2

3

SPECIAL THANKS

To all of Our Writers, Designers,

Planners, Contributors,

Advertisers & Supporters of Xii.

Ken L.

Lena Banks

Shemeka Cockerm

Eryn Davis-Hayter

DJ Franklin

Jasmine Jackson

Raye Jackson

Katrina Leonard

Clarence Lomax

Iman Lott

Sherry Lumpkins

LeAndrea Mack

Marlo Marable

Randi McCreary

Carlanda McKinney

Gary Mitchell

Casie Murff

Tiffaney Oakes

Corey Phillips

Earl Smith

Anna Thomas-Rios

LaToya Traylor

Tony Van Trece

A’Yanna Gilmore Webster

Jessikha Williams

Christopher White

twelvekc.com

twelve@kcsoul.com

FEATURED THIS MONTH:

LaMonica Moore -Madden

Personal Branding Mentor B. Weddings and Events

Christina Young-Jenkins Trilogy Fitness

@twelvekc

4

For Connoisseurs & Conscious Living

This magazine is called

TWELVE to note its

monthly presence, only

TWELVE times a year.

Also, and more impor-

tantly, TWELVE is a symbol

of time. So it represents

timely information and the

central point by which life

events are measured. And

of course, timepieces are

part of the finer things,

perfect for our core read-

ers in pursuit of sophisti-

cated living.

Welcome to TWELVE.

5

Welcome to FIVE!

We’re finally well into Spring. The season of

Mother’s Day, Graduations and preparations

for the summer. In this issue, you’ll find topics

of interest in all of those areas.

Pay close attention to our YoungSTARS fea-

ture. Recognizing some of the youth in KC

that are doing great things. Plus, get ready for

our June 10th NETWORK with the 100!

Explore the content, style and more. Remem-

ber, beyond the digital or print experience,

TWELVE is interactive, so get involved and

engage at our live events too!

You have an opportunity to contribute to the

content by writing, submitting story sugges-

tions, and of course, attending the launch

events and more. Contact us at

twelve@kcsoul.com to get involved and send

us feedback, too!

Sincerely,

Ken L

COVER

Matt & Chrystal

DON’T MISS

Calendar 52

INSIDE

M.A.D. House 6

Grad Inspiration 10

KC Swingers Golf 14

Frank White

NEXT

18

Network 100

Guide

24

Wedding 30

YoungSTARS 38

MAY 2014 Volume II, Issue V

Though a lifestyle publication isn’t unique, TWELVE evolves the genre. It’s the only magazine

that you both read and live. We set out to create more than a literary piece. We’ve merged

both the online world and the live event into the “magazine experience”. Once a month, we

release a new issue of the magazine. The release is paired with a live launch event on First

Fridays, where the feature elements and characters of our magazine are brought to life for

you to touch, taste, feel and experience. The live experience becomes part of gathering

ground of additional stories, photos, and more for the final written magazine.

What’s Different? Read It & Experience it Live

kcsoul.com @TWELVEKC

TWELVE Magazine is part

of the KCSoul.com net-work. Owned by H.G.E. Marketing, LLC. (H.G.E.).

Views & opinions ex-pressed here are not

necessarily those of H.G.E.

or contributors.

6

ad passion, mad artistry,

and mad love are the ele-

ments that developed M.A.D House, the nail

lacquer line born out of Kansas City, MO. The

launch event for M.A.D House was held April

28th, 2014 at Firefly Lounge on Westport. The

speakeasy atmosphere was the perfect ambi-

ance for the eclectic urban crowd that gathered

to view the showcase. Displays of the nail lac-

(Continued on page 8)

M.A.D. The City’s Gone

BUSINESS

Words: Lena Banks

Photos: Raye Jackson

Fashionable in Black. Je’Ree Hamby flanked by guests at the M.A.D. House launch at the Firefly in Westport

M

7

M.A.D. House,

nail lacquer line

Launch Party,

April 28th.

8

Bosede

Iyewarun

BUSINESS

quers were placed throughout the venue while por-

traits of models wearing the polish graced the walls.

The level of artistry of the

décor foretold of a night

of colorful and lively de-

but.

The founder of M.A.D

House, Je’Ree Hamby,

created the House of

Mothers and Daughters

(M.A.D), in honor of her

late great-grandmother, Marion Waters. As a bond-

ing mechanism, Hamby recalls the women in her

family from her great-grandmother on down, com-

ing together for fellowship and comfort over bottles

of nail polish. Hamby states this line is not only

about promoting unique style but the underlying

mission of M.A.D House, which is to “help other

mothers and daughters find a new route of commu-

nication”.

The launch event was hosted by KC’s own Ray Tha

Jerk and Jasmine Jackson. The event was a showcase

of talented performers and models. The opening act,

Precious Nichole, performed a beautiful cover of

(Continued from page 6) “1+1”and the dance group Poison moved the crowd

with their routine to a Beyoncé medley. Two M.A.D

House lines were presented during the showcase,

the Classic

line and the

Rebellious

Glam line.

