Impact Magazine, September 2012 with Darren Harper

Following our dreams are a great feat and price to pay for ANYONE! To do what we love...AND GET PAID FOR IT...that is an honor! It comes with a great responsibility to make a way for ourselves each and everyday. Through the ups and downs, through your thoughts of are you good enough and if you should continue to push forward when there is no one knocking at your door! Through the accolades and applause you receive when the job is done. Through the people being there when the shine is on...but when the shine turns to grime...how fast they move away! YOU...have to move forward with a no matter what disposition! This is what IMPACT encompasses for its readers! I pray that the individuals in each issue give you the push that you need to make your dreams a reality! To show you that you can make it...no matter the circumstances...you can do it! If the people are there or not! When you have the fanfare or not...this is your dream...you have to make it a reality! In this issue, we highlight individuals who did not allow their circumstances to hold them back! Darren “DStreets” Harper took what he saw in on the side of the road in his DC neighborhood and made a great career out of it! From the TV show The Apprentice, winner Randall Pickett just landed billion dollar contracts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide health and IT solutions to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cambodian curvy fashion designer, Theary Sim went to Atlanta with two bags of clothes, and is now one of the most sought after designers in the world! There is also a story of some individuals who did not allow the status quo of society dictate to them how to wear their hair in the workplace. They were following their dreams to work in corporate America to build the life they desired to live. With perseverance, opportunity and determination, and not allowing people to dictate to us what we should and should not do, we can make our dreams come true! It is not enough to dream, we have to move to do what we have to do in order to make it a reality! Be a blessing to someone today, Editor-In Chief Visit most urban areas today, and there‟s a good chance you‟ll see at least one kid zoom by on a skateboard. A few years ago, though, this was a rare sight in neighborhoods like professional skateboarder, Darren Harper‟s, native Southeast Washington, D.C. When Harper hopped onto his first skateboard at age eight after finding it on the side of the road, it wasn‟t a popular pastime among his peers, let alone a potential career option. Nevertheless, Darren eventually began spending his weekends practicing at Freedom Plaza in downtown DC. It was a brief reprieve from his rough neighborhood and the fights he had with schoolmates who misunderstood. To them, skating was “a white boy sport.” Consequently, Harper learned to disassemble his skateboard and hide it in a bag until he was out of sight. Since he also sold drugs to make ends meet, he was no newcomer to concealing things- or bags. Still, he was inspired by skaters he saw on television, like Tony Hawk and others on Skate TV and felt an identity conflict of sorts, so he got a job at Tower Records and continued to hone his skill on a skateboard. Darren, nicknamed DStreets by his neighborhood cohorts, realized that skateboarding could be his ticket to a better life and began marketing himself and attending trade shows. He had a friend who believed in him enough to buy a camera and begin filming him so that he‟d have a reel to send executives at companies related to the industry. That reel ended up in the hands of Blink 182 drummer, Travis Barker. In 2006, at the age of 24, Harper actually met Barker at a tradeshow in San Diego- a meeting which resulted in a professional sponsorship with Barker‟s brand Famous Stars & Straps. Able to quit his retail job and focus fully on skating, Darren traveled the world participating in skate competitions and making skateboarding videos. He even appeared on an episode of Travis‟ reality show, Meet the Barkers. Southeast DC and the kids that live there have never been far from DStreets‟ mind or heart no matter where his wheels took him, though. He‟s made it his personal mission to not only make the sport more “cool” to inner city kids, but to also show them alternatives to deadend activities, like selling drugs. Though their surroundings may look bleak, Darren‟s goal is to help them see what he‟s seen- that “dreams do come true.” To that end, he often distributes free skateboards to and mentors disenfranchised youth. When he‟s not working, you can often find him teaching kids to skate, whether he‟s at home in the Metropolitan DC area or on a break at Back to the Banks in New York. Though his vehicle is a skateboard, the goal of Harper‟s movement is to help children realize there are no color lines or class barriers that can keep them from their dreams- whether they involve a deck and four wheels or not. Harper actually still has more dreams of his own to fulfill. In addition to opening the minds of inner city kids, he hopes to launch his own clothing and skateboard brand. Plus, he plays in a band that plays Go-Go and Hip-Hop music; he plays the conga drums. Skateboarding, mentoring, performing and starting a new business all at once may make some men‟s heads spin, but Darren loves it all. Though his street corner days are far behind him, he says “all I did was switch my hustle… I‟ll never stop hustling.” For more information on Darren, visit YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/ dzstreet), or get real time updates from him at http://twitter.com/dstreets Former ‘Apprentice’ Winner Scores Billion-Dollar Contracts By Sasha King Randal Pinkett, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, is widely known for his winning appearance on the fourth season of NBC‟s The Apprentice. BCT Partners was recently awarded billion-dollar contracts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide health and IT solutions to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “The SAMHSA and CIO-SP3 contracts are significant wins for our company,” Pinkett said in a statement. “They demonstrate the depth and breadth of our expertise in supporting complex, nationwide initiatives. They also exemplify our commitment to working with federal government agencies—helping achieve their missions and thereby improving the lives of the people they serve.” The SAMHSA contract will cover a 5-year period with a total ceiling of $900 million towards influencing SAMHSA in realizing their goals in substance abuse prevention and mental health treatment in those suffering from behavioral health issues. The NIH Contract will work on performance in the areas of IT over a 10-year period with a total ceiling of $20 billion. BCT Partners