As I entered the room where the festivity was in session, I was warmly welcomed by the sound of drumming; there was a distinct unison amongst the drummers. The atmosphere was ripe for a service honoring dignitaries and honorable mentions. I could not help but notice expressions – the chatter of a most distinguished nature…people were anticipating something great and it was mutual, so was I.

Ms. Jennifer K. Smith, Marketing Director of Successful Aging Care Inc. performed the duty of Event Host /MC with dignity. Jennifer expressed mixed emotions i.e. she cheered that the reason she enjoys being present at this event is because it pulls the Black Diaspora Community together. On the other hand, she jeered about how not enough organizations are doing this same feat. I asked Jennifer to give me a word that best describes what the event does for her and for others in attendance. She gave me, SYNERGY.

The first event honoree I had the pleasure of interviewing was Ms. Kenyada Posey; she was being recognized for her efforts in YOUTH ORGANIZING namely, the Youth Empowerment – Youth Council work done with High School-age youth at the Martin Luther King High School, Building 21 Philadelphia and William W. Bodine High School. Posey was passionate in her role as the Philadelphia NAACP Youth Chair / The Philadelphia Chapter of the NAACP because as she affirms, this initiative is a Divine appointment.

Kenyada Posey was overjoyed to announce that she is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and that her hometown had just, most recently elected its first-ever Black Mayor: Steven Reed. The irony of this major event is that Montgomery Alabama is the hub of the Civil Rights Movement. As a 2018 NEXTGEN Program graduate, Posey has proven herself by meeting challenges and working for several members of Congress as well as in the non-profit sector.

When asked Posey what is the Overall Mission she hopes to achieve in her new role, she mentioned that she hopes that by her efforts in working with our youth, that she can “Bridge the Gap” that exists between young and old, via creating opportunities for both age groups to work together on community-based / community-centered projects. In so doing, Posey asserts that both groups shall foster mutual trust. She affirms that once the elders and the youth begin to collaborate i.e. they will initiate peaceful efforts that shall infuse the elder’s wisdom with the passion of the youth.

Next on the agenda of my interviewing quest was to meet someone in attendance that was not an honoree. I met Ms. Regina Dawley - a first-time attendee - for any FUNTIME Magazine event. Why I picked her out of the crowd had everything to do with how intensely I observed her reading the current issue of FUNTIMES Magazine. So, I asked her to give me one describing word – to express her experience of reading FUNTIMES Magazine for the first time and her response was EDUCATIONAL. Also, Regina was referring to some facts newly discovered while reading an article in FUNTIMES Magazine about Bahamas. Kudos to FUNTIMES Magazine, on its creation of an impactful, community-centered and community-based, editorial publication that promotes positive images and messages that celebrate the feats and trailblazers of the African diaspora.

I also spoke with Cassandra Moore, Board Secretary for the Philadelphia Chapter of The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Community (NAMIC) and Deborah Francis, President of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and cover-person for the last edition.

Moore is also Founder and CEO of The Moore You Know (TMYK). She informed me that NAMIC takes initiative yearly to recognize groups that are destroying barriers by promoting multi-ethnic initiatives through efforts that declare inclusivity, to empower and support underserved communities via education, social justice reform and advocacy.

It was truly a delight to greet and meet with Francis, the President of NOBLE. Her aura emanates both compassion and diligence. She asserts that as for the Black Community (African Diaspora) she is committed to representing us well; she has consistently worked diligently to ease the tension that now persists between law enforcement and the Black minority community.

She admits that much did occur throughout history which caused distrust to fester between Blacks and the Police but she affirms her role- as a liaison - is to manifest a network of peace that she can both initiate and oversee that directly impacts our communities. Overall, Francis asserted that in her role, it is her passion to continue working smart and wise to produce a better social interaction model for networking purposes between the Black community and law enforcement.