Well it has taken a few years for me to get in the holiday spirit again.

This year I was determined to begin with a NEW ATTITUDE of positive expectancy.  It has really paid off!  I am so enjoying this time with my munchkins and hubby.  The past three Christmas seasons were kind of bleak.  Mommy passed away on November 30, 2005.  Not much to be merry about THAT year.  The next Christmas was kind of tough too.  We gathered at my big brother's house and tried to fill her void.  It was challenging but we embraced our core family with love.  It brings a smile and single tear to my eyes as I reflect on that magical year of 2006.  Didn't have too much to celebrate in 2007 because my big brother suddenly passed away June 30, 2007.  So it was truly tough last year to bring in much holiday cheer for my munchkins.  I went through the basic motions but JUST WAS NOT FEELING MERRY. 

It feels so good to be able to reflect but move forward. To miss those who have passed away but to appreciate the embrace of those who are still in your arms.  I love my family.  I love this feeling of contentment.  I pray that this holiday is memorable and an anchor for whatever lies in the future.

WE CAN DO THIS!

Happy Holidays from our home to yours!

another Thanksgiving Holiday is knocking on the door.  What a wonderful season to reflect on God's generous blessings and begin cleaning the plate for a fresh and abundant dish of blessings for the NEW YEAR?



We have been in such a reflective mode this past year that it now feels like a grand finale of sorts.  My 6 year old came home from school with a class project due on December 1.  She is to create a timeline of her life to date.  We started on it last night and had a good time.  She listed year by year begininning with her birth on September 9, 2002 all of her favorite and meaningful memories.  I typed them into a spreadsheet so we can sort them in order of occurences.  Then I cut them out for her to arrange on her posterboard.  I asked her to look at her stickers and tools and think of which one reminds her of the event.  She would pick up the word "Love"and place it by the words "2005-My grandma Vernelle died on November 30" Very touching exercise and most impactful from the eyes of a small child.  So I was inspired to do the same with all of my boxes and boxes and boxes of "unalbumed" and wildly loose photos and keepsakes.  By the NEW YEAR, I plan to continue organizing these blessing reminders and putting them neatly in albums for others to enjoy for the Christmas Holiday and 2009 family gatherings. 



At this time we are also making big plans for HBCU kidz, Inc.   We have set a lofty goal of trying to positively inspire the lives and uplift 200,000 children. 



Year to date...what should we do?  How can we find these children who desreve our loving gift products and educational resources?

SOMEONE DECIDED U NEEDED TO BE RICH AND FAMOUS

 

Someone decided that to mimic the rich and famous would cause U to be well loved and accepted by others.

 

U could walk out of your home and instantly people would see your labels or recognize your designer and BAM! Instant love.

 

What if people could reverse their thinking for our most vulnerable babies?

 

I recall seeing young boys with their pants hanging off their butts.

 

No celebrity was promoting this but why did it take off?

 

No parents were promoting this either. There were no school administrators endorsing this fashion forward statement that I know of in this country. So why did it stick and spread universally?

 

I fundamentally believe it is that basic human desire of acceptance by others.

 

Personally, I really only crave this from my immediate family members.

 

I ponder the thought. What if HBCU kidz, Inc. could creatively provide a polar opposite from established brands? What if people could choose individual self-determination and build from a solid platform provided by family and the HBCU village vs. the streets and big business?

 

What if kids could grow up and be able to aspire to be SMART vs. COOL?

 

Perhaps a day will arise where some people can boldly declare themselves filled with a life purpose, a deeper meaning that is driven by serving an awesome GOD vs. driven by serving an existence based on man made status.

 

So much money, talent and energy exerted on pumping out messages of illusion and false self worth.

 

Imagine if people could see a logo and it reminds them to elevate and celebrate education. Perhaps a logo that triggers a sense of URGENCY to teach out of love the baby right there in front of your eyes. A simple message, "Education is important GEAR for LIFE." Something that smartens and uplifts a generation known and depended upon for being FOLLOWERS to finally be nudged into LEADERSHIP.

