Twelve KC nov 2015

2

This magazine is called

TWELVE to note its

monthly presence, only

TWELVE times a year.

Also, and more im-

portantly, TWELVE is a

symbol of time. So it

represents timely infor-

mation and the central

point by which life

events are measured.

And of course, time-

pieces are part of the

finer things, perfect for

our core readers in pur-

suit of sophisticated

living.

Welcome to TWELVE.

3

Tell A Friend!

Welcome to number ELEVEN of

TWELVE. This is our OFFICIAL

WORLD SERIES souvenir issue. We’re

saluting the KC Royals 2015 Win.

From the game to the victory parade,

it’s an experience we won’t soon forget.

This is also our TASTE issue as we pre-

pare for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

There’s always plenty inside from fash-

ion to education.

Review the calendar to discover up-

coming events and take note of what’s

happening in the city.

You have an opportunity to contribute

to the content by writing, submitting story suggestions, and of course, at-

tending our events and more. Contact

us today at [email protected].

Sincerely,

COVER

CROWNED

DON’T MISS

Calendar 52

KCSoul.com

INSIDE

MUSIC:

Sauce Remix

7

SERVICE:

Powerfeast

8

TASTE:

Magnolias

14

COMMUNITY:

Million Men

20

SUCCESS:

Eddie Kennison

24

GIVING:

Debonair Affair

32

ROYALS WIN 36

NOVEMBER 2015 Volume III, Issue Xi

Though a lifestyle publication isn’t unique, TWELVE evolves the genre. It’s the

only magazine that you both read and live. We set out to create more than a

literary piece. We’ve merged both the online world and the live event into the

“magazine experience”. Once a month, we release a new issue of the magazine.

The release is paired with a live launch event, where the feature elements and

characters of our magazine are brought to life for you to touch, taste, feel and

experience. The live experience becomes part of gathering ground of additional

stories, photos, and more for the final written magazine.

What’s Different? Read It & Experience it Live

Twelvekc.com | @TWELVEKC

TWELVE Magazine is part

of the KCSoul.com net-work. Owned by H.G.E.

Marketing, LLC. (H.G.E.). Views & opinions ex-

pressed here are not

necessarily those of H.G.E.

or contributors.

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SPECIAL THANKS

To all of Our Writers,

Designers, Planners,

Contributors,

Advertisers &

Supporters

of Xii.

Ken L.

LeAndrea Abercrombie

Doniesha Beasley

LaNee Bridewell

Shemeka Cockerm

Jaymie Collins

Keyana Collins

Jasmine Jackson

Raye Jackson

Katrina Leonard

Clarence Lomax

Iman Lott

Sherry Lumpkins

Randi McCreary

Carlanda McKinney

Gary Mitchell

Casie Murff

Jozzi Rainey

Earl Smith

Toni Talley

Anna Thomas-Rios

Tony Van Trece

Jessikha Williams

Christopher White

twelvekc.com

[email protected] @twelvekc

PICTURED:

Bloch School of Business Executive Hall

for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Photo By:

Ken Lumpkins

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TWELVEKC.COM

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From the Streets To The

People

MUSIC

B anging beats, amazing lyrics, mesmerizing hooks, positive mes-sages that can change the world and a live performance that will

inspire anyone from any age group or cul-ture; this is all wrapped up in the Kansas City native rapper "Sauce Remix". A local artist with national appeal, Sauce has been steam-rolling with positive art since 2008 and this train of hope doesn't seem to be slowing down!

Sauce is not only a rapper with an arsenal of local hits and features, but a social en-

Sauce remix

trepreneur and community activist. He is active in his community while making rap a profession. Sauce hosts a shoe/clothing drive, raps at Job Corps’, abused/abandoned children homes, attends anti-violence organizations, homeless shelters, Juvenile Detention Centers, teaches kids at the City Union Mission, performs at schools, local businesses and more! He is a perfect example of being the change you want to see in the world!

He is a father of four and a husband of seven years.

Photo: Jessikha Williams

Facebook: /sauceremix Twitter: @sauceremix Instagram: @sauceremix www.sauceremix,com www.gunshotskc.com

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SERVICE

"The Powerfeast Ministry

provides an avenue whereby we are able

to minister to the homeless, battered, down trodden, im-

prisoned, and those from all walks of life

that have found themselves in bad sit-

uations."

THERE’S A

NEED IN

KANSAS CITY

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TWELVEKC.COM

Powerfeast: Feed the Community

Every year, thousands of people in the Kansas City Metropolitan area go without a meal dur-ing the Thanksgiving holiday. It's an epidemic that is becoming more common due to various reasons, and an issue several community leaders are trying to alleviate. To do so, Memorial Church International, under the direction of Apostle Larry B. Aiken and his wife, Pas-tor Oliv-ia C.Q. Aiken, has set out a mission to en-sure eve-ryone in need has a Happy Thanks-giving. "The Power-feast Ministry provides an ave-nue whereby we are able to minister to the homeless, battered, down trodden, imprisoned, and those from all walks of life that have found themselves in bad situations," says LaMon-ica Aiken-Bowens, daughter of Apostle & Pastor Aiken.

Started in 1997, the PowerFeast Ministry at Memorial Church Inter-national has served over 21,000 Thanksgiving Day meals, free haircuts, free clothing, free nail care, and free health checkups to the commu-nity. "We are able to extend a helping hand through

the power of inclusion," added Bowens.

Each Thanks-giving, members of the Power-feast Ministry prepare baskets for the less for-tunate, provide bags of toiletries, and en-

tertainment to serve people from all walks of life. Transportation is provided, picking up people from all over the city including their homes, apartments, shelters, assisted living homes, nursing homes, parks and

(Continued on page 13)

By Toni Talley

Apostle Larry B. Aiken Pastor Olivia C.Q. Aiken

10

REVIEW

OCT 10TH 18th & Vine Jazz & Blues

Fest featuring Dwele.

