The Ty2 Foundation on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

UPDATE

Audio of recorded show on Ustream can be found HERE

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and individuals who lead by example. With 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".

On Saturday, August 4, 2012, we will hear about the extraordinary life of Ty Osman, II. Ty, affectionately known as "Ty2" or "lil' Ty" to many, succumbed to injuries he received on March 2, 2012. Ty, a freshman at Harding University, had gotten out of his vehicle to check on friends who had been rear ended by another vehicle. When Osman exited his vehicle, his vehicle was hit by an oncoming car. The news of Ty's death traveled around the world. His family, his church family, and friends from every corridor of the globe have been profoundly impacted by death.

Ty, the beloved son of Ty, Sr. and Nancy and brother of Adair and Kendall, had a true servant's heart. He loved people. While Ty's life here was way too short, he gave everyone around him examples on how to be a friend. He excelled at treating people right. Rich or poor, young or old, no one was a stranger to Ty. He loved being outdoors, enjoying the simple beauty of God's creation. He loved to hunt and fish as well. Ty enjoyed all types of sports from football to bowling. He ran track for Brentwood High School. Ty was known for his work ethics; he showed up early and stayed late. He touched the lives of so many with his never-ending smile and constant compassion for living life to the fullest. Before his death, Ty chose to be an organ donor. Because of his decision, eight individuals received life saving transplants after Ty's death.

Today's show will feature family friends who knew "Lil Ty's" heart for others, and how the Osman family have chosen to keep Ty's light shining brightly through the work and mission of the T2 Foundation. Listen as Terry Smith, a life coach and close personal friend of the Osman Family, give words of wisdom and comfort to those who may have loss a child or dealing with indescribable pain. Hear Gregg Turner, a partner at Solomon Builders, share about the work of the The Ty2 Foundation and his relationship with the Osman Family. Brant Bousquet, executive director of the Hard Bargain Association, will talk about the Ty Us 2gether service project that will benefit the Hard Bargain Neighborhood in Franklin, Tennessee.

Living Your Best Life, radio that empowers, inspires, and motivates you to live your BEST life, is heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, the Inspirational Network, military bases and lived streamed at Ustream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About the Ty2 Foundation

The Ty2 Foundation has been created as a lasting memorial to the life of Ty Osman, II. Ty had a servant's heart and was a light to everyone around him. The foundation will allow his light to continue to shine and will serve the charities that profoundly impacted his life.

Ty's departure leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of those who love him, but also in the places and situations where he loved to work. Every kind word, every prayer spoken on behalf of him and his family is so deeply appreciated. But Ty's work isn't done. In his honor, the Ty2Foundation will make contributions to make sure that the good work continues. As an organ donor, Ty showed his care for others. Even through his death, he chose to give a better life to those around him. This foundation will carry that beautiful spirit far into the future.

Ty, Nancy, Adair and Kendall have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support they have received. This foundation has been established as their way of giving back. Many people and organizations have already stepped forward to provide support. This site will frequently provide updates about the foundation's efforts to honor Ty's life, while giving the glory to our Lord.

More About the Hard Bargain Association

The mission of Hard Bargain Association (HBA) is to impact lives and preserve history by restoring existing homes, building quality affordable housing, and revitalizing generational neighborhoods.

HBA is a grassroots, non-profit organization seeking to restore and redevelop Hard Bargain, a historic African American neighborhood, which has fought for over 100 years to be preserved.

The neighborhood is located on 15 acres, two square city blocks in downtown Franklin, Tennessee and totals over 80 households which are predominantly low income (60% or less of the median income of the Nashville Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area- MSA.)

By providing affordable homes for purchase, repairing existing homes and structures, and beautifying public spaces, our vision is to help transform the neighborhood into a vibrant community to be proud of for generations to come.

HBA is working together with the residents of this historic neighborhood to restore and rebuild it into what their vision is for the neighborhood and its future. We do this by having regular community meetings, design workshops, and having residents of the neighborhood on our board of directors and advisory board. Volunteers help in various ways including doing rehab projects on homes (repairs, painting, roofing, etc…) landscaping, gardening, clean up, fundraising events and other volunteer projects.

