The Walt Weekly Podcast

NYFW SS23 Review With Celebrity Stylist Michelle Swiney McCombs

Michelle sits down with us to share NYFW 2023. In addition to Michelle’s role as  host of TWW, she is a celebrity NYC hair stylist and an entrepreneur. She gives us information from inside these global shows.

Giving Back with North Carolina’s Ms. Briggette Stokes

In this week’s episode we speak to North Carolina educator, Briggette Stokes about what she is doing to give back to the community. We also want to emphasize that we all need to start thinking about what we can do to emulate this young lady. 

We would like to thank Briggette for her efforts to help our young people.

About Briggette Stokes

Briggette B Stokes was born in Washington DC, later to be groomed and raised in Williamston NC.

She attended a segregated E.J Hayes School until desegregation in the 1970’s. Later to graduate from Williamston High School in 1977.

Volunteer in the community as a 4- H Leader in the EJ Hayes Community. Pass it on to my sisters Dena Ramsey and Christie Andrews. Attended Back Swamp Church throughout youth and High School years. Singing In the Choir Fatefully. Won Miss 20 Elite 1973 Talent and Second Place In the Miss Elite Title holder. Became a member of “The Dramatics Santana’s Of Williamston NC band as singer.”

Graduate from Saint Augustine College/University in 1981 receiving a Bachelor of Degree in Elementary Education, Receiving NC Teacher’s Certification in 1982.

Worked in various Early Childhood Day Care Services from 1982 to 1986.

Later to complete my education careers in Education at Wake County Public Schools as an Educator.

Education work experiences included Raleigh Parks and Recreations as a Summer Camp On Site Director. 14 years of service

Other Career included Coordinator for weddings, party planners and entertainment catering.

Became One of the CEO’s  of  Compassionate Care Mental Health business with my siblings.

Ending my education career by retiring in 2018 with 32 years of experience. After Retirement I became an Instrumental Member Of Hope First, LLC Quality Assurance Team.

Presently  Independent Contractor for Hope First LLC. Mental Healthy Documentation Specialist

Presently an  Author working On My 1^st Book to be Released soon.

CEO/ Established Just Us BB Ladies  (Non-Profit/ministry)

New Author with my 1st Book to be published soon.

My website briggettetheauthor.com will be up running soon.

Community Services

Stokes Family Annual Back To School

Sunday Children Church Teacher for The Glorious Church

High School Years 4-H Leader with community children

 

Out and About NYC With Michelle: Juneteenth Celebration

On this episode of , Out and About NYC, with Co-Host, Michelle Sweeny McCombs, she is invited to Gracie Mansion to participate in Mayor Adams' Juneteenth celebration. With Mic in hand, she interviews some of the movers and shakers in the public and private sectors.

 

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Why We should Boycott Florida

We Take on Ron DeSantis and his myopic view of "Woke". Conservatives have said that the young people of this country have been indoctrinated by our education system. This is causing them to vote Democratic. 

DeSantis rejects "Woke" ideology. Does he even know what "Woke" means and how it came about? 

Woke- What does that mean? Woke is an adjective derived from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) meaning "alert to racial prejudice and discrimination".

To be "woke" politically in the Black community means that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality, Merriam-Webster Dictionary states.

Woke is defined by the DeSantis administration as "the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them," according to DeSantis' general counsel, as reported by The Washington Post.

"We reject woke ideology," DeSantis said in his election night speech. "We will never ever surrender to the woke agenda. People have come here because of our policies."

DESANTIS CLAIM: 

Books are being removed from Florida classrooms and libraries because they are “pornographic, violent or inappropriate.”

FACT:

Books that have been banned in Florida include:

• Biographies of Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente that Duval Countyadmitted to removing from shelves for nearly a year, along with 177 other books from a collection of diverse books.
• And Tango Makes Three, a picture book about two male penguins raising a chick.
• Stella Brings the Family, a picture book about a girl with two dads.
• When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball, pulled from open shelves temporarily after one person complained about it.
• Forever, by Judy Blume
• Booker Prize winnerThe God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
• Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison’sThe Bluest Eye
• All Boys Aren’t Blue,by George M. Johnson
• The Handmaid’s Tale,by Margaret Atwood
• Dozens of books that include LGBTQ+ themes, protagonists of color, or that touch on race or racism.

BOYCOTT Florida Now!

Gun Control: Johnny Has an AK 47. What Should We Black Folks Do? Recorded Live

Exactly what should Black folks’ position on guns be. Do we embrace our 2nd Amendment rights? Or should we do nothing and remain defenseless?

Our children are dying. Our men and women are dying. We need to reconsider our position because the white man will never give up his offensive weapons.