 

Everyone can't handle being in charge of their own thinking and decision making. But more should and could.

 

I will try to instill these thoughts and ideas into my offspring so they can pass the lessons on to the next generation.

 

Everyone is NOT dumb.

 

WE all have different GIFTS.

 

Most of us don't PROACTIVELY explore what these gifts CAN DO to build a better world.

 

What if our children are raised to use them from birth?

 

Someone decided that to mimic the rich and famous would cause U to be well loved and accepted by others.

 

When will U decide to be U, love U and accept U for the gifted and talented soul U were born to be?

HBCUkidz.com

Education!  Important GEAR for LIFE.

Focus on Achievement-#12 of 12 in a Series of Discussions

 

By Joan E. Gosier, CEO of HBCU kidz, Inc.

 

Definition of GAP [a problem caused by some disparity] Pronunciation: \gap\ Function: noun Science +Math +Artifacts of Culture +Reading +Test Taking Tips=Gap Closure

 

This article marks an important milestone in our 12 part series in communicating a message to our audience “WE CAN CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR OUR MUNCHKINS AT HOME”.

 

So now our families are faced with preparing for an interesting holiday shopping season huh?  Why not try something new and different in a new and different economy?

 

With the increased pressure from the financial bail out, it has been predicted that most Americans will be changing their spending habits on everything from education to healthcare needs.   However the experts are all banking on one group to remain steadfast in its spending habits despite the crumbling economy!  The Black woman.  Why?

 

According to the research there is a 20% gap in the likelihood of a family deciding to buy "private label and generic brands" if it suddenly found itself with less money between black families and white families

 

“According to a new study by ING, as much as 68 percent of Black women say they buy what they want in a good or bad economy.. A staggering 41 percent say they feel guilty about how much they spend on expensive brands.”

 

"Many were not taught good financial habits," says Henry. "The African-American community spends more than any other ethnic group." For many Blacks, budgeting is either not a high priority or is not done correctly.  Among those surveyed, 72 percent of Black women said they strongly agreed with the statement "I wish I had learned more about money and investing growing up."

 

A study asked 1,000 professional Black women and 454 non-Black professional women about their spending habits.  It found that 40 percent of Black women shop to cheer up and that Black women are also more likely to shop impulsively.

 

The experts say that although it is “unclear whether recent Wall Street events will curb spending habits for Black women, especially as some 85,000+ face unemployment.

But if there is a change, according to some analysts, it won't be from an expensive brand to a generic brand--it will be from an expensive brand to nothing at all.”

 

According to a recent P&G survey, among Black women, 77 percent are "concerned" about how they're portrayed in media, and 71 percent feel they are portrayed "worse" than other racial groups and 69 percent say such images negatively influence teens.

 

So I boldly ask the question why can’t this year our black women and our men prepare to invest in our families versus being tracked and mocked by consumer analysts for our wasteful spending habits?  Why can’t this be THE year that we invest in products and companies that are working to uplift, inspire and support our black children in image and self-esteem?

 

According to a 2006 Yankelovich MONITOR Multicultural Marketing Study  there was a 24% gap in the belief that "My roots and heritage are more important to me today than they were just five years ago" between blacks and whites.  I often wonder what is driving that gap.  Like is that gap driven by our historical ties to family reunions or is it a renewed interest like the one I personally experienced from watching the Hurricane Katrina fiasco?

 

This same study noted that there was a 37% gap in the belief that they "make great effort to become more connected with my heritage” between blacks and whites.  Personally, I know for a fact that I did not truly appreciate how little I knew about much of my own family roots until I proactively started asking questions and creating a scrap book for my munchkins in the fall of 2005.  A complete change to my life sparked by Hurricane Katrina and later with Hurricane Wilma.  Our family decided to DO something about this problem in our community.  We formed a company that seeks to inspire and celebrate the beauty of the black child and uplifts the black family surrounding the child.

