Twelve TRUTH 2015

TM

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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

The TRUTH Issue

Welcome to number TWO of

TWELVE. call this The TRUTH. It’s

where we examine the truth in race

and relationships, a tie-in to both Black

History Month and Valentine’s Day.

Race and culture are some of the big-

gest issues of the day, so read all about

it here. Be sure to discover upcoming

events and take note of what’s happen-

ing in the city.

Remember, beyond the digital or print

experience, TWELVE is interactive, so

get involved and engage at our live

events too!

You have an opportunity to contribute to the content by writing, submitting

story suggestions, and of course, at-

tending the launch events and more.

Contact us at [email protected] to get involved and send us feedback, too!

Sincerely,

Ken L

COVER

Johnny Barnett

DON’T MISS

Calendar 52

INSIDE

CAREER:

TEACH

6

Health & Fitness 8

ROOTS 14

Match Maker 20

TRUTH: Gallery 22

MLK: 8 Step Plan 35

White Lies/Black

Truths

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FEBRUARY 2015 Volume III, Issue II

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

kcsoul.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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5

SPECIAL THANKS

To all of Our Writers,

Designers, Planners,

Contributors,

Advertisers &

Supporters

of Xii.

Ken L.

Shemeka Cockerm

Keyana Collins

Kween Colston

DJ Franklin

Jasmine Jackson

Raye Jackson

Katrina Leonard

Clarence Lomax

Iman Lott

Sherry Lumpkins

LeAndrea Mack

Randi McCreary

Carlanda McKinney

Gary Mitchell

Casie Murff

Earl Smith

Tony Van Trece

Jessikha Williams

Christopher White

twelvekc.com

[email protected] @twelvekc

Pictured:

Johnny Barnett

TRUTH shoot.

6

CAREER

Duane A. Joseph CEO of Maranatha Educational Services

7

Duane A. Joseph is CEO of Maranatha Ed-ucational Services (MaranathaEd, LLC), a math tutoring and test prep company he founded in 2012. He also started the Duane Anthony Joseph Foundation in March 2014 to work with inner city youth, families and the elderly in the 18th and Vine District.

Joseph is known as an educator’s ed-ucator. His more than 20 years of edu-cation experi-ence have served students and teachers alike. His pas-sion began early in his ca-reer and con-tinues to this day. Every-thing he does is intentional and that is ex-actly what his colleagues, students and

their parents have come to love and admire about Joseph. Prior to starting Maranatha Educational Ser-vices, Joseph was a Kauffman Scholar Aca-demic Coach for the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation. Joseph was at Kauff-man from 2008 to 2012. He is originally from Seattle, WA. and also spent time with family in Thibodaux, LA where he matriculat-ed at Nicholls State University, earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Education. Jo-seph subsequently received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Florida-

based Logos Christian College, as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Uni-versity of North Florida in Jacksonville where he studied both education and his-tory. He later received his Master’s De-gree in Education with a focus on Multi-disciplinary Studies (Math) from Webster University. Joseph is a well-known speaker in the academic community. In 2014 he was appointed to a national organization, Leading Educators, through which, he coaches teachers to help them enhance their skills and success in the class-room. In addition, in 2014 he was also asked to work with a leading architecture studio team to help build a unique team that looks at all issues impacting students, their learning environments, and home life, including: medical concerns, learn-ing disabilities, family dynamics, and cul-tural issues. Joseph is helping to manage this issues-based team that assists the firm and its clients as they work to understand how these factors can be considered when formulating the design of schools. This effort is in the planning stages and will be announced in 2015. “Students learn best when they have the most enthusiastic, engaged teachers pos-sible,” said Joseph who believes strongly in the importance of good tutoring pro-grams that help supplement the educa-tion that students receive in the class-room. He values the teaching profession as a sought-after career and firmly be-lieves the education profession is some-thing each teacher must personally know is his or her calling. He lives by the mot-to: “Students do not want to know how much you know until they know how much you care.”

“Students do not want to know how much you know until they know how much you care.”

TEACH THE FUTURE TWELVEKC.COM

8

HEALTH

“I wanted to better serve my own community and provide different services in weight loss manage-ment while molding the practice to provide the best care possible”.

Dr. Donald Peghee Jr.

Photo: Raye Jackson

9

The holiday season has come and gone. The time for overeating and under exer-cising has made its way into all of our hearts. With all the din-ners and family gatherings be-hind us, our fitness goals have reemerged and we may need to be re-minded on how to achieve them.

According to Dr. Donald Peghee Jr., where there’s a will, there’s a way. “I have a passion for dealing with weight loss and wellness and the use of natural supplements to aid in weight loss and overall wellness”. Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Peghee, originally from the Wyandotte county area, worked for the St. Lukes Health systems for seven and a half years before opening his

own private practice in the beginning of 2014. “I wanted to better serve my own community and provide different services in weight loss management while molding the practice to pro-vide the best care possible”.

I spoke with Dr. Peghee about ways rebound from one of the unhealthiest times of year. Here are some tips on remaining dedicated to #TeamFitness:

Portion Size “This doesn’t mean you can’t splurge on a few sweets here and there, however, don’t have a plate full of sweets. Make sure your plate con-sists of 70% veggies. Also, cut your carbohy-drates in half and you’ll be in good shape “.

Healthy Options “Healthy veggies aren’t’ heavy with cheese or sugary additives so maybe scrape the marsh-mallow topping off the candied yams or eat the broccoli instead of broccoli and cheese. Try the greens without the meat additive. Small adjustments pay off big in the end.”