In those states with little or no restrictions, will we start seeing gunfights at high noon? Can you invite someone to a draw-down? Think Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp “I’m your Huckleberry “

Second Amendment Explained

A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court held that the "Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home."

As of May 1, at least 13,959 people have died from gun violence in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive – which is an average of roughly 115 deaths each day.

Of those who died, 491 were teens and 85 were children.

Deaths by suicide have made up the vast majority of gun violence deaths this year. There's been an average of about 66 deaths by suicide per day in 2023.

Most of these deaths have occurred in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois and Louisiana.

The grim tally of gun violence deaths includes 460 people killed in officer-involved shootings.

In reality, the region the Big Apple comprises most of is far and away the safest part of the U.S. mainland when it comes to gun violence, while the regions Florida and Texas belong to have per capita firearm death rates (homicides and suicides) three to four times higher than New York’s. On a regional basis it’s the southern swath of the country — in cities and rural areas alike — where the rate of deadly gun violence is most acute, regions where Republicans have dominated state governments for decades.

Walter and Michelle: New York Community Update-May 2023

Michelle and Walter discuss, Airbnb to Boycotting Florida, in this monthly overview of what we see as impacting our community. We also talk about upcoming events, such as the Juneteenth Celebrations around the city, the upcoming FridayNite Live, when the panel returns to discuss a very critical issue.

So, stay with us!

Why ”Focus” Will Change The Status Quo- Rebroadcast

Here is another look-back we thought was appropriate in 2021 and is of greater importance today. In other words it is as relevant now as it was when it was first broadcast. Focus people!

We are being bombarded by bad news from many directions. They may be local, national, or international in nature. Every time you read or listen to the news there are mass shootings, ignorant people saying stupid ass things, all which have served to distract us from the important tasks we have in front of us. And, what are those tasks? Any goal or objective you have set for yourself. That could be getting a better job, getting a degree, starting your own business, anything that requires you to FOCUS.

Why We Should Vote Local

McCurtain County Hot Mike moment brings it home that Black people are thought as people to be lynched, beaten and barbecued. Some whites are quick to talk about "White Guilt". There should not be CRT in our schools. From what I see, they need it bad if we are to have a functioning democracy.

Vote Local my friends because burying your head in the sand is not a viable option!

We Interview Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.and Commissioner/ Public Administrator of Richmond County

Do you have a will? What about a Trust? We have an expert on why we should. Stay tuned. 

 

About Edwina

Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., is a public interest lawyer experienced in Litigation, Public Policy, Government Relations, Non-Profit Management, and Strategic Communications. She is the Commissioner, Public Administrator of Richmond County, responsible for the administration of estates of persons that have left no will, and where there is no qualified person(s) to administer the decedent’s estate. Duties of the position include providing for burial arrangements when no close relative is available to do so; protecting the decedent’s property from waste, loss, or theft; and locating persons entitled to inherit from the estate and ensuring that legal distributes receive their inheritance. 

Prior to her current appointment Ms. Martin served as Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff for former NYC Councilwoman Debi Rose (49^th District); Director of Government Relations, Communications & Pro Bono for Legal Services NYC; and litigation associate with the law firms of Shearman & Sterling LLP, Herrick Feinstein LLP, and Van Lierop, Burns & Bassett LLP. She began her legal career serving as law clerk to the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 

  

Ms. Martin volunteers extensively within her home community and the New York legal community. Her volunteer work includes the American Association of University Women (past New York State president; past Branch President; national board of directors (member));the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Chair, May Week Committee); the New York State Bar Association (Delegate, House of Delegates (13^th JD); the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association (past president; co-chair, Education/Title IX Committee); National Council of Negro Women/SI (Legislative Committee co-chair); Soroptimist International-Staten Island (Chair, Live Your Dream Award); Staten Island Meals on Wheels (board member); St. John’s Episcopal Church (member, Vestry); and, the Alice Austen House & Museum (member, Advisory Board). 

 

Ms. Martin graduated from New York University School of Law (Vanderbilt Medal, Arthur Garfield Hayes Civil Liberties Fellow, Convocation Speaker, and NAACP LDF Earl Warren Scholarship Fellow) and holds her B.A. in Art History from Williams College (Dean’s List, Art History Merit Award Winner). Ms. Martin lives in the West Brighton community of Staten Island with her partner Mickey Burns, where, in her spare time, she walks and bird watches in Clove Lakes Park.

 

 

 

Where Are Our Black Churches? With Harlem ‘s Reverend Dr. James A. Kilgore

Harlem ‘s Reverend Dr. James A. Kilgore and Greg Coleman join us to discuss why black churches appear to be absent from the struggle for equal rights.