#SmartBrownVoices - Learning from Diversity

Listen as Mike Street chats with actor Ben Patterson about his career and current projects.

About Ben Patterson

American actor, model, musician and photographer Ben Patterson is best known for his pivotal and culturally important roles as the trans gendered brother of Dr. Ben Warren on ABC’s massively popular “Grey’s Anatomy” and the groundbreaking drama “Noah’s Arc,” is set to return to television this summer on OWN’s “Greenleaf” alongside executive producer Oprah Winfrey, who also stars on the show.

Set in Memphis,”Greenleaf” follows the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family with scandalous secrets and lies, and their powerful megachurch with predominantly African-American church members. The series is headed by Keith David as Bishop James Greenleaf, and Lynn Whitfield as his wife and matriarch of the family, Lady Mae Greenleaf.Merle Dandridge plays series’ protagonist, Grace Greenleaf, their estranged daughter who has returned home after 20 years following the mysterious death of her sister, Faith. Oprah stars as Mavis McCready, Lady Mae’s sister and a close confidant of Grace who is also a blues club owner.

An Oakland native, Ben grew up in a diverse neighborhood of the San Francisco Bay, playing the drums and swimming competitively through high school with future television stars Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne”) and Russell Hornsby (NBC’s “Grimm”). As an aspiring musician he picked up the guitar and piano, while booking DJ gigs at house parties and local nightclubs, which continued while he was a psych major at San Diego State University. Discovered by a scout for a local modeling competition that he ultimately won as “International Model of the Year,” he quickly booked campaigns for Macy’s, Bud Light and various infomercials. Another model suggested him for a walk on role on “The Bold and the Beautiful” thus launching his acting career and the rest is history. He has since appeared on “CSI-Miami,” “Happy Endings,” “Brother and Sisters,” and “Castle” to name a few.

When he’s not filming, Ben is a new father to a 3-month old son and spending time in the kitchen cooking with his husband. A fitness fanatic since his modeling days, he stays fit by practicing yoga and hiking the various trails around Los Angeles. An avid photographer he’s shot many upcoming actors headshots and editorial images while sharing his insights on the industry as someone who appears comfortably on both sides of the lens. With his new music being produced to be released on iTunes this summer there isn’t an end in sight for this renaissance man, who often wonders how he balances it all.

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ABOUT ALVIN IRBY:

Alvin Irby is a passionate educator committed to innovative curriculum, child-centered education, and transformative teaching and leadership. As an award-winning comedian, national speaker, and workshop facilitator, he has inspired thousands of educators, barbers, youth development professionals, and public officials.

Irby studied Sociology and Economics at Grinnell College, received his M.S. degree in General Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education and completed his MPA degree in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy at the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. Irby has taught kindergarten and first grade in both charter and traditional public schools in New York City and served as Education Director at the Boys’ Club of New York in East Harlem.

In 2013, Irby founded Reading Holiday Project, Inc. and created Barbershop Books, a nationally recognized literacy program that places child-friendly

reading spaces in barbershops.

LINKS:

* AlvinIrby.com

* BarbershopBooks.org

* Twitter.com | AlvinIrby

* LinkedIn | Alvin Irby

* YouTube | ComedianAlvinIrby

ABOUT ANDREW SHADE:

Andrew Shade is the Founder and Editorial Director of Broadway Black. “BroadwayBlack.com is dedicated to highlighting the achievements and successes of African-Americans theatre artists on and off the Broadway stage. For so long, our voices have been skimmed over inside and outside of The Great White Way. However, we know we have experiences to share that are essential. BroadwayBlack.com serves as a collective of things we all care for. It is a platform for all things Black theatre. Created for the child in all of us who looked up to the stage searching for the faces that looked like ours. Celebrating the dedication of those who hand over their life to give all they have to the stage. Shining light on those that continue our journey. Paying tribute to those who blazed the way for our story to be told, seen, and heard on The Great Way.”