Exercise “Gym time or cardiovascular exercise is very important to get rid of those extra holiday pounds we tend to gain. If you can’t make it to a gym because of budget or time constraints, taking a couple of extra laps around the mall while you are shopping the post-holiday sales or even parking farther from the door helps. If you have an elevator option, take the stairs.”

Intake Lastly, Dr. Peghee suggests limiting your alco-hol consumption. “Be modest in your drinking. Two 6 ounce drinks of wine for the weekend or a mixed cocktail should be your limit when trying to keep those extra pounds off.” “I love what I do and hope these tips help keep

you healthy during the holidays and all year

long”.

Legends OBGYN is located at 8919 Parallel parkway (3 minutes east of the Legends shopping center) suite 430 in Kansas City Kansas. Dr. Donald Peghee is Board Certified specializing in Obstetrics and Gyne-cology as well as performs robotics surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System. You may also find more information and links to their wellness and weight loss supplements at www.legendsobgyn.com .

4 KEYS TO

FITNESS

Fitness 2015. Where there’s a will….

By Iman Lott

TWELVEKC.COM

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IN FITNESS

& IN HEALTH

Craig & Claudia Donnell.

Couples can be perfect

workout partners.

Photo: Raye Jackson

FITNESS

11

TWELVEKC.COM

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A Great Body… A Great Marriage... IT TAKES WORK!

13

he fitness challenge begins. It’s common for households across the country have at least one family member working to lose weight or shape-up in the new year. Married couples have the

added pressure of maintaining their looks—fighting time and gravity—to be the person your spouse married. It helps when there’s some support in-house to help maintain a workout regi-men or diet and keep you motivated. Craig and Claudia Donnell have an advantage here. They are married and both are personal trainers. According to Craig, “We met on Face-book believe it or not (lol). Claudia was under ‘people you may know’, I glanced at her and I was hooked. I sent her a message, she sent one back, and the rest is history.” Soon enough, the relationship moved offline and they met. “We both knew the first time Craig came to my old church in Oklahoma City, Integrity Voice of Victory Church (IVVC)”, says Claudia. “God revealed to us both that I was his wife, and Craig was my husband.” A strong relationship has to have enough commonalities to survive. Fit-ness is one common denominator for the Donnells. “We work out together as much as much as we can,” says Craig, “When our schedules allow it and when we are not training other people,” he says. Some of their favorite couple exercises are running stairs, hills, doing squats and abs.

WORKOUT TIPS For couples that want to start a fitness

routine, Claudia offers this advice, “If you don't want to invest in a gym membership, focus on high intensity interval training. For example, do one round of squat jumps, burpees, lung-es, pushups, and crunches, 30sec-onds each. Rest 1-2 minutes and do another round. The goal is to be con-stantly moving with minimal rest, which will burn calories. Want to secure personal training from one of the Donnells? Contact them today: Claudiadonnell.com [email protected] [email protected]

t

“We met on Fa-cebook believe it or not (lol). Clau-dia was under ‘people you may know’, I glanced at her and I was hooked. I sent her a message, she sent one back, and the rest is history.”

IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH

14

HISTORY

Kathleen Brandt

Genealogist

a3Genealogy

15

You’ve likely heard that or some varia-

tion of that adage by now. Interpret it

in two ways. First, it speaks of knowing

history to use as a foundation to build a

better future. Speaking directly to the

“Black Experience,” we often speak of

the resilience, education and fortitude

of ancestors, provided us with education

and guidance to create a better future.

Second, there’s a genetic interpretation

to this saying. The person you be-

come—physically and mentally--is built,

to a great degree, on your physiological

make-up. Consider the doctor’s office,

requesting your medical history. Your

very life could depend on knowing your

make-up.

Genealogist, Kathleen Brandt echoes

this sentiment of the importance of

knowing your history and eloquently

states, “Through the study of the

names, dates, migrations, census infor-

mation and DNA, cold historical dates

become milestones in the life of some-

one we are connected to. It is not only

discovering a history but also uncover-

ing a human journey….By honoring our

past we teach our children to honor

theirs. When we honor the struggles

and triumphs of our fathers and moth-

ers we honor the struggles of all families

at all times in all places.”

Kathleen…In the Beginning

I began tracing my own maternal grand-

father’s line (Morris family) in the 1990’s

to prove or debunk our oral family his-

tory. Although names were verified

through basic research, our ethnic

(Continued on page 16)

TRACE YOUR

ROOTS

“You can’t know

where you’re go-

ing, until you

know where

you’ve been.”

TWELVEKC.COM

16

makeup on this line was quite shock-

ing. Instead of finding the expected

Native American bloodline, this ex-

slave Morris line was of English/Irish

descent from the Appalachians, void

of Native American blood.

I was able to trace the earliest ex-

slave Morris (mulatto) to 1807 and

connect him to his Irish slaveholder

family, using DNA tests and analysis.

To make this family more interest-

ing, the slave (Wiley Morris), pur-

chased his freedom in 1855, 10 years

before the Civil War was over. And

was a landowner by 1860.

Of course, as most family historians

will find, our knowledge of history is

incomplete, but I was able to learn

that Wiley intermarried with a “free

-colored” woman, who owned land

as early as 1838. All of his children

were born free and were able to read

and write.

This family was so fascinating to re-

search, I became immediately ad-

dicted to researching other branches

of my ancestry, which span from the

slaves of Missouri, Kentucky and

North Carolina to the free-coloreds.

This required researching our Eng-

lish, Irish, and Swedish heritage; as

well as the Native American connec-

tion on my paternal side. I have

been successful in connecting cousins

from Massachusetts and New York

to California.

In 2008, Kathleen opened a3Geneal-ogy, an international genealogical

research firm that also specializes in

medical genealogy. She has stellar

credits and an international portfolio

of work. “As an international gene-

alogist, I have been called upon to

research for episodes of Finding

Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates,

and five seasons of Who Do You

Think You Are, on TLC and NBC.

