2010 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Newsletter

Hello Everyone

The following is a link to the 2010 Take 25 Newsletter on behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children where there were 3,532 events hosted in over 1,386 cities!!!!!

http://www.take25.org/res/pdf/2010%20Take%2025%20Campaign.pdf

The newsletter also includes an article on the Georgia program partners which was hosted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with supporting organizations including the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Georgia Mason's Child Identification Program, and Miss Black Georgia USA 2010, Kimberly Jones!

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the campaign and making a difference in keeping our children safe. Please join me and all of the other 2010 Miss Black USA delegates in the campaign by raising awareness of the issues surrounding missing and exploited children and making child safety a national priority!!!

Miss Black USA 2010 Updates!

Greetings, everyone! The moment we've all been waiting for is swiftly approaching. I wanted to update everyone on the dates, times, locations, and ticket information for the 2010 Miss Black USA 2010 Scholarship Pageant where I, along with the other state delegates will participate.

Miss Black USA 2010 Pageant
August 7-9, 2010
Washington, DC

Official Hotel:
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745
(301) 965-2000
www.nationalharbor.com
$159.00 plus tax

Tickets:
Pre-Sale Ticket Dates: June 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010
General Public Ticket Sale Dates: July 1, 2010

Miss Black USA 2010 Pageant Events, Dates, Times, Locations, and Prices:
Miss Black USA 2010 Preliminary 1 (Evening Gown and Personal Fitness): Saturday, August 7, 2010, 12:00 pm, Gaylord National Resort, Pose Lounge (18th floor), Tickets $20

Miss Black USA 2010 Preliminary 2 (Talent and On Stage Q&A): Saturday, August 7, 2010, 8:00 pm, Suitland HS, Annabelle Ferguson Auditorium, 5200 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, MD 20747, Tickets $20

Miss Black USA 2010 Final Night Pageant: Monday, August 9, 2010, (5:30 pm Red Carpet) and (7:30 pm Showtime), Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009-4442, (202) 328-6000
VIP Seats: $100 (Red Carpet, Premium Seat)
General Admission Seats: $40
Balcony Seats: $25

Miss Black USA Prayer Breakfast: Sunday, August 8, 2010, 8:00am, Gaylord National Resort, Tickets $40

Miss Black USA 2010 Teen Pageant
The Miss Black USA 2010 Talent Teen Pageant (Ages 13-18 years old) will also be held Sunday, August 8, 2010, 5:30 pm, Gaylord National Harbor Resort, Tickets $25.

Visit http://www.missblackusa.org/ to purchase tickets for the events! Go under the "Shop" tab and you can find access to online ticket sales.

I will keep you all updated with more information as I receive it. Addtionally, I'm still graciously accepting donations in any amount. Every little bit counts, and I truly appreciate all of your help thus far. I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend!

Georgia's Missing and Exploited Children's Day

Hello, again! On May 22, 2010, I visited Georgia's Missing and Exploited Children's Day event in Decatur, GA. It was hosted by the Bureau of Investigation, and the purpose of this event was to get more children fingerprinted and identified in the program's system. Children were fingerprinted, weighed, and measured for their height. They even left voice recordings to assist with their identification. There were a lot of fun games and activities for the children to participate in. It is important that parents get their children identified, and for more information, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com, or www.take25.org.

Martha Shipp Scholarship Program

Hello! I was blessed to give the words of encouragement at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Columbus, GA on behalf of the Martha Shipp Scholarship on May 16, 2010. This scholarship is given every year to deserving high school students in the church's community. I attended a morning service and offered a few words about my great-grandmother, Mrs. Martha Shipp. I also spoke about how students should stay on the path to knowledge and success, while informing them of a few of the tips I've picked up along my own way. I wish the best of luck to all of the recipients of the scholarship, and I am thankful to have been chosen to speak on behalf of such a prestigious honor.

The Girls Circle

Greetings!

