Aneesa Sood, a Tuskegee University junior, is featured in the August/September 2014 issue of Justine Magazine. Sood is the author of Freshman Fifteen: The Most Important Things I Learned in My First Year of College. She is also a White House HBCU All Star and the founder of two programs – But Words Will Never Hurt Me, an award-winning anti-bullying program, and Esteem 4 Girls, a program designed to inspire young women to reach their full potential. She has presented workshops and presentations at schools, churches, clubs and other locations in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas, and has been featured in numerous publications, including U.S. News and World Report online.
“College freshmen sometimes fail to take their schoolwork seriously,” Sood states. “Common mistakes include studying too few hours, skipping classes, not getting help when they need it, staying up too late on school nights, and getting into unhealthy relationships that distract them from their goals. Through my writing and my presentations, I try to motivate students to aim higher and reach their full potential.”
Sood, who is a biology major with a 4.0 grade point average, frequently presents workshops on academic success, bullying and self-esteem. In the current issue of  Justine Magazine, which is available at Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million and other locations, she shares advice to help students excel academically. For more information on her book or to read inspirational messages about outstanding high school and college students, visit Sood’s website at http://www.aneesasood.com.

To The Chef, Happy Birthday
Benjamin O. Hooks
September 11, 1947

Living Without
We may live without poetry, music and art;

We may live without conscience,

and live without heart;

We may live without friends;

we may live without books;

But civilized man cannot live without cooks.
––––––  Owen Meredith, ‘Lucile’

   Birmingham is home to the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship from Anheuser-Busch, Alabama native Brandon Cleveland. Cleveland was one of 30 students from across the country honored in the Legends of the Crown diversity program, sharing in $150,000 scholarship fund. Cleveland will use his award toward pursuing a degree in business at Morehouse College.
Anheuser-Busch, in partnership with the United Negro College Fund, hosted the students last month for the annual Legends of the Crown leadership symposium in St. Louis, which included speeches from inspirational speakers, one-on-one time with A-B executives and career planning specialists, professional development workshops and community service.
“The Legends of the Crown scholarship program and leadership symposium have positively impacted the lives of young African-American students for the past three years,” said Paulette Jackson, UNCF Vice President of Development. “But we’ve partnered with Anheuser-Busch for decades to help provide students with funds to attain a college education. We count Legends of the Crown as an important part of our work to help make the educational dreams of African-American students come true.”
Legends of the Crown scholarships were awarded to eligible student leaders entering their junior year of study at four-year, accredited HBCUs in the 2014-2015 academic year. Recipients were required to have a 3.2 GPA or higher, strong leadership skills, and must be pursuing a major in science, technology, engineering, math, business or marketing.
For more information about the scholarship program, visit uncf.org.

Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame on the Judson College campus inspires, informs students’ living history performances

MARION, Ala. – Helen Keller, Zelda Fitzgerald, Tallulah Bankhead and Coretta Scott King are the names of just a few of the famous inductees in the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. The lives of these notable women, as well as several other AWHOF members, inspired Judson speech students to research, write and perform living history monologues of our Alabama heroines.
The Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame was established at Judson College in 1970. To-date, over 80 distinguished women of Alabama who have left their marks on the state are its members. Only women who have been deceased for two years or longer are considered for the AWHOF.
Students made their living history presentations of AWHOF members for their public speaking course, which was taught by Professor George Frangoulis during one of Judson’s summer class terms.
Frangoulis said this about the assignment: “I told students to visit the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame, select at least two members, and research their lives. These women were then to become subjects for dramatic speeches, or epitaphs, spoken by the dead women themselves.
“I expected the students to delve deeply into the personal lives of their subjects, to write dramatic speeches in the voices of their subjects. Further, when giving their epitaphs, I wanted the students to assume the personas of their subjects, including wearing appropriate dress for the era during which the subjects lived,” Frangoulis said.
In preparation for the students’ dramatic performances, Frangoulis presented his class with readings and a video performance of Edgar Lee Masters’ “Spoon River Anthology.” This work is a collection of short, free-form poems that collectively narrates the lives of the residents of a fictional small town, Spoon River. Each poem is an epitaph of a dead citizen of the town, delivered by the dead themselves. Originally published in 1916, the collected work of poetry has been adapted for the theater and performed on stage many times over the years.
Five Judson College students each presented two epitaphs for 10 AWHOF members; the students who performed are:
1) Brittany James of Birmingham, Ala.; she attended Midfield High School, and played Maria Fearing and Vera Hall.

2) Felicia Buish of Mobile; she attended Theodore High School, and played Bessie Bellingrath and Tallulah Bankhead.
3) Taylor Cason of Warrior, Ala.; she attended Hayden High School and played Hellen Keller and Nina Miglionico.

4) Bria Aaron of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; she attended Central High School East Campus, and played Lella Warren and Coretta Scott King.

5) Savannah Baxter of Wilmer, Ala.; she attended  Mary G. Montgomery High School, and played Zelda Fitzgerald and Nancy Crews.