Yet, my most recently published

book, Colored Marriages of Saline County, Mo (published by Two

Trails), is probably my most treas-

(Continued from page 15)

(Continued on page 17)

Although it is becoming more popular every day, the use of DNA tests as a tool to help us connect ex-slave families and solve adoption cases is underestimated. DNA results must be accompa-nied by good genealogical practices, but it does help the family researcher with connecting family branches that were torn apart due to the American slave trade. For example, we know that Afri-can Americans have on average 20 -25 percent European ances-try, but what is often denied is the percentage of African American blood, proven by DNA, in those who would consider themselves to be of “racial purity.” Actually, if DNA existed in a pre-Civil War era, there are many who would not have passed the “one drop rule.” And, as we know, the one-drop rule continued well into the 20th century.

Although American textbooks impress on students that our black or mixed raced ancestors were only freed as runaways using the Underground Railroad, or, less frequently, purchasing their freedom when allowed by their slave masters, history lessons fail to share that many mixed race children had white mothers and black fathers and were born free due to their mother’s race. Alt-hough miscegenation (interracial marriage) was outlawed in all of the southern colonies plus Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, by 1750, prior to that, we find interracial cohabitation and marriag-es. This can be burdensome, when looking for our African Ameri-can ancestors especially in colonial Virginia and North Carolina. Yet, court records may specifically state the names of the white father (and black mother), as they often do in Louisiana.

What is often overlooked is the fact that Native Americans owned slaves. Today, many African Americans claim Native Amer-ican ancestry, especially in the Midwest, when in fact they were slaves of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, or Seminole Indians. Through tribal records and DNA tests, we can most often pinpoint tribal association and Native American blood percent-age. However, as of today, only the proper paper trail is accepted for tribal citizenship.

African Americans are underrepresented in the DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) and SAR (Sons of American Revolution) lineage societies. African Americans served too, mak-ing up as much as 10% of the Continental Army. But we have to connect the family lineage as proof. We can also use limited DNA analysis for proof of lineage.

BLACK

HISTORY

By Kathleen Brandt

17

ured project to date. As I visit

various courthouses and reposito-

ries, I keep an eye out for hidden

African American court records

that may help the family re-

searcher. Preserving books and

accounts, like the Colored Mar-riages of Saline County, Mo, help

slave family researchers to link

their families to the pre-Civil

War era.”

When it comes to history, the

tales are endless, but as we close,

Kathleen shares a fascinating mo-

ment. “My favorite story is that

one of my ancestors, Ned Griffin,

served in the Revolutionary War

as a replacement for a slave mas-

ter with the promise that he

would be free after his one year of

service. However, after complet-

ing his year and serving in the

1781 Battle of Guilford Court-

house he was put back into slav-

ery in North Carolina. Ned Grif-

fin, petitioned for his freedom by

taking his slavemaster to court in

4 April 1784 where he and all of

his heirs were “forever delivered and discharged from the yoke of slavery.” The Griffins owned land

in North Carolina as early as

1817. A copy of the court record

“An Act for Enfranchising Ned Griffin” and early land records

are two of my most cherished

possessions.”

Contact Kathleen to begin tracing

your roots:

Website: a3Genealogy

accurate accessible answers

P.O. Box 414640

Kansas City, MO. 64141

816-729-5995; fax: 816-817-2146

(Continued from page 16)

ROOTS

TWELVEKC.COM

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2 YEARS & COUNTING HAPPY B-DAY #12MAG THANK YOU KANSAS CITY!

TWELVEKC.COM

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20

HEART

orn and raised in Kansas City, Ka-leena is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Events are her expertise. She’s a Senior Events Manager for the City of Kansas City and she’s also the owner of Kater

Concierge, which specializes in business and lifestyle management including: event plan-ning, executive/corporate assistance, house-hold management, administrative support, public relations, and more. You’ve seen some of her work at the KC Mu-sic Festival, the KC Black Expo, the Festival of Praise, Broadway Across America, and even KC Boat & Sportshow. We should also add matchmaker to her qualifications because she’s the producer of the annual Single’s Mingle Speed Dating event held on or near Valentine’s Day. Kaleena says Single’s Mingle fills a gap. “I often heard the statement ‘There are no good men or women in KC’. That’s why I took the initiative to create an event where ‘good’ men and women can be in the same envi-ronment, under the same roof looking for the same thing: a ‘good’ date.” Who is The Singles Mingle For? The Singles Mingle is an event created for professional men and women who value re-lationships. Its mission is to create a fun at-

Match Maker Kaleena James

B Photo: Raye Jackson

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mosphere where singles, who share similar values, can socialize and network on a holiday that is usually intended for couples. Any successes with long-term relationships from these events? There have been many pairing successes throughout the history of the Single's Mingle. The 2013 Single's Mingle even resulted in a mar-riage proposal. There’s no guarantee of a love connection at Single’s Mingle, but to have fun and improve your chances of a connection, Kaleena says it often comes down to good conversation, open-mindedness, compatibility, and positive body language. 3rd Annual Single's Mingle "Real Men Wear Pink" Speed Date & Benefit Auction Wednesday February 11th, 2015 @ KC Jukehouse 1700 East 18th Street KCMO 64108 7pm Hosted by Sean Tyler & Lonnie Bush, Sounds by DJ Q Starts 7pm (10) of KC Hottest bachelors to be auctioned. All proceeds from auction benefit the Celebration of Life Foundation

(Continued from page 20)

Boy + Girl = Love

Featured: Trina Leonard &

Sherrod Clifton

Photo: Raye Jackson

TWELVEKC.COM

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about love February is the month of love, considering Valentine’s

Day is front and center among national headlines. In the spirit of romance and the questions that surround mat-

ters of the heart, we present you our Truth about love

gallery, with a few thoughts along the way.

