Category: Circle of Influence
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Life Lessons From A Tribeca Homeless Man
“When I first became homeless, I use to pray that I die for 6 months…that was back in ’87” Jerry,52, may be homeless but his mind isnt. I met Jerry in Tribeca. Our conversation is inspiring to say the least. The street lights are on a timer. They come on and off every 2 minutes.…
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Kobie Brown “From Fatherless To Fatherhood” (2012 Film)
I along with millions of Americans have grown up “Fatherless”. And today 40% of American children live in a fatherless home raised by single mothers, aunts, grandmothers and other female caregivers. Kobie Brown’s 2012 film From Fatherless To Fatherhood explores the causes, effects and possible solutions to turning the corner on father absence. We met at…
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Culture Critic Amy Linden on 28 yrs in Fort Greene, Rafael Saadiq & Obama
“Bitchin about what Brooklyn is now is like bitchin about what Hip-Hop use to be like..aint gonna happen..Paid In Full is not coming back out again.” Amy moved to Fort Greene 28 years ago from the Lower Eastside. We have been friends since the 90’s when I lived in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. After…
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Extreme Hopscotch: “You got beat by an 8yr old!”
Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins..get your Extreme Hopscotch game up! Yesterday at a BBQ in Brooklyn, while filming the kids "hopschotchin", they challenged myself and my longtime friend Jon Cropper to try. He said "no way". I tossed him my camera and thought how hard could it be? Well, I got schooled by an 8year old…
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Harlem Teens Anti-Violence Protest April 15th @ 129th & Lenox (II)
(Part II) In Harlem last Friday, teens representing high Schools across Harlem came to speak, rap and lay down on the street for 5 minutes; thus, putting themselves in the place of someone who has been shot. Here is an additional edit of the teen’s speeches, rap and words from Iesha on “why we are…
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Tunisian Poet Samia Ouederni @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe
After sharing a poem on Facebook in response to the revolution that was happening in her home of Tunisia, Samia was asked to read for Miguel Algarin, the Founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Samia is the 1st Tunisian poet to be published in English; and, read at the Nuyorican, one of the most important…
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Maya Contreras: Drummer, Author & Editor-In-Chief of The Dirty Durty Diary
Born in Denver, Maya grew up in a creative family. She has done everything in the arts from writing, performance to management. We had a refreshing conversation at NYC’s Gramercy Park Hotel about her novel “The Him Book: One Woman’s Almost Religious Search to Find the One” , NYC , Family, longer editorial, Jeffrey Wright…
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Harlem Renaissance High School w Street Corner Resources (WBLS.Com)
The Kid’s are alright! I shadowed Iesha of Street Corner Resources at Harlem Renaissance High School for their 1st annual Video Expo. The students created videos to enhance their college applications and presented their work to family, friends and colleges. The classrooms became exhibition spaces. Meet 4 students and the Principal that empowers them. Harlem Renaissance…
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A Claire Mike: Singer/Model on Volunteering, Art & Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
NEW: She is a singer/songwriter that has worked with John Legend, Luther Vandross, Mos Def, Sly & Robbie, Talib kwali, Dead Prez, Carly Simon & Good Charlotte. However, I focused on the Volunteering she is doing at Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation’s Center for Arts & Culture. I filmed her at the Eyewitness: Beautiful Black Brooklyn 1960’s-1980…
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Yusef Sirius El: Footwear Designer on Fila, Carnegie Mellon, NYC & 10 yr Stages
New Story: Yusef Sirius El (Joe Davis) is a a man of many talents. Painter, musician but he is known for his success as a footwear designer. Millions have worn his designs. Our conversation covers his start and technical training at FILA where he was director of basketball..then off to Avirex in 1997 where he…
MY SMALL STORY: Over 300 Filmed New York Stories 