Dr. Annelle Primm and Siane Wilson on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations and leaders who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations and leaders embody "Be the change you want to see in the world". 

Throughout 2013, listeners will hear from presidents of organizations who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods to learn and serve others.

Dr. David Satcher

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 join us to hear from nationally renown psychiatrists, Dr. Annelle Primm, of the American Psychiatrists Association's Office of Minority and National Affairs (OMNA). Dr. Primm will update the audience on OMNA's partnership with the American Association of Community Psychiatrists and the Alabama Psychiatric Physicians Association event “Transcendence and Resilience Following Trauma.” The special event was held at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, to celebrate the triumph of African Americans after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, an act of racial hatred that killed four young girls 50 years ago. The event's keynote speaker was former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.

Also on today's show, Disney Performer and native Nashvillian, Siane Wilson. Siane will discuss how she beat out thousands who competed for the "role of a life time" to perform for Disney. She will share her resiliency in not giving up when others doubted her and advice on staying focused on your goals that may seem unreachable to others. She will also share what it is like to travel the world performing for one of the most iconic brands known around the globe. 

 Living Your Best Life can be heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, on Tune In, streaming live online at UStream.TV, and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST. This show will also air on the HBCU Network.

More About Annelle Primm, M.D., MPH

Annelle B. Primm, M.D., MPH is the Director of Minority and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association. She is also an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. From 1993 until 2004, she served as the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Community Psychiatry Program, a community mental health center, where she has developed and overseen a variety of mental health services for adults. 

 Dr. Primm is a graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe College and Howard University College of Medicine. She completed her residency in Psychiatry, fellowship in Social and Community Psychiatry, and Masters of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins. She is a nationally recognized expert on cultural issues in psychiatry and co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance abuse and has written and lectured widely on these topics. Dr. Primm has been a leader in collaborative public educational outreach and mental health screening initiatives focused on medically underserved populations.



More Siane Wilson

(Excerpt from Mocha Market and GenmaSpeaks)

Siane Wilson was attending Clark Atlanta University in the spring of 2012. Having always wanted to follow her dreams of performing on Broadway, she began researching performing arts’ auditions at the school’s library. Siane, a longtime lover of all things Disney, was looking for Disney’s Lion King auditions.

“All it takes is Faith and Trust” - Peter Pan

To her surprise, Disney was holding auditions. Unfortunately, the auditions were being held in New York City. Traveling to New York would mean missing two days of class but she continued searching. By chance, Siane saw a link for www.disneyauditions.com. As luck would have it, they were holding auditions in her hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. With great anticipation, Siane printed the information and dashed back to her room to call her mother, Seanne Wilson. The mother-daughter duo discussed plans for Siane to attend the Nashville auditions. Two days later, Siane was on a bus home as the auditions were that weekend. She would be able to audition for Disney without missing classes. (Click here to continue reading.)

Doing Good Celebrates Volunteers Doing Good in the Community

Doing Good™ is dedicated to promoting volunteerism – for all non-profits and areas of service. Its flagship project is Doing Good, a television show which features volunteers already making a difference in the community.

Doing Good was started by Megan McInnis with a mission to help improve the community of Nashville one volunteer at a time. “I believe in the impact one person can have on any community. I want Doing Good to celebrate the individuals who already volunteer, and I believe they can inspire and empower our neighbors to further impact our community.”

From The Nashville Ledger:

Megan McInnis launched her local nonprofit, Doing Good, in April 2011, and it quickly gained national attention. Its website, designed to promote volunteerism and connect people with nonprofits, won four national 2012 MarCom awards, the equivalent of winning an Oscar for the marketing and communication field. McInnis is a devoted matchmaker connecting volunteers and nonprofits, which is the reason she founded Doing Good.

“We needed something positive,” says McInnis, who plans to spotlight volunteers by promoting a Volunteer of the Month on the website. “When people volunteer, it needs to work for them,” she says. “It needs to fit their schedule and interests if there is something they want to get out of it. It is so important to find the right fit for the volunteers, because that is when they just blossom. “Each volunteer brings a unique set of skills and resources to that organization. They provide services and help stretch their budgets so it really becomes a win-win for the community.”

