, but the community as a whole.

Lewis is getting very hands-on in Central Florida.

“We had a great activation at the Harbor House, we partnered with the Shaquille O’Neil Foundation, The Orlando Magic and the sheriff’s office, we restored some recreational facilities, Boys and Girls Club, it just varies,” he said.

Lewis also focuses his time on an initiative called “She Got Now.” It’s meant to be a celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ culture and pride for the next generation of female leaders.

HBCUs are near and dear to his heart. He graduated from Hampton University and credits his education there as preparing him for his current role.

It’s a position that he says he had to work hard to get and now that he has it, “it’s time to pay it forward.”

During his conversation with Ginger, Lewis shares some of the things he wishes he would have known when he was younger. For example, dream big, be a continuous learner, build your brand, and understand the power of relationships and collaboration.

He also dives deeper into how he climbed the ladder at PepsiCo and the importance of diversity in the boardroom. To hear more from Lewis and how he is serving the community, listen to the latest episode of Real Talk Real Solutions by clicking here.

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For many Americans buying a home is part of the American Dream. But for many Black people, it can feel out of reach.

According to Zillow, 17% of Black people in Florida are denied mortgages. That’s compared to 11% of white people.

Of course, if you can’t get approved for the loan, you likely won’t be able to buy a home.

The latest U.S. Census data shows 74% of white people owned homes in 2021 compared to 44% of Black people. That’s a 30% gap.

And because homeownership is one of the key ways Americans build wealth, these obstacles can cause issues for generations.

So, News 6 invited Oglah Gatamah, a realtor and franchise owner with Keller Wiliams Legacy Realty, and Tenisha Williams, real estate broker and owner of Elite Realty Partners, Inc., on Real Talk Real Solutions to talk about these problems and what can be done to overcome them.

Host Ginger Gadsden asked Gatamah why she thinks buying a home is so important.

“If you are looking at generational wealth, especially in the United States of America, most of the generational wealth is actually built out of homeownership. When people own homes and you get that equity, it’s something that you can pass on to your family. It’s something that you can help get some of that equity to, you know, pay for student loans. There’s just a lot of things you can leverage once you own a home versus not buying a home,” Gatamah said.

Gatamah goes on to say getting the keys to a new home often starts with getting connected to the right resources.

“There are so many programs. It’s not a one-stop-shop. There are programs for first-time homebuyers, there are programs for veterans. There are some areas in Central Florida that qualify for USDA loans 100% because they are zoned for USDA and people think this is the rural areas. No. There are parts of Ocoee and Apopka and Clermont that are USDA and you can get 100% financing,” Gatamah said.

Williams added another important thing to keep in mind is your credit score.

“If you don’t have any credit cards, just get a secured credit card and make sure that you are maintaining the balance under 30% of the limit because it starts there. You know, sometimes we have people in our families that have maintained good credit ask them, ‘Can you become an authorized user?’ That helps build your credit,” Williams said.

Williams also said it is important to start saving.

“I also encourage you to get a savings account that you do not have a debit card to, that you do not have access to, that you are just making deposits. You can’t miss something that you never had. So, I like to encourage homebuyers to transfer that money directly... from your paycheck so you can save that money on a regular basis. It starts with the mindset for sure,” Williams said.

Even if you don’t have all your ducks in a row right now, you can still take key steps today to set you up for buying a house in the near future.

Williams told Real Talk Real Solutions host Ginger Gadsden how she helped a woman, who was making $10 an hour. prepare to buy a home. She added once one person buys a home, gains confidence and tells others how to do it, more people get on board and this can help change the culture.

You can hear more from Williams and Gatamah by listening to this episode of Real Talk Real Solutions.

You can also reach out to them directly.

Tenisha Williams can be reached at TrustEliteInc.com and Oglah Gatamah can be found at KWLegacyOrlando.com.

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Decades ago, miles apart, in the same state, LaVon Bracy and Ingrid Burton Nathan were going through the same struggle.

