Soul Train the Hippest The Hippest Brand in Town by Wesley Beeks

When images of Soul Train appear I slip into a montage of Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Ojays, Temptations, Barkays, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Time, Alexander O’Neal, Cherrelle, Dazz Band, Con Funk Shun, Vanessa Williams, Donna Summer, Rick James, Mary Jane Girls, Chaka Khan, Earth Wind and Fire, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, Carrie Lucas, Dionne Farris, Natalie Cole, Lisa Stansfield, Go West, Salt and Pepa, Lou Rawls, Pointer Sisters, Luther Vandross, Adam Ant, Kool and the Gang, Michael McDonald, Patti Labelle, Fat Boys, Al Green, Bill Withers, Teena Marie, Yarbrough and Peoples, Jody Watley, Shalamar, Howard Hewitt, Mellow Man Ace, Run D.M.C., L.L. Cool J., Sheila E., Isaac Hayes, Herbie Hancock, Roy Ayers, Nona Hendryx, Debarge to name a few all grooving on a first class luxury train filled to capacity with the monarchs of music. I would not slight Soul Train with pedantic rhetoric of Black music or what music critics call Neo Soul. It was simply put a virtual platform for music that often was on the subsidiary labels of major record companies yet percolated a phenomena that introduced the term “cross over” much to the chagrin of segregation and labeling in the music industry often surpassing mainstream artist sales and influence.

One of the most singular accomplishments was the establishment of branding from hair care products of Afro Sheen, Dark and Lovely relaxers, Fashion Fair Cosmetics and Ambi skin care products as just a few. The sheer beauty and business savvy of Don Cornelius to have products advertised but with a familiar face was overdue. This was a study in skillfully building a brand and building the demand for ethnic marketing and development in advertising and consumer marketing. Soul Train the franchise since its airdate in 1971 had become a major gatekeeper of African American culture, commerce and style. Say what you want but the show American Bandstand was to coin a phrase “apple pie and baseball” whereas Soul Train was “sweet potato pie, caramel apples, duce del leche, and you played any sport that make you feel good”. Not everyone eats apple pie or plays baseball but Soul Train made us feel at home with our diversity and most importantly American.

Soul Train spanned for more than three decades as the longest running nationally syndicated television show for 35 years. This is a milestone in programming , business and branding that is required knowledge for any entrepneur or future mogul. Don Cornelius ’ Soul Train was teaching how to persevere with tenacity, personal style, flexibility successfully in an industry that evolved with technology before online classes.

A scene from the movie “Can’t Buy Me Love” in which an awkward Caucasian teenager had to impress a girl with dancing prowess he sorely lacked and had little time to learn. His resource was to watch Soul Train opting not to attend Arthur Murry’s Dance Studio. Infiltrating pop culture Soul Train had proficiently immersed itself in the subconscious of how ethnic groups were perceived. Don Cornelius took advantage of that by writing subtext into his music show format with “Scramble Board” that dancers had less than 45 seconds to complete the names of historical events, people and places often that were advocates of Black History. There was more than dancing on Soul Train!

Culturally Soul Train had become a part of the American household appearing at weddings, house parties, and social occasions. Never judgmental or holding the velvet rope Soul Train let everyone dance at the party demonstrating an inclusion of ethnic diversity and a broad cultural landscape. Don Cornelius was instrumental in launching the careers of many entertainers and professionals with his record label, music publishing, and productions. The Soul Train Awards was paramount in celebrating the achievement of artist long overlooked by mainstream awards.

The success of Soul Train cannot be underscored with a footnote but as a reference that consumers of any ethnicity can and will generate capitol for businesses if they are considered in their marketing and business development plans. First there was Soul Train the harbinger of BET ( Black Entertainment Television) now owned by Sony to OWN , Oprah Winfrey’s television network. Don Cornelius demonstrated that nothing is impossible with talent, patience, tenacity, and vision.

Don Cornelius:

Cultural Architect, Entrepreneur, Marketing Guru, Visionary, Advocate, Warrior, Stylist

You left us too soon and we will continue your legacy by building our own Thanks Don for giving up the hippest trip and in your words we leave you with Peace, Love and Soul!

Job Fair at Boricua College by J. Wesley Beeks

Looking for employment, a new career or benchmarking yourself against the competitors? A job fair can be a useful tool. Job Fairs are much like pot luck and many are piled high with the promise of jobs and opportunities that can often be “fools gold”. Experience, discernment and an open mind are the tools needed to excavate the hidden potential at job fairs. Boricua College had its first job fair on the Manhattan campus on Saturday the 25th of February.