23

Johnny Barnett, Featured

Raye Jackson, photo

TWELVEKC.COM

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TRUTH

Ride or Die

Johnny Barnett +

Ke’Mya Long styled by

TheeBMSCloset

[email protected]

IG: @theebmscloset or

@bonniieemonnroe

25

Aight people, it’s that time of year again - and this year's season of love is gonna be a BIG one since Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend in 2015. So what’s on this year’s list of expec-tations ladies??? Flowers? Candy? Balloons and teddy bears? Earrings and tennis bracelets? Let’s be honest here one time - some of you ladies will likely get the romantic evenings with candlelight and bubble baths…while the rest of you will get the late night calls or the infa-mous Feb 15th a.k.a #SideChickDay dates…. Which one are you???

The key to this puzzle starts with not only getting to know yourself a little better, but also knowing what kind of man you're dealing with altogether. Realistic expectations are a must during this de-lusional time of year. Brothers get the stigma of not expressing emotions and appreci-ation often enough, but trust me - if a man is into you for the right reasons, he’ll go out of his way to make you feel special. It all depends on the stage of your relationship with this man - and ladies, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out where you stand. For instance, we all know that women love surprises. If your guy is planning to surprise you with gifts delivered at work or school, he’s gotta be absolutely sure of your work or school schedule on the big day. Saturday the 14th could be your off day, but even then he has to plan for your whereabouts. If he hasn’t recently made any casual attempts to confirm that schedule with you, don’t hold your breath waiting to be the envy of your peers.

Dinner and a night on the town is usually assumed in those deeper relationships, and din-ner plan availability isn’t often a secret between true lovers. If you're in a ‘txt only’ relation-ship with this man, chances are y’all not hooking up offline that night for anything other than usual ‘hook-up'. Txt Only includes all forms of non-voice chatting, so ladies be real with yourself about what type of situation you're in. If you’ve sent this man nudes but you’ve nev-er been seen with him in public…..you won’t be seeing him at a decent hour - if at all - on the 14th. At any rate, there’s never a reason to whine about how your evening turns out. There are levels to everything, including love. No matter what type of “situationship” you’ve found yourself in this Valentine’s Day, don’t spoil the weekend by expecting more out of it than what you’ve put into it. Respect starts from within. Have a safe and happy V-Day everyone!!! -HoLLyRod-

whine & d ine He loves me...He loves me not. Valentine’s Day will give you

all the clues you need.

Will you be the one get-ting the late night calls or the infamous Feb 15th a.k.a #SideChickDay dates?

26

SCENE

Lee’s Summit

MLK Celebration

1.19.15

Speaker,

Jenna Hanchard,

41 Action News Re-

porter

27

resolute my breath has life

it flits and flutters

in volume and verse

my lungs expand beyond

the continent

humming tribal hymns

inhaling injustice

in an exhalation of eminence

my breath sings hope

soothing to the sobbing

peaceful to the protest

it is a jubilant truth.

my breath speaks veracity

planted in the soil

streaming in the oil

continuing

my breath takes heed

delicately daunting

heard above the haunting

as if chorus

my breath has life

whispered in the ear

pondered behind fear

that cripples the sound.

By Randi McCreary

28

Trina Leonard, featured

Ken L., Photo

TRUTH

Ready & Willing

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30

TRUTH

We Own the Night

TheeBMSCloset

[email protected]

IG: @theebmscloset or

@bonniieemonnroe

31

TheeBMSCloset

[email protected]

IG: @theebmscloset or

@bonniieemonnroe

32

TRUTH

I Promise

33

Alex Johnson & Johnny Barnett, featured

Ken L., Photo

TWELVEKC.COM

34

Happy Valentine’s Day Order Your Copy of TWELVE’s 2015

Work of Art Calendar/Gallery

Twelvekc.com

35

Dr. Michael McAfee, a Kansas City native and director of the Promise Neighborhoods Institute in Oakland, California, was the fea-tured speaker at Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast. The free event, open to the public, was held Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at the Beta Lambda Educational Institute, 2915 Swope Parkway in Kansas City, Mo. The theme for this year’s breakfast was “The Dawning of a New Civil Rights Movement.” The event included a continental breakfast and musical tributes. McAfee, a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha and a U.S. Army veteran, has been a leader in the education, government, philanthropic

(Continued on page 37)

AGENDA

MLK 2015

Civil Rights

8 Steps To

Invigorate The

Movement

Dr. Michael McAfee, a Kansas City native and director of the Promise Neighborhoods Institute in Oakland, California, was the featured

speaker at Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast.

36

FEATURE

37

8 CIVIL RIGHTS STEPS WE SHOULD TAKE NOW! Dr. McAfee began his remarks at the 17th Annual MLK Breakfast, by quoting Dr. King: “I refuse to accept the idea that the ‘isness’ of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him.” Building on the notion of oughtness and the desired and expected living conditions, Dr. McAfee outlined actions that ought to take place to achieve an equitable state.

1. We’re A Great and Beautiful People Own what’s already in us, which is greatness, not bra-vado. Not false sense of accomplishment. By the faith, the victory has already been won.

2. Civil Rights Movement Continues There’s been progress, but we haven’t won anything. “What’s new? At the very moment that we’re about to start high-fiving, most of us won’t put our kids in the school system here. Most of us have to talk to our Black boys about how to manage being brutalized and unfair-ly accused of crimes in order for them to survive. Voter suppression is on the rise. So the very things that Dr. King was fighting against then are front and center on the table now. The sad truth is they’ve been on the ta-ble.” A new Civil Rights movement isn’t needed, but we do need to reinvigorate the current one.