 
In his introduction of the students’ performance, Frangoulis said this: “Men’s names and accomplishments are often more remembered than their female companions and counterparts. Yet women have often contributed equally or more to the human heart and endeavors. Our little portraits of these women are but brief moments in colossal lives.”
“The performances by the young women were outstanding. This is the kind of thing we should do more of,” said Bill Mathews, the past Executive Secretary of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

Dr. Rex Ellis of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Africa American History and Culture; Ms. Odessa Woolfolk, founding administrator of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI); Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama’s 7th District (which includes Birmingham) and BCRI Interim President and CEO Priscilla Hancock Cooper attend the “Save Our African American Treasures” event on Saturday, Sept. 6. (Smithsonian photo by Michael R. Barnes)

Vote now to choose Rebekah Koen as the Winner of the
Maytag® Dependable Leader Award & $50,000 in Scholarships

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Rebekah Koen of Birmingham has been selected as a finalist in the 2014 Maytag® Dependable Leader Awards – America’s Vote competition for exuding dependability, reliability and a commitment to excellence everyday within her community. Koen, 18, is a volunteer counselor-in-training at the Brookside Boys & Girls Club, where she serves as a mentor, tutor and leader for the Club and its members.
Through a national partnership, Maytag brand and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) selected Koen as one of five finalists nationwide to compete for the distinction. The winner will receive a $50,000 grant, of which, $20,000 will go to them in the form of a scholarship; and the remaining $30,000 will help his/her Club provide educational assistance for Club members and/or staff.
Koen was nominated for the award by Todd Love, unit director at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama. Love first met Koen five years ago when she and her three siblings, who had been living in homeless shelters with their mother, began attending the Brookside Boys & Girls Club. In his nomination letter, Love noted, “At an age when this stigma could destroy a young person’s self-image and perspective, Rebekah faced homelessness with grace, dignity and an undying positive attitude. What I admire most about Rebekah is her ability to overcome and rise above the many hardships and trials she has faced in her young life.”
As a volunteer counselor-in-training, Koen has contributed to the Brookside Boys & Girls Club in a myriad of ways. She tutors younger members, assists them with their homework and supervises them during activities. When she saw that many of the pre-teen girls seemed to be struggling with their image and self-confidence, she created “Girl Talk,” a program designed to give girls ages 11-14 a forum to share their feelings and support their peers. In addition, Koen is a member of the Keystone Club, a group of Boys & Girls Club teens dedicated to making their community a cleaner, safer and better place to live.
“Rebekah Koen is truly a dependable leader who selflessly gives her time and efforts to the Brookside Boys & Girls Club, and we are proud to see her nominated for this incredible distinction from Maytag,” said Love. “If Rebekah should win the Maytag Dependable Leader Award, it will help our Club continue to make a positive impact in our community by providing scholarships to our members. We are grateful to Maytag for supporting our organization’s efforts to serve young people and make a difference in their lives.”
“The Maytag Dependable Leader Award allows Maytag brand to give back to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country that continue to give tirelessly to their local communities each and every day,” said Laura Somers, brand manager, Maytag.
“The 2014 Maytag Dependable Leader Awards recognize Club members, such as Rebekah Koen, who are committed to making a difference as dependable and exceptional role models.”
With a heritage of dependability dating back more than 100 years, the Maytag brand mission is to build high-performing and dependable products. Boys & Girls Clubs dependably serve youth, enabling them to reach their full potential as high-performing adults. The partnership between Maytag and BGCA seeks to recognize and promote dependability – a quality that is at the core of what the Clubs do every day and is central to Maytag brand. Through its partnership with BGCA, Maytag has donated more than 3.5 million dollars to local Clubs in the last three years.
To vote for Rebekah Koen in the 2014 Maytag Dependable Leader Awards – America’s Vote competition, please visit www.dependableleaders.com. Individuals can vote daily through Friday, September 19, 2014, to help the finalist of their choice increase his or her chances of winning the $50,000 grand prize. Voting is limited to one vote per email address per day.

A Resolution was given to the family in memory of Mr. Johnnie Morris. Mr. Morris passed away on May 31, 2014 and was a former Member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (hereinafter “BJCC”) serving from 1972 until 1976.
Mr. Morris lived a life of service to his community holding numerous memberships in service clubs such as, The Lions Club, Masons, the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Touchdown Club; and
Mr. Morris was an integral part of the growth and development of the BJCC in its early years with a particular interest in developing the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
His  service to the BJCC, the Sports Hall of Fame, and the community at large enured to the benefit of the citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson County;
The Staff and Board of Directors of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center does hereby commend Mr. Morris for his years of service and the good life which he lived; and a copy of the Resolution was spread upon the minutes of this Board and presented to the family of Mr. Johnnie Morris on this the 16th day of July, 2014.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham Urban League will hold its bi-monthly homebuyer education seminar to provide homebuyer education and financial literacy training for individuals seeking to become homeowners. This FREE workshop provides participants an opportunity to address the overwhelming misconceptions surrounding the homeownership process. Participants learn how to realistically prepare to purchase a home.

Adjustable Rate vs. Fixed Rate, which is better?
Are foreclosed properties a good investment?
Why is my credit score important?

Find answers to these questions and more…

Saturday, October 4, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1229 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203

Urban League housing counselors and industry professionals cover topics that include residential loan applications; closing documents; home insurance, inspections, maintenance; neighborhood safety, fair housing and CreditSmart® – a curriculum to help consumers understand, build and maintain better credit.

To reserve your seat, contact Kimberly Callines at (205) 326-0162.