Models strode

through the

venue donning

the different

polishes with

names such

as, Boy Bait, Ex-boyfriend, and Cocaine. The lac-

quers’ audacious names aren’t the only thing that

sets them apart. M.A.D House uniqueness relies on

its natural components, excluding three main chemi-

cals found in most nail lacquers on the market. It is

also true to color on the first coat and no top coat

is needed.

As the event concluded Hamby was emotional as

she thanked her own mother and reflected on

thoughts of her daughter, these relationships are

what helped inspire her line. Hamby hopes her vi-

sion helps inspire others to build healthy relation-

ships as well.

Polishes with names such as, Boy Bait, Ex-boyfriend, and Cocaine, to name a few.

“Not just style, this line is also to“ help other mothers and daughters find a new route of com-munication”

9

Mad passion, mad artistry, and mad

love are the elements that developed

M.A.D House, the nail lacquer line

born out of Kansas City, MO.

10

INSPIRED

By

LaMonica Moore-Madden

“There is no reward without risk. We’re becoming a more en-trepreneurial society, and those who take risks are more likely to reap greater success.”

11

or those of you graduating from col-

lege and entering into the working world, here is some advice on making successful career/life choices during

your transition. The world is a strange beast at this point in time. When I

graduated from school, there wasn’t a problem finding work in America at all skill levels. Today,

the average college graduate searches 6 to 18 months before landing a good job, and not neces-sarily the desired job. So I’d like to give you some

food for thought when it comes to your career

and life choices.

Make an impact out of the gate. Your education is not over after walking across the stage. Upon

starting that first job, create experiences that make an impact so that you can expand your knowledge and get noticed. Getting noticed early-on will make you more valuable to a company,

which will increase your pay, title, and grant you exposure to bigger

develop-

ments.

Take a job that

you’re excited about. You’ll be

happier. You won’t

mind working the long hours required to accom-plish your desired goals. Life is too short to settle for a job that just pays the bills. If so, you’ll more

than likely become complacent and smart compa-nies will find someone else who wants the job

more. Then, where are you?

There is no reward without risk. We’re becoming a more entrepreneurial society, and those who

take risks are more likely to reap greater success. You can’t do the same thing today that you did yesterday and expect to get ahead. From every

success or failure, you’ll learn something. This will

f COLLEGE GRADS: NEXT STAGE

also show that you’re willing to put your neck on the

line to make something happen. Content of character

speaks volumes.

Start saving for your retirement the moment you re-ceive your first paycheck. Contribute as much as you

can afford. This will establish a regular pattern of sav-ing, and you’ll take advantage of compounding and dol-

lar-cost averaging. Your next egg will grow significantly

over the next 40 years or so.

Pay off your student loans as quickly as possible. Put-

ting extra money toward your debt will be invaluable down the road. While you’re young and able, get a second job at night or on weekends to bring in extra

cash to pay down your debt.

Start saving for an emergency fund. The goal is to have a year’s worth of savings to sustain yourself in the event of unemployment. Start with enough for one

month and build up to 12 months.

Learn how money works. Subscribe to

reputable magazines and websites that focus on financial planning. Stay abreast of economic trends and constantly read

to become more comfortable with your

finances. They are your lifeline.

College graduation brings new challenges for young adults entering the workforce.

Be confident in yourself and your deci-

sions. Explore all opportunities during your job search, as you are at the pinna-

cle of creating an abundant and fulfilled life. Knowing that your main objective is to land that dream job, plan responsibly and continue to learn as much as possible. You will need to become a chame-

leon to adapt to an ever-changing job market which will affect your lifestyle. I wish you the best in all of

your endeavors.

Make an impact out of the gate. Your

education is not over after walking

across the stage. Upon starting that

first job, create experiences that make

an impact so that you can expand your

knowledge and get noticed.

LaMonica Moore -Madden is a Nationally Recognized Personal

Branding Mentor and Catalyst for Women looking to Monetize Their

Brands and Launch Their Dreams in a Big Way. She equips others to MAGNIFY the purpose behind their brand and leave a lasting legacy by

teaching the principles of influence, branding, and divine purpose. Her weekly eZine (Monetize Your Brand Ezine) goes out to thousands of subscriber’s worldwide. Are you ready to Monetize Your Brand and align with your REAL marketplace mission? Sign up for a FREE sub-

scription at www.lamonicamoore.com

12

13

7th Annual

URBAN SUMMIT of Greater KC April 5, 2014

Penn Valley Community College

From Poverty to Prosperity

The Unfinished Agenda

SCENE For a chance to get featured in TWELVE, Add your events to kcsoul.com

14

PLAY

G olf, a Black Man’s game? It’s not

really a question, but a burgeoning phenomenon.

In 1996, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods became a pro

golfer. In a matter of months, he earned the rank

of number one golfer in the world by winning the

1997 Masters. It could be a fluke, except for the

fact that he retained his powerhouse status for

over a decade, as the most dominant player, and

dare we say, “brand” in the game. His image took

a hit as his reported infidelity took center stage in

2009, but it’s undeniable that in his hands, the golf

club becomes a wand, producing magical results.

