The Walt Weekly Podcast

Emergency Preparedness With Captain Jevan Willis (Ret) U.S. Army- Part 2

Being prepared for an emergency is something that we don’t think about until we are in the middle of one. Then we wish we had taken a little time to prepare. Hopefully, these episodes will prompt our listeners to take this matter seriously and take some steps to protect themselves and their families, if and when, an event occurs.

Captain Jevan Willis (Ret) US Army has gained over 10 years’ experience in emergency preparedness, planning, and operations while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army and National Guard. 

Captain Willis is graduate of West Point (USMA) and holds a MA in Management & Leadership from Webster University.

While at West Point, he was Headquarters Commander in charge of West Point Staff & Faculty for UCMU (Legal), Logistics, Admin, etc.

While in the U.S. Army National Guard, he developed plans to support Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Natural Disaster, Explosive, and Cyber Attacks.

Some of the Resources Recommended by Captain Willis:

• doomsdayprep.com
• FEMA.Org
• Ready.gov
• Your Local Police

Environmental Activism: An Interview With Melissa Banks

With all the issues , we as minorities have to tackle, why should we be involved with global warming and other tree hugger issues? But did you really stop and think that we are major stakeholders. We face the ramifications of the fall-out each and every day. The press, as with so many other issues involving minorities, just doesn't cover it. Remember Flint, Michigan?

Environmental Sustainability Expert, Melissa Banks, speaks to The Walt Weekly.

About Melissa Banks

MelySustainable was started by Mel Banks, a born & raised Brooklynite turned Queens and Long Island local.

Growing up in East New York Brooklyn ,as a woman of color, she has always been passionate about the environment, dividing her time between Brooklyn and the beaches and swamps of Florida. In her youth, she attended various environmental programs in New York City including the now closed Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, Christodora and the Girl Scouts of America. She kept her love for the environment through her studies, majoring in Wildlife Conservation at the High School for Environmental Studies, Environmental Studies with a minor in Urban Studies at CUNY Queens College and majoring in Environmental Science in her graduate studies.

Mel started MelySustainable, a sustainable living blog in 2019. MelySustainable was created to serve as both a resource and a community of people from all over the world, specifically underserved communities. The blog focuses on sharing information and advice pertaining to environmental conservation and sustainability. 

Financial Insights From Educator and Finance Advisor- Steven Smith

Michelle and Walter interview Steven A. Smith who provides information on what we should be doing to become sucessful entrepreneurs along with possible funding opportunities. This is the first of a series of shows that we will be doing with Steven to enhance our listener's knowledge within the Finance space.

About Steven A. Smith

Steven A Smith is a 29 year Educator (Teacher, Program Facilitator, Guidance Counselor and After-School Coordinator). His career in education includes the in- home sales of supplemental products in all subject areas over that same time period. His passion for education inspired the creation of a self-esteem and abstinence campaign called “I’m Worth Waiting 4” which has had impact on countless adults and teens in 6 countries to date.

His financial education includes Series 7, 6 and 63 licensing as well as both Life and Health insurance certifications. He’s sold stocks, bonds and mutual funds for First Investors, American Capital and SME Capital Management in New York, NY and Tarrytown, NY. He was also a top producer with Primerica Financial Services in life and health insurance sales over a 3 year period.

Personal Accomplishments and Education would include an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army, B.A. English, 1986 West Virginia University and the 1974 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion for the 4th grade.

Mr. Smith was born and raised in New York, NY but has lived in Atlanta since 2007. He enjoys educating the community on the power of financial literacy and education and is proud to be a Small Business Coach with the MVET family.

 

 

 

Integration.....WTF?

This episode will talk about the need for people of color to recognize that the integration was not in the best interest of the Black American.

• We should have been focused on “silver" rights not civil rights
• How black business was devastated by integration along with our minds and futures
• Happy that 25% of Black professionals are electing to start their own businesses rather than working in corporate America
• Working for someone now should be transitory not until you retire.

Since integration, you could see a parallel in the decline of the Black family unit. It was almost simultaneous.

The teachers were black and cared about the well being of the students in their charge. What’s more the line of communication between the teacher, parent, and student was continuous.

What happened to the school spirit that we had during that time? The culture? The pride that we took in competing against rival communities? Whether that be academic, music, or sports.

For those that can remember, we had rumor mills of those that didn’t do well with their school work. You did not want to be on that list. You were teased and of course you had to face the wrath of your parents. Your response was to work as hard as hell to do better.

Even though our black school did not have all of the financial backing or equal funding, we cared about insuring that our kids would be able to compete with anyone.

Segregation in schools is still going on. Just look around. The elite schools in New York City, have gate keepers. You have to have influence, to get into these schools. And we know that the blacks are placed at a disadvantage. Believe it or not New York has some of the most segregated schools in the country.

What is missing is the funding required to identify as a black school.  The lost is the family unit and the care provided by the teacher to student to parent. This was the glue that promoted pride within the Black community. Now we are just a number. If we don’t get it, Special Ed. That was not the case at one time. Yes, you are going to have slow people but they were not stereotyped and sent to isolation. They now are used as fodder to feed the criminal justice system.

Michelle Swiney-McCombs Joins The Walt Weekly!