I must say that I had an excellent time with the lovely young ladies of The Girls Circle on May 15, 2010. I visited Columbus, GA, where a lot of my maternal family resides, and spent the entire day with a select few young ladies. We started off our day discussing life in general; coming up with different ways to deal with the pressures of our peers and being ladies in our everyday lives. I shared a few stories about how I was faced with tough decisions and how my choices ultimately changed my life. During that portion, we also assessed the advantages and disadvantages of acting on our first instincts, and we discussed the values of thinking things through before acting. Of course we talked about our educations and how we should plan for the future (education is key!).

The young ladies participated in an exercise I use with all of the students I speak with. I ask the students to write down on the unlined side of an index card where they don't want to see themselves ten years from now before we begin our session, and then as we're closing, they write down on the lined side of the card where they do want to see themselves ten years from now. This allows the students to realize that when you actually write down where you want to be, you can get there even faster, because you've already committed to that goal. It also helps you think about where you don't want to be and ensure that you'll never be there. I make them place their goals on the lined side as this shows them structure; writing down where they don't want to be on the unlined side shows them what can happen when you don't plan and organize accordingly. I really enjoyed this particular session because I felt there was such a need for me to meet those young ladies. If anything, they definitely taught me to always remember that no matter what age you are, problems will find themselves at your feet. However, we have to keep in mind how our decisions today affect our tomorrows.

After our discussion, we had a mini photo shoot (which is always fun for me lol), and then we ventured out for lunch. We also celebrated Miss Jaquana Bales' birthday by bringing her a cake and singing to her in the middle of the restaurant. I definitely plan to visit these young ladies again, and I encourage each and every one of you to mentor someone in your community... you never know whose life you may change!

YouthForce Luncheon

Greetings!

YouthForce is targeted towards Metro Atlanta high school students, and I was asked to share a few words at their Annual Volunteer Appreciation and Student Awards Luncheon on May 11, 2010 at The Commons on Fort McPherson. The top two students from each of the nine schools involved with the organization were recognized during the ceremony for outstanding excellence. I reminded the students to always remain inspired, and to continue towards their paths of greatness. I am so glad I was asked to come out and speak; I feel it is very necessary to award students when they're working hard and excelling in the classroom!

Cobb County Easter Egg Hunt

Hello, everyone! I had the opportunity of hosting Cobb County's Recreational Parks Easter Egg Hunt alongside Miss Cobb County on March 27, 2010 at Jim Miller Park in Marietta, GA. Aside from the egg hunts for different age groups, we conducted a dance contest and fashion show, served as the hostesses for the "Best Easter Basket" and "Best Hat" contests, and had a chance to speak with many patrons about our platforms and our journeys. Despite the cold air and the strong wind, we still had a wonderful time!

Delta GEMS Careers on Wheels

I had a great time speaking with the wonderful young ladies of the Delta GEMS program, hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated on March 13, 2010 at Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School in Decatur, GA. I was invited to speak during their career day program, where I discussed how I decided to pursue law and how I balance school work with all of my activities. The girls rotated throughout the day gaining insight on various careers. I was able to share with them some of my collegiate experiences as well as my personal ones, and we engaged in a discourse about how to choose college majors and finding the right fit when it comes to pursuing an education. The day was fun-filled, and I am honored to be a part of such a wonderful sisterhood that works diligently to enhance the minds of young women across the world!

Floyd Middle School Visit!

Greetings,

On March 8, 2010, I had the pleasure of visiting my middle school in Austell, GA. I went to Floyd Middle School to speak with some very special young women about my journey in life thus far, and how I have used the lessons I learned in those same hallways to help cultivate who I am today. I spoke with young ladies in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade about dealing with peer pressure, handling troubling situations with peers, and applying themselves academically. We had a great time discussing high school and college, and I had a wonderful time visiting with them! I wish all of them luck in their future endeavors!

Many Thanks To My Supporters!!!!!