As the world took notice of Tiger’s play, the Afri-

can-American community took notice, too. Ce-

lebrity tournaments, including those featuring NFL

and NBA greats added to the popularity and visibil-

ity of African-Americans on the course. Yet, it’s

the sport’s role in the migration of urban America

that’s most fascinating. We’ve moved from the

fields of the “South”, dominated the basketball

courts in the “North”, and expanded to the “blue

blood” exclusivity of the golf club. Our play is an-

other example of what we can do given the expo-

sure and opportunity. Known as a breeding ground

for money, even non-golf enthusiasts will host tour-

nament fundraisers to lure affluent golf lovers. Speaking of clubs, before the fanfare of today ig-

nited by “Tiger buzz”, in the Kansas City, African-

American men caught onto the game early. Over

30 years ago, in 1981, locals established the non-

profit, Kansas City Swingers Golf Association

(KCSGA). The club’s objective is “to create friend-

ship and harmony among a group of Black men

from different professions while having fellowship

and fun playing golf.” Steve Kee, member and for-

mer KCSGA president, states that “Our members

include various professionals and business owners

who are giving back.” Today, KCSGA membership

is fairly exclusive, maintaining a roster of no more

than 50.

They start their season in the Spring and play

Thursdays at Swope Memorial Golf Course.

Though social, it’s the club’s philanthropic mission

that’s made it a true community service institution.

That mission can be simply stated as “giving back

through golf”. Five to seven thousand dollars are

(Continued on page 20)

Just a few of the members of the KC Swingers Golf Association on their season opener. The club’s tournaments, which over the last thirty

years, have totaled nearly $100,000. These dollars are then awarded to initiatives to better the community, including scholarships,

KC SWINGERS COURSE OF LIFE

Photos: Raye Jackson

15

Mark Lovelace of

the KC Swingers, Shows off his putt

technique.

16

“Golf is a vehicle where like-minded men, who have grown up can still play and con-nect.”

17

Vic Dyson, President, KC Swingers

Golf Association

Photo: Raye Jackson

twelvekc.com

18

evoted husband, fa-

ther of eight,

grandfather to 11

and great-grandfather to one, currently serving as first base coach for the

American Association’s T-Bones Baseball Club,

conducting hitting and fielding clinics for young

athletes, and working in sales and marketing for a

local roofing company, retired hall of famer Frank

White, Jr. has been known throughout Kansas

City for years as our hometown hero. A loyal

worker and dedicated advocate for various causes

all over the city, Mr. White recently announced

his intention to take on yet another role: candi-

date for the First District At-Large seat on the

Jackson County Legislature. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of

years and I have a strong interest in helping make

(Continued on page 22)

Hall of Famer to Politician

FRANK WHITE

D

By Iman Lott

Photo: Raye Jackson

twelvekc.com

19

Hall of Famer to Politician

FRANK WHITE

GIVE

twelvekc.com

20

raised from each of its tournaments, which over

the last thirty years, have totaled nearly

$100,000. These dollars are then awarded to

initiatives to better the community, including

scholarships, crime prevention through Move-Up

(formerly Ad-Hoc Group against crime); and at-

risk youth support through Operation Break-

through, which serves inner city youth by provid-

ing daycare and after school programming. Ac-

cording to KCSGA president, Vic Dyson, who’s

also Vice President and Director of Sales at

Carter Broadcast Group, “Those dollars are

raised through our two main golf events, the

Spring Scramble tournament and our September

tournament. This second is a 2-day golf tourna-

ment which supports Operation Breakthrough

where 50 kids are given $100 Walmart gift cards

for Christmas.”

Golf, as a sport, is physical, but unlike basketball

or football, rather than fielding opponents, you’re

really competing against yourself. Another differ-

ence is that the golf athlete doesn’t necessarily

reach his apex in his youth. Vic recounts the

days of playing high school and college sports,

where endurance, strength and agility is the win-

ning factor. He appreciates golf as the sport he

(Continued from page 14)

can continue to play for years. “As you get older,

your body changes. Golf is a vehicle where like-

minded men, who have grown up can still play and

connect.”

Speaking of connections, golf is where big business

happens. “It’s opened doors for business. Here,

you’ve got men that are making decisions for their

companies, and you’re there providing the answers

to the questions they have”, says Dyson. Those

answers build relationships. “Our jobs are to

sharpen each other” he says.

Business aside, there’s a greater benefit. Golf is

the perfect get-away. Dyson plays locally and also

travels to play. “Out here, you’re with nature. It’s

surreal. It’s peaceful”, says Dyson.

If you’re not into golf yet, find out if it’s right for

you. If you’re a novice, find a friend and go out and

ride or walk nine holes to see if something you like.

Explore it as a healthy exercise option and an op-

portunity to connect and build relationships. Re-

member, green doesn’t just describe the course. It

describes the earnings potential from connecting

with the right people.