While in career transition and looking for a new challenge in corporate marketing, McInnis is focusing her efforts on Doing Good. She envisions a multi-platform program under the Doing Good umbrella, including Doing Good, a one-hour, weekly TV show featuring volunteers making a difference in the community. A six-minute demo of the show is on the website as she moves forward on funding.

While executive director for U.S. Green Building Council Middle Tennessee, she increased its volunteers 712 percent, membership by 25 percent and added to its numbers of partners, sponsorships and funded grants, all in her first year on the job.


Living Your Best Life is ecstatic to partner with Doing Good each month along with Mocha Market Magazine. 


Zetas Doing Good In the Community
Photo credit: Nashville Ledger

Siane Wilson: When Dreams Come True

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams, and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.” -Cinderella

Siane Wilson was attending Clark Atlanta University in the spring of 2012. Having always wanted to follow her dreams of performing on Broadway, she began researching performing arts’ auditions at the school’s library. Siane, a longtime lover of all things Disney, was looking for Disney’s Lion King auditions.

“All it takes is Faith and Trust” - Peter Pan

To her surprise, Disney was holding auditions. Unfortunately, the auditions were being held in New York City. Traveling to New York would mean missing two days of class but she continued searching.  By chance, Siane saw a link for www.disneyauditions.com. As luck would have it, they were holding auditions in her hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. With great anticipation, Siane printed the information and dashed back to her room to call her mother, Seanne Wilson. The mother-daughter duo discussed plans for Siane to attend the Nashville auditions. Two days later, Siane was on a bus home as the auditions were that weekend. She would be able to audition for Disney without missing classes. Perfect.

On the morning of the audition, Siane and her mother arrived at the dance studio where the auditions were being held. Siane, along with 60 other young ladies, were there to give the Disney casting directors a preview of Music City’s Talent. As one would expect from Disney casting directors made the atmosphere inviting and fun! Everyone were given audition numbers. Siane was number six.

In the first round of the auditions, the hopeful Disney performers were taught a simple dance routine consisting of four eight counts. They were split into groups of four to perform the dance number with everyone watching.  After everyone finished the routine, the casting directors asked them to relax and get to know each other. After a few minutes of deliberating, the casting directors began to call out the numbers of who they wanted to stay. Siane, number six, was the second number to be called. “I was beyond excited,” exclaimed Siane!

From the initial group of sixty dancers, the girls dwindled to twelve for the second round of auditions.  During the second round, individual interviews were also given. Siane was asked about her hobbies, goals, and passions in life. Siane was interviewed on camera, filled out audition sheets, and asked to turn in her head shots and résumés. Throughout the last auditions, the final twelve were given short monologues to memorize and execute. After the monologues routines, finishing photos were taken of the divine twelve.  

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all”. –Mulan

Two long excruciating months later, Siane received a call from Disney saying that they did not have any openings, yet, but that her performance scores were very high. Disney would keep her on standby for a possible opening. When spring turned into summer, there was still no word from Disney. Not one to give up easily, Siane decided to go to another Disney audition. “If at first you do not succeed, try again,” mused Siane. Determined.

 

Disney Performers

The second Disney audition was far more intensive. There were three rounds of dancing that became increasingly more difficult. But Siane made it through every round. Again, she was told she would receive a call in a few months. Unwavering.

“Years of dreams just can't be wrong!”-Anastasia

After five months from her initial try out, Disney finally called Siane! “On October 31, 2012 to be exact,” Siane says with confidence. Disney wanted her to be a performer on their Disney Dream cruise ship and offered her a contract. Joyfully, Siane accepted. Talent combined with work ethics and determination netted results for Siane. She had to move rapidly from that point. Siane would have to leave school before the semester ended. She spoke to all of her college professors who allowed her to take her finals early. She was congratulated by Dr. Carlton Brown, President of Clark Atlanta University. “We are so proud of you,” he told her after hearing about her opportunity to work for Disney.