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TWELVEKC.COM

DWELE

Photo: Ken Lumpkins

12

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under bridges. "It has enabled us to witness and minister to those who may have fallen on hard times or just need a listening ear or encouragement to make it through", said Bowens. "If you can stand the pull in the midst of the storm, trials and tribulations, God will pull you through," added Apostle Larry B. Aiken. With overwhelming feedback from the annual Powerfeast, it is safe to say that it has indeed been a blessing to Memorial. As a church, Me-morial says it has helped to make a valuable impact on the KC community, reuniting family members who had not seen each other in years amongst several other positive things. "One of the siblings attended our church and was working the Powerfeast when she recognized her long lost sister," said Bowens. "And another year we had a father and daughter reunited. You have men and women that leave with their self-respect and they are ready to go to a job inter-view now, because we’ve given them a haircut and clothing. We have children that receive clothes, blankets, and toys and their eyes swell up." One could expect nothing but love at a Memori-al Powerfeast. The 2015 Thanksgiving celebra-tion will be held on November 26 from 10am-2pm at Memorial Church International located at 11424 Hickman Mills Drive, KCMO 64134. "Remember that storms don’t last always." con-cludes an Apostle Aiken. "Hold on to what has brought you through in the past. Past experienc-es can help you through your present victories. Always keep God in your mix. No matter what you are going through, continue to trust God and stay encouraged." To learn more about how you can donate and/

or volunteer for the great cause, contact Memo-

rial Church International at 816.363.7939 or

email by at [email protected].

(Continued from page 9)

14

E xecutive Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant’s believes there’s no such thing as

luck. “’Luck’ is where preparation and hard work meet. There’s no such thing as luck.” Chef Shanita’s preparation is putting her in the limelight. Just last month she com-peted on the Food Network’s new TV series, BBQ Blitz. Prior to that, she was the last woman standing and winner on that net-work’s nationally acclaimed and televised “Cutthroat Kitchen,” which aired September 2014. “Alton Brown (the host) is as intense in real life as he is on TV. It was kind of like com-peting on a culinary team but a lot harder. I hadn’t competed in so many years I felt like I was out of practice. The last time I com-peted I was in college”. Her win has inspired her to continue to go above and beyond. The owner of Mag-nolia’s Contemporary Southern Bistro in Kansas City, Missouri since 2011, Chef Shanita made the decision to close the original location at 29th and Cherry to pre-pare to open a new and improved spot in South Kanas City at 9916 Holmes Rd. “When we opened the first Magnolia’s location there was a lot we didn’t know. The space wasn’t designed to be a res-taurant but we were attempting to make it work. We ended up finding out we were in violation of city code and it would cost a significant amount of money to bring the place up to the specified coding. We decided it would be best to find a place that met our needs”.

The new location is an upgrade. “This space is a lot bigger. A lot more work went into it. It’s more centrally located so

most of our returning and new customers will be able to get to it quicker”. The new Magnolia’s is five minutes from Cerner and 10 minutes Corporate Woods, making the award-winning cuisine acces-sible to the weekday corporate lunch crowds. The larger venue will allow her to expand the menu to include southern specialties such as Po Boys, fried chick-

en. Weekends are typified by a Sunday Brunch that will feature Live Jazz, extended

hours, and an á la carte breakfast menu. Large parties may reserve the new private din-ing area that hosts up to 50 people. “We will have the same menu but plan to ex-pand heavily, however, gradually. Not too much too soon. There are a lot of things we are able to do in this larger space that we weren’t able to do previously. We are going from 1,800 to 4,500 square feet. Our new kitchen is three times as large as the old one”. While honoring the tradition of what many consider “old school” southern cooking, Chef Shanita says she also has something different to offer. “I have a different technique in my prepara-tion. Other Chefs do what they do and I do what I do. I’m a hybrid. I take different styles and plan to bring a new southern cooking ex-perience to Kansas City. I don’t knock what other people are doing. I enjoy it and appreci-ate it but, I am going to do something a little different.” With the holidays coming up as well as her grand opening Chef Shanita continues to live by her mantra of preparation. “People get so worked up by waiting until the last minute to prepare large holiday meals. Pre prepping is the key to surviving those holi-day dinners. I prep as much as I can as well as ask for help. I never cook the holiday din-ner by myself”.


By Iman Lott

TASTE

THE NEXT COURSE Magnolia’s Makes A Move

15

“I have a different tech-nique in my preparation. Other Chefs do what they do and I do what I do. I’m a hybrid. I take dif-ferent styles and plan to bring a new southern cooking experience to Kan-sas City. I don’t knock what other people are do-ing. I enjoy it and appreci-ate it but, I am going to do something a little dif-ferent.”

Chef Shanita says it’s smart to assign tasks based on strengths and weakness which is something she knows all about. She’s managed to utilize hers while continu-ing the endeavor of culinary excellence! Visit Magnolia’s new location at 9916 Holmes Rd Kan-sas City, Missouri. (www.magnoliaskc.com)


Shanita McAFee-Bryant Executive Chef

Magnolia’s

Photographer: Tiffany N. Cody, Smash Glam Makeup Artist: Aisha Simon, Smash Glam

twelvekc.com

http://www.magnoliaskc.com/

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FIRST EVER

UMKC Black Alumni

Weekend BBQ. Sat

Oct 3, 2015

REVIEW

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T o try and describe Aaron Cecil in one word could be impossible. He

is a 2015 Renaissance man who not only expresses art with every stroke of the can-vas, but strives to build his brand and uplift his community. He could easily be referred to as a genius, but that is not a title that he

wants to be labeled with.