The emphasis is on restoring the current community and not allowing gentrification of this historic neighborhood. HBA repairs existing homes and offers quality, affordable homes for purchase to people who have not been able to attain the dream of home ownership. This is possible with the help of donated services and materials, volunteer labor, and financial contributions.

We looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10

Solomon Builder's Culture

Strong values, broad experience and superb work ethics are only a few of the great characteristics that are shared by the family at Solomon Builders. From day one, their goal has been to find the “best of the best” people in this industry. Undoubtedly, the foundation and success of any company is the great people that make up that organization.

Photo Credits: Ty2 Foundation and the Osman Family
Hard Bargain Association
Studio pics of Terry Smith, Gregg Turner, and Brant Bousquet GSH Media

Nashville Politics: More Campaign Signs Than Voters

After several weeks on the road, I was thankful for being home long enough to make a trip to Howard School to cast my vote early. Voting on the first day of early voting has been a tradition for me. This year was one of those rare occasions because of my travel schedule; I was not able to vote on the first day. Voting early has been one of my ways of showing respect and honor for my grandfather’s lifelong civil rights activism. I made a vow to him once; I would never take my right to vote for granted. I must admit during my early years of voting, I was more concerned about not disappointing my grandfather than cherishing my right to vote. But by the time I became a young mother in my early twenties, voting became an act done because of my own value system that was developing. I am thankful for the foundation that my grandparents and parents helped form and the seeds that have taken root that has shaped me to believe that there are very few, if any, excuses for not voting.

When I arrived at Howard School, the parking lot was overflowing with campaign signs. Every political candidate on the ballot had at least two to three signs. There were also signs for the signs to remind the folks on the signs running for political office not to get their signs too close to the building where folks must vote. There were signs pointing the way to vote for those on the signs. Upon entering the building, there were more signs showing you where to stand in order to cast your ballot for any number of the sign owners.

With all the signs outside, one would think I would have been in a line around the parking lot. But instead of bodies of eager voters, there were only signs begging people to cast their votes. There were even more poll workers and employees than voters as well. As my heart filled with dismay, I could not help but ask one of the staffers about the early voter turnout traffic with so many signs outside. With a sigh, the staffer informed me that “the signs outnumbered the voters every day”. Those words hit me like a ton of bricks as I felt tears swell in my eyes. I tried hard to not cry on the spot as I began thinking of those who had fought and died for so many to have the privilege to vote.

My moment of sadness turned to disdain quickly when I thought of the number of individuals that have given interviews about voter suppression, yet the potential suppressed did not bother to show up to vote. Do I think it is right to find every nook and cranny by every barely gray and crooked endeavor to make it difficult for those to vote? No, I hate it with a passion. Do I believe in purging voters from voter rolls to swing voters one way or another? Absolutely, not. But I am surely not supporting individuals, groups, and organizations who sit back and not address constituents of any given community who will not show up to vote even if their lives depended on it. It is time to have candid conversation without any filters.

I "vote my interest". My family and friends hear me say this often. I vote for individuals who are concerned about what matters most in my life. Period. Nationally and regionally. National races are important but at the end of the day, folks elected to local and state offices affect my life and business more profoundly than those who go to DC. What do politicians in DC do anyway? Nothing. Absolutely, nothing.

In Nashville, sadly, local races rarely get large voter turnouts. The reasons are varied as the stars above. But when one deliberately chooses not to vote, your voice is useless in society in my opinion. Not voting is not limited to economics or race. I know many wealthy individuals, shamefully, who do not vote. And in the same vain of shamelessness, I also know far too many voters of color (who would not have been able to vote forty years ago) who do not vote as well.

I believe strongly voting comes down to an individual's value system about life. If you value voting, you vote. When you do not value voting, you will not show up to the polls even if your Mama was on the ballot.

Often times, those who value voting the least, voices need to be heard the most in a country that will overlook the voiceless quickly.

