“ The book was just a knee jerk reaction to a series of events that happened in our lives. We had quite a few friends, family members, and loved ones that were terminally ill, died naturally or were killed in some type of accident. When I can’t understand something or I don’t want to deal with it…I write,” stated Barton, who has teamed up with her mother to turn her poetry into a ray of hope for those that are mourning the loss of loved ones.

Pat and LaJuana

Turning their pain into purpose, the mother and daughter team decided to combine over one hundred poems that they had written over the years into a book of hope. The poems selected were organized into sections honoring the lives of parents, children, friends, co-workers and soulmates.  Their ultimate motivation was  to help bring healing to those in depression due to the transition of someone that is close to them.

“We wanted people to know that they were not alone. We may never really understand death. The Bible tells us , ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) Yet,  there is no way that you can interpret anything about terminal illness, sickness and death. You just don’t understand it. It is such a dark place to be in,” stated LaJuana.

Every  aspect of their book has been designed to bring light to a very dark situation. Even the cover which is black, white and red was very carefully  planned out.

“Black represents the  depth of the despair that you will be in after the death of a loved one. The white  is symbolic of  light, because eventually you will get to the light. You will find yourself, and get back to who you are. The red, is there  because you will always be marked from that point on.  A death always leaves a final date of before that person passed and after that person passed. It is an everlasting mark,” stated LaJuana.

Joining forces made the two skilled writers not only deal with their grief and their fear of being published, but it also allowed them to address a more diverse audience.

“Some of the poems that she has written over the years, are very similar to the ones that I have done.  We are talking about the same things, but just using different words. That is why I think we needed to do this together.  She can  tell it from a younger person’s view. I will tell it from a

more seasoned prospective.  Yet together it is divine, because it is like we get words that come to us from a higher power,” said Pat who is over two decades older than her daughter.

Although their ministry started to help  mend their personal wounds, it has turned into so much more. They now conduct workshops, seminars and are already working on two additional sequels to Faithful Remembrances.

Even though many of the poems that were inspired for the book came from the death of love ones, the major catalyst  for LaJuana’s writing was the death of the love of her life, Armand. He was diagnosed with cancer which took his life in less than 9 months.

The experience left her  emotionally empty, but she turned her sorrow into poetry. The words she wrote became the wind beneath her wings.

“I used  to be the type of person to come into a place with a bright yellow dress, matching jacket and, yellow pumps. I didn’t realize that I was depressed and in deep mourning until I walked into my closet and everything was black.  I had 7 pair or black shoes and  6 black suits,” said LaJuana.

After working with her mom, pulling together their poetry, and plotting their road to successfully helping people restore their lives from grief, LaJuana has regained her zest for life.

“ I started wearing colors again, laughing like life mattered, and going to non-work related events, like plays. I had to realize that I didn’t die.   I am still here, and I am here for a reason. I don’t know where I am supposed to go, what I am supposed to do and who I am supposed to end up with. But, I will go somewhere. I will do something and I will end up with the someone that God has just for me,” said LaJuana.

The book can only be purchased online through www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com at the present time.

By Sylvia Dunnavant

USM:  Tell us about your background:

Claudette:  I was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and migrated to the US in 1970. As a young girl, I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer so it was no surprise to my family and friends when I enrolled in FIT to study design.

After graduation, I began my career working in the fashion industry for many different designers and was kind of living the dream.

USM:  Why did you leave the fashion industry?

Claudette:  I didn’t really have the opportunity to do the things I wanted to do so I developed a love hate relationship with the fashion industry.   After being in the fashion industry for a number of years, I decided to take a break from the industry.

USM:  What was your next endeavor?

Claudette:  I decided to follow my husband into technology industry.  At that time the technology industry was growing rapidly so I took full advantage of it.  Once the industry stopped growing, it was my queue to exit because it was not exciting to me anymore.

USM:  What did you do next?

Claudette:  I wanted to do something that was fulfilling and rewarding.  I focused all of my time and attention on taking care of my niece and nephew.  I wanted to make sure that they received a good education so I got involved with the PTA at their school and the local community in Greenwich.

USM:  What made you go back into design?