“One of the worst insults I get is when people call me a genius. I absolutely hate that be-cause it’s just like you’re putting me on a level of doing something that you can’t do, but I’m just one man and if one man can do it then it can be done, and if it can be done than you can do it too.”

Cecil has been involved in different aspects of art since his early teens but began taking it seriously in high school. “When it comes to my craft I’m really serious about the art form,” says Cecil, a recent graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. With many projects in the works, including his por-traits, he is working on releasing graphic novels and a children’s book chronicling the history of the ancient Moors Indians.


Aaron Cecil

ART

Photos: Keyana Collins

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TASTE

Karen P. Boyd PhD, MBA

Patisserie Patrice

Owner and Proprietor

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Karen Boyd is a Chicago

native, an avid gardener

and community leader.

She has a background that

spans 30-years in commu-

nity development, service

and business. She earned

her multi-disciplinary Hu-

man Services Ph.D. from

Capella University and

MBA from Northwestern

University. Both provided

her with a strong, educa-

tional foundation to pur-

sue her professional and

community goals. Though

she continues to success-

fully juggle multi-

disciplinary endeavors,

she’s added yet another

with her new business,

Patisserie Patrice.

The Patisserie Patrice pastry and

dessert concept is the result of a 50-year journey that started when the owner Karen Boyd (formerly Patrice) was exposed to the great pie mak-ing skills of her mom, Jean. “Always underfoot in the kitchen at 5 years old, mom would break off a piece of pie crust dough, equip me with a rolling pin, and let me "create," while she of course created her scrump-tious apple pie.” The rest as they say is history, albeit a bumpy one filled with grand dessert experiments, constantly watching and learning from my mom, as well as "little grandma" and grandma Mc over the years.”

Boyd already has a background in the business to make this one a suc-

cess. “I owned and op-erated award winning Rosebud's Bakery in Flori-da during the 1990's and tucked away that experi-ence as I moved to Kan-sas City in 2001. On and off over the past 10 years or so, I have dreamed of bringing my version of high quality, New Orleans and Southern culturally influenced pastries and desserts to the Kansas City Region.”

“I invite all to prepare

their senses and enjoy a

great culinary experi-

ence with Patisserie Pa-

trice . Bon Appetit!

www.PatisseriePatrice.com

[email protected]

(816) 853-5876

“Always under-foot in the kitch-en at 5 years old, mom would break off a piece of pie crust dough, equip me with a rolling pin, and let me "create."

AND PIES & COOKIES...

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WAKE UP

T he time is now to upgrade the situation. It's pertinent that African American men assume responsibility for the current state of our

community. However, it's equally apropos that we eventually make astute adjustments. No longer can we squander precious time pontificating about what has gone wrong. Change begins and ends with us. Oct 10th, during the 20th anni-versary celebration of the Million Man March, held at the National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C., Nation of Islam leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, deliv-ered a candid address intended to awaken, motivate, and educate the masses. Farrakhan's words of wisdom hit the mark for many in-dividuals. One of those being Sherman Stewart. A resident of Alexandria, Virginia, which lies ten minutes outside of the nation's capital, Stewart referenced how the media's apathetic presentation of the 20th anniversary of the Mil-lion Man March feeds into a larger narrative which many blacks deal with on a daily basis. "When thinking about a positive event such as the Million Man March, I know it went well because there was basically no media coverage," Stewart said. "Whether it's the Million Man March or the one year anniversary of Michael Brown, those situations

consisted of several people of color coming togeth-er. And being that there was no media coverage - you know it's because the event was conducted without any problems. But, if it's something that en-hances the negative stereotypes and what many people have been conditioned to believe about blacks, there's plenty of media coverage.

"White-on-white crime doesn't exist in the lexicon of speech in America. But, black-on-black crime is mentioned often. It feeds into the idea of black people be-ing unruly savages, who don't raise their kids. So for many members of the media, the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March did not feed into the ste-reotype of the black person de-stroying their community. Actual-ly, I don't understand why so many people were surprised by the lack of coverage. If a black person does something stupid – it's on TMZ. However, former NFL running back Warrick Dunn

provides his 145th house to a family in need, no-body has anything to say." The concept of black men being among the ulti-mate pariahs in the United States is deeply woven into the culture of this nation. In fact, there are a vast number of African Americans who also buy into

“ If you work with five children and make a lasting impact, just think

if those five then go and touch five people a piece - you're looking at 25 people receiving a positive influence in ad-dition to the five you work with directly.”

20th Anniversary

MILLION MAN MARCH

By Kevin Moye’

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TWELVEKC.COM

the fallacy. But, how do we properly combat centu-ries of black people being viewed as "the enemy", or guilty until proven innocent? Our best option is to embrace an all-encompassing plan for African American men to become positive leaders in their respective communities. "It's very important that we get active. Keep in mind that the seeds we plant now, will eventual-ly grow. Think about the number of children we could impact," said Ter-ry Wilson, former presi-dent of the Jennings (Mo.) School Board. "If you work with five chil-dren and make a lasting impact, just think if those five then go and touch five people a piece - you're looking at 25 people receiving a positive influence in ad-dition to the five you work with directly. So I understand that whenever I teach a child, they're carrying a piece of me with them. In fact, there are two individuals who were formerly in one of my summer youth programs who recently visited me; one of them has a master's degree and the other is about to begin law school. They'll make a great im-

pact once they become professionals. In our socie-ty, people often look for an instant reward, but it's really more about what you do to impact the fu-ture." Protecting and instilling wisdom into youths who hail

from inner city communi-ties is an invaluable mo-dus operandi, according to Abdul-Kaba Abdullah – who's the current City Manager of Berkley, Mis-souri. "The role of men in any community has to be that of protector. It's not to dominate over women or rule everyone by force. But, we're to be protector and provider for the wom-en and children," he stat-ed. "In particular young African American males – they need a strong exam-ple of what men are sup-posed to do. Often, the

young black men who don't have a quality role model in their community, they later struggle at things such as marriage or excelling in their career." Joel Ritchie, who attends the University of Missouri