You can learn a lot from the game of golf. 1. Set a target, 2. Apply the right tools for the job. 3. Follow through.

“It’s opened doors for business. Here, you’ve got men that are making decisions for their companies, and you’re there providing the answers to the questions they have”

21

SCENE

The men of Kappa Alpha Psi

Kansas City Alumni Chapter

32nd annual Easter Egg hunt.

Free food and beverages, a

moonwalk, face painting and egg

hunting for various age groups.

For a chance to get featured in TWELVE, Add your events to kcsoul.com

22

my community better”.

Frank currently works with a wide variety of chari-

ties, including the City Union Mission, the Salvation

Army, and the Kansas City Medicine Cabinet. “I

grew up in the

third district in

Kansas City and

that is one of the

areas that needs

a lot of help for

numerous rea-

sons but I just

thought it was a

good way to get

involved more

and continue

what I already

do”.

But why now? After years in retirement, out of the

public eye, why catapult yourself back in? “I’m out

of baseball and I don’t have that 2pm to midnight

shift anymore so I felt like it was time”.

For Mr. White, it’s time to give back even more.“I

asked myself at one point ‘What can I add? What

(Continued from page 18) can I do?’ I have a desire to give younger people

focus. To let them know that I was where they

were. I came up in the inner city. You’ll always

have dreams. Just don’t give up on those dreams

and when you have an opportunity to do what it is

that you want to do give it everything you have”.

From a young

age baseball

was Frank

White’s pas-

sion. As an

adult, he par-

layed his pas-

sion into a

career. Start-

ing with play-

ing, graduating

to coaching,

and later an-

nouncing. With this upcoming run for office, could

this be the end of the pursuit of his passion?

“They say never say never but I think that if I’m

elected I could see myself along with my roofing

job, being pretty busy so if there is something I

would be able to work out temporarily in terms of

(Continued on page 35)

You”ll alwaYs have dreams. Just don’t give up on those dreams and when you have an opportunity to do what it is that you want to do give it everything you have.

White was a raw, un-recruited youth base-

ball player when he was selected to attend Ewing Kauffman’s innovative Baseball Acad-emy in Sarasota, Florida. From there he

went on to play second base for the Royals for 18 years, earning eight Gold Gloves and five All-Star Game appearances. He batted clean-up in all seven games of the 1985

World Series for the Royals, a feat only accomplished by one other second base-man: Jackie Robinson. One of the most

popular players ever to sport the KC blue, White was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1995 and a statue was erected

inside Kauffman Stadium in his honor. From the Frank White, Jr. biography.

23

24

25

26

TIPS

27

28

FITNESS

by: Corey Phillips

Objective Burn Fat, Strengthen Muscle, And Flatten Stomach.

This exercise isolates the mid-abdominal area (stay tuned for lower or

upper abdominal)

Equipment Weight-Approximately 10lbs (less or more based on condition)

Mat-To Elevate Your Back

Position Feet flat on the surface

Rear of lower back hanging off the mat

Shoulders slightly hanging off

To create a slight curvature for the mid-abdominal focus required

Exercise 1. With weight overhead, crunch (lift and squeeze) your abdominal

area

2. When you crunch, hold for two seconds

3. Inhale on Crunch

4. Exhale when you lower to first position

5. Repeat

Safety --Light weight

--Good grip

--Keep it dry

For more information visit trilogyexplosion.com or

email us at info@trilogyexplosion.com

SUMMER CRUNCH PART 1

twelvekc.com

29

SUMMER CRUNCH [MID-ABDOMINAL EXERCISE]

Feet flat on the surface

Rear of lower back

hanging off the mat

Shoulders slightly hang-

ing off

To create a slight curva-

ture for the mid-

abdominal focus re-

quired

twelvekc.com

30

SNEAKFEST 2014 | 3.29.14

Wedding Planning

Our company has six years of experience with

servicing over 25 clients. We provide wedding and

event planning, at an affordable cost. Contact:

E-mail: bweddingsandevents@yahoo.com

Instagram: theweddingdiva

You-Tube: theweddingdiva

www.bweddingsandevents.com

Mrs. Christina Young-Jenkins

twelvekc.com

WEDDING

31

Tip 3. Establish a budget, and stick to it! After you've made

all of the important decisions, establish a budget. Most weddings in the Kansas

City area average $21,000. This amount broken down over 12 months is an

estimated $1750 per month.

Tip 4. Prioritize - Tackle the important elements first. Most couples fo-

cus on their reception, because it consumes the most time and resources. Re-

member not everything needs to be finalized in one day.

Tip 5. Carry cash - Of course when your big day arrives you want to be

at a zero balance; however, some vendors may require payment the day of the

event. Provide your coordinator with the amount of cash in order to pay all

balances in full.

Time & Money QUICK PLANNING TIPS FOR YOUR BIG DAY

Mrs. Christina Young-Jenkins

WEDDING SUPPLIERS & VENDORS: Planners, Decorators, Caterers, Venues, Stylists, Photographers & More.