was founded in 2001. The firm works with partners in the areas of housing, community development, economic development, workforce development, children and families, education, and health. Book of the Month Dreadlocks vs. Corporate America: Real-Life Stories of Making the Choice Two Professionals Stood By Their Hairstyles By, Gerren Keith Gaynor For many African Americans with dreadlocks, the pressures of cutting your hair to fit the mold of Corporate America can be commandeering. More often than not, black professionals are encouraged to do so for greater chances of employment, where African Americans remain a small minority in the workforce. But making the choice to cut or not to cut may not always be an easy decision. For male students with dreadlocks who enroll in Hampton University‟s MBA program, which currently bans „locks and cornrows in the classroom, that choice could not be more perplexing. The ban, which has been set in place for 11 years, recently made headlines after the school‟s dean Sid Credle defended the prohibition, arguing that the hairstyles are not businesslike and will not land students employment in Corporate America. The dean cited a 99% success rate of students who found employment after completing the program. But for Tyler Bailey, a former student in Hampton‟s MBA program, the decision to cut his „locks was difficult. “It was ridiculous,” says Bailey, 23. “I thought, „There‟s no reason I should not [be allowed in the class] because I [have dreadlocks.]„” Bailey set up a meeting with Credle to express his reservations with the policy, which would prevent him from completing his requirements for the program. “He told me I should cut my hair, and that I wouldn‟t regret the decision,” Bailey says. Rather than giving in to the dean‟s policy, which only applies to those in the MBA program, Bailey decided to change his major to business management. A year after leaving the MBA program Bailey says he ended up cutting his hair, however, the decision was a personal one and was not influenced by the his previous experience at the university. Brian Terrell, a graduate of Morehouse College who works at a legal and civil rights firm in Chicago said he too was faced with the dilemma of cutting his „locks, but ultimately decided against it. Terrell, who locked his hair for spiritual reasons, said he was once pressured to cut his hair by a Morehouse administrator at the college‟s career services office. “It‟s my hair. It grows from the scalp of my head. Why does it bother you?” he recalls. Terrell says contrary to the universal idea that dreadlocks are career killers for African Americans, his „locks have never prevented him from landing a job. Since graduating, Terrell has interned at the White House‟s Office of Presidential Correspondence and has worked for Jen Mason, who serves as the deputy chief of staff for the Office of Personnel Management. Terrell also argues that when it comes to Corporate America‟s acceptance of „locks and natural hair, African Americans have to begin to speak up and set their own standard. Ultimately, he says, your job should come down to your professional assets and not what‟s on your head—though he admits the only people to ever express contempt for his hair has been other African Americans. His boss, who is white, compliments him on his locs, which are often styled up. “White people are fascinated,” he says. Bailey, who entered law school at Southern University in Louisiana, says he doesn‟t regret leaving Hampton‟s MBA program despite later cutting his hair. “The business school is great. I respect everything Dean Credle is doing there, but having dreadlocks does not mean that anybody is less qualified or less professional.” Brian Terrell, a Morehouse College graduate, was urged to cut his dreadlocks as a student and refused. He went on to intern at the White House. (Image: Terrell) Theary Sim is a Cambodian model turn designer. She began her journey as a celebrity wardrobe stylist. Where she d e ve l o p e d garments wanted for c u s to m clients that something more creative outside of the retail market. Launching Youtheary Khmer, Theary knew that behind the seams is where she wanted to be, with the high demand in the curvy community, she knew that she had to be a part of that movement. Theary Sim placements include Essence, Marie Claire, Vibe, USA Today, LA Times and others. Her journey began as a plus size model with FORD models. She has worked on national campaigns with Ashley Stewart, Torrid, Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, DEB, Walmart and Macys. With her experience Sim, opened a casting division that specializes in talent and model referrals for plus size women, sizes 10 and up taking Theary Sim the brand to the next level, launching REAL Plus10 division. Youtheary Khmer by Theary Sim, is an innovative, contemporary collection of women’s ready to wear clothing whose placements includes Essence, Marie Claire, Vibe, USA Today, LA Times and others. Their mission is to design custom, effortless looks by providing well -made, high quality clothing that is flattering, trendy, and most importantly doesn’t break the bank. The collections blend hand drawn designs with silhouettes that are not only reminiscent of things past, but truly point the direction to fashion’s future with crystal clarity. Youtheary Khmer is evolutionary and is changing the face of full figured fashion as we see it today. Youtheary Khmer, LLC. umbrella encompasses the Plus 10 Division and as its philanthropic arm, Sim’s non profit organization Pretty Perfect. Utilizing her passion for fashion and beauty, her experiences as a plus sized model and her successes as an emerging designer, Sim rallies plus sized young ladies between the ages of 11 and 17 together in an effort to get them active, share life lessons, encourage self esteem and help grow their support systems. With an overwhelming desire to share her love of dressing beautiful women in quality, style focused garments, Youtheary Khmer, LLC. its founder and brands within are determined to keep curvy women and young women happy, healthy and haute for seasons to come. “I get some much joy seeing a woman wear one of my designs. I put my heart and soul into creating more than just a pretty dress, but being a part of making someone feel beautiful. Their pain, struggle and sacrifice, is my pain, struggle and sacrifice. Seeing someone else smile, let’s me know this is my destiny. This is my gift to you. From one curvy girl, to another” - Theary Sim IMPACT magazine 5th Anniversary W/Honoree & Wife Stacy D. & Lori Heading 8.18.12 5th Anniversary @impact_magazine @weavebar 8.18.12 5th Anniversary @impact_magazine @weavebar 8.18.12 5th Anniversary @impact_magazine @weavebar Prepared by MagCloud for IMPACT Magazine. Get more at impact-magazine.magcloud.com.