HISTORY | PURPOSE | NEED

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As the paper cutouts of pumpkins and ghosts come down from the walls of shopping centers, reindeer and evergreen wreaths remind shoppers that the holiday season is upon us. The streets sparkle with

thousands of tiny lights and the bells of the Salvation Army volunteers begin to echo the sound of hope in front of stores across America. It is the most wonderful time of the year!’ Unfortunately, much of the season’s nostalgia becomes clouded with pressure to provide and perform beyond our capacities. We push our budgets and ourselves to keep up with the demands of office parties, family gather-ings, gift exchanges and toy trends. For all of its frills and thrills, the holiday season can be downright stressful. Instead of helplessly giving in to the pressure, make an intentional effort to reclaim the joy and wonder of the season with these 5 tips on reducing stress during the holidays:

5 TIPS TO DEAL

By LaNee Bridewell

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5 TIPS:HANDLE THE HOLIDAYS WITH EASE

CARE

(1) Spend within your means. I hate to state the obvious, but overspending tends to be a primary source of holiday angst. There is endless pressure and opportunity to spend on travel, gifts, food, and even giving to the less fortunate. Every year it’s the same thing: our money goes in all direc-tions except back into our bank accounts. We soon discover that we’ve spent a lot more than we anticipated. The challenging part is that spending within your means is more of a decision; a mind set , than it is an individual behavior. We have to decide over and over again, at seemingly insignificant mo-ments, to exercise a level of self-control that is unfavorable and possibly counter cultural during hol-iday season. There is still hope! You can employ strategies that limit your ability to overspend such as temporarily reducing credit card limits and using the envelope system. (2) Plan ahead. One effective way to help with overspending and overextending is through plan-ning. Clearly map out how much money is designated for traveling, purchasing gifts, hosting din-ners and holiday parties. Additionally, devise a plan for your time. Be sure to include the demands of your job, children’s program commitments, and last minute holiday disasters that are sure to oc-cur (like the annual conundrum of running out of gift wrapping tape!) Other things you can do to be more thorough when you plan are : · Make travel plans as far in advance as possible. · Add an extra day or two for preparation and rest when putting in time off work. · Make a list of everyone you plan to purchase a gift for and set a budget for each gift. · Determine a task list of responsibilities for extended family members when hosting holiday gatherings. (3) Re-Evaluate Expectations. During the holidays many of us have elaborate rituals that are better in theory than they are in practice. Every year, we imagine perfectly wrapped gifts and happy crowds of people, feasting on lavish meals in our extravagantly decorated homes. Every year, we are quickly confronted with the stress of making this dream a reality. By holding ourselves to unrea-sonable expectations we’re often robbed of the very the joy and generosity that we aim to bring to others. This includes: · Hosting meals and gatherings that are paid for by one individual or family. · Feeling the need to purchase a nice gift for every person you know · Buying loads of toys and gifts for a single child · Decorating our homes with the talent and passion of a five star interior designer For some of us, these bring joy by demonstrating our desire and ability to provide for our loved ones. For others, it becomes an unrealistic set of demands that rob us of the opportunity to enjoy the holiday season. This year, take a long hard look at the commitments and expectations you have place on yourself. If they are weighing you down, it’s ok to let them go or find alternatives way to achieve similar outcomes.


24

TASTE TWELVEKC.COM

Eddie Kennison Owner, Barrel 87

From the football field to

the wine cellar.

JUST A

TASTE

twelvekc.com

25

F irst, he careful-ly slices avo-

cado and lime. Then, he masterfully peels perfectly baked lobster from its shell. As we sat, waiting to be served, the aroma of sea-soned…wait a minute. I thought we were inter-viewing an athlete not a chef. Yet, sampling his

Lobster Avocado Cocktail and BLT Deviled Eggs, it’s clear Ed-die’s skills are always beyond football.

Live life to the fullest. That’s the phrase that comes to mind when you learn about Eddie Kennison. The Louisiana native seems to have maxim-ized every opportunity. He’s built a career on his speed; from early years of high school and football stardom to transitioning to a successful professional football career. That career has taken him from multiple teams including the St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, and of course, the Kansas City Chiefs, which recognized Ken-nison as one of the top wide receiv-ers in the franchise’s history. After retiring in 2010, Kennison had enough foresight to know that his football career was just the founda-tion to more success. He’s since ex-plored several business ventures, in-cluding real estate. With each turn, he’s been able to build on his pas-sions to develop his livelihood. What’s a former football player pas-sionate about? It starts with being a

great father and husband. Also, close to his heart is his charity work, including QuickStart the Eddie Ken-nison Foundation, which raises mon-ey for Lupus Research. Currently, one of his greatest interests is food and wine.

I suppose it’s natural enough. Pro athletes tend to enjoy the millions, celebrity status, and world travels. The “finer things,” including the best in food and drink, is part of that lifestyle. However, it still took Eddie some time.

“I had to acquire the taste. Any guy would have to acquire the taste, to do their best to under-stand what wine is,” he says. “Wine has a certain way you have to put on the palette, on the tongue, to really get an ap-preciation for it without it having that bitter taste all of the time,” says Kennison.