Below is a summary of the early voter turnout for Metro Nashville-Davidson County. Numbers don't lie.

Hopefully, on Thursday, August 2, 2012, the numbers would not look as dismal. In the meantime, pray. Please.

Dr. Harold Freeman and Dr. Lovell Jones on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Now that the SCOTUS has upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional, where do we go from here? For many doctors, scientists, educators,and social activist, they will continue to address healthcare issues for the voiceless in our country and around the world. In the United States, the health of our economy is directly tied to health of millions of uninsured Americans in every state of the union. As America tries to recover in the world's financial marketplace, we must address the plight of the medically undeserved in our county, without political talking points, by hearing from individuals whose mission is to fight disparities.

For the next several weeks, Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes will feature many keynotes, panel participants, non-profits, cancer survivors, and students from the 25th Anniversary of the Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Undeserved and Health Equity. They will address next steps, community engagements, healthcare issues that are persistent and best practices that are helping to eliminate health disparities.

On Saturday, July 14, 2012, we will kick off this series with two forerunners in the fields of medicine, science, education, and research; Dr. Lovell Jones and Dr. Harold P. Freeman. Dr. Lovell Jones is the co-founder of the Intercultural Cancer Council. Dr. Jones was recently awarded The Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award and was honored this week by the NAACP with the Unsung Hero Award for his work with cancer prevention in the African American community.

Dr. Harold P. Freeman founded and pioneered the concept of patient navigation in 1990 for the purpose of eliminating barriers to timely cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. It has since evolved to include the timely movement of an individual across the entire health care continuum from prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive, to end-of-life care. Dr. Freeman is also founding president of the state-of-the-art Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention located in East Harlem.

Living Your Best Life, radio that empowers, inspires, and motivates you to live your BEST life, is heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, military bases and lived streamed at Ustream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Dr. Lovell Jones

Director
The Center for Health Equity and Evaluation Research (CHEER),
Office of the Vice President for Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson)

Director
Reproductive Biology Program
Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences
The University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston

Professor
Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, MD Anderson
Graduate School of Social Works, University of Houston

Other
Chair, Health Disparities Education, Awareness, Research & Training (HDEART) Consortium
Cofounder, Intercultural Cancer Council
Founder, Biennial Symposium Series on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer
Principal Investigator, SECURE Gulf Coast Consortium

Dr. Jones is the founding co-chair of the Intercultural Cancer Council, the nation’s largest multicultural health policy group focused on minorities, the medically underserved and cancer. He has edited "Minorities & Cancer," one of the few comprehensive textbooks on this subject. He is the founding chair of "Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer," the nation’s largest multicultural conference which provides a forum for exchanging the latest scientific and treatment information. This biennial conference brings together people from all ethnic communities and social strata to share strategies for reducing the incidence of cancer among these populations. Dr. Jones spearheaded regional hearings on cancer and the poor for the American Cancer Society. In 2002, Dr. Jones, along with Dr. Armin Weinberg, the other co-founder of the Intercultural Cancer Council, received the Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Society.

From 1989 to 1995, Dr. Jones was co-principal investigator of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, the first major minority outreach project sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. He has served on the board of directors of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Prostate Health Council of the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases. Dr. Jones also served on the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable for Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine and on the Environmental Protection Agency's Scientific Advisory Panel. He currently serves on the Advisory Council for The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology and the Partnership for Prevention as well as a number of other national advisory committees.

In 1991, Dr. Jones chaired the Training Session of the Strategic Fact-Finding Meetings on Minority Health and Training in Biomedical Sciences for the Office of the Associate Director for Research on Minority Health (now the National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities (NCMHD) at the NIH. He also participated in a 1994 review of the activities of the Office of Research on Minority Health at NIH. A co-author of the congressional resolution that designated the third week in April as "National Minority Cancer Awareness Week," Dr. Jones was honored in May 2000 on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives for his work addressing health disparities among the underserved.