Claudette:   I had a lot of free time on my hands after my niece and nephew graduated high school.  I wanted to do something to keep myself busy.  After much soul searching, I decided to do something that I really loved, thus, I made a decision to go back into design.

USM:  What is the connect ion between design and real estate?

Claudette: My dad has been in the real estate business for many years.  I thought that we could collaborate on home building and interior design.  It gave me the opportunity to work with my dad and do what I loved.

USM:  Why did you become a writer?

Claudette:  The recession impacted the real estate business significantly and no one wanted to build or buy homes anymore.   I started blogging about the black society in Greenwich.

USM:  How did the book came about?

Claudette:   I got bored blogging about the Black society and switch to blogging about crimes.

USM:  What inspired you to write the book Greenwich Secrets?

Claudette:   I first wrote about a little girl in New York that walk outside in her pampers during the night and died in the cold.

Then I blogged about the story of a hedge fund manager in Greenwich who got drunk and got into an altercation with the bar tender and the cops were called.

Those stories sparked my interest to write a book.

USM:  Greenwich Secrets has done really well, what do you plan on doing next?

Claudette:  I am hoping that it will turn into a movie or TV series.

USM:  Will there be a follow up to the first book?

Claudette:  I would like to have a series of books about Lizzy.  Lizzy is still alive and everyone is wating to see what happens to her.

USM:  What else have you been doing?

Claudette:  I did dancing with the stars for charity at the Stamford Palace Theater in Connecticut.

USM:  What is your secret to success?

Claudette:  I think everyone should figure out what they love to do in life and find a way to make money at it.  There is nothing like being paid to do what you love to do, and always be true to yourself.

USmile Magazine

First lady Michelle Obama speaks about healthy food during an event in the East Room at the White House on July 20.

The First Lady is attacking “food deserts” – places where fresh produce and affordable, healthy choices are nonexistent.

Michelle Obama has teamed up with retailers, including Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s and Supervalu, to open locations and sell fresh food to underserved neighborhoods.

“We can give people all the information and advice in the world about healthy eating and exercise, but if parents can’t buy the food they need to prepare those meals because their only options for groceries are the gas station or the local minimart, then all that is just talk,” she said Wednesday.

Obama defines a food desert as an area where healthy foods are tough to come by and often too expensive for residents.  In a food desert, it’s more convenient and cost effective for people to eat fast food and sodas.

According to the White House, around 23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in food deserts.

Wal-Mart, Supervalu supermarkets and Walgreen’s pledged to open more than 1,500 shops over the next five years to sell fresh, nutritious foods in communities throughout the country that are without access to affordable, nutritious food options.

The fight against food deserts is one of the linchpins in Obama’s  Let’s Move campaign, launched last year to try to bring down the staggering rate of childhood obesity, which affects one in five children in the United States.

Obama said that bringing healthy food options would give parents what they really want: choice.

“If a parent wants to pack a piece of fruit in a child’s lunch, if a parent wants to add some lettuce for a salad at dinner, they shouldn’t have to take three city buses or pay some expensive taxi to go to another community to make that possible,” she added.

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said making healthy food affordable and accessible is critical to battling the child obesity epidemic.

Nearly half of kids with weight problems live in poverty and in neighborhoods with no shops that sell fresh foods, she said.

Fresh food retailers would not only offer help kids and parents make healthier choices – it would also combat “job deserts.”

Barnes emphasized that more retailers would mean more employment opportunities.

With AFP Relax News

BY Lindsay Goldwert
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, July 22nd 2011, 9:56 AM

They were hanging out at the Buonanotte Supperclub in Montreal and were “all over each other” and even making out the entire evening, according to an eyewitness.

Do we still believe their “Just Friends” story? Appears like a summer romance is heating up between the two stars.

Tuesday, June 14 at 7:10 p.m. vs. New York Mets

• Coca-Cola Terrific Tuesdays – Two tickets for $30 in the Golden Moon Casino Pavilion every Tuesday (regularly priced $28 per ticket, fans save 46%).