Now, beyond an appreciation for the taste, Eddie has ma-tured to the point of successful-ly offering expertise in food and wine for his newest business venture. He’s the owner of Bar-

rel 87, an online business catered to food and drink lovers. Started in January of this year, Bar-rel 87’s primary focus is its wine, beer and spirits club. Members can sign up for monthly opportuni-ties such as: 1. Home Tastings: One can host a home wine tasting with Barrel 87’s pre-selected wine tasting packages. It includes, 5 delicious wines, hand se-lected by Eddie, a Barrel 87 host apron, wine notes and pairing notes. When guests sign up for the club as members they receive points that can be used towards rewards such as trips to Wine Country, a wine tast-


“Wine has a certain way you have to put on the palette, on the tongue, to really get an appreciation for it .”

26

Want to know he right wine for the right meal? Ask Eddie Kennison

Photo: Raye Jackson

24

27

ing hosted by Eddie himself, and much more. 2. Wine Concierge Service: One can email or call and have Eddie select spe-cialty wines for special events, dinners, or just a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner. 3. Corporate Events: Barrel 87 also hosts Corporate wine tastings catered to the needs of each organization.

When selecting a business venture, having the consumer demand is key. According to a report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, the U.S. beverage alcohol industry is a major contributor to the economy, responsible for over $400 billion in total U.S. economic activity in 2010, generating nearly $90 billion in wages and over 3.9 million jobs for U.S. workers. Kennison real-izes the spirits industry has the demand. “We do our best to cater to every market, person, corporation. People will drink whether it’s a celebration or it’s a sad time. Blue collar worker or billionaire. We try to cater to everyone interested in wine, beer or spirits or just learning.”

With the holiday season approaching, we asked Eddie for a few tips for your holiday dinner party:

HOSTS: 1. Rule of thumb, start with your lighter wine, champagne or white wine that would pair with an appetizer. Then move into a red or bolder wine.

2. People are looking for something differ-ent. Turkey, stuffing…you’re safe with those things. Every so often, I try to go find something off the beaten path. Look for something different. Try it a few times be-fore you present it to guests.



28

GUESTS: 3. Bring something you like to drink. You know it tastes good. It fits your palette. When you can talk about the wine that you’re bringing, you can give them information and describe why you like it first and often others will like it.

4. Stay within your budget. There are wines to fit every households budget. Stay within your

(Continued from page 27) means and buy wine that tastes good. Don’t overdo it. It’s about your taste buds. It doesn’t matter the price.

Want more tips on how to make your holiday party perfect, check out Barrel 87.

Website: www.barrel87.com

School of Law, expressed that black men must understand that young people emulate what they most often see. "Young African American males are just like any other young impres-sionable person. They need to see model citi-zens they can identify with. Therefore, it's in-cumbent upon us to reach back and to have some impact in a young man's life," he stated. "We must show them that success is possible, and not just in the stereotypical ways. You don't have to use sports or entertainment as a way to make it. There is a litany of avenues one can take to make it in the world. For that reason, it's important that black men go back and present those examples to our young peo-ple. They will be influenced by someone. If we don't take the opportunity to be that "someone", we've lost it. We've lost an oppor-tunity to make a difference. That's the im-portance of giving back and being a good example in the urban core of our cities."

(Continued from page 21) One of the most articulate statements on the need - for black men especially - to respect the past, present, and future of African Ameri-cans was made by Arrested Development frontman "Speech". In the landmark record "Tennessee", the rapper-poet said, "Many jour-neys to freedom made in vain by brothers on the corner playing ghetto games." Ultimately, now is the time that we once again assure that the magnanimous acts of our an-cestors will not be wasted. In essence, delayed action is a disrespectful dereliction of duties. As black men the onus to uplift African Ameri-cans rests on our shoulders. We all have something of immense value to offer. Kev Moyé is a human interest columnist. Fol-

low him on Twitter @Moye06. He can be con-

tacted via e-mail at [email protected])

IT TAKES A MILLION

Eddie Kennison preparing his Lobster Avocado Cocktail and BLT Deviled Eggs

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(4) Do Something Different. Doing what you have always done, will only get you what you have al-ways had. If you have spent two or more holiday seasons feeling worn out by super-human and su-per-financial expectations, here is a liberating thought for you: You can change that. Of course I understand that many of us tend to be heavily invested in our holiday traditions and that our loved ones may protest our “Christmas Revolution”. To the same end, you can use this as an opportunity to re-shape healthier expectations and more meaningful perspectives around holiday traditions and values. Begin more substantive and cost effective customs that bring your family to-gether in ways that don’t crowd out the true values of the holiday season: love, family, joy, religion, and giving. Additionally, you don’t have to sacrifice your sanity for enjoyment. Get creative in finding more bal-anced methods of accomplishing goals like: · Rotating homes for hosting family gatherings · Organizing gift exchanges · Volunteering time to families in need · Shopping online (5) Rest. This small but powerful little nugget is probably the most overlooked. In all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we rarely take the time to sit ourselves down for rest and rejuvenation. Give yourself permission to leave the laundry unfolded and the stockings un-hung to make room for some very necessary self-care. Additionally you can: · Specifically designate time for rest or relaxing activities · Determine which events you feel most obligated to attend and pass on the rest · If you are off work, rediscover the art of a napping · Don’t be afraid to just say, “No.”

Happy holidays to you and your family! I wish you all the things that truly matter!


DON’T STRESS

Inspiration can come from many places and Cecil derives his from the inspiring works of like artists “I like to keep myself involved in the artists I like. I get a lot of energy from looking at other artists.”

