by Fred Willis | Mar 7, 2018 | Books & Magazines, Finance, Parenting & Kids
5-YEAR OLD FREDERICKSBURG NATIVE TO RELEASE EXCITING, NEW BOOK ON INVESTING, SAVING MONEY AND PURCHASING HER FIRST INVESTMENT PROPERTY
Author Kennedy O’Neal of Faith Baptist School will celebrate the release of her new book, “The Adventures of Super Kennedy: Saving and Investing” at Central Park Funland on March 17th
Kennedy O’Neal may only be 5-years old, but this kindergartener already understands the importance of saving money at a young age. Her fascination with money actually started while she was still in diapers. As a toddler, she began stashing money away in her piggy bank and would always on the prowl for loose change in the couch or car to add to her collection.
“These days, I’ve revved up my chores around the house in hopes of earning even more money,” stated Kennedy.
According to a 2017 GOBankingRates survey, nearly 60 percent of American adults have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts. Almost 40 percent have no savings at all. For Kennedy’s father, Chris O’Neal, a real estate investor, the earlier you start saving, the more prepared you’ll be for a rainy day. This is the very message he’s instilled in his daughter.
“When kids save early, it sets them up for their future. The burden will be much lighter when it is time to pay for ever rising college tuition. The goal with saving is to keep kids out of their parents’ wallet,” stated Chris. “The earlier you start saving, the more prepared you’ll be for emergencies and the future.”
Kennedy is already working hard on her financial security. While she may not be old enough for a full-time job, she earns money from various tasks around the house, birthdays and special occasions. While she saves some of it, she also invests a portion of her earnings in low-cost rental properties.
“Investing in real estate allows her to bring in residual income without working overly hard for it,” stated Chris.
Kennedy along with her father are now on a mission to help other kids learn tips for saving money and investing in their new book titled The Adventures of Super Kennedy: Saving and Investing. The book, which is geared toward 5- to 12- year olds, stars Kennedy who morphs into a financial superhero of sorts. As “Super Kennedy,” she teaches kids creative ways to save and earn money on their own. In the book, once she has enough money saved up, with her parents help, she buys and undesirable house to fix up and collect rent.
“I’m super excited about my book,” stated Kennedy. “I want other kids to know that saving is easy, and it can really be fun. All you need is discipline and a goal, and you can do it, too.”
To celebrate the book’s release, Kennedy and her father will take part in a launch party at Central Park Funland at 1351 Central Park Blvd. in Fredericksburg from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 17th. The event is FREE for kids and adults and will feature fun games along with music by DJ Master Hurrikane. Both Kennedy and her father, Chris, will both be on hand to sign copies of their new book.
“We are very excited about the event. All of Kennedy’s ideas are coming to life,” stated Chris. “I know this book can help out families, especially, when the economy is tight right now. Team work makes the dream work.”
The Adventures of Super Kennedy: Saving and Investing is available for purchase on Amazon. To learn more about Kennedy and her new book, visit www.superkennedy.com.
About Kennedy O’Neal:
Kennedy O’