Chicago Defender

Kendall Moore, a BUFI ember

Kendall Moore has had his share recently of accolades for his mentoring and service to the community. He was honored in April as a 2012 Hero in the Hood and Saturday he'll be a Black United Fund of Illinois ember.

Moore is one of nine 'Embers' to receive the 'Torch' as BUFI celebrates the Year of the Man Sept. 29 at the Parkway Ballroom.

The community advocate and radio host on WVON-AM/1690 of The Kendall Moore Show tells you every Friday that "Friday nights will never be the same."

He's right.

Moore brigs listeners an array of guests from community activists, comedians, politicians, and more while educating the next generation.

It was after working on their program that he decided he wanted to make the shift from his previous DJ'ing background to more talk-centered shows. "I started inquiring about talk radio stations in the city of Chicago to be attached to," he said. "WVON is the epitome of just having complete autonomy, creativity. It is grass roots when it comes to information that needs to be conveyed that is unadulterated and unsaturated," he said.

His marries activism with pop culture and to say it's thought-provoking is an understatement.

"I'm not afraid to tell it like it is. I'm not afraid to say what so many wish they could say. We all must be held accountable –– politicians, mothers, fathers, you name it. I'm not afraid to call you out," said Moore.

Moore, often mentors and volunteers in area high schools, and emphasize the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention and testing.

"Our community, especially the younger generation, must know about their health statuses. Sometimes we're afraid to go get checked out until it's too late. I try to help educate so they can be ahead of the game," he said.

The Kendall Moore Show can be heard Fridays from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Adam Jackson wants you to ‘Speak It’

Widely known as the 'Sweet Potato Guy,' entrepreneur and Adam Jackson overcame adversities and pulled himself up from his bootstraps to lead a successful café, help others achieve success and write an inspirational book.

Jackson –– co-owner of Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Bakery and Café, the world's only sweet potato café –– talked with the Defender about his path to becoming a businessman and writing his first book Speak It Receive It Achieve It Over 200 Original Quotes.

Chicago Defender: How did your path to entrepreneurship start?

Adam Jackson: It started right out of high school. A lot of people don't know this but the reason my drive is so heavy is because I dropped out of high school. I have to drive harder than the normal person because of that. I didn't have a high school diploma until this June. I dropped out because the kids were selling drugs to my mother. I was ashamed to go to school and face my peers who were selling drugs to my mother.

CD: How did the idea of writing a book come to you?

AJ: By mistake. Someone I hired to do social media said they needed some of my quotes. It took me some time because I'm not a person who likes to type; I like to talk. Once I sat down to do it, I couldn't stop. It took me maybe about four to five months to put together.

CD: How receptive have readers been to your advice

AJ: People were very receptive. I've helped start over 200 businesses. This is a lifestyle for me. I talk about self reflection, spirituality, leadership building, wealth building...This is a lifestyle for me. Even through the heavy trial times, I stay positive.

CD: What do you want readers to take away from the book?

AJ: Have faith in your faith. Some people are scared of trying; I'm scared of not trying.
This book is put together for the younger generation and the non-readers. Whatever you need in your life, you'll find it in the book.

BUILDING BRIDGES…At the Guichard Gallery of Fine Art

Andre and Frances Guichard are the owners of Guichard Gallery of Fine Art in Chicago's historic Bronzeville community. The mission of Guichard Galley is to exhibit and sale visual art from artists of the African Diaspora. Building Bridges is the current exhibition from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. For over a year, the Guichard Gallery (in partnership with Tradepoint South Africa Nelson Mandela Bay) has been developing Building Bridges which aims to introduce the United States to artists of the Eastern Cape. In fact, Andre and Frances traveled to South Africa to locate artists. They visited the infamous South African Red Location Museum, the Grahamstown Art Festival, and in the South African city of Mthata. Sixteen artists with gallery ready pieces were chosen to participate in the collection.

Artist Mkhonto Gwaleza was chosen to fly to Chicago for the opening. Mkhonto is from New Brighton, a suburb of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality of South Africa. New Brighton is the hometown of Nelson Mandela, and also known as the Red Location. It is one of the oldest Black townships of the country. The name derives from a series of red rusted iron buildings that were originally constructed as concentration camps for Boers (Afrikaan and Dutch-speaking settlers of the Eastern Cape) during the First South African War of the early Twentieth Century. However during the era of apartheid, Black South Africans were imprisoned in these structures. As a result, many anti-apartheid leaders and resistant movements developed within the walls of these camps including the former military wing of the African National Congress - umKonto we Sizwe. Gwaleza draws artistic inspiration on the camps' history as well as the current struggles he bears witness in his community. When describing his collection entitled "Chameleon" he says, "I've seen Black people having to change, you know, historically, psychologically, globally, and in every way. We have to change who we are to fit in. And it's that chameleon....it's our God given talent to change. But we change as a defense mechanism. I'm trying to write those stories about the chameleon, but use it as a metaphor but to explain the same stories as a Black man globally. I'm trying to say, 'Let this chameleon change because it wants to, not change as a defense mechanism.' So, that's the stories I'm trying to push."

A total of 16 artists work are on display as part of the Building Bridges exhibition which will run through Oct. 13. Thereafter, the DuSable Museum of African American History will host the exhibit.

White House committee names 5 youth poet laureates

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outstanding high school poets are being honored with a new award at the National Book Festival in Washington and will serve as literary ambassadors to the nation.

On Sunday, officials will honor the first five teen literary ambassadors. They are: Luisa Banchoff of Arlington, Va., Miles Hewitt of Vancouver, Wash., Claire Lee of New York City, Natalie Richardson of Oak Park, Ill., and Lylla Younes of Alexandria, La.

Each wins $5,000 and will present readings and workshops at libraries, museums and schools. They will also complete service projects to build awareness about creative writing.

Michelle Obama and the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities helped create the National Student Poets program. The winners were chosen from writers who received national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for poetry.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.