They are both Black women who endured all of the obstacles of education while withstanding the horrors of racism. Horrors that caused immeasurable anguish but also taught invaluable lessons.

Ingrid Burton Nathan was born in New York. After being put up for adoption, her new parents brought her to Seminole County, where she was raised.

In 1964, she attended Sanford Middle School and was the first Black student to integrate Seminole County Schools.

At just 14 years old, the then ninth-grader got a call from a white parent before her first day of school.

“She didn’t know me. She just said tell your parents you don’t want to go. Don’t go to that school tomorrow,” Nathan said.

That call would not stop her. She persevered.

She said on the first day of school, everyone was nice to her. Students walked her to class and sat with her at lunch, but as time went on, things changed.

She went on to attend Seminole High School, where Nathan said she was bullied and wasn’t allowed to join clubs.

She said she was isolated.

“When I walked through the halls, the hall parted like the red sea. Nobody wanted to touch me,” she said.

Just 140 miles northwest of Seminole High School, another young woman was living a similar existence.

LaVon Bracy is credited with being the first to integrate Gainesville High School in Alachua County.

Bracy was a senior in high school when she said she endured isolation, just like Nathan, but her experience was much worse.

Bracy said she was spit on, called the N-word and beaten by white students who did not want the class of ‘65 to be the first to graduate with a Black student.

Bracy had a daily police escort from her house to the school, but that security ended once on campus. She recalls one beating that resulted in her getting stitches from the front to the back of her head.

“They said if you stay here this will be the worst year of your life... and they were true to their word. It was the worst year of my life,” Bracy said.

But like Nathan, Bracy endured.

“My dad told me I didn’t have to go back and I stayed home about four or five days and I said, ‘Dad, take me back,’” Bracy said.

The reason, she said, is simple.

“I said if don’t go back, they win and I just can’t afford to let them win,” Bracy said.

And she did not.

Through it all, both women persevered, setting an example for what strength and long-suffering can accomplish.

LaVon Bracy would go on to graduate from the University of Florida with a doctorate degree. She is the publicist for a children’s book on integration called A Brave Little Cookie.

Nathan graduated in the top 10% of her class and was selected to be a member of the National Honor Society. She went on to become a teacher, spending nearly 40 years teaching Spanish at Lake Brantley and Lake Mary high schools.

On Wednesday, she will be honored for her perseverance in the face of adversity by Seminole County Public Schools. The district will host a building naming ceremony in honor of Nathan at Sanford Middle School.

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Justice James E.C. Perry made history in Florida. Now he says it’s about time history is made in our country’s highest court.

Perry became the first African American appointed to the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, comprised of Seminole and Brevard counties, in 2000. Nine years later, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court.

Perry recently sat down with Real Talk, Real Solutions host Ginger Gadsden to talk about the importance of breaking barriers and rising to the top as Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets closer to earning her spot as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.

“Black females have been in the forefront of Black progress throughout the history of this nation and it’s important they have a voice at an important table,” Perry said.

He believes Jackson is ready for the job.

“Her credentials are far superior to any of the last seven or eight appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Perry said.

According to the White House, Jackson has served as a public defender, a Supreme Court clerk and a judge on both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

While Perry says it’s important to be educated and driven, he says other things also have to go right if you want to be a judge.

“Being a judge entails more than you wanting to be one,” he said. “It’s a political process, that the right person has to be in office to appoint you. They have to have the philosophy that diversity is important.”

Despite her qualifications, Perry says many are still making digs about the fact that she is Black. It’s something he says is familiar to him.

”Some call her an affirmative action appointment. I was (also) told, “Jim, you got this because you’re Black and I said, ‘It’s about time I got something because I’m Black because I was kept out of so many things because I am Black.’”

Perry said he decided to go to law school when he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

“I still didn’t know what law school was about, didn’t know any lawyers. But I needed the credibility to try and continue Dr. King’s fight and law would give me the credibility to do it... so I had no hopes and dreams of being a judge or a lawyer and it’s made all the difference in the world,” Perry said.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says her road was different.