He has served on the Breast Cancer Integration Panel for the Department of Defense and has published over 100 scientific articles on subjects ranging from hormonal carcinogenesis to health policy. His work with estrogen has led to major findings, including the discovery that compounds labeled as weak environmental estrogens may cause adverse effects when exposure occurs during a critical time of development. Because of these results, researchers have begun to rethink when they define environmental estrogens as weak.

In founding the Health Disparities, Education, Awareness, Research & Training (HDEART) Consortium, the efforts are now extending globally. As part of this web page, you will find more information on the effort of HDEART and its attempt to address health disparities utilizing the "Biopsychosocial Model".
Education and Training

Ford Foundation Fellow, Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley
PhD, University of California at Berkeley. Field: Zoology. Emphasis: Endocrinology and Tumor Biology
Postdoctoral Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology Center, University of California at San Francisco

Research Interests

The relationship between hormones, diet and endocrine-responsive tumors
How natural and environmental estrogenic agents may initiate cancers in hormonally responsive tissue
Dr. Jones’ group published the first report of a cultured, immature, mammary gland cell line with a functioning estrogen receptor. This research may allow scientists to study how breast cancer cells respond to environmental estrogens
For more about Dr. Jones Current Research and more click here.

More About Dr. Harold P. Freeman

Present Positions
President and Founder of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and New York

Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD
Chief Architect of the American Cancer Society initiative on Cancer in the Poor
Director of Howard University
Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery
Professor of Clinical Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Medical Director of the Breast Examination Center of Harlem, a program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, since 1979
Trustee of Howard University Hospital since 1993
Elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1997

Past Positions
Chief of Surgery and President of the Cancer Center at North General Hospital
Founding Director of the National Cancer Institute Center (NCI) to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (2000-2005); also Associate Director of NCI during that time
Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of North General Hospital in New York City
Served as National President of the American Cancer Society, 1988-1989
Served as Chairman of the President's Cancer Panel, having been appointed for four terms, first by President George H. W. Bush in 1991, and by President Clinton in 1994, 1997, and 2000
Served as Director of Surgery at Harlem Hospital Center for 25 years (1974-1999)

Awards & Recognitions
Honorary Doctor of Science degrees have been awarded to Dr. Freeman from Albany Medical College, Niagara University, Adelphi University, and Catholic University of America. He was also awarded the University of California at San Francisco Medal. Other selected awards include: The Mary Lasker Award for Public Service; the Time, Inc. International Health and Medical Media Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award; the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor; the CDC Foundation's Champion of Prevention Award; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's "Jill Rose Award," the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Special Recognition Award; the Avon Breast Cancer National Leadership Award; the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer National Foundation's Betty Ford Award; the International Spirit of Life Foundation and the Washington Cancer Institute's Spirit of Life Award; the Mayo Clinic Charles G. Moertel Memorial Lectureship Award; the Association of Community Cancer Centers' Achievement Award; the George Washington University Cancer Institute's Distinguished Public Service Award; the Rudin Prize in Medicine and Health; the Dorothy Height Lifetime Achievement Award; and the First Annual Medical Assembly "Humanitarian Award" at the United Nations Meeting the Global Challenge of Cancer in New York City.

Dr. Freeman was recognized by Black History Makers in 2006 with the Daniel Hale Williams Award. The American Cancer Society established the "Harold P. Freeman Award" in 1990 to recognize his work in dealing with the interrelationships between race, poverty, and cancer. This award is presented annually by American Cancer Society divisions throughout the United States to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fight against cancer in the poor.

Education
Dr. Freeman received an A.B. degree from the Catholic University of America, and a M.D. degree from the Howard University College of Medicine. At Catholic University, Dr. Freeman received the Harris Award for "Outstanding Scholar, Gentleman, and Athlete," and was later recognized as "Outstanding Alumnus in the Medical Arts" and inducted into the Athlete's Hall of Fame of the University. Additionally, he received the Daniel Hale Williams Award for Outstanding Achievements as Chief Resident at Howard University Hospital.