JOIN OUR FEATURES EMAIL: twelve@kcsoul.com for information.

Tip 1. Decisions, Decisions - The first step after your engagement is to think about your vision of your special day. Before jumping the broom, take time with your fi-

ancé to establish an inspiration board. Creating the inspiration board can be a fun activity

with family and friends.

Tip 2. 12 months til I-Do - Give yourselves time to save money for your big day,

optimally at least 12 months. This allows for you to afford items that may otherwise have

been too costly.

32

LOVE

twelvekc.com

33

One Love. Matthew Ferguson and Chrystal Headd

Wedding Date Sept 6, 2015

Engaged April 16, 2012

In the beginning They originally met in college, when Chrystal was a contestant for Alpha Phi Alpha’s Miss

Black & Gold pageant. “He was playing hard to get,” Chrystal says. “In the beginning, it was like, ‘Are you interested, not interested?…I felt like he was hard to read.” We

started talking, then, it kinda died off. Then I wasn’t interested.” But in 2011, Chrystal caught Matt’s eye again at a wedding recep-

tion. It still took a few months, but they fi-nally connected in December and realized they were on to something.

What’s the key for lasting relationship? These two have this figured out. “Trust”,

Matt says, “Doing things the person you’re in love with can trust. Creating a track record of trust.” but also being able to forgive. Don’t

worry about the silly things and stupid stuff. Fundamentally, put yourself in a mindset that when you wake up in the morning, this is the

person you’re in a relationship with and love. You don’t have to agree or accept everything. Know what battles to fight. Chrystal agrees

and also offers that communication is key.

“You have to express how you feel. You can’t solve problems that are not shared.”

How do you find the one? People have to change their level of expecta-tions on “how” the love of their life will come

about, is what Chrystal advises. “It’s not al-ways a certain place, order or time. Not a certain profile you search for. It could be

someone you already know.”

Matthew Ferguson

and

Chrystal Headd

34

LOVE

twelvekc.com

Darryle Richardson, Jr.

& Deidre Jones

Photo:

Jessikha Williams

35

One Love. Deidre Jones and Darryle Richardson, Jr.

Wedding Date

October 4, 2014

Engaged

February 16, 2013

The Proposal

Call him Mr. Romantic. Darryle had the surprise occa-

sion planned with dinner reservation. The setting was

Valentine’s weekend at the Capital Grille. Upon arrival,

Derrick whispered in his waiter’s ear to put the plan in

motion. The engagement ring was brought out as the

dessert, and after a drop to the knee, apparently, she said

YES.

In the beginning

1997, is the year it all began for these two. They met at

the movies, through mutual acquaintances. They were

even prom dates. Though off-and-on throughout the

years, it’s a relationship that seems to be well-tested.

When you knew

Darryle says, “I knew in 1999 she was the one, but we

still had growing up to do. But now, we’ve gone through

trials and tribulations. I can’t see myself without her.”

For Deidre, she discovered later she it was time. “After

the birth of my youngest daughter, in 2007, I was ready.

“I was like, Ok. When is he going to ask?”

What about Relationships these days?

Radio airwaves are replete with “Independent women”

anthems, but Deidre believes much of it is a front. “A lot

of women want to get married, she says.” I’m the first to

get married in my circle…my age group. Everyone is

pushing for us to have a fairytale wedding.” They both

agree that you don’t find long-term love in the clubs.

What do you look forward to?

Darryle states, “Growing old together. Seeing the kids

watch us grow together and showing them that at strong

marriage can happen.”

Wedding planning

According to Deidre, “Wedding Planning is stressful. It’s

fun, but stressful, so I’m glad we have our favorite person,

here, our wedding planner (Christina Young-Jenkins). For

the planning and money that goes into it’s definitely

something I don’t want to do again! Darryle, like most

guys, doesn’t shoulder the brunt of the planning responsi-

bilities. The biggest thing I did was find her,”( Christina).

What’s the key for lasting relationship?

Deidre states “Keeping God first, communication. Not

letting everyone in your business and pray.”

games and things I would be more than willing to help”.

As we talk I wonder more and more if his recent pivot

into politics is the launch of a second career. “At this

point I don’t have any aspirations beyond the county.

Being involved in the city council or even being the

mayor, those are full time positions and despite how it

appears, I want spare time!”

Family is important to Mr. White. That is evident by

our surroundings. Family pictures cover every wall of

the room we are sitting in radiating with his love for

them and the memories they’ve yet to make.

“The biggest thing was convincing my wife that this was

a good idea. Politics can bring out things in your past

that can come back to the surface. Sometimes you can

hear a lot of negative stuff that you have to be strong

enough to move past especially when a lot of it is not

even true”. “Candidate” White is aware that this is new territory

for him.

“You really need people in your life who are willing to

support and contribute when you are pushing for some-

thing like this. You need the advice of people who have

been there and done that. I am not going into this thing

thinking I know everything and I’m not afraid to say

there are things I just don’t know…but I’ll find out.”

That you will, Mr. White.