 

According to the financial experts, “Between 2001 and 2055, African Americans will transfer $1.1 trillion--$3.4 trillion of their wealth to offspring; Black women are expected to be the gatekeepers of this wealth transference.” 

 

But did U know that there will be 200 Black-female college graduates for every 100 Black-male graduates by 2010?  The number of master's degrees conferred to Black women increased 149.5 percent between 1991 and 2001.  This all comes down to the fact that Black women reportedly have the highest labor-force-participation rate among women in 2004 at 61.5 percent, versus 58.9 percent for whites!

 

Our gift giving to our children can act as a catalyst for change and improvement this 2008  holiday season!

 

Follow my logic.  There was a 15% gap in percent of first-time kindergartners whose teachers reported that the students pay attention "often" or "very often," between black children and white children (source: Status US Department of Education NCES Status and Trends in the Education of Blacks pg. 47).  If our children are not paying as much attention in kindergarten…what will happen by college?  Are they even thinking about college at such a young age?  The ones in my extended family do!  They already see the connection to learning each day in school to answering the questions of “How do things really work in life”?  “What do I need to know to be a pilot?” “What do I need to know to be President of the United States?” or my favorite, “Mommy, what is the highest number I have to add to be a doctor?”

 

Well isn’t it coincidental that, according to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey there is a 13% gap in adults with at least a bachelors degree between blacks and whites?

 

So it seems that there MAY be a correlation between inspiring an interest in learning new things at any early age and having increased future opportunities!

 

Now I guarantee that if U actually try some of our gift products, U will find that they actually work to inspire a different mindset in our future leaders, dreamers and achievers.  We truly believe that we are investing in our future through our little gifts of love.

 

This fall, why not review in your home what are the differences between “name brand” vs. generic brands in ALL products purchased?  U may be surprised to see how some things ARE truly unique and one of a kind and others are just a decorated box.

 

Self-confidence and perceptions of value are such important gifts to give our children.  Ask a child what things have impacted him or her being able to enjoy learning so far this year.  For example,  “What have U learned so far this year that U did not know already?”  Listen carefully to the response.  It may reveal that he or she is NOT engaged in the learning process or is not able to communicate what he or she is being exposed to in school.

 

Take time to hear what specific information God has placed in your heart to teach a child.  My mom always used to say “Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom.  Get understanding!”

 

Really explore just how much your child feels that spending more for a brand name is critical to fit in with his or her peers and what value is that going to bring to his or her life in the long term?  Is it a quick fix or is it perhaps a mask for deeper esteem issues?

 

Look at how others who are consistently around your child feel about the above ideas and options.  Explore if these behaviors are ones that should continue or is it best that they be broken and healed in a tight economy?   

 

When U look at different branded products from companies why not choose the ones that provide school rebates, savings bonds, coupons, rewards, special programs, gift products or other incentives that encourage success for the children in the community?  Does the company give back to YOUR child?  Why or why not?

 

Doesn’t it make good sense in this tight economy to seek out and support businesses that offer programs/products/services/initiatives that positively promote black children and their achievement?

 

 

Visit sites such as www.BlackParentConnect.com and share an email to  2-10 friends on  why they should join and frequently shop for their children’s gifts this fall.  Spread the word if U previously had a good experience with a business.

 

This series is intended to be a work in progress. What I am doing as an individual, and what others are doing as well. Together we can learn some new things and reinforce some things we already knew. What do you think? Can we work together?

 

The Achiever in Training(TM) and S.M.A.R.T curriculum are exclusive copywritten and proprietary programs developed by HBCU kidz, Inc.

 

For more statistics about this problem, please visit www.achieversintraining.com and click on "Resources." To comment on this article, visit the HBCU kidz blog. To communicate with other concerned Black parents, please go to www.blackparentconnect.com . For more information about the program or the limited edition gift collection visit www.AchieversinTraining.com. The site contains information and ideas to proactively promote positive images for African American children and their families.