With passport secured and medical physicals taken, Siane said goodbye to her college family. Siane traveled home for Thanksgiving to prepare for her move to Toronto, Canada. She would spend two months in Canada rehearsing and literally learning A Hold New World. On January 27, 2013, Siane and a cast of forty-four were flown from Toronto to Port Canaveral, Florida where they began sailing the high seas. She now travels the world on a Disney Dream cruise ship and is a steadfast believer in following your heart’s desire and living out your dreams.

Disney Photos courtesy of Disney Crusie Line Media

Siane Wilson's photo by Bella Lumiere

(This article was first published in the Travel Issue of Mocha Market Magazine)

Tennessee Titans' Coty Sensabaugh on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers embody "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Coty Sensabaugh and Dominique Jordan in the studios with Genma Holmes

Join us on Saturday, May 18, 2013, as we continue to share extraordinary acts of kindness from individuals who are dedicated to beating cancer. Tennessee Titans' Coty Sensabaugh, will talk about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and his tireless efforts to bring awareness to blood cancers. Listen as he discusses his brother, Jamaar Sensabaugh, who died at the tender age of 16 from the disease that was unknown to his family at the time. Titan's Sensabaugh is honoring his brother's memory by establishing ww.coty4aCURE.com campaign. His campaign motto is a "A Fight for Jamaar."

Coty Sensabaugh with his brother Jamaar

We will also hear from Dominique Jordan, Coty's Clemson University sweetheart who passionate about helping him raise $150,000 from fans, supporters, and the cancer community while he campaigns to become the LLS Man of the Year. We will also hear from Coty's mother, Becky Sensabaugh, who will share sage advice about raising sons and overcoming the challenges of motherhood while staying faithful in the midst of a family tragedy.

This show promises to empower, inspire, and motivate you to give back your community and join Coty Sensabaugh, his family, and the LLS Society to raise funds for a powerful cause.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires and motivates one to live their BEST life, can heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also be aired on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network.

 More About Coty Sensabaugh 

Entering his second season with the Tennessee Titans. Coty Sensabaugh registered 31 tackles as a rookie, including 22 solo. The fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft was considered a late bloomer by many after beginning his college career as a special teams player and reserve cornerback at Clemson. He nevertheless became one of the Tigers’ top performers by the end of his tenure in Death Valley. As a senior, the team co-captain was credited with more snaps played in one season than any other defender in program history (993). Respected for his work ethic and intelligence, Sensabaugh also possesses tremendous athleticism. At the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, he ran the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash among all cornerbacks, finishing in 4.42 seconds.

Coty Sensabaugh is featured in the current issue of Mocha Market Magazine

 During his first NFL off-season, Coty has humbly accepted the challenge to raise over $100,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (better known as LLS). LLS is the worlds’ largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.  LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services for patients.

His intimate connection with blood cancer has inspired Coty to assist families and individuals stricken with this disease.  This year marks the thirteenth anniversary of his older brother Jamaar Sensabaugh’s sudden death from leukemia.  One week after his 16th birthday, Jamaar’s life abruptly ended leaving behind his family, a huge life of promise, and his then 11-year-old baby brother Coty.
“My big brother was my best friend,” said Coty. “My family and I struggled with Jamaar’s death for a long time, yet that circumstance molded me into the man I am today and gave me the motivation to fight against this disease.”

Throughout his high school and college career, Coty has always had a spiritual connection with his brother.  He believes that although his brother is not physically with him, Jamaar is always watching over him and guiding him.

Coty is taking part in The Nashville Man and Woman of the Year campaign for LLS, which officially starts on April 4, 2013, with the winner being crowned on June 13, 2013.  This 10-week competition is filled with appearances and events to support Coty in raising awareness, monetary funds, and interact with hundreds of families and individuals directly and indirectly affected by these horrible diseases.

“It seems like everyday I meet someone who has a close connection with blood cancer, and so many people are encouraged by my story,” said Coty.

“A Fight For Jamaar” is his campaign motto, rightfully named after his big brother. “My brother’s life was stripped suddenly from my family.  Jamaar was never able to fight for his life, and it is my responsibility to fight the good fight for him.”