(Continued from page 22)

Frank White, Jr.

& wife, Teresa

36

37

38

39

YOUTH

-Principles Honor Roll since

9th grade

-27 ACT score

-1st Team All Conference

Outfielder (2 times)

-1st Team All District Out-

fielder

-Varsity Softball layer since

9th grade

-I.Q. is 138

-9th place at ASA Northern

Nationals

-Plays for the Mac-n-Seitz Leg-

acy 18a fast pitch team

40

YOUTH

magazine

YOUTH

By

LeAndrea Mack

41

Aubree is an ambitious

young writer and entrepre-neur who decided not to wait until she “grew up” before she would become something! Cultivating her love for literature when she was just six years old, Au-bree plans, organizes, and hosts events specific to child literacy and promoting reading. She encour-ages everyone to use a valuable source of entertainment...THEIR IMAGINATION! She is the assistant manager of the Junior Royalty Book Club, an event held four times a year at the Kansas City Plaza Library, where girls ages 5-13 read popular books, dis-cuss the content, and practice eti-quette and public speaking. As the Junior Chief Executive Officer for WordPowerUSA, Aubree has pro-duced a children's book collection

tackling tough issues such as child-hood obesity, bullying, global warming, and the spread of germs. Her collection has even been in-corporated in programs throughout the St Louis & Kansas City area. Her mission is to help other children see the power that reading can provide and the confidence that it brings. Aubree believes that once you’ve learned how to read, the next step is to learn how to apply what you’ve read, expound on those ideas, and eventually de-velop your own. Aubree is considered an uncon-ventional learner and she shares tips with parents and students like her. Conventional learning came to hamper her profound talents and cognitive abilities because her parents were relying only on a classroom setting to provide her learning experience. This proved to be boring and disengaging for Au-bree. It is important for any child to learn how to thrive in a classroom setting but her parents quickly learned that it also limited her. They began allowing her to have real life experiences with public speaking, earning money, and planning events. As a result, her interper-sonal skills, mathematical ability, and problem solving intuition soared.

To find out more about Aubree and

her company visit: WordPow-

erUSA.com or contact the KC Plaza

Library for a schedule of her events

with the Junior Royalty Book Club.

42

CREATE

ovie making in Kansas City?

Though known for our music, “jazz”, the idea of film work shouldn’t be a farfetched idea for

us to grasp. If you trace the city’s roots, you’ll find that Kansas City was once a ma-jor distribution hub for Hollywood films. The downtown and crossroads area boasted consider-

able industry types and movie ad agencies. Of course, Walt Disney grew up in KC and created the famed Mickey Mouse just off 31st street in his

Laugh-O-Grams animation studio before eventu-

ally heading to Los Angeles. Even a handful of na-tional films have been shot here in part. Legen-

dary television and film director, Robert Altman,

who was born and raised in KC, shot the movie,

“Kansas City (1996)”, in town with Harry Bela-fonte. So the question now is: Who’s Next?

Photographer and filmmaker Diallo Javonne French is ready to answer the call. Having already

achieved some success in the short-film area with four short films to his credit, he’s now preparing

for his first a feature film titled, “A Song for You.” It combines two of his greatest passions, music and photography.

He’s confident he can produce at this level. His last short film, “May this Be Love”, won an Urban

Media Maker award in Atlanta and was featured on, BET’s film showcase, Lens on Talent. Having a keen eye, his photography has even been featured on Hallmark Cards.

Are You Originally from Kansas City? Yes originally from KC...KCK.

Diallo

Javonne

French

FADE TO BLACK… AND WHITE

M

43

What inspired you to get into film and photog-

raphy? I started out as a musician. Music is my first love, but I was always fascinated with the filmmaking process. I

bought an 8mm film camera when I was 19 years old. I shot a music video using Michael Jackson's song "I Can't Help It". The rest is history.

Why focus on black and white? I love black & white because it makes everything time-less. I want my work to never go out of style.

What type of films do you want to make? My focus is films that center around music. My lead

characters are usually musicians. I would also like to direct some documentaries about some of my favorite music artists...Michael Jackson, Bobby Watson, Marva Whitney, J-Dilla, etc.

What makes your work different or unique? What makes my work different is that I like to tell sto-

ries through images and music. My films never have a lot of dialogue. The visual is more powerful to me than

words. I guess I think talk is cheap.

Diallo wants to make this a community effort and has started fundraising and you can be a part of it. “I will be

seeking out private investors and small production companies. Getting the money to shoot a film is very difficult. The community can help by just getting the

word out. The great thing about all this is more people know about the project. Hopefully that will lead me in the direction of some investors.”

We’d bet the combination of talent and persistence will secure Diallo’s space on the silver screen soon.

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SCENE

The Art of Spoken Word 3

| Bold.Poets |

National Poetry Month

Friday, April 18 Just Off Broadway Theatre in

Kansas City, Missouri

46

Although she is only 11 years old, this

statuesque beauty already stands 5’6” in tall.