I am thrilled to represent the state of Georgia as Miss Black Georgia USA 2010 and I look forward to representing the state in the upcoming Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant! I want to thank everyone who has expressed their well wishes and congratulations. I also want to thank everyone who has donated (and everyone planning on donating) to assist me on my journey to Miss Black USA 2010 because I know you are contributing from your heart. You cannot imagine how much I really appreciate what you have done because my endeavors may not be possible without support from my sponsors! Again THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

Recruitment and Retention among African-American Students: Furthering Education

Greetings! On February 3, 2010 I was able to partake in one of the most gratifying experiences of my life! I ventured back to my high school alma mater, South Cobb High School, and spoke with 150 students about my journey in life and how they too can attain all of their goals. We engaged in a discussion, took pictures, and I even shed a few tears! I gave each of the students an index card when they entered the auditorium. I told them to write down where they want to be ten years from now on one side, gave my story, and then asked them to write down where they don't want to be ten years from now on the other side. I collected each of the cards. The students have excellent goals set, ranging from being an entrepreneur to doctors and lawyers (yeah!). Most students said they didn't want to find themselves being complacent or working in a position that wasn't satisfying for them or their families.

I gave out my business cards to the students. I've received emails from them, and have even been given the opportunity to serve as a mentor to one of the students, Brittany Ford! I'm currently assisting one of the students, Vincent Avery, on his journey to Howard University, and I even put one of the students in contact with a friend of mine who is well on her way to being an architect. I hope the students gained something because I learned so much from them. I can't wait to go back and visit them. Always remember... you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so go for it!

Miss Delta Charm and Mr. Crimson and Cream Scholarship Pageant

Greetings, all! I was recently able to be a judge in the Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated's Miss Delta Charm and Mr. Crimson and Cream Pageant held on the historic campus of Clark Atlanta University on January 29, 2010. It was a fun event entitled Sigma Soleil based on Cirque de Soleil. The hosts acted as hosts of a circus, and the contestants had talents spanning dance, song, and spoken word. The contest was filled with a question and answer portion, swimsuit competition, and formal wear portion. It was hard to pick a winner; even I had no clue as to who won the overall pageant. However, two were chosen for their respective titles, and I hope they enjoy their reigns!

Red Dress Glam

Greetings, everyone! I have a couple of the pictures from my Red Dress Photo Shoot to share with you all! I hope you like them! Additionally, you may notice that I am now taking donations to assist me on my journey to Miss Black USA 2010. As we all know, pageants can be expensive, and any amount of your gratitude would be greatly appreciated! You can simply click and submit the amount you'd like to make! Thank you all for your continued support!

Photo Shoot with Tim Rogers

Greetings! I hope you all have been well and blessed, especially when there are so many devastations going on around us. I thought I'd give you all a sneak peek look into the photo shoot I had with Mr. Tim Rogers today. I took headshots and other promotional pictures, but here are some that were captured on my own camera. I'll definitely post the official ones once I get them back! I hope you all enjoy!

We Painted the Town Red in Washington, DC!

Greetings and happy new year to you all! I've missed you all so much, but I've come bearing gifts : ) This past weekend, January 16-18, 2010, I was so fortunate enough to be amongst some beautiful and great women! I attended the Red Dress photo shoot for our partners, the Heart Truth Campaign in Washington, DC! We were able to also model fashions by the designer Jean Marc! I was able to meet wonderful people; state delegates and talented teens ranging from Arizona to Michigan! Aside from our shoot, we were able to have a session with a representative from the Heart Truth Campaign. We had a great time together! And even though the weekend was short, I can already tell that the preliminary week of the pageant will be fun-filled and memorable. I have included a few pictures below from the weekend. The shoot was photographed by celebrity photographer, Beverly Johnson, and Mr. Geoffrey Olisa directed the shoot! I'm excited to see how the final product will turn out.

Now that the new year has begun, my calendar has quickly been filling up! Just today I interviewed with Fort McPherson's newspaper. This week I will be taking headshots with Mr. Tim Rogers. You can view and even purchase pictures from the state pageant that Mr. Rogers took here http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Orderpage.aspx?pi=048X008H000000&po=0&pc=595. Additionally, I will be visiting Lamik Cosmetics on January 22nd to have a makeup session with them. I will be serving as a panelist at Clark Atlanta during the Distinguished Deltas program on January 28th, and on the 29th I will be serving as a judge for the Miss Delta Charm pageant there as well. Most importantly, I will be visiting my high school alma mater, South Cobb High School, on February 3rd, to speak with the juniors and seniors about planning for their futures. Of course, I will post pictures and update you all as these events occur. Thank you all again for supporting me and viewing my site! God Bless!