Change + Growth = Hope

Its been to long. Since I've been away very much has change in the our organization, communities and ourselves. Change is one important thing that is a blessing to have in our world. It symbolizes growth, maturity and time and like change we are made up of the same things. Now at our new location in Harlem we plan to grow and expand this place to take Friends to another level. Here on 127 street and Adam Clayton Powell we are in the the heart of the culture and we appreciate the strength of the people in this community who rise up every morning to go forth and spread it among the youth. Witnessing this, myself and the dedicated staff and youth here work to make sure that not only us but the efforts of everyone does not return void. Join us as we are Changing and Growing because the seed we plant now will grow into the mighty tree we'll see later. THANK YOU!!!!

Fast Food Affairs

Hello and Good morning to everyone. Its been a long time and for that reason is because i may be turning into a workaholic. This blog is a important one for me because i am a hard working, tax paying citizen in New York City, a place to say I'm proud of being because of the opportunities. Now even though we have economy problems I am a firm believer that says you can make your own opportunities even if it present that there aren't any. I am blessed and grateful to say I currently have two jobs. In the morning I am the Program Assistant at Friends of Island Academy that helps get young men on track who been incarcerated as well as participating in rallies and community events. That is one of my passions. Ironically my second job is a fast food chain I wont name for several reasons. So this blog is important because I agree and understand with my heart and mind the struggles working for a fast pace store and your dealing with thousands of different individuals where you have to satisfy there needs, maintain a clean and safe setting with being timely when serving these consumers. There are other factors as well within those duties like, many of the customers may enter the store pleasant and then there are those who enter as if they are ''angry at the world''. Then there are your fellow co-workers who may in fact be the same and if are upset at a customer they take their frustrations out on the customers food. It can be a very stressful 6-7 hours of work. Though i ride strong in saying no matter how you are treated you should never make someone feel equal or less speak up in a respectful and honest way about how you feel because responding harmful will result in 1 or a few things and that is create a bad example and display of behavior or make the situation worse. Accepting the fact that everyone and everything in the world isn't pleasant and realizing you have to sometime kill rudeness with kindness is the first step to becoming a better adult then employee and responding responsibly will gain you further. OK so I've expressed my feel for the people and employees now for the wages. So dealing with everything i mentioned for 7.25 just isn't justice. Many people need to feed their families and provide a stable living with these jobs so if we have to provide a excellent customer service given with so many challenges and obstacles then YES raise the pay rate. The suits that are owning and running these million even maybe billion dollar restaurants has tripled profits since the economy has went down and recently many stores have remodeled and changed their brand so there is money circulating so YES there can be change in pay for these hard working citizen who aren't out committing crimes, only doing what this country asks and that's make an honest living. This is especially for those who dedicated years of there lives to a company. WE need stability in a job, all jobs of course as long as we are following the rules we deserve more. So stay locked in and stand for your rights. This The Anthologist Thank You and God Bless!!!    

42: The Jackie Robinson film

So as of  April, 12, 2013 we have one the greatest stories told through way of film. 42, Directed by Brian Helgeland is the story of Jackie Robinson being one of the first to help integrate blacks into baseball and making history signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It will star Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey and Nicole Beharie as Rachel Isum. Brian Helgeland who wrote the stories for the films L.A. Confidential and Nightmare on Elm street 4 has an academy award and has written this story and brought it to life on the big screen. Jackie Robinson was born January, 31, 1919 and from Cairo, Georgia made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers April, 15, 1947.  Robinson who is a 6 time All Star and 1955 World Series champion erased the color barrier in baseball. He is the first African-American to play since the 1880's. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1962 for his more than exceptional achievements he contributed to baseball. Outside of baseball Robinson achieved more as well. He was the first African-American to become a television analyst in Major League baseball. He established the Freedom National bank a African -American owned financial institution in Harlem and for those achievements outside of baseball he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. With so many accomplishments in and outside of baseball there is much of a story to tell about Jackie Robinson in a film but most of all what needs to be highlighted alongside the legacy he built is his tolerance to endure the racial punishment he went through which made him become the legend he is today.         

Our Friend: Dayvon Pinkney

Meet Dayvon Pinkney. He's 21 and from uptown Harlem. A high school grad from Harlem Renaissance who now has created his own clothing line and works to make it become a large and a successful business. His clothing line WTF!! is a work in progress which features pieces from sweaters and fatigue print to pants and hats of a variety of flavors. Dayvon comes from a family of successful and hard working individuals such as his parents. He also has a younger brother who he is an inspiration to. Dayvons friend Richard who is his business partner helps him with sales and networking. He is also on his last year of probation which he is excited about. With so many great things happening and a game plan set in motion I asked what does he want to accomplish from The Arches program and Friends of Island and he responded saying ''to influence young men and women to be business minded and to avoid becoming a victim of the streets'' and '' I want to be better at my people skills'' which does make sense if he want the people to support his business. I have no doubts he will succeed in that as long as he remains determined to his goals.