I guess we can attribute that to genetics,

since she is the daughter of the late NFL

lineman and Superbowl champion Wayne

Simmons. However, this sister is making a

name for herself as an actress, model and

recording artist. You see, this young lady has quite a

voice, and started humming tunes before

she could even talk, so it was apparent that

she would be a singer even before she was a

year old. Her natural evangelical side made

her stand out in church, so she was chosen

to sing and minister through song for the

praise and worship team at St. James United

Methodist Church, and was frequently given

solos that normally require a more mature

voice. She has a God-given gift to deliver.

The congregation would always be wowed

by this little girl’s ability, and they recog-

nized early on that she truly has something

special. Since she is a go getter and willing

to utilize healthy competition, she has also

placed first in several talent shows. As fate would have it, while singing in

church, Ms. Simmons was scouted by author

Derrick Barnes who wrote the children’s

book series, Ruby and the Booker Boys,

which can be found at Barnes and Noble

and Amazon.com. He felt that Wrayne’s

jovial, fearless and mature spirit personified

the main character of his book series Ruby.

He believed that she would be the perfect

fit to bring his character to life. After a brief interview at Barnes’ home,

they started working to bring his vision to

pass. Wrayne went to work with producer

and bassist Tyrone Yarbrough of Kansas

City’s own Lo-Key. Not only does Wrayne

sing well, but she also has a fantastic ear for

music. Although she has a natural talent, it

was further developed when she started

playing the piano and trombone. As musi-

cians, producers, and singers know, it is very

important to have a good ear. It allows you

to hear melodies and harmonies easily, so

with only a few takes, she had recorded

their own rendition of the song Ain’t No

YOUTH

Wrayne Simmons. TALENTED

By Shemeka Cockerm

magazine

47

Sunshine by Bill Withers. With this updated

hip-hop version of the song they were able

to create a movie clip and a music video

with more to come. Since Wrayne is so easy to work with

and does not believe in the “diva” persona

she has also been the muse of the Xii Maga-

zine October edition. She was a model for

the Alter EGO photo shoot and was fea-

tured in the Annual Greek Halloween Party

video advertisement, produced by Clarence

Lomax. Needless to say, this girl is going places,

with the winning combination of her pleas-

ant personality, and work ethic, doors will

continue to open. The thing I find most in-

triguing and slightly ironic about Wrayne, is

that her dream is actually not to be a celeb-

rity singer, but a famous gourmet chef, and

no one can change her mind about that. In

fact, she is so passionate about cooking and

owning a restaurant, that it is as if it was her

profession in a past life. She has written an

entire business plan, and has decided almost

every architectural detail and dish that will

be featured at “The STOHNE”,

(pronounced “stone”) which is her middle

name. Friends and family that remember her as

a toddler recall that when asked what she

wanted to be when she grows up, the re-

sponse would always predictably be “A

Rachael Raye”. Now she whips up delightful

desserts and entrees and she can put most

adults to shame with her meals. With her

decisiveness and focus, she is truly position-

ing herself to be very successful in all of her

endeavors, whether culinary or vocal.

48

YOUTH

By Shemeka Cockerm

magazine

twelvekc.com

49

admit it, with so many distractions on social media it is very easy for me to totally tune out, however while scrolling through my feed on Facebook, I could-n’t help but to take notice of a series of

some simply amazing shots being posted by mom Mika White of her daughter Keni. The shots were comparable in my personal inter-pretation to those of Dominique Dawes, or Gabby Douglass, but it turns out that the source of Keni’s athleticism is actually dance and choreography. Since I knew that we were going to be focusing on some of Kansas City’s bright-est youngsters Keni quickly came to mind and naturally it was imperative that I schedule a chat with Keni and her mom asap. True to the Midwest, although the previ-ous day was sunny and mild, the day I met Keni was dreary and chilly, so I took some time to warm up with a hot cup of or-ganic mint tea while I waited for the new driver Miss White to arrive. Isn’t it ironic that while teens are looking for freedom when they learn to drive, parents sometimes have a hidden agenda as well that may be quietly lurking in the back of their minds. That is, that they now can assume having some help with younger siblings and quick runs to the grocery store. Needless to say, Keni was helping her parents by taking her sister to an appointment, thus being 16 and getting her driver’s license is a win, win situation for her whole family. This part of Keni’s story began when her mother noticed that Keni was an active child and en-joyed the reactions she sparked as a toddler

when she danced. Mika saw natural talent in Keni and enrolled her in dance classes. When ask how she would describe her daughter, Mika said that she is a very humble, funny, and somewhat serious young lady. My first observa-tion of Keni is that she is also eloquent and very well spoken. It is my impression that if she de-cided not to become a professional dancer, that she could have a great career in public relations. Keni has a confident and poised nature and she answered all of my questions with authenticity, and spoke her truth.

Keni is a very decorated choreographer and dancer and as a 12 year veteran her signature style includes jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. Her skills were honed at Studio J and she admits that her teacher has been the most influential person to her in dance. Some of her awards include: Na-tional Dance week Center Stage Award, Talent on Pa-rade Top Entertainer, and Miss Masquerade. She has also earned yearlong schol-arships to over seven na-tional dance conventions.

