A new CHANGE in Philadelphia

How often is it that we hear people complain about things that are NOT happening in the community and nobody does anything about it? Some people will talk but never make any changes.

Andrea Walker is not one of those people.

Both Andrea and Matthew Myles are bringing change to their hometown, Philadelphia. They have recently launched a non-profit organization called I.N.E.R.D Inc. in Philly. I've known Andrea for years and she is someone who is about to make a major impact on her city. I recently interviewed her to find out more about her new movement.

I.N.E.R.D Inc., a new, local non-profit organization plans to launch Campaign I.N.E.R.D. An innovative, thought provoking, empowering, dual educational mentorship and resource initiative, whose “goal is to focus on empowering youth and young adults in our local communities, to nurture, mold and develop a superior understanding of the importance of intelligence,” says Co-founder Matthew Myles. They will begin first by implementing their Sisters Sittin Pretty mentorship program this June 1, 2013. This program will target inner city youth girls ages 6-16. Sisters Sittin Pretty will encourage sisterhood and foster self-respect and self-esteem. It will explore every platform from the controversial conversations that most parents dread having, such as, safe sex, rape, peer pressure, abstinence, and teen pregnancy to life skills, team building, leadership skills, bullying, to high-school and college preparation. The girls will engage in meaningful, thought provoking, and age appropriate activities which will help them develop self-respect and empower them with a core understanding that intelligence is “cool”.

Founders and Philadelphia natives Andrea Walker and Matthew Myles believe that, by getting the necessary resources to the youth, you equip them with the tools required to lead a successful and productive lives as upstanding citizens of the communities. However, deprive a child of knowledge and engage them with substandard community resources and they become the criminals that bombard our media outlets with hate crimes, gang on gang violence and other senseless acts that rip through the communities. “They can’t do better if they don’t know better”, says Co-founder of I.N.E.R.D Inc., Andrea Walker. For Myles, I.N.E.R.D stands for I Never Ever Rely on Dummies an acronym he coined three years ago while living in the inner cities of DC, but for Walker, I.N.E.R.D stands for Imagine New Emotions Rediscovering Dreams, an acronym that speak volumes to her personal struggle with her mother’s diagnosis of HIV. Any way you look at it, I.N.E.R.D stands for a change and the founders of I.N.E.R.D plan to do just that beginning in Philly’s own backyard with hopes of one day operating on a national level. 

Sisters Sittin Pretty mentor ship program is just the first of many aids to be implemented by I.N.E.R.D Inc. The organization is also in the process of developing a Soup Kitchen in Camden, New Jersey, as well as a Financial Literacy Program, a Global Language Program, and Trade/Organizer Blend Workshops which will include youth prevention/intervention programs. Walker plans to partner with local AIDS activist to launch a HIV/AIDS Activist outreach and Support Program which will be a dedication to her mother. She plans to make children aware of the epidemic and provide counseling and support for them and their family members, something she wishes would have been provided for her as she struggled with the harsh reality that her mother was battling the disease. Walker says “no longer should people be in fear of the disease HIV/Aids, just like they aren’t about Cancer. Its 2013, it’s not taboo anymore. People contract this disease every day and many times, they are unaware.” 

1. What made you decide to start this venture in Philadelphia? 

We were all raised in Uptown Philadelphia and most of our team still lives in the city so starting this venture to give back to the city that has molded so much of our lives was an easy decision. That, along with the cities painfully obvious lack of community involvement and the crisis that we see our youth struggling to overcome when it comes to such issues as education or other significant resources. This was an answer for that calling. 

2. What separates your non-profit organization from others that may be

somewhat similar? 

What separates us is that we are a collective of young urban professionals who have achieved different degrees of success in our individual pursuits but we all intend to push forward together. Very often, people focus on themselves and create non-profits after they have “made it.” We feel that success is a journey rather than a destination and we intend to share that journey with our community as well as one another.

3. What has been the biggest challenge in launching this movement? 

The biggest challenge has been coordinating everyone’s schedules as we are all very active, busy people with responsibilities and goals of our own. Other than that, our shared passion for our cause has made the process relatively smooth. What has been the biggest reward? There are two. The first is being surrounded by such powerful, positive, energetic young people. The second reward comes from knowing that we are going to make a difference in the lives of families and children. We are creating a legacy that will live beyond us. We are creating something much bigger than anyone of us alone could ever do.