Michelle Swiney, a New York native ,studied at The Enid Beauty College, and New York Beauty School and achieved a diploma of the highest level. Michelle knew at the early age of 15 what she wanted to do; hair! After working in Corporate America for over 15 years and doing what she loved part time. Michelle decided to become a full-time stylist in 2001 working at various salons. This leap in faith Michelle opened her own salon in Brooklyn, NY and worked with top creative teams in the industry. In 2010 this landed her an opportunity to work as an assistant stylist under a thriving artist, Mathew Curtis owner of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hoar Cross Hall Spa and the Rosewood Salon London, UK during New York Fashion Week whom became her mentor.

Now, Michelle takes another leap of faith, she is joining The Walt Weekly as co-host, Marketing Director, and producer.

We wish Michelle every success in this new endeavor.

 

Re-Release: Our Live Interview With NY Stylist-Michelle Swiney McCombs

• Very proud to have on the show a lady that has done it her way
• A regular at New York Fashion Week, Michelle working with the Matthew Curtis Creative Team have been heading up teams backstage since 2010, creating looks for some of the most iconic and influential designers such as Ted Baker, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Marc Jacobs, KYE, Jad Ghandour and Alice & Olivia by Stacey Bendet to name a few
• Michelle’s collaborations with creative stylist and photographers has been featured in the World Bride Magazine, Germanys Gala Magazine, BG Magazine, EC., Alice & Olivia; E-Commerce and Lookbook, music videos with music Legend Nile Rodgers of Chic. Publications in Vimeo, Fashion 360, Noir Tribe Media, E! Channel Fashion Police, Online magazines such as: Elle Magazine, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan
• After working in Corporate America for over 15 years and doing what she loved part time, Michelle decided to become a full-time stylist in 2001 converting her garage to a salon
• In 2010 this landed her an opportunity to work as an assistant stylist under a thriving artist, Mathew Curtis owner of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hoar Cross Hall Spa and the Rosewood Salon London, UK during New York Fashion Week whom became her mentor

Reparations : Do We Take It, Or Leave It?

What do you think about Reparations?

Planning on spending that money? Do you think that it is justified to accept? There are many takes on this settlement for work and discrimination during the 400 years of black slavery and the Jim Crow era. This degradation continues up until today.

Initially my reaction to Reparations was “I don’t need any handouts”. But further evaluation led to this thought: My ancestors contributed a concrete value to this country and that was labor. That has to be considered as unpaid salary. This salary should be passed down to their desendants. This is just logical. This is not like the Japanese or Jewish reparations and should not be compared. Black Slavery was continuous labor and discrimination. There is no comparison.

 

Don Jr Did Not Know Kamala Harris Was Not Black American! Wow!

Believe it or not there is a growing debate in this country about who is Black American. Why a movement that claims to support the American descendants of slavery is being promoted by conservatives and attacked on the left.

The American Descendants of Slavery’s inaugural conference was held in Louisville, Ky. recently. This was on their agenda along with Reparations.

The goal of ADOS’s two founders — Antonio Moore, a Los Angeles defense attorney, and Yvette Carnell, a former aide to Democratic lawmakers in Washington — is to harness frustrations among black 

Ali Alexander , black right-wing provocateur, tweeted that Kamala Harris is implying she is descended from American Black Slaves. She’s not. She comes from Jamaican Slave Owners. That’s fine. She’s not an American Black. Period.” It was retweeted by none other than Donald Trump, Jr.

Those who embrace its philosophy point to disparities between black people who immigrated to the United States voluntarily, and others whose ancestors were brought in chains.

The American descendants of slavery, they say, should have their own racial category on census forms and college applications, and not be lumped in with others with similar skin color but vastly different lived experiences.

 

The Trump DOJ Is Trying To Kill The Civil Rights Act of 1866

A case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court which will be heard on November 13, 2019, could have a tremendously negative impact on the Black community’s civil rights. as it pertains to fair play in contracting and other measures. Justice Department filed an amicus brief in regard to the lawsuit between Entertainment Studios chairman and CEO Byron Allen, Comcast ,and Charter Corp. 

Allen is suing Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications over racial discrimination after the cable giants refused to include Entertainment Studios programming on their networks. He cites a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, whose section.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866, whose section 1981 prohibits racial discrimination in contracts.

Specifically:

All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other.

Immediately after slavery, to combat the emerging “Black Codes,” the national government took steps to ensure that former slaves (now citizens) and their children would be able to participate in the liberties that any white citizens enjoy. This would be the origins of The Civil Rights Act of 1866, laws that continue to protect Blacks to this day in business, real estate and various other ways. (CBC, TheGrio, Congressional Record cited )

Why The Die-Hard Trump Support

The support of the Evangelicals has always puzzled me. When Trump got up and said that Joe Biden was only good at kissing President Obama’s ass, I was shocked that there was no reaction. When he cheated on his wife, paid off women, and was caught in the lie, the Evangelicals said nothing. They know what the underlying agenda is. And that my friend is White privilege. They are fighting feverishly to maintain the majority and will never allow this country to be anything other.

Ashley Jardina defines White Identity Politics, in an article in the Atlantic, as the psychological attachment to their racial group that many whites in the United States possess. Whites with a racial identity feel a sense of racial solidarity with their group and see whites as having similar interests. White identity politics refers to the way in which this sense of racial solidarity influences whites’ view of the political world. Generally, what that looks like is whites with a sense of racial identity prefer political candidates and policies that protect their group’s interests. In the U.S., protecting these interests often means attempting to preserve privileges and advantages that whites, on average, have relative to other racial and ethnic groups.