Markeith Price, Keith Price, Franz Holmes, and Dr. Adrian Samuels on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes brings you weekly guests that empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life. Join us this week in partnership with College Crib and Mocha Market Magazine as we celebrate Tennessee State University's internationally recognized track and field programs.

On Saturday July 7, 2012, we will hear from recently selected U. S. Paralympics Team Member, Tennessee State University's Markeith Price and his father, Keith Price. They will be accompanied by the Men's Track Coach at Tennessee State University Coach, Franz Holmes and Dr. Adrian Samuels, formerassistant dean of the College and Public Affairs and now, Vice President of Student Affairs at Tennessee State University.

Each guest will discuss the importance of mentoring of young men and how it played a major role in shaping a world class athlete. They will also discuss the value of an education and share lessons from a positive teacher-student relationship and the impact of that relationship that can last a lifetime while touching others along the way. We will also hear about the personal and financial sacrifices that must be made to train, coach, and compete at the Olympic level.

Living your Best Life can be heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, on military bases, and streamed lived on UStream.TV on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00AM CST.

More About Markeith Price

Tennessee State University's Markeith Price was selected to the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field team on July 1, 2012. Price will represent the United States at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Aug. 29 - Sept. 9.

Price, who is legally blind, won two events at the US Paralympic Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. The rising TSU senior leapt 6.25m (20-6 ¼) in the long jump.

The Baltimore native also claimed the 400-meter dash title in the T13/F13 category with a blistering speed of 51.64 seconds, which ties for fourth best in the world.

Price holds five other top-10 marks in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) rankings: 100m T13 (8th in the world), 200m T13 (5th), long jump F13 (6th) and triple jump F13 (1st).

The selection to the U.S. Paralympic team is a first for Price and the second for Tennessee State. Price joins Ryan Fann, who won a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2004 Summer Paralympic games.

More About the International Paralympic Committee

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. Its purpose is to organize the summer and winter Paralympic Games and act as the International Federation for nine sports, supervising and coordinating World Championships and other competitions.

The vision of the IPC, run by 200 members, is ‘To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.’

Enable - Creating conditions for athlete empowerment

Paralympic Athletes - The primary focus, from initiation to elite level

Achieve - Sporting excellence is the goal of a sport centred organization

Inspire & Excite - Touch the heart of all people for a more equitable society

Founded on 22 September 1989 as a non-profit organization, it is based in Bonn, Germany and aims to develop sports opportunities for all people with an impairment from the beginner to elite level.

It employs nearly 50 people from 17 countries and is composed of a General Assembly (highest decision making body), a Governing Board (executive body), a Management Team and various Standing Committees and Councils.

More info about IPC can be found here.

More About US Track and Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. Led by President Stephanie Hightower and CEO Max Siegel, USATF is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization with a staff of professional program administrators at the National Office in Indianapolis.

Mission

USA Track & Field drives competitive excellence and popular engagement in our sport.

A Sport for Everyone ... For Life!

When we say that USATF is a "Sport for Everyone ... For Life," we mean exactly that. Just a few of the ways we serve our sport include:

*Establishing grassroots programs, such as the Junior Olympics, to help develop future stars who will follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards, Bryan Clay, Lauryn Williams, Adam Nelson, Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi.
*Developing, selecting and leading Team USA - the World's #1 team - at the Olympics, World Championships and more than 12 other international events each year. Roughly 700 athletes of all ages wear a Team USA uniform in any given year.
*Promoting programs of training and competition for men and women and boys and girls of all ages.
*Establishing and enforcing the rules and regulations of our sport.
*Sanctioning more than 4,000 events each year.
*Providing insurance to sanctioned events, member clubs and member-athletes.
*Certifying race courses for accuracy and validating records.

Nearly 100,000 Americans are members of USATF. Our member organizations include the U.S. Olympic Committee, NCAA, NAIA, Road Runners Club of America, Running USA and the National Federation of State High School Associations. Fifty-seven USATF Associations oversee the sport and its 2,500 clubs at the local level.

For More info on USATF go here
Coach Holmes is a member of USATF.