 

Contact Joan Gosier at 1-888-HBCU-kid. CONTACT: HBCU kidz, Inc. 954-302-4540 JoanGosier@HBCUkidz.com

Focus on Achievement-#11 in a Series of Discussions

 

By Joan E. Gosier, CEO of HBCU kidz, Inc.

 

Definition of GAP [a problem caused by some disparity] Pronunciation: \gap\ Function: noun Science +Math +Artifacts of Culture +Reading +Test Taking Tips=Gap Closure

 

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-18

 

Why would there be a 26% gap in unemployment between blacks who completed college vs. blacks who did not finish high school?

 

Source: US Department of Education NCES Status and Trends in the Education of Blacks pg. 114

 

Every now and then, I like to reflect upon my career life prior to marriage and motherhood. I used to put in extremely long hours everyday and even had to go into the office to catch up on many weekends. One Christmas, I recall flying to Baltimore to visit my mom, lugging an extra suitcase full of files and documents, and trying to take advantage of having a few weeks to get a head start on the New Year for my employer. My mom was shocked! She asked, "Why would U bring work home to do over your vacation break?" It was funny to try to explain that I had so much work to do that this was a perfect time to get organized and prepare for being ahead of the game when I returned to work. She thought I was a workaholic. However, there are simply some things one must do to get what U want in life. Sometimes it seemed to be hard for my mom and others to equate the amount of work that I had to put into my job to the lucrative paycheck that was deposited into my account each month. The funny thing was that at home I was taught the need to work.  It was in the real world that I learned that anything worth having does not come easy, and if it is easy than it rarely pays a lot of money.  I believe it comes down to choices.

 

 Today, as I think about what I want to teach my children about the correlation to work, life and happiness, I want to make it simple enough for a 4 year old to comprehend. One day, last year, I visited my daughter's kindergarten classroom. The substitute teacher allowed me to have about 30 minutes of circle time with the munchkins. We talked about the importance of coming to school prepared to learn and how it relates to being happy in life as a grown up. I asked the kids if they knew people who were walking around "grumpy, mean and bitter"? We all made faces to display these emotions. I asked them have they seen grown ups who were caring, smiling and encouraging?

 

 

We role played this as well. I asked them, "How would U like to feel when U are a grown up? Like this or like that?" As I reiterated the expressions they rewarded me with hearty laughter and engagement. Of course no one wanted to be the grumpy troll. So I asked them, "Why do U think people grow up to be grumpy? Do U think they wanted to be that when they grew up?" One kid volunteered that the grumpy people in his life don't work and complain all day at home. Another one shared how her sister flunked out of school and is grumpy all of the time. My daughter and some of the other kids had expressions on their faces like, "Wow! Glad nobody is that grumpy in my house!" So I went on to explain that sometimes when people are unhappy about the choices they have made it is hard to be happy and to cheer someone else on to be great. So you may feel stuck. So we talked about how it feels to be stuck in quick sand and can't get out. I explained to them that school is an opportunity to have a rescue squad to keep them from ever getting stuck. "U are given new tools, make new friends and given a safe place to think and to make smart choices that will help U find your way towards your deserved happiness. Your school work will prepare you to one day be able to achieve all of your dreams if U are willing to work hard and stay out of trouble." We went on to further discuss the issues surrounding staying out of trouble which in their classroom meant to "Stay on GREEN and stay off of BLUE".

 