3. Equity is the Goal “Help the poor. Dr. King’s vision was far bigger than his own. Our vision has to bigger than our own or even our own family unit. It needs to be about what Dr. King cared about, the most vulnerable among us. We have to muster the manhood and womanhood to take on the

(Continued on page 39)

and human services sectors for more than 20 years. The Promise Neighborhoods Institute focuses on improving access to quality education and provides services to more than 250,000 children. McAfee is the former president of YouthNet of Greater Kansas City and the former director of com-munity leadership for the Greater Kansas City Community Founda-tion. This annual holiday breakfast cel-ebrates the legacy and contribu-tions of Martin Luther King Jr., who was a devoted member of Alpha Phi Alpha. The fraternity led the project to build the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Beta Lambda Educational Insti-tute of Alpha Phi Alpha is a not-for-profit organization that provides Scouting services, mentoring pro-grams, leadership development and scholarships for youth in Missouri and Kansas. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, founded in 1906 at Cornell Universi-ty in Ithaca, N.Y, is the first and larg-est Greek-letter organization estab-lished by African-Americans. Beta Lambda Alumni Chapter, char-tered in Kansas City in 1919, is the fraternity’s oldest alumni chapter west of the Mississippi River.

(Continued from page 35)

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As a Jackson County Assistant Pros-ecutor, Alissia is an advocate for crime victims, seeking justice and restitution for hundreds of families. At the same time, she has champi-oned a pilot rehabilitation and men-toring program for young first-time offenders, to give them a second chance. Alissia also knows the power of edu-cation, entrepreneurism and economic development to im-prove the lives of everyday peo-ple. Alissia held down a full-time job in high school to help her mother and her family. She bought her first home at the age of eighteen and worked in the banking industry while putting herself through college at Park University. She then ran her own small business for several years, learning the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship first-hand. Alissia is a Kansas City native and graduate of Northeast High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Finance at Park University, Juris Doctor from the University Of South Dakota School Of Law. Alissia is a member of the Missouri Bar (MO BAR) and currently serves as inter-im President of the Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA). She is also a member of Association of Women Lawyers (AWL), Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA), the Central Exchange (CX) and the Greater Kansas City Women’s Politi-cal Caucus (GKCWPC) and has served on several boards. This year she served as chair of the 2014 Heartland Legal Diversity Job Fair for the KCMBA and was fea-tured in the 2014 “Who’s Who in Black Kansas City”. For additional information please visit www.Canadyforkc.com

USING THE LAW TO HELP YOU IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Intimate-partner violence is a major problem in the United States. On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States--more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year. About 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (e.g., hit with a fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) at some point in their life-time. Local domestic violence programs are a vital resource, providing free and confi-dential assistance to women victimized by domestic violence and their children. They provide emergency safety services, such as shelter and 24-hour crisis hot-lines. But you don’t have to stay in a shelter to get help from a program. Most also provide a full range of non-residential services to women who have been battered. CONTACT THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE AT 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For a listing of local domestic violence shelters visit http://www.womenshelters.org/cit/mo-kansas_city. Protection or Restraining Orders

Ask your local domestic violence program who can help you get a civil pro-tection order and who can help you with criminal prosecution.

In Jackson County, forms also can be found at www.courts.mo.gov by select-

(Continued on page 41)

WHEN IT’S NOT LOVE Alissia Canady

39

system to improve our community.”

4. An Agenda For Mass Results “The worst thing that’s happening in our commu-nity right now is people’s desire to give us pro-grammatic solutions into structural racism.” McAfee discussed “Black folks get upset and peo-ple say, “Let me give you a program. Let me give you a three-year initiative.” However, they define the terms of the initiatives in such a way that never takes on structural problems. “Hundreds of thou-sands need support”, says McAfee, “but we launch a program for two hundred. You’re never getting out of this hole.”

5. Capitalize. Fund the Agenda When money is received to address issues, the very things that we say we want are funded by someone else. That’s not owning our manhood and our womanhood. We can organize to capi-talize our institutions, own our agenda that we all have a stake in. That is not sexy, but it’s neces-sary.

6. Avoid the Seduction of the Moment We lose traction because we’re seduced into sexi-ness, flashpoints that are in the media today. Are we so into the moment that our attention will just ebb and flow? If that’s a case we are not a threat to anybody. All folks have to do is just wait us out.

7. Act Now “This is not gradualism. For each of you that has a child, there’s an immediate sense of urgency, but when it comes to other folks’ kids, you aban-don them by opting for a five- or ten-year plan.” Citing the urgency: Prison systems capitalize on our kids by gauging their reading levels when they’re in the third grade to project the number of prison systems to build.

8. Develop Metrics What are the results that my institution is advanc-ing? What are the metrics by which I am measur-ing that? How do I measure that steady progress toward the goals? Do we have that right now? Let’s salute Dr. King’s memory by implementing these steps today.

(Continued from page 37)

MLK

40

INSPIRE

We challenge you to take these steps as a call to action to implement individually and in your organization. Selfless action for greater society should be the agenda for us all. No one should ever treat you the way you were treated today.

Courage and Conscious. “Courage is an inner resolution to go for-ward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to cir-cumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice re-presses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency ask the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor poli-tic, nor popular, but one must take it be-cause it is right.”

Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we in-flict on our soul when we look the other way.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice eve-rywhere. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

n recognition of Black History Month, countless heroes—forefront and unsung alike—could be featured. This year in particular, there is addition-

al relevance in remembering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. legacy. Most notably, 2015 marks the 50-year anniversary of the March on Selma, Alabama. Selma, the film, poignantly captures the movement and the struggle for civil rights and voting rights, in particular. What’s most powerful is that the film brings the viewers into the moment, making them a

witness to the crimes of that day, not a distant by-stander. In addition, the film highlights Dr. King as a mere man—insecure and vulnerable—yet still a leader who worked with and among the many for equal rights. Rather than a direct recount of the film’s moments, we wanted to reflect on the moral. There are four quotes, in particular, of Dr. King that effectively cap-ture the message and the goals we should own for our community.

1

2 3

4

SELECT KING QUOTES

i

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ing Court Forms > Adult Abuse Forms.

If the judge finds that there is an immediate and present danger of domestic violence or stalking, an ex parte order of protection will be issued.

In most places, the judge can: Order the abuser to stay away from you or your children

Order the abuser to leave your home

Give you temporary custody of your children & order the abuser to pay you temporary child support

Order the police to come to your home while the abuser picks up personal belongings

Give you possession of the car, furniture and other belongings

Order the abuser to go to a batterers intervention program

Order the abuser not to call you at work

Order the abuser to give guns to the police

If you are worried about any of the following, make sure you: Show the judge any pictures of your injuries

Tell the judge that you do not feel safe if the abuser comes to your home to pick up the children to visit with them

Ask the judge to order the abuser to pick up and return the children at the police station or some other safe place

Ask that any visits the abuser is permitted are at very specific times so the police will know by reading the court order if the abuser is there at the wrong time

Tell the judge if the abuser has harmed or threatened the children; ask that visits be supervised; think about who could do that for you

Get a certified copy of the court order

Keep the court order with you at all times

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS Show the prosecutor your court orders

Show the prosecutor medical records about your injuries or pictures if you have them

Tell the prosecutor the name of anyone who is helping you (a victim advocate or a lawyer)

Tell the prosecutor about any witnesses to injuries or abuse

Ask the prosecutor to notify you ahead of time if the abuser is getting out of jail

BE SAFE AT THE COURTHOUSE Sit as far away from the abuser as you can; you don't have to look at or talk to the abuser; you don't have to talk to the

abuser's family or friends if they are there

Bring a friend or relative with you to wait until your case is heard

Tell a bailiff or sheriff that you are afraid of the abuser and ask him/her to look out for you

Make sure you have your court order before you leave

Ask the judge or the sheriff to keep the abuser there for a while when court is over; leave quickly

If you think the abuser is following you when you leave, call the police immediately If you have to travel to another State for work or to get away from the abuser, take your protection order with you; it is valid everywhere "Excerpted and Reprinted by permission of the American Bar Association from The Domestic Violence Safety Plan: Safety Tips For You And Your Family, a joint project of the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and the ABA Commission on Do-mestic Violence."

(Continued from page 38)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

AND THE LAW

42

43

SCENE

KWANZAA 2014 National Black United Front & the American Jazz Museum host the cele-bration at the Gem Theater. Culture, history, art and economic develop-ment are all part of the experience, held annually, Dec 26th through New Years Day. See more events at kcsoul.com

TWELVEKC.COM

44

“You light skinded and yo momma a white la-dy!” “Is that your hair or weave?” “White girl! White girl!”

This chanting coming from my 4th grade peers would provoke me to adamantly scream back that I wasn’t white, my moth-er and father were black and in fact my long hair was indeed my real hair (cue neck roll and simultaneous eye roll). When I moved to Oak Park, Illinois from South Attleboro, Massachusetts where I was inex-plicably the “blackest” thing they’d ever

Lacey Schwartz was told that she was white growing up. Some questioned it. More made ex-

cuses. Yet others, including her very own mother, knew the truth, but denied the “dark” reality.

By Iman Lott

Photos: Little White Lie

Mother and

daughter-Peggy

& Lacey

Schwartz

Lacey Schwartz

Producer/

Director

FEATURE

45

Lacey Schwartz can identify. Growing up in an upper middle class Jewish household, from an early age she was educated on her Jewish, White identity. But if you look at Lacey in all of the family photos that make an ap-pearance in her documentary “Little White Lie”, you find yourself wondering how and why no one ever asked “where did you come from?” “Little White Lie” tells Lacey Schwartz’s story of growing up in Woodstock NY with a mother and

father who told her that her dark skin was inherited from her dark-skinned Sicilian grandfather, however, she felt deep down that something else may have contributed to it. At the age of

18, a few years after her parents abruptly split she has a conversa-tion with her mother who finally

reveals that her biological father is a black man. Suddenly she is catapulted into a world where she feels drawn to embrace what she seemed to secretly believe all along: She is biracial.

(Continued on page 48)

seen, one of four black children in the entire elementary school and where my head was petted often because my hair was so “different”, it changed me. I grew up in a household where we talked about issues like race and where we came from really early on. I knew who I was and the fact that my black peers tried to place me in a cultural class designated for “mixed kids”, one I had never heard of, had me almost convinced that maybe I wasn’t who I thought I was. What does “mixed” mean?

Lacey Schwartz fields questions at the KC screening

on dealing with race.

“...you find your-self wondering how and why no one ever asked “where did you come from?”

Lacey with both

parents. Her race

still a secret.