LINKS:

 

* Off-Book The Theatre Podcast By Broadway Black

* twitter.com/DrewShade

* instagram.com/broadwayblack

* twitter.com/broadwayblack 

* facebook.com/broadwayblack2.0

* youtube.com/user/broadwayblack

ABOUT KAREEM:

Kareem Taylor is a voiceover actor who writes about marketing, self-esteem and happiness. Most recently, Taylor published Get Your Life! The Transforming Power of Turning Fate Into Fortune. He has been named by ADCOLOR and PromaxBDA as an emerging leader in marketing and advertising.

Taylor has been the voice of CNN’s Black in America since 2010. He has worked with creative agencies, advertising agencies and production companies to help bring their campaigns to life. Taylor counts among his clients AT&T, UFC, Sony Pictures Television, Fusion TV, Taco Bell, Comedy Central and McDonald’s.

The best way to stay in touch and see what’s on Kareem’s mind is to join the weekly mailing list.

LINKS: 

* Kareem’s books: http://www.amazon.com/Kareem-Taylor/e/B00WZLMU7S

* Join Kareem’s mailing list: http://kareemtaylor.com/subscribe/

* Email: [email protected]

* Website: http://kareemtaylor.com/

* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kareemtaylor

* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KareemTaylor

* Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KareemTaylor

* Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KareemTaylor

* YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KareemTaylorTV

In this previous episode, Mike Street chats with Eunice Cofie, President and Chief Cosmetic Chemist of Nuekie.

Follow Eunice on Social Media

* Facebook

* Twitter

* http://www.nuekie.com/

About Eunice Cofie

Eunice Cofie is making great strides in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. She is the President and Chief Cosmetic Chemist of Nuekie – an innovative health and beauty company for people of color. Eunice is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry/molecular biology and completed the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Global Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education program. Her deep commitment to social causes worldwide has led her to make a positive impact across the globe, specifically in Ghana and the Philippines. While in college, Eunice spent her summers working in a village community in Ghana, West Africa implementing the Save a Million Lives HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Program.  As the former Miss Black Florida USA, she spent a year promoting her platform Preventing Childhood Obesity and Diabetes through Education and Life Transforming Habits. She was able to contribute greatly to her community by inspiring young people to live healthy lifestyles.

Eunice was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2012 for her professional accomplishments and commitment to society, as well as her potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world by providing inspiring leadership. Forbes named Eunice as one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa. She is featured in the 2012 Tallahassee Community College Cherry Alexander African-American Calendar. She was also awarded the 2012 Golden A.C.E. Award in Science and Technology. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women recognized Eunice with the prestigious 2011 Florida Achievement Award for her commitment to improving the lives of women and families in her community. In 2008, Eunice was named by the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper as one of the “25 Women You Need to Know in Tallahassee”.

She has been featured in noteworthy publications such as the Scientific American, Florida Trend Magazine, Tallahassee Magazine, South Florida Times, South Florida Gazette, The Florida Courier and Onyx Magazine and she has also appeared on CBS and ABC affiliates, and Ghana Television. She currently serves on the board of directors for DGI Inspired Foundation and is a member of the American Chemical Society and Leadership Tallahassee Class 29.

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On this episode, Mike Street talks with Lucinda Cross and they discuss vision. Listen and learn things that you can apply on your own business!

About Lucinda Cross

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lucindaspeaks

Website: http://lucindacross.com/

Lucinda Cross, is the founder and creator of the Activate Movement with more than 25,000 active members spanning from across the country. A best-selling author of Corporate Mom Dropout, The Road to Redemption: Overcoming Life’s Detours Obstacles and Challenges and The Art of Activation, co-owner of the Super Mom Entrepreneur Conference and Expo, celebrity life couch, mentor and recognized motivational speaker. Cross was 18, a freshmen in college with her entire life in front of her and with one, life-altering choice, it changed. The campus views and the liberating spirit she had just about grown accustomed to, was replaced by the dull images of gray cement floors, painted yellow lines and the removal of her freedom. Her poor choice, one that she fully accepts as her responsibility, landed her in the federal penitentiary for four-and-a-half years. Since that time, she had been on-fire to inspire, encourage, and uplift women; to teach them how to learn from their experience, tap into

their gifts, and greatness, and build a business that makes a difference to them and to others.