He’s also really inspired when it comes to help-


ing the people around him recognize the po-tential that they have and advance within it. “I want to be the catalyst for this cultural move-ment where you just see everything coming out of it; artists, poets, musicians, investors, I mean I’m going to set the stage.”

You can find his pieces on his Instagram @aaroncecil_illustrations or his website aa-roncecilart.com.

Art by Aaron

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FAITH

I t’s hard to judge what is common and acceptable in today's society, because so much has changed over the last one hundred years. It’s for the best at

times, but often, it’s hard to get used to

change, especially when it’s counter to traditional perceptions. Imagine visiting a local church. While walking in you see a preacher in the pulpit, body covered in tattoos, wearing earrings, the latest urban gear while speaking in a way that the av-erage person can comprehend. For many, this is uncommon, but this is Pat-rick Green’s daily attire.

When asked about his appearance, Green reflected on being negatively judged. “Man, have I? Indeed. Just as I’ve done to someone else before, I’m sure seeing a man with tattoos, vans, col-larless shirt and Levi jeans walking into a pulpit to deliver a message would auto-matically raise red flags for some. Many people are so used to the suit and tie at-tire for preachers. They won't accept any-thing else, which boxes their mind into man’s way of thinking, opposed to seeing people grow into being who God has created them to be. That causes a lot of people to repeat the cycle of doing it like

others. So yes, looking at me outwardly according to common standards does not match my inward approach.”

Aside from preaching the word on a Sun-

day morning, Patrick leads a small men’s

group called “Real Talk” every Thursday

at UMKC. He is currently writing his first

book and seeking different ways to taking

the gospel of Jesus Christ to men and

women who would never step foot into a

church building.

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COME AS YOU ARE Patrick Green

By Clarence Lomax “I’m sure seeing a man with tattoos, vans, col-larless shirt and Levi jeans walking into a pul-pit to deliver a mes-sage would automati-cally raise red flags for some.”

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GIVING

N ationwide, African-Americans represent 26% of juvenile ar-rests, 44% of youth

who are detained, 46% of the youth who are judicially waived to criminal court, and 58% of the youth admitted to state prisons (Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice).

Randy Hall, an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. member and former chapter president of Beta Lambda points to these statistics when citing the urgent need to work with elementary school aged youth. “There is not enough focus in our community on boys in this criti-cal age range,” he says.

To address these statistics, the Beta Lambda Ed-ucational Institute (BLEI), an affiliate of the Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is hosting its second A Debonair Affair. The overall purpose of this endeavor is to provide a forum for young men to develop foundational skills and talents needed to become responsible community servants and leaders. The activities also provide an opportunity for young men to display their talents to the community while com-peting for scholarships to fund their post-

secondary educational endeavors.

The talent of these young men can be seen in various programs of the Debonair Affair, and al-so at the grand finale on December 12th at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. “The debonair participants gain a sense of pride through the art of dance while participating in several routines with the parents/guardians during the Grand Finale event,” says Zac Narcisse, one of the participat-ing Alpha members. Yet the talent these young men possess goes far beyond dance and the pro-gram is a holistic approach to developing youth.

Jabir Hazziez, an Alpha mentor and program

participant states, “It is arguably the only Youth Development program of its kind targeting young boys for mentorship by men of high standing and leadership. In our program the boys gain new friendships from boys and their mentors alike. This is a con-tributing factor to them being a more disciplined student and son at home. Our program is also a service-learning program which engages the boys


“If we want to have

successful future

leaders in the Black

community, then it is

our responsibility to

plant and nurture

these young boys so

that when they be-

come men we can

reap the future har-

vest!”

A Debonair Affair: DEVELOPING

YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION

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in volunteering for community service organiza-tions, and in structured discussions about their ex-periences.”

The Debonair Affair program includes a series of mentoring programs with the men of Alpha Phi Al-pha. These programs are intended to expose the young men to successful, college educated African American men so as to provide role models and a view of positive images to which they can aspire. Judge Ardie Bland, Vice President of the Beta Lambda chapter states “Many of the boys are those that have no positive male role models and its gives them an opportunity to interact with positive professional Black men that can have a formative impact on their future success. If we want to have successful future leaders in the Black community, then it is our responsibility to plant and nurture these young boys so that when they become men we can reap the future harvest! If we want to reap

success, then we must plant the seeds of success! Ivan Smith, another Beta Lambda member, reiter-ates this, “People often forget that young men need a push in the right direction,” recognizing traps from poor influences to lack of goal setting--that can easily lead youth astray or at least put them at risk in achieving their full potential.

In addition to mentoring, there’s plenty of fun for the youth. A talent showcase of the participating youth is also part of the grand finale Debonair Af-fair program. It features choreography by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA).

Eleven boys ages 7 to 12 are participants in this year’s affair. “We are so excited to present the tal-ents of these twelve young men,” says Charles Lambert, President of Beta Lambda Chapter of Al-


Nationwide, African-Americans represent 26% of juvenile arrests, 44% of youth who are detained, 46% of the youth who are

judicially waived to criminal court, and 58% of the youth admitted to state prisons (Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice).

One in six black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. If current trends continue, one in three black males born today can ex-

pect to spend time in prison during his lifetime.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014 black males between the ages of 20 to 24 unemployment was at 22.13% for

white males the same age, 9.98%.

Beta Lambda members and 2015 Debonair Affair participants.