Wednesday, June 15 at 7:10 p.m. vs. New York Mets

• Jason Heyward Bobblehead Night presented by Delta Air Lines - Bobbleheads are back in 2011! In the first of a series of 3 bobblehead giveaways this season, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Jason Heyward Bobblehead on Wednesday. Be sure to arrive early so you can take home this limited edition J-Hey doll. And mark your calendar for the remaining bobblehead giveaway nights, including Chipper Jones on July 28th and Dan Uggla on August 18th.
• Toyota Wonderful Wednesdays – Two tickets for $30 in the Lower Level Outfield Pavilion every Wednesday (regularly priced $24 per ticket, fans save 38%).

For more information about other events click here.

Best Female R&B Artist

Best Collaboration: Rihanna featuring Drake – What’s My Name

Best Collaboration: Rihanna featuring Kanye – All The Lights

Viewers Choice Awards: Rihanna featuring Drake – What’s My Name

Tune into the BET Awards on June 26th at 8pm PT/7C for all the action!

Boston, MA (March 3, 2011) – OneUnited Bank President and Chief Operating Officer Teri Williams has written a children’s book entitled I Got Bank! The book is the centerpiece of OneUnited Bank’s new initiative to promote financial literacy to urban youth. The book tells the story of an African-American boy, Jazz Ellington, whose grandfather set up a savings account for him and taught him the importance of savings. OneUnited is offering the book for free to any public library or middle school upon request.

In conjunction with the launch of the book, OneUnited Bank is sponsoring an I Got Bank! Essay Contest. To enter, children are asked to write a 500-word essay about what the book meant to them. They can also write about any other book on financial literacy if they wish. The bank will be awarding three winners a $1,000 saving account in August 2011.

I Got Bank! teaches financial literacy in a way that is relevant to urban youth (targeting 8-12 year olds); it also gives parents a great way to start a family discussion about the importance of saving.  After Jazz has saved more than $2000, his mother, older brother and sister attempt to spend his money. He experiences a number of adventures in connection with his newfound focus on savings. Kids will enjoy reading how Jazz stays true to his grandfather’s lessons as he finds creative ways to help his family.

“This book should be required curriculum in all urban schools,” said Dr. Holly M. Carter, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Chairperson, Department of Education, College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston. “There’s a lot for everyone to learn from the story – no matter what the age.”

The story covers important topics such as bank accounts, credit scores, and interest rates. Ms. Williams plans a series of speaking engagements and readings to promote the book and foster financial literacy.

“I wrote the book because helping young people acquire financial literacy skills is a personal passion and mission both for me and for OneUnited Bank,” said Williams. “I could not find a similar book about money from the perspective of an urban youth. Yet, when children learn the lessons of financial literacy at a young age, they form strong habits that can be life-changing.”

I Got Bank! is published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc. (www.beckhamhouse.com). More information on the free book for libraries (supplies are limited) or the essay contest is available at www.oneunited.com/book.

####

There will be a mix of many different kinds of movies according to the director of programming David Kwok.  The festival will showcase what happening in cinema within the US and abroad.

The festival will feature a documentary about a community in Haiti that rallies to build a movie theater in Sun City Picture House. This is a must see movie for the Caribbean community, it is a joyful story of a community torn apart by disaster then united in a singular vision of brining back cinema to a country destroyed.

The festival will also feature local Brooklyn based actor Alessandro Nivola who stars in Janie Jones.  He plays a rock musician who goes on a road trip with the teenage daughter that he just met.

The Tribeca Film Festival will run from April 20^th to May 1^st in New York City.  For more information click on the link.

USmile Magazine

Location: 44 W 63rd St, NY, NY

42% Off Cocktails and Bites

Includes 4 Cocktails and one Bar Menu

Roberto Cavalli

$5 Ticket to Roberto Cavalli Spring and Summer Private Sale

Save up to 70% and more off retail prices on Women and men fashion and accessories

When: Saturday March 26, 2011 from 10am – 6:30 pm prior to the public sale to be held the next day.

Location:  20 West 36th Street, 6th Floor, NY, NY

Time: 8:OO PM

Location:  Vibz Uptown, 3155 Main Street, Hartford, CT

Phone: 860-246-7390