Lucinda’s work is about helping women live a life of fire, fun and freedom which has led to nationally features in Essence, Black Enterprise, Daily News, Ebony; and radio and television appearances on ABC Money Matters, NBC, The Today Show, NY 1, Dr. Oz, The Bethenny Show, Sirius XM, Tom Joyner and the Al Sharpton Show. Lucinda Cross is the person women call when they are ready to leverage and monetize their expertise and message all while creating products, programs and a signature a platform. Over the past decade, she has discovered surprising trends about why certain people and businesses succeed. Today, Lucinda teaches how to communicate and captivate in a noisy world with a short attention span and the tendency to procrastinate.

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Listen as Mike Street chats with founder of I Love Being Black, Kumi Rauf. Learn how to create and grow your brand’s follower base from Rauf who created and grew I Love Being Black into a brand with over 6 million followers.

Follow on Social Media

I Love Being Black on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lovebeingblack

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheSocialStrategist

About Kumi Rauf

Creator of the I Love Being Black Apparel Line and Cultural Movement, Kumi Rauf is the creative mind behind a series of social networking seminars and webinars, which help build one’s brand in an increasingly competitive online environment.

Rauf is an expert at growing customer fan base, maintaining fans online and increasing engagement. His most recent success is taking his I Love Being Black Facebook fan page from zero to 6 million “Likes” in less than three years and his ability to teach others what they need to grow their business or venture with competitive results. Today, the page, which is the largest Black-owned Facebook Fan Page in the world, has more fans than BET, TV One, Essence, Tom Joyner, AOL Black Voices, Black Enterprise and Ebony/Jet, combined.

An off-shoot of Rauf’s Because I’m Black – an organization whose mission it is to combat the self-hatred and negativity embodied by many Blacks – I Love Being Black’s goal is to increase the knowledge and self-value in the Black community and with its youth through positivity, awareness and fashion.

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Steve Nson, Founder and CEO of AnySizeDeals, chats with our host, Mike Street. Listen and learn how Steve built his platform from the ground.

Follow Steve Nson on Social Media:

* AnySizeDeals.com

* Twitter – https://twitter.com/anysizedeals

* Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nson_legend

About Steve Nson:

Steve Nson is the Founder and CEO of AnySizeDeals.com, a matchmaking and lead generating platform for real estate investors. He has over 13 years of experience in real-estate and has managed and leased-up assets with a combined value in excess of $7 billion dollars.

Prior to launching AnySizeDeals, he was the Regional Marketing Director for the 6th Largest Property Management company in the Nation and was responsible for the lease up and marketing of over 8,000 units.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Real Estate from NYU.

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In this episode of #SmartBrownVoices, listen to Mike Street as he interviews the CEO of Women Recharged, Aprille Franks-Hunt.

About April Franks-Hunt

Aprille Franks-Hunt is a natural born thought leader, nationally accredited author, transformational speaker, entrepreneur, who coaches and trains other purpose driven entrepreneurs into their divine greatness!

As the CEO of Women Recharged, Aprille has dedicated her career to helping women explore and share their hidden extraordinary gifts. Her mission is to create a global community designed to enrich Women to live fearlessly, authentically and with flexibility through coaching, speaking resources and support.

Aprille has worked with multi-million dollar clients consulting and coaching to help create business solutions that increase profits and streamline operations. That experience is the lifeblood of her newest division of her company, Coach, Speak & Serve. CSS was created for entrepreneurial GAMECHANGERS looking to make an impact with their message and create a sustainable business simultaneously – leveraging the power of coaching, the stage and authorship as tools to get there.

Amid Aprille’s full speaking travel schedule, she also manages to conduct well attended live events and conferences.

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Want to take your business to the next level? Listen as Mike and Xina talks about some of the best practices in PR.

Follow her on Twitter: @xeiland

About Xina Eiland

Xina Eiland is the owner of X+PR, a results-driven public relations and new media agency. A seasoned communications professional with more than 15 years of experience, Xina specializes in media relations, outreach and strategy development. In addition to specializing in media and community outreach, multicultural marketing, and event planning, Xina has established herself as a rising star in the social media space, executing cutting-edge strategies to maximize the impact of her clients’ initiatives.

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Maybe you have something you want to add or maybe you have a questions? Let us know in the comments section below!