Oct 24th Talent Showcase. UMKC

A TIME FOR ACTION

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UMKC Black Alumni Night

10.2.15

Privilege, 1822 Main KCMO

Photos: Keyana Collins

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“ Improbable” would be an apt descrip-

tion of what the Kansas City Royals

accomplished Sunday, November 1,

2015 at Citi Field in New York, New York. Calling the Royals “Crowned” as 2015 World Series champions is correct, but is the culmination of a much


WORLD CHAMPS

Photo: Ken Lumpkins

CROWNED November 3, 2015 A Historic Victory Parade For our KC Royals Downtown KCMO

THE ROAD TO THE CROWN

By Kevin Moye’

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Thousands of fans of every age, gender, race, religion, economic

background – and any other label that is used to differentiate us -

came together to celebrate. And celebrate we did! As confetti

rained from the sky, chants of “Lets Go Royals!” echoed throughout

the bustling streets punctuated by roars of cheers for our favorite

players as they passed by. The atmosphere could only be described

as electric! Jermaine Reed, 3rd District City Councilman, KCMO

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ENCOUNTER

10.11.15

Renaissance Campus of St.

James UMC

,7205 Longview Rd, KCMO

Isaac Cates & Ordained

Sauce Remix

Teianna Cooper

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bigger story. Kansas City's surge to the world title is a fusion of loyalty, hope, vi-sion, frustration, and an unwillingness to capitulate. In the process of earning their first World Series title in 30 years, the Royals have become the darlings of Kansas City. "It's amazing. It really is," said Hermon Lyons. "Shortly after the game was over, that's when all the fireworks in the neigh-borhood went off. I'm seeing fireworks go off in three different directions. People are hollering and celebrating, I then hollered and they holler back. For many people, there's such a huge level of excitement. It's just crazy!" Winning a title would garner excitement within the fan base of any athletic team. What makes Kansas City’s celebration so much more intense is how far the team came in four short years. With a 2011 record of 71-91, simply put, we were los-ing. "I first began to pay attention to the Royals last season when they were trying to win the AL Central title," said Jamie Lee. "Before then I was only slightly interested, and that's only because they were Kansas City's baseball team. But because they had struggled for so long – I wasn't near as interested in them at that time as I am now." Those “struggles” were deflating and frus-trating even for diehard Royals fans. The organization was founded in 1969 by Ewing Kauffman, a Kansas City native and committed philanthropist. Kauffman watched his team prosper as they'd even-tually compete for world titles in 1980 and again in 1985 during the matchup fondly dubbed the “I-70 Series” when we



pha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “The opportunity to provide a forum for young men ages 7 to 12 to develop and display fundamental skills and talents needed to become responsible commu-nity servants and leaders is phenomenal. This event allows young men to compete for schol-arships to fund their post-secondary education-al endeavors,” says Leonard Graham, President of BLEI.

The community is invited to support the BLEI and individual youth through fundraising. Visit

the pages of the youth at CentralGiv-ing.com/debonai-raffair and contribute to individual youth or the event as a whole.

In addition, you can support the event by purchasing tickets to the Grand

Finale. The finale will be held on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Adams Mark Hotel, 9103 E.39th St, KC, MO. Tickets are $45, which includes a full meal plus cash bar and after party ticket. At-tire: Semi-Formal. Tickets are available online at debonair.nphckc.com or kcalphas.com. Even better, donations are tax deductible. BLEI is a tax-exempt, 501(c) organization. Beyond the Debonair Affair, the organization promotes the educational, social and cultural welfare of people in the Greater Kansas City area.

Get more information on the Debonair Affair at

kcalphas.com or email debonair-

[email protected]


Supporting Young Black Males

“People often forget that young men need a push in the right direction.”

WORLD CHAMPS

40

CROWNED

The Royal Celebration Pa-rade was a historical mo-ment for KC. The only other similar experience was at President Obama's inaugura-tion for his first term. In both instances people came from all over the country to cele-brate the underdog and rally in the spirit of hope- that an-ything is possible. #CelebrateRoyalty Alissia Canady 5th District Councilwoman KCMO

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The last time the Royals won the World Series I was only two years old. To be able to actually revel in their victory this time is an amazing feel-ing and what's even more amazing is the way the City has come together as one due to their win!

Randy D. Dunn

MO House of

Representatives

Photo: Raye Jackson

Doniesha Beasley, Demetrius L. Williams, Casie Murff, Iman Lott

42

CROWNED

took on and defeated the St. Louis Cardi-nals. The Royals of 1980s exemplified a high quality athletic team. Once the 1990s arrived, the culture of Royals baseball began to change. Losses and apathy started to define the once stel-lar franchise. At the same time, the Kansas City Chiefs - of the National Football League - began to win, making it easy for Royals fans to, not just share, but shift loyalties from their hometown baseball team to their hometown football team. A defining moment came when Ewing Kauffman died of bone cancer in Au-gust 1993. Suddenly, the Royals were a losing franchise without an owner - or definitive direc-tion. To his credit, recogniz-ing the importance of Royals baseball in Kansas City, Kauffman’s a succession plan stipulated that the next owner publicly acknowledge that he would not move the Royals to an-other city. Eventually, former Wal-Mart Executive Da-vid Glass purchased the Royals in April of 2000. However, brighter days did not im-mediately ensue. In fact, the situation be-came worse during the Glass administra-tion’s early days. Glass kept the Royals' payroll at bargain-basement levels, mean-ing the most sought after players were typ-ically not on the Kansas City roster.