And the list goes on.

Amazingly, Keni scored in the top five at

Adrenaline Nationals in Las Vegas, with a per-

formance that she choreographed herself. I

think it is fantastic that Keni sees herself as a

role model for other girls and strives to live up

to such a weighty responsibility. I asked this ex-

traordinary girl to give us some advice for

those who will come up behind her, she said

wisely, “stay focused on what you do, because

there are always other people who will try to

bring you down. Don’t let ‘em, just don’t let

‘em.”

“stay focused on what

you do, because there

are always other people

who will try to bring you

down. Don’t let ‘em,

just don’t let ‘em.”

50

Daniel is a member of House of Refuge Family Worship

Center in Kansas City, MO where he serves under the

leadership of Pastor-Elder Classie Brown-Hill as youth

minister. He’s been active as:

- Part of the Disney Academy entrepreneur-

ship program with Steve Harvey

-Participant in the 2013 Missouri Legislative

Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leaders

Program.

-Member of the Fellowship of Christian Ath-

letes.

-Member of Debate team, choir, writer for the

school newsletter and plays in the school or-

chestra.

- Youth worker at Kansas City’s Nelson Arts

Museum.

He plans to attend Bacone College where he was

awarded the Christian Ministry Students of Promise

Scholarship, (100% tuition paid) for all 4 years of col-

lege. He will earn degrees in Theology and Political

Science. His future goals are to be a business owner,

minister, and mentor to other young men.

At home, Daniel can be found assisting his mother,

Tracy and caring for his younger sister Dominica.

Minister

Daniel Johnson

Favorite scripture:

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalms 125:1

YOUTH

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52

Thu 05/22 UMKC Women of Color Lead-ership Conference. Keynote: Judy Smith Inspiration for TV's SCANDAL UMKC Student Union, 5100 Cherry St. 8a-5p Fri 05/23 Introducing 4th Fridays l 25 & Up Nightlife Venue: 1116 Grand Blvd KCMO Time: 10:00 PM-2:30 AM Location: Qudos Cigar Bar Producer: Club Kouture Sat 05/31 All White Affair Event type: Party Venue: ArtTech: 1522 Holmes St KCMO Time: 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Omicron Iota Iota Buffalo Soldier Ques Contact: Damon L. Augustine Email: augidawg91@yahoo.com Sun 06/01 School is Done. Summer Fun Venue: Alpha Bldg 2915 Swope PKWY Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Producer: LEGACY Foundation Contact: Jonathan Smith Email: jona-thansmith@ourlegacyfoundation.org Web: www.ourlegacyfoundation.org

Fri 06/06 | First Fridays | XII Mag Mixer, Join the Team. Aloft Sat 06/07 Sean Tyler : Music After Dark Event type: Concert Uptown Theater: 3700 Broadway KCMO Time: 7:30 PM - 12:00 PM Producer: II Tall Entertainment LLC Contact: Jennifer Richardson Email: iitallentertainment@yahoo.com Phone: 9198052287 Mon 06/09 INROADS Midwest Golf Tour Event type: Fundraiser Venue: DEER CREEK GOLF COURSE: 7 Time: 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM PINROADS Midwest Region Contact: Lathon Ferguson Email: lferguson@inroads.org Web: http://inroads.org/midwestgolf Tues 06/10 3rd NETWORK with the 100 Sat 06/14 JuneteenthKC Event type: Community Action Venue: 1616 E. 18th Street : KCMO Time: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Producer: Legacy Development, Contact: Makeda peterson Email: petersonmc@live.com

Sat 06/21 Big Hats & Bow Ties Scholar-ship Affair Event type: Fundraiser Venue: Wine Barn Winery & Vineyard: 2850 N 119th St Kansas City KS Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Producer: AKA-URO Contact: Courtney Wills Email: Phone: 913.667.9038 Sat 06/21 Christian Women of the Year Event type: Community Action Venue: Jack Reardon Convention Ctr Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM Producer: Alpha Epsilon Zeta Contact: Shellie Stallings Email: zphibkck@yahoo.com Sat 06/28 Kansas City Greek Picnic 2014 Event type: Community Action Venue: Swope Park: Kansas City MO Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Producer: I'm Greek and I'm Proud Email: kcgreekpicnic@gmail.com

Web: www.kcgreekpicnic.com

kcsoul.com KCs Urban Source. Add Your Events!

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CALENDAR

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GROW THE BUSINESS

MAKE THE CONNECTIONS

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JUNE 10TH join HUNDREDS at the 3rd Annual Network with the 100 at

UMKC. RSVP for FREE Entry By 6/2/14 at network100.kcsoul.com

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Westin Crown Center

Co-Sponsored By: Delta Educational and Economic Development

Foundation & Kansas City Missouri Alumnae

Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

2014 Cotillion 29th Annual Scholarship &

Development Program

Formal Presentation

SCENE

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