“My father, in particular, bears responsibility for my interest in the law. When I was four, we moved back to Miami so that he could be a full-time law student. And we lived on the campus of the University of Miami Law School,” Jackson said. “During those years, my mother pulled double duty, working as the sole breadwinner of our family, while also guiding and inspiring four-year-old me. My very earliest memories are of watching my father study. He had his stack of law books on the kitchen table while I sat across from him with my stack of coloring books.”

But Perry stresses even if you don’t have examples of what you want to do in your own circle, you can still achieve it. He added his parents had very little education.

“If I had waited for my parents, where would I have been?” Perry said. “Education is an individual thing. It has to come from within. You have to want it so you can get it irrespective of what your conditions were when you were growing up.”

Perry is excited about the prospect of Jackson being the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

“I’m happy it’s finally about to happen. It’s going to happen. It’s going to be close,” Perry said. “Hopefully, it will be bipartisan, but it probably won’t be. Because that is just the nature of politics in this nation today. I think we are probably a very divided nation. It’s time for us to come together as Americans. Not as Republicans or Democrats, not as blue, red or white, but as the United States of America.”

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Florida: Where some of the best stories in the country are born. 

Based in Orlando, journalist Katrina Scales voices a selection of the day's top headlines, along with a nugget of Florida knowledge you may have never heard before. 

Ready by 7:00 a.m. every weekday morning.

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In episode two of Real Talk Real Solutions former Orlando Magic standout, Bo Outlaw discusses his passion for mentoring with News 6 anchor Ginger Gadsden.

In the beginning of the conversation, Gadsden highlights a few details from his basketball career, including the fact that he played with the Orlando Magic from 1997-2001 and again from 2005-2007.

In total, he appeared in nearly a thousand games with the Magic. He was an impact player known for his tenacity and athleticism.

When Gadsden mentioned his stats Outlaw bowed his head as if he is blushing.

Gadsden went on to focus on his current role as the Community Ambassador for the Orlando Magic.

“I cannot think of a better person to hold that title right now,” Gadsden said.

“I guess I am the guy always trying to help and raise people up and let them know they are appreciated, so when someone tells me, I guess I’m uncomfortable,” Outlaw said.

But, for the next 15 minutes Outlaw opened up talking about the people who helped shape him and why giving back is important to him.

“I wouldn’t be here without someone mentoring me,” he said,

Outlaw pointed out you don’t have to have an official title to be a mentor.

“You don’t have to step up and say I want to be a mentor, you just have to be in that kid’s life,” he said.

And when it came to coaches and men who influenced him, Outlaw said, “I wouldn’t say that’s my mentor, no, it was just someone I looked up to in the neighborhood, one of my coaches.”

While there are many organizations that help adults form mentor-mentee relationships Outlaw said it can be more organic than that.

“If you see this one kid every day and you speak to that kid you might be making that kid’s day, cause every day you might have something different, a different nugget for that kid... something you say might just trigger that kid and make a difference in their life and you don’t even know it.”

Though Outlaw said a lot of the people in his community helped to shape who he is today his Mother was by far the most influential.

“She was my Mom, my Dad, my provider, whatever I needed,” he said.

While he has achieved a great level of success Outlaw said he had humble beginnings.

He said his mom “didn’t come to a lot of my sporting events until later in life because she was trying to provide.” So, when people have said he doesn’t understand what it looks like to struggle he lets them know he gets it.

With Christmas around the corner, Outlaw said he plans to keep giving back and helping people this holiday season.

Learn more about the sports figures Outlaw looked up to, how he considered being a swimmer instead of a basketball player and what you need to keep in mind as you venture into becoming a mentor on the second episode of Real Talk Real Solutions.

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For our first episode, Lauren Spivey, the owner of Spivey Spa in Longwood, and the president of the National Association of Women Business Owners of Orlando and Lena Graham-Morris, vice president of Horus Construction, joined us to talk about their experiences. While both women say they had entrepreneurs in their family, both also say their business journeys lead to homelessness before they ever reached success and that they learned a lot along the way.

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