TWELVEKC.COM

46

MUSIC

mongst the cultural and historical 18th & Vine dis-trict there is an institu-

tion that captures the essence of an American art form and cares for the preservation of the legacy and histori-cal importance of a Kansas City favor-ite throughout gen-erations: jazz mu-sic. The Kansas City Jazz Museum continues to celebrate the talented musicians and story-telling that were bred in Kansas City, those world-renowned that frequented KC for the

happening jazz scene and the mod-ern day musicians who come to the museum to connect with the art form

and perform. As a Kansas Citian, it should be a require-ment to visit the muse-um and absorb the history that intertwines historical events of the civil rights movement with the sound of jazz. It is one of the only museums in the world to focus on the ad-vancements, exhibition and preservation

of jazz music. The American Jazz Museum main-tains its connection with the commu-

By LeAndrea Mack

JAZZ TOWN

47

nity raising awareness and providing unique opportunities to learn about the legends and to respect and honor their legacy. The museum also provides an opportunity to enjoy live jazz music at the Blue Room, annual con-cert series at the Gem Theater, and ever-

changing jazz themed art gallery exhibits. Tours of the museum are held Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-6pm and Sunday from noon-6pm for about $10 per person. The American Jazz Museum also caters to children and students for specific events includ-ing jazz story-telling and poetry jams. Stop by the famous Swing Shop, located inside of the Jazz Museum, for memorabilia that rep-resents the timeless art form.

americanjazzmuseum.org

{The Swing Shop at the Ameri-can Jazz Museum is now also the exclusive retailer for Twelve Magazine. Pick up your

copy today}

“Bird Lives”. Kansas City’s own sax man, Charlie

“Bird” Parker, has a name synonymous with jazz. A

statue in his honor sits just North of the American

Jazz Museum, in his honor.

TWELVEKC.COM

48

This new discovery doesn’t make its way through the family gossip line until Lacey attends her biological father’s funeral where she is identified publically as his daughter. Following the funeral Lacey makes it her mis-sion to sit with family and reconcile the once hidden parts of her history while trying to reestablish a broken relationship with the man who raised her. You are able to see his struggle with accepting how she identifies herself as being anything other than White and Jewish as well as witness her mother’s definitive battle in keeping the secret of her multiyear affair for so long. The film brings so many questions to the forefront like what it means to be biracial and what it’s like to struggle with the pressure to identify with one ethnicity or the other. It address-es the many differ-ent interpretations of race from all cul-tures and back-grounds and chal-lenges people, es-pecially Black Ameri-cans, to actively pur-sue the knowledge of where and who we actually came from. Lacey suc-cessfully documents her unique story of self-identity and self-discovery in “Little White Lie”. Lacey and I are bound by a similar struggle with racial identity. Through the years I’ve endured many more chants and remarks. In college I was called “Valley girl” because of what was then considered having a “white” appearance. By then it didn’t bother me as much. Through my ongoing research I discovered the many different places and people I am a part of. From Madagascar to my most recent discovery of Cuba, there are many more layers to unfold. Besides, in this melting pot that is the United States of America, how can we focus so much on black and white? I have, over the years, gained a strong sense of who I am. Like Lacey Schwartz, my question for you is: do you know who you are?

(Continued from page 45)

The film brings so many questions to the forefront like what it means to be biracial and what it’s like to struggle with the pressure to identi-fy with one ethnic-ity or the other.

SECRETS

DENIAL

LIES

INFIDELITY

DISCOVERY

SURPRISE

CONFUSION

MISTRUST

REVELATION

LITTLE

WHITE

LIE

49

DON’T MISS

magazine

TWELVE

NOW ALSO

ON VINE

Want your copy of

TWELVE in print?

Order directly at

twelvekc.com OR get

your print copy,

monthly, in the Swing

Shop at the American

Jazz Museum.

50

ADVENTURE

n the early eighties in KC, approximately

25 African Americans met at the down-

town airport one evening to talk about

skiing. Bill and Pam Robinson, avid Cali-

fornia skiers, had recently relocated to Leav-

enworth and wanted to start a ski club. The

emphasis was placed on introducing African

Americans, especially youth, to this winter

sport.

Midwest Ski and Travel Club was deemed the

official name and it was unofficially dubbed

Black Ski KC. The first club bus trip was to

Steamboat Springs, Colorado for Thanksgiv-

ing 1982. “We stayed in The Ranch condos

and began sliding, laughing, rolling, falling,

tumbling, screaming, praying and finally, for

some, skiing down the bunny hill,” recalled

the Robinsons.

“It’s a different experience. It’s fun!,” says

LET’S HIT

THE SLOPES I

Photos: Eric Burroughs, Black Ski Summit

51

Eric Burroughs, former Midwest Ski Club and

KC Slope Riders member.

Skiers have many event and activity options.

The National Brotherhood of Skiers hosts a

true party on the mountain with their annual

Ski Summit. It features seven days in the

mountain with an itinerary that can be rough-

ly described as: Ski, happy hour, chill, party,

and repeat. Accommodations can be as

grand as your budget allows including condos

with heated floors, fireplaces, and outdoor

grills.

Describing the experience, Eric says, “You hit

the grocery store up the first day you get

there to buy your meats, wines and cheeses.”

Club meetings and events are part of the ex-

perience, but it’s a seven-day party. The hap-

py hours are even like a day party with a DJ

and dance floor, but the night, hosts big

names such as Biz Markie, Kid Capri, and

Cedric the Entertainer. Outside of NBS func-

tion, “renegades” have been known to pre-

sent some high quality nightlife, too!

Black clubs, featuring well-to-do African-

American professionals come from as far

away as New York and even London. Accord-

ing to Midwest Ski, more than 60 clubs (1,500

participants) from across the country attend

which makes for a fantastic week of skiing,

fun, social events, meeting people, and in gen-

eral having the time of your life.