Basically, they have a behavior thermometer that basically goes from green, to yellow, to red down to blue. Blue means the child is going to be sent to the principal's office. I shared my personal thoughts that one should never be on anything BUT GREEN. The munchkins quickly disagreed. They offered reason after reason how and why yellow was o.k. too. There were two little boys who had BLUE several times already. I asked them a few questions about what it was like, did they enjoy it, was it fun, did they feel happy when they went, etc. Well, one shocked his classmates by explaining how he did not enjoy it all. They all practically gasped because he got a very serious and sad look on his face. It seems that they all figured he had a ball when he would be sent packing out of the room. I explored this revelation with the group. "What types of things do U get when U are good? What are your favorite things that you like to do and have?" They all perked up again and began sharing all of the wonderful toys and dolls that they loved to play with and dress up. So I asked, "How do U feel when these things are taken from U or U are told that U will not get anymore?" They all shared their sad feelings of having time-out or restrictions from various fun activities. So I probed again, "OKAY. GREAT! So why would U strive to do something that does not bring U joy? Why would you make a point of NOT DOING what U need to do to make yourself happy?" They all looked up at me with wide-eyes and then one shyly admitted, "I don't know." Another more outspoken one said, "Sometimes it FEELS GOOD to do BAD THINGS!" Well, I later learned that that is a catchy phrase from one of today's modern cartoons.

 

However, overall, we as a group concluded that if GREEN is the best reward that gets the MOST CHOICES why would U not strive for the choice that makes U happy vs. sad?

 

I actually began asking my munchkins what they wanted to be when they grew up when they were two years old obviously not expecting nor requiring a response from my cooing bundle of joy but just planting the seeds of self-expoloration and marveling at the gigantic world being their oysters. As I did more and more research and really started to learn more about their unique temperaments and God given gifts, eventually they began to babble back to me somewhat coherent yet consistent responses! For example, yesterday was my oldest daughter's 6th birthday. When we asked what she wanted for her big day. She immediately asked for a Doctor kit because she thinks right now she wants to be a doctor, scientist, teacher and life guard. "So a Doctor kit would be the perfect gift!" she proudly explained to me. We spread the word to family and in the mail the other day comes a wonderful "OPERATION SURGEON" game from her Auntie. Daddy and I obliged to honor her special request for a brown pediatrician Barbie and a Doctor kit that specifically had a stethoscope. My youngest was thrilled to wrap and later present these gifts because she knows how much her big sister truly wants to be a doctor. She, on the other had, proudly declares her desire to be a pilot, then an astronaut and then a life guard. So we must find her a rocket ship by December or a pink airplane she insists!

 

It can become really hard to find your passion once U hit the real world. That is why I always try to encourage my high school students when I am substituting to CHALLENGE THEMSELVES to find their inner voice that will guide them to what makes them happy, excited and thrilled to be alive each day. As a past career consultant, I used to give my clients a standard checklist of things to do such as the following:

 

1) Determine a list of past jobs or assignments that satisfied multiple needs (income/purpose/enjoyment)

 

2) Compare the potential opportunities to select a career path that leads to stability and success especially for long term needs of the children in the home

 

3) Seek out career counselors/job specialists that can assist in developing a 5-10 year career plan of action. Almost every town and city has a WORKFORCE center that provides FREE assistance.

 

4) Visit career sites such as http://www.jobseekersadvice.com/

 

5) Determine 2-3 reasons why permanent unemployment or underemployment in the family is unacceptable.

 

Just as my kindergarten munchkins prayerfully learned last year, these reasons will become worth striving for each day. Hard work, persistence and focus will make it well worth the effort in the end. Our munchkins deserve the best academic preparation, and they REALLY need us to give them the best opportunities during our productive years as well. We can do this!

 

This series is intended to be a work in progress. What I am doing as an individual, and what others are doing as well. Together we can learn some new things and reinforce some things we already knew. What do you think? Can we work together?

 

The Achiever in Training(TM) and S.M.A.R.T curriculum are exclusive copywritten and proprietary programs developed by HBCU kidz, Inc.

 

For more statistics about this problem, please visit www.achieversintraining.com and click on "Resources." To comment on this article, visit the HBCU kidz blog. To communicate with other concerned Black parents, please go to www.blackparentconnect.com . For more information about the program or the limited edition gift collection visit www.AchieversinTraining.com. The site contains information and ideas to proactively promote positive images for African American children and their families.

 

Contact Joan Gosier at 1-888-HBCU-kid. CONTACT: HBCU kidz, Inc. 954-302-4540 JoanGosier@HBCUkidz.com