4. Where do you see your organization being five years from now? 

In five years, we see ourselves running full after school and summer programs that will provide safe, nurturing environments for at risk youth. We see ourselves providing our community members with information that will have a lasting impact on their lives and the lives of their children. Such information will come by way of empowering them with basic to in-depth understanding and ability to manage their finances, to realizing the strength and power that we as a people possess, if we stand together. We see I.N.E.R.D Inc. as a bridge in the disconnect between the generation that once lacked intelligence for fear of scrutiny and the generation who will possess and use it as effortlessly as texting on a cell phone. We see ourselves forming lasting relationships with like-minded organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club, Blues Babe Foundation and Black Girls Rock. We see ourselves providing scholarships for deserving young people who might otherwise not be able to continue their education. At the VERY least, we will be a strong, consistent positive influence on our communities. We may very well save some lives.

While I.N.E.R.D. Inc. is the nonprofit sector of the brand, I.N.E.R.D is clearly not limiting themselves to any one area of expertise. I.N.E.R.D is a one stop shop. From a dope t-shirt and hoodie line to a “feminine, flirty, and sexy line” known as Tulip, by I.N.E.R.D’s own fashion designer Amber Cuff. There is also their music division which is spearheaded by the one and only Verso a.k.a Verse Mega, “The Voice of Reason,” “Dignity in the Flesh,” “An Emcee’s Emcee,” Jamaica-born, Philadelphia-bred lyricist. With unremarkable talent, Verso works alongside some of I.N.E.R.D’s best new and upcoming artist such as Uptown Tone and Friends and the No Names. Although the clothing line and the music division are platforms for the designers and artist, these entities also create opportunities for youth in the areas of internships and shadowing. Members of the mentorship programs are granted a behind the scenes look at how music is created, what goes on in the studio, to live performances, as well as a day in the life of a fashion designer. There are many events that can easily turn into a field trip for the mentees at any given moment.

I.N.E.R.D Inc. is on the move to take back its community. It is calling for any and everyone who has a voice to join them. They believe strongly in their youth and will stop at nothing to empower them with the message that intelligence is cool with the hopes of planting a seed to grow and nurture upstanding citizens of our communities. To learn more about their efforts, donate, or purchase a t-shirt, or to sponsor a child please visit their website at www.inerdinc.com

Media Inquiries:

Andrea Walker

Co-Founder and CEO

I.N.E.R.D Inc.

www.inerdinc.com

andreawalker@inerdinc.com

audible

It's funny how life seems to always imitates sports.

Let's go back a few weeks ago to the Super Bowl. The whole world was watching. Not long after Beyonce's performance. Not long after the lights went out (literally). A particular play happened that was one of the game's defining moments.

Baltimore Ravens Quarterback, Joe Flacco, stepped to the line of scrimmage and was prepared to receive the ball from the center. It was fourth down and they needed one yard to get the first down to continue their momentum. It was clear that the Ravens were going to run the ball. Before the ball was snapped, Flacco called an AUDIBLE. In football, an AUDIBLE is an alternate play. He realized that the play that was called in the huddle would not work. Instead of running the ball, Flacco called an AUDIBLE that would alert his team that the play had been changed and that he would throw a pass. This was extremely risky. Throwing the ball is far more risky than running for a yard. Flacco calls the AUDIBLE. The ball is snapped. He floats a pass to his wide receiver, Anquan Boldin, who makes a great catch over the defender. It was a huge turning point in the game. The Ravens went on to win the game and become the Super Bowl Champs.