Skiing provides a true vacation with an oppor-

tunity to travel around the world to some of the best destinations. For Midwest Ski, after

affiliating with the National Brotherhood of

Skiers (NBS), many members attended the

Summits: Lake Placid, Sun Valley, Steamboat

Springs, Keystone, Vail, Copper Mountain,

Park City, Banff, Vail, Whistler, Snow Mass,

Lake Tahoe, and Austria just to name a few.

For more information about MSKC

www.midwestskikc.com/

READY TO GO?

Skiing usually takes some expense and time,

but we’ve taken much of this away by hosting

a DAY SKI TRIP.

TWELVE MAGAZINE SKI DAY TRIP 2/21

SNOW CREEK, Weston MO (40min from KCMO)

Sign-up for Info: twelvekc.com/flight

FIRST TIME SKIERS Pad-Up and Wear Water Resistant Clothing,

Equipment Check-list for Beginners

Wrist Guard

Knee Pads (Not mandatory but help for be-

ginners)

Padded Shorts (example: under armor)

Gloves (Ski or water resistant)

Sport appropriate long johns (example: under

armor cold gear)

Ski or Snowboard Socks (wool, not cotton)

Goggles (or sunglasses)

Helmet (can rent)

Shirt that wicks away sweat (example :under

armor cold gear)

Skis or Snowboard (can rent your first time)

Ski Boots or Snowboard Boots (can rent)

Ski Poles (can rent your first time)

Hand warmers & Toe Warmers

Ski or Snowboard Coat

Lift Ticket Pouch (if not provided in ski coat).

Your lift ticket has to be presented for each

ride on the lift to the top of the slopes.

TWELVEKC.COM

52

Fri 2/6 First Fridays KC-Upscale Groove Event type: Party Venue: Privilege 1822 Main Kansas City, MO Time: 7:00 PM– 3AM Producer: TWELVE / Fly Societyr Contact: H.G.E. Email: [email protected] Web: firstfridayskc.com

Sat 2/7 Sassy Silver Naturals Workshop Event type: Other Venue: Southeast Community Center: 4201 E 63rd St Kansas City MO Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 AM Producer: That Curl Contact: V Besch Email: [email protected] Phone: Web: www.thatcurl.com Wed 02/11 3rd Single’s Mingle-Speed Date & Date Auction Event type: Networking

Venue: The Juke House, 1700 E. 18th St. KCMO Time: 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM Producer: Kater Concierge Contact: Phone: 816.547.9377 Wed 02/11 Love Jonez - Live Poetry, Music, and Open Mic

Event type: Networking Venue: The Tank Room: 1813 Grand Blvd KCMO

Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Producer: The Omicron Xi Lambda

Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Contact: Omicron Xi Lambda Email: [email protected]

Phone: 816.419.5759 Web: http://www.omicronxilambda.org Thu 02/12 2015 State of Black Kansas City Book Release & Reception Event type: Networking Venue: Central Library - Downtown: 14 West 10 Street Kansas City MO Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Producer: Urban League of GKC - Reach Contact: Melva Brownlee Email: [email protected] Phone: 8164710550 Web: www.ulkc.org

Fri 02/13 Blue Carpet Affair Event type: Comedy Venue: Diebold Hall: 7501 N. Kensington Avenue Kansas City MO Time: 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM Producer: Alpha Delta Sigma of GKC Contact: Ivan Fenwick Email: [email protected] 913-488-3729

Web: http://www.bluecarpetaffair.com Sat 02/14 Divas and Diamonds Event type: Party Venue: Arts Tech Center: 1522 Holmes Kansas City MO Time: 7:00 PM - 2:00 AM Producer: Deltas and Kappas Contact: Email: [email protected] Phone: Sat 02/14 1st Valentine's Cabaret Gala

Event type: Fundraiser Venue: The Nefertiti Ballroom, KC, KS

66106: 1314 Quindaro Blvd KC KS Time: 7:00 PM - 12:00 PM Producer: NCBW, INC-KCMO Chapter Contact: Gail Holmes Email: [email protected] Phone: 816.974.3237Web: www.ncbwkansascity.com Sat 02/21 SKI DAY TRIP JOIN #12MAG

Event type: Sport Venue: Snow Creek Web: twelvekc.com/flight See the complete calendar at

kcsoul.com

Add your events and more to kcsoul.com. Just create a login or use your Facebook log-in.

CALENDAR As SEEN ON KCSoul.com. Add Your Events & See Complete Listings There Today.

BUY

BUY

53

Live Like the Rich and Famous! From playing chess and skiing to exploring

new wines, what do you want to do to-

day? Plenty of options are coming for those

who participate in the TWELVE FLIGHT CLUB.

This isn’t a destination, it’s an experience…an

adventure. True to its mission to expose Kan-

sas City, most adventures are close to home.

Did you know you can do everything from ski

the slopes to lounge on beaches or explore

wineries all in the Kansas City area?

Consider this the field trip tour for sophistica-

tion, class and culture. Urban professionals

citywide can explore new ground, expand their

knowledge base, but most of all, have

fun. When you walk into a room, we want you

to be prepared to play the games, talk the talk

and make the decisions of the rich and fa-

mous. Participate in the TWELVE FLIGHT

CLUB to do exactly that.

Publisher, Ken Lumpkins states, "We all have

an opportunity to learn and expand our hori-

zons. We want to make sure Twelve does our

part to educate the community in the world of

money and power. Learning new languages,

exploring new places, making new friends are

all components of the TWELVE FLIGHT CLUB.

Don’t miss a single FLIGHT. Sign-up at

twelvekc.com/flight

54

More than a magazine. It’s a movement. From the digital magazine to the print publica-tion, you can READ IT. From the Live Events to the Music and Movies...EXPERIENCE IT. Always something new. Be a part of it! [email protected] twelvekc.com

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Twelvekc.com