The losses compounded and the discon-tent of the fan base was apparent. Kansas City hit rock bottom in the mid-2000s when we lost 100 games during each sea-son from 2004 to 2006. Aside from the 2003 campaign, the Royals posted subpar records. The consecutive losing seasons, however, meant that the Royals consistent-ly positioned near the top of the MLB Draft. Those picks were used to select a group of ballyhooed players that many

baseball experts predicted would one day be im-mensely successful. The person tasked with rebuild-ing the roster and reviving the struggling organization was Dayton Moore, hired as Kansas City's General Manager in the spring of 2006. Finally, in a renaissance of sorts, in 2013 the Royals finished above .500 barely missing the postseason then staging a major comeback in 2014. After winning the ALCS title, the Royals went on to show their formidabil-ity by forcing their oppo-

nents through all seven games before re-linquishing the 2014 World Series title to the San Francisco Giants. Despite the Game 7 Series loss, the team was wel-comed home as heroes because of the preceding miraculous come-from-behind triumph over the Oakland A's in the Amer-ican League Wild Card game. The Royals' ability to claim comeback vic-tories turned out to be a sign of things to come. Kansas City’s ability to win hard-fought games is linked to the ultimate vi-sion Royals manager Ned Yost had for the


The Royals' ability to claim comeback victories turned out to be a sign of things to come. Kansas City’s ability to win hard-fought games is linked to the ultimate vision Royals manager Ned Yost had for the team.

43

VICTORY PARADE

11.3.15

If you were there, you know it’s

a day you’ll never forget. twelvekc.com

44

team, according to Domonic Thompson. "Yost envisioned certain players in a spe-cific role. Once he got those players, he allowed them to shine in their roles. What he envisioned, Yost figured it would come to fruition. He just patiently allowed eve-rything to play out," Thompson said. "The players know what's expected of them. Nobody wants to be micro-managed. Ned lets the players know their job and al-lows them to do it. That led to the Royals developing confidence and an obvious comfort level with one another over the last two years."



CROWNED

Fans as far

as the eyes could see. An estimated 800,000 filled down-town KCMO.

45

Photo: Raye Jackson

46

ONE NIGHT...TWO EVENTS +Divine 9 Holiday Affair, show & groove

+Create: Art & Fashion Extravaganza

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individual event tickets.

47

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CROWNED

In the 2015 playoffs, the Royals' most notable comeback victories were in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros, and finally, Game 5 of the World Series in a hotly contested affair with the New York Met, which clinched Kansas City's World Series title. Lyons, a former collegiate football player, referenced the Royals' cohesion and belief in one another as the keys to Kansas City's never-say-die mentality. "To come back like the Royals did, you've got to believe in yourself. Each player has to continually live to compete," he said. "I guarantee the only people who truly believed in the Royals are the people in their dugout. Those players also feed off of each other. They believe in each other and their ability to keep the line moving." Keichanda Burnett, similar to most Kansas Citians, has



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CROWNED

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become enamored with the entirety of the Royals' ascension. The comeback wins, the players being of one accord, and the world title, are factors which cre-ated an unforgettable experience. "For so many people, it's been a minute since there was a great Royals team. We've suffered through a lot of years of bad baseball. Many of us had given up on the Royals a long time ago," Burnett said. "For the Royals to win the World Series, it's amazing. It's like a dream that has come true. For many of our par-ents and grandparents, they already had love for the Royals. Now, a lot of younger people are getting a chance to experience the same excitement. It's been great for the city. It has brought us together in a positive way."


Model: Toni Talley

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Wed 11/25 Free Community Thanksgiv-ing Dinner in Kcmo Event type: Community Action Venue: Brush Creek Community Center: 3801 Emanuel Cleaver Blvd KCMO Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Producer: Voices Of The People Contact: THURMAN DAVIS Email: [email protected] Phone: 816 204-8399 Sat 11/28 Shop 'til You Drop! Event type: shopping Venue: St. Louis Premium Outlets - Chesterfield, MO: Chesterfield MO Time: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM Producer: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Omega Iota Zeta Chapter Contact: Members of Omega Iota Zeta Cha Email: [email protected] Phone: 816-336-9382 Web: https://shoptilyoudrop1920.eventbrite.com Sat 12/05 Divine 9 Holiday Affair 2 Event type: dance and show Venue: Uptown Theater: 3700 Broadway Kansas City MO Time: 8:00 PM - 1:30 AM Producer: NPHCKC.com Contact: Email: [email protected]

Web: twelvekc.com/d9ha Sat 12/12 A Debonair Affair Event type: Fundraiser Venue: Adam's Mark Hotel: 9103 East 39th St. Kansas City MO Time: 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM Producer: Beta Lambda educational Institute Contact: Charles Lambert Email: [email protected] Phone: 913-832-4041 Web: Kcalphas.com Sat 12/19 Delta Christmas Luncheon Event type: Comedy Venue: New Theatre Restaurant: 9229 Foster St Overland Park KS Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Producer: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Contact: LaKesha Gordon Email: [email protected] Phone: Web: www.dstkcmo.org Sat 12/26 KC City-Wide Kwanzaa Cele-bration Event type: Other Venue: Gem Theatre: 1601 E 18th. St. Kansas City MO

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Producer: Kansas City Black United Front Contact: Kinda Webster Email: [email protected] Phone: (816) 333-7700 Thu 12/31 14th Annual 2015 Beta Omega & Omicron XI Omega Ball Event type: Fundraiser Venue: SHERATON AT OVERLAND PARK HOTEL: 6100 COLLEGE BLVD. OVERLAND PARK KS Time: 5:30 PM - 2:00 AM Producer: BETA OMEGA & OMICRON XI CHAPTERS OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRA-TERNITY Contact: KC QUES Email: Phone: 816-MOE-9QUE

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Kauffman Stadium Photo: Ken Lumpkins

"I knew I was coming to the Heart of America. I never knew I was coming to the center of the universe." -Buck O'Neil "The Royals World Series win elevated Kansas City to the center of the sports universe. With a style of play reminiscent of the Negro Leagues, and a determined, never give-up spirit, the team endeared itself to fans worldwide. Baseball has, and still unites us like no other sport, and the Royals united our city in winning fashion." Bob Kendrick President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

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Twelve KC nov 2015

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