Coach Chandra Cheeseborough Guice is the director of Tennessee State University Track and Field Teams. For info about her click here and here.

Post written about Coach Joe Gilliam Sr. and how a coach's influence can last several generations can found here.

Photos of Markeith Price, Franz Holmes and Carlos McCormick: Courtesy of US Paralympics

Omega Psi Phi's Grand Basileus 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".

Hear from national presidents of Greek fraternities and sororities who are global change agents. We will 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 for real world life lessons and to serve others.





Tune in Saturday, June 16, 2012, to hear the show's exclusive guest, Omega Psi Phi's Grand Basileus, Dr.Andrew Ray. Dr. Ray will share about the history of Omega Psi Phi, the fraternity's signature programs, as well as individual and collective contributions of Omega Men during the first century of the organization. Dr. Ray will highlight partnerships with the White House (The President's Fatherhood Initiative), Big Brothers, the NEA and the importance of working with other groups and agencies to make positive changes. Dr. Ray will also discuss mentoring and tutoring program initiatives that are being lead by Omega Men in various communities around the country. Dr. Ray will address the relevancy of the Omega Brotherhood in serving and and helping to improve the quality of life in communities locally, regionally, and nationally.

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-Sream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Omega Psi Phi










In 2010, Dr. Andrew A. Ray was elected the 39th Grand Basileus during the 76th Grand Conclave held in Raleigh, N.C. During his administration, Omega celebrated it’s 100th anniversary with a grand celebration held July 27-31,2011 in Washington D.C.

Today, Omega Psi Phi now has over 700 chapters throughout the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany, and Kuwait.

There are many notable Omega Men recognized as leaders in the arts, the sciences, academics, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level.

Omega continues to flourish, largely because founders -- Love, Cooper, Coleman and Just -- were men of the very highest ideals and intellect.

The Founders selected and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics. It is not by accident that many of America’s great black men are or were Omega Men.

There are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

For more on the history of Omega Psi Phi click here.

For more information regarding the Omega Psi Phi 78th Conclave click here.

For more information on Omega Psi Phi scholarships and how you can donate to the foundation click here.

Omega Psi Phi's announcement about Dr. Andrew Ray being interviewed by Genma Holmes can be founded here.

Special thanks to College Crib, Jo Richie of WTST Radio, Howard University, and Major Michael Boykins for their hard work.

Photo credits: Omega Psi Phi and Ron Williams

Tri Delta Fraternity interview can be found here.

Kappa Alpha Psi interview can be found here.

Social Media Activists, Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams, on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

The twelfth Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity begins June 27 in Houston with an internationally renowned faculty intent on making inroads in one of this country’s most intractable problems: disparities in health care experienced by minorities and underserved populations.

A combination of panels, speakers, break-out sessions and workshops will focus not only on defining existing disparities but also will seek solutions and chart new initiatives in policy making, prevention, and empowering communities in the era of health reform.

Join us on Saturday, June 9,2012 as we discuss the role of social medial in the era of healthcare reform and how it is use to engage, educate, and empower the medically underserved and bring to light social injustices. We will hear from social media change agents, Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams, share about their social medial platforms that have received national recognition.

Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams will share how their online activism has helped challeged how information is disseminated to the public. They will give us insight on the importance of being an educated consumer and how the media has shaped perceptions regarding the healthcare debates. Schoger and Williams are speakers at the 12th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity.

Tune into 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

More About Jody Schoger




Jody Schoger is a writer and cancer advocate with more than 25 years of experience in public relations and communications in health care, science and education. A featured columnist for OncologyTimes, she is also a co-founder of the popular “BreastCancerSocialMedia” (#BCSM) tweet chat for breast cancer survivors and author of the respected WomenWithCancer blog.

Following her own diagnosis with a locally advanced breast cancer in l998, she has devoted her energy to helping other cancer survivors. An engaging speaker, Jody has served as a grant reviewer for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and on Life Beyond Cancer Foundation’s Survivorship Committee. She is a member of the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas and serves on the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Patient Advocacy Committee. Her articles have appeared in Cure Magazine and she has been featured both in USA Today and on the SIRUS program “Doctor Radio.”

More About Shawn P. Williams





The Mayor of Dallas, Texas, Mike Rawlings, recently appointed Shawn Williams to manage the GrowSouth initiative and digital media for the office of the mayor. Shawn will also assist with the mayor’s business growth opportunities.

Shawn P. Williams launched the nationally acclaimed and highly-recognized DallasSouthBlog.com which eventually became known as Dallas South in June of 2006. In 2008, Dallas South was one of a select number of blogs nationwide to be awarded credentials for the Democratic National Convention. The website has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, NPR, BBC, and many other national outlets.

In June 2009, Shawn helped to organize Dallas South News, a nonprofit news organization that utilizes technology, social media, and journalistic principles to empower and inform underserved communities. He serves as President and Editor-in-Chief of the hyperlocal news website that focuses on Southern Dallas. Dallas South News won Momentum Texas’ inaugural Southern Dallas Business Plan Competition in October 2009.

In March 2010, Shawn received the Austin American-Statesman’s Texas Social Media Awards, which recognized the Top 25 social media users in the state. He is a guest columnist for the Dallas Morning News, has written articles for D Magazine has provided monthly commentary for WFAA Channel 8’s Inside Texas Politics and contributed to the weekly news segment on Reporters Roundtable with Cheryl Smith.

In November 2011, Shawn published his first book Blogging While Black.

Online:
Jody Schoger: www.twitter.com/jodyms and www.facebook.com/jodyschoger

Shawn P. Williams: www.twitter.com/shawnpwilliams and www.facebook.com/shawnpwilliams

Biennial: ICCNetwork.org
Health Equality
www.twitter.com/healthequity12

Text INSPIRE to 99000 to win a copy of kids bike, Shawn's book and passes to The Frist Center.

Previous show featuring Pam Jackson of ICC can be found here.

Sharecropper's Healthcare Plan can be found here.

HERstory: Lt. Colonel (Dr.) Daphne Young on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

In 1999, Congress designated the month of May as Military Appreciation Month to recognize and reflect on the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who serve and have served this great country of ours. This month is to celebrate and honor the contributions of those who are a part of and have been a part of the US Armed Forces and the contributions they have made in preserving our way of life. Many organizations and communities around the country are celebrating this month in various ways to recognize our Active Duty members and their families, our Reserve Component members and their families and our Veterans and their families.

Join Living Your Best Life as we continue to celebrate "HERstroy...Women In the Military". We will hear from military women, active and veterans, who are daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends. Women from the Marines, Army, Air Force, and Navy will share personal stories and highlights from their military careers. All have roles that made them the "first" in many endeavors throughout their lives and in the military. We will hear about their many acts of courage and sacrifice that embody servant leadership that will empower, inspire, and motivate listeners.

On June 2, 2012, Lt. Colonel (Dr.) Daphne Young, a dear friend, will share about enlisting in the Army after establishing herself as a successful practitioner in the field of dentistry. One of Meharry Medical College's finest, Dr. Daphne F. Young, in her forties, embarked on a career in the military while continuing to work as an Associate Professor in the School of Dentistry. Her dual careers garnered national attention when the Army's 380th Medical Unit based in Millington, Tennessee was deployed to Iraq in 2004. Her deployment to the desert sands made the front page of the Tennessean newspaper. Dr. Young's deployment was also covered in the Journal of American Dental Association.

In this interview, two friends do not stay on script. We talk about "HERStory" but you will find us doing what girlfriends do, talk about a variety of subjects like healthcare, the economy, faith, family, mentoring, leadership and serving others. You will hear us also discuss one of favorite people, her former student and my dentist, Dr. Thomas Williams.

Join us for a show that will leave you valuing friendships and relationships while honoring one of our women in the military. Tune into 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live online at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

Photo credits: All photos Genma Holmes expect Meharry's Commencement photo.