Life is just like football...or maybe football is just like life. Sometimes you have to call your own AUDIBLE. Sometimes you realize that what you're doing isn't working or won't work. Instead of trying something that won't work, you have to call an AUDIBLE and take a risk. Maybe it's time to AUDIBLE and get that new job or promotion because what you have now doesn't work? Maybe it's time to AUDIBLE to get that new man or woman? You can pray for him or her but until you change your strategy to get them...you're not gonna be successful. Sometimes you need to AUDIBLE just so that you can have some type of personal growth in life. Much of what happens in sports is preparation but a lot is done on the fly. Things are constantly moving so you have to make decisions as you move. AUDIBLES in life are necessary. You make the call and live with the results. If it doesn't work, you try it again. But there's nothing worse than facing an obstacle and knowing that if you don't AUDIBLE to something else that it's not gonna work...and you don't make the necessary changes. Never be afraid to call an AUDIBLE.

somefolksaintready...

Today is a different day.

Different from yesterday.

Or is it?

While we're feeling the love, joy, and pride from watching a black man become President of the United States and leader of the free world. Somebody is homeless now...b/c of their love for him and the ignorance shown by some coward.

I hate to bring bad news on a day like today but I had to share this story. A far as we THINK we've come...we've got sooooo far to go.

Suspicious fire destroys home while owner in D.C. for inauguration

By Julie Arrington
Staff Writer

This house on Lanier Drive in northeastern Forsyth County burned to the ground about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Investigators say the fire is suspicious.

Authorities are investigating a suspicious weekend house fire they say occurred while the homeowner, a single mother of three, was in Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration.

They also are trying to determine if she may have been targeted because of her support for President-elect Barack Obama.

No one was home when the house on Lanier Drive in northeastern Forsyth County burned to the ground about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Someone spray-painted graffiti that included the phrase “your black boy will die” on a fence along the property.

Forsyth County Fire Marshal Steve Anderson said Monday the fire is considered “suspicious,” but would not say it was racially motivated.

“What we’re doing right now is we’re investigating a suspicious house fire,” he said. “There are indications that there may have been some type of terroristic threat.

"We can not verify that at this time, not knowing how [the graffiti] got there, who it was for, several things. But right now we’re just looking at it as a suspicious fire with suspicious circumstances.”

Anderson said he spoke briefly on the phone with homeowner Pam Graf, who is on her way back to Georgia from the nation's capital. He plans to meet with her Tuesday.

Attempts to reach Graf for comment Monday were not successful. But her father, William Morrow, said he thinks she was targeted because of her political views.

Morrow said Graf had two Obama campaign signs in her yard before the fire. He wasn’t sure what happened to one sign, but said he asked her to remove the other after she received a negative letter about a week before the fire.

Morrow said the letter addressed her political views, though he couldn't remember any specifics from it that his daughter had shared with him.

He said she had taken the sign out of her yard before she left Friday.

Anderson said if fire investigators determine that the graffiti is a possible threat against Obama, they will involve the Secret Service. The department's Atlanta field office was closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

“Once I sit down and talk with her and we can discuss this a little bit more in depth, if we feel that’s what it is we’ll call them and give them the information and see what they want to do,” he said.

Anderson said the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has been notified, but is not yet involved in the investigation.

“It’s ongoing and we’ve got investigators out today working on it,” Anderson said, adding that the sheriff’s office has offered to help.

“If we need it, we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’re still very early in, we’re still trying to collect information dealing with the fire. At this point in time, we can’t even say the fire was an intentionally set fire, it’s just suspicious.”

Graf's three children did not travel with her over the weekend, but stayed with family.

William Morrow said Graf did not actively campaign for Obama in Forsyth County. A few years ago, however, she lived in Delaware and supported 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry.

He said Graf told him she attended a Democratic party meeting last week, but he was not sure of her involvement in the group.

Lanier Drive winds along a heavily wooded peninsula dotted with homes that juts out into Lake Lanier.

Crime scene tape wrapped around the charred remains of the house Monday. A basketball goal, go-kart and some outdoor furniture were just a few of Graf’s belongings not scorched by the flames.

The foundation and what appears to have been part of the front of the house are all that’s left of the structure.

Forsyth Fire Capt. Jason Shivers said the house was “beyond fully involved” in flames when firefighters got there and it “had already experienced some structural collapse.”

Monday afternoon, Morrow was still in disbelief. The incident, he said, “doesn’t represent the community."

"It doesn’t represent Forsyth County,” he said. “And I just can’t believe this is what’s happening.”