The current job market in New York City can be daunting for the job seeker especially faced with the reality of nepotism and social promotion. This is an employers market in which the employer has the position of strength to choose from a wide pool of applicants some over qualified and other under qualified. The employer can apply extreme discernment in selecting applicants for open positions. For example you may have applicants who have multiple degrees bachelors and masters competing for positions that previously did not require one. Another example is some positions have been restructured to increase the qualifying criteria from bachelors to a master’s degree. Employers may utilize this to screen out potential candidates and cherry pick from applicants. One must also be aware of the labor laws in your state. New York is an “at will” state in which the employment contract can be terminated at any time. For more information one can check with the department of labor to find out more.





One vendor in particular made an impression on services needed for candidates. Dress for Success. whose mission is to assist women in entering the work force by providing rudimentary interview and socialization skills, networking, career development time management, networking and building her wardrobe with professional clothing. Providing these services for women at no cost helps to provide women from disenfranchised populations with a support to enter the workforce confidently. The college has a substantial population of women who receive educational supplements from city and state programs that can truly benefit from this. This positive outreach was magnified when I spoke with an Kenya, an intern at the program who is conducting a clinical study on the program. The long term study will aid in servicing the community in more efficient an illuminating methods. Contact them directly to learn more about their services and referrals at



CFY is a national education non-profit that helps students in low-income communities, together with their teachers and families, harness the power of digital learning to improve educational outcomes. They are currently recruiting for Registration Coordinator (RC) and Customer Service Representatives. If you are Bilingual this is a plus and the desire to work with children to create dynamics for youth empowerment and education.



Not to be outdone was the civil service sector as the NYPD were in full force. Officer Hui was pleasant and informative. Be aware that the examination fee has been reinstated to $40.00 with only money orders accepted or $35 when paid with a credit card, debit cart or bank card. College credits of at least 60 credits will be honored and applied towards the academy. Testing is located a 2 Lafayette Steet-17th floor in Manhattan, NY. An alternate testing site is in Brooklyn at eh Brooklyn Municipal Building, 210 Joralemon Street- 4th Fl. Check the website for testing dates and times.



The majority of the vendors present from corporate to non profit in general had employment that was seasonal. For those looking for full time and part time work you can contact some of the companies directly via email or phone. Most companies require one to register on line to be considered for an interview. Prepare by having your resume and cover letter matched with the position applied for. If you don’t invest in your own development then you can’t expect others to recognize it.



The City College of New York Continuing Studies and Professional Studies offered several professional career enhancing programs such as CACAC Training Certification, Public Speaking, Writing Creatively for the Workplace, Raise your Wine IQ, Office Manager Certificate Program, Nationally Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate Program, Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate Program among others. For more information on these and other programs you can call 212-650-7312 or go to the website. There is a fee for the certificates and most can be done a few months.



I thank Adriano Espaillat the 31st Senate District, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez -the 10th District- Manhattan and Boricua College for outreaching to the community for networking and developing this event. If you are looking for employment or know other students and friends please feel free to use the points of contact listed below. I look forward to anyone who attended the job fair to leave their insights and thoughts on community building as well.



As a job seeker myself and recent Boricua College Alumni I was encouraged that the Boricua College community did begin to offer job fairs. This is a step in a positive direction of capacity building and development. I hope that this continues with more specialized workshops and professional trainings.


Photography by  Wesley Beeks

US Customs and Border Protection Links for Employment :






www.dhs.gov



www.chp.gov



www.usajobs.opm.gov



New York Police Department :



www.NYPDRECRUIT.com



or call 212-Recruit



USAJOBS:



www.usajobs.gov





Home Depot:



www.careershomedepot.com





CFY:



www.cfy.org



NY Zoos and Aquarium:



www.wcs.org/seasononaljobs



City College of New York Continuing and Professional Studies:



www.cps.ccny.edu



Harlem Children Society:



www.Harlemchildrensociety.org



Work as a poll worker at elections:



Visit or submit an application at http://vote.nyc.ny.us/pollworkers.html or contact the Board of Elections at 866-VOTE-NYC (866-868-3692) TTY 212-487-5496



www.facebook/VotetheNewWayNY



Other sites for Jobs:



www.idealist.org



www.careerstyle.com



www.hotjobs.com



www.labor.state.ny.us



www.greenjobs.com



www.healthjobsite.com



www.cs.state.ny.us



www.nps.gov/pub-aff/jobs.htm

How Hispanic and Blacks can rebuild Health, Awareness, Solidarity with integrating HIV Prevention, Education, and Restructuring the family paradigm

by Wesley Beeks

“ We don’t mourn burnt bridges as we are teaching how to build bridges for universal evolution.” WB




The word minority carries the stigma of those underserved, disenfranchised, uneducated and ostracized. The word minority is not applicable for Hispanics and Blacks for they are the global majority. Long before the Western hemisphere learned of the erudite wisdom of Socrates, mathematical abstractions of Pythagoras and the early acknowledgment of atoms by Democritus it was swept up in the tapestry of a Diaspora that held ancestral ties to philosophy, wisdom, passion and science. From the tomes of Aztec and Mayan tablets to the haunting midnight desert of Sahara entrenched with hybrids of surviving species that shared the secrets of survival we prospered.

At it’s most basic structure the body is composed of atoms all coordinating, collaborating, and sharing to create the fusion of life. The family unit shares the same universal characteristic of a nucleus, protons and electrons generating the effect of movement. Before we can even begin to fathom prevention and education we must become aware of the similarities of our collective struggles to maintain our cultural and sociological contribributions. HIV has metamorphed from an entity once abstract associated with homosexuals, scattered with homeless population, strewn with tattered fabrics of those who were without merit. HIV has shared the title of epidemic to pandemic to some now just a whisper of past indiscretions. Better educated most of the populations knows that HIV is a virus and not a condemnation. HIV has become common place in society as another virus but the time has come for this to run its course.



In developing strategies for prevention, education and research for HIV we must not separate ourselves from universal precaution which translates into universal welfare. The psychology of how we begin to think becomes paramount in the dissemination of materials and services. Our cultures and manuscript for behavior and cognition must now be reviewed with precision. Disease and warfare are agents that propel a civilization in forced contrition and welfare. Complacency within the paradigm of our family units must be penetrated and re-examined. The beauty of this challenge is to become more heightened and cognizant of the micro and macro elements of family and its latent ability to resurrect itself. Yes we are contemporary but without the durability of tradition, history, and empathy we are expendable and our children inherit extinct theories and defunct edifices.



HIV outreach and education must embrace the best of our traditions and rebuild the essence of the family unit. HIV has contributed to the disintegration of the family with some thrown out, bastardized, and penalized. Concern for health inclusive of Cancer, Hypertension, Diabetes are often clustered with HIV and begs the need for health awareness and management that begins with a single step. That step is awareness and concern for one’s body and how it affects the family, friends, and community at large.



Identifying the agents of behavioral changes is key to determining how to approach prevention. A clinical an unbiased lens will be the primary tool as we will be challenged to use critical and creative thinking. Linguistically the rhythm and modulation of speech and language will require modifications. This is the time to push beyond what is pedestrian to collaborate key elements social evolution. We must invest financially and methodically in the necessity of social marketing and attribute the most relevant aspects of messages. Hispanics and African Americans resonate with a plethora of idioms, symbols, and science that is latent within the syncopation of creation. The inclusion of current social media and forecasting with historical cyclic patterns is integral to our success.



On a mundane level Hispanics and African Americans have been fiscally classified as consumers. The awareness of this must be positioned as a positive to create strategic outreach methodologies. An intensive study of the demographics of attributed characteristics will be retooled to uplift and educate the population. This will demand an multidisclinary approach as we are not homogenous in expression, language or taste. The commonality is our desire for the protection, healing and building of our communities. In truth we are not mundane and our contributions are not!



Hispanic History month is September 15th to October 15th and Black History Month is February. If we have no other time to generate concern and empathy for our communities then let it be at a minimum during these appointed months but limited too.



The dynamics of family is a public health concern. If we stay entrenched in the archaic structure of family from eons ago we deny our heritages an opportunity to expand and embrace the diversity of our collective social and cultural talents. We must focus on teaching all members of our family: men, women and children on how to appreciate one’s talents, develop the sense of self, and the integration of collective consciousness. With this we will begin the process of teaching how to rebuild bridges.



By focusing our outreach on health care and maintenance, mental health, childcare services, education, job training, awareness to name a few we can minimize the numbers of those infected to HIV. We are at a critical point in outreach, prevention, education and medication. It is the synthesis of all contributing factors that must be acknowledged and rebuilt within healing the paradigm of our cultural institutions. We will start at this moment this linking up with all partners in the community and commit to long range plan to identify and acknowledge all segments of our population.



With faith we endure, with science we construct , with empathy we acknowledge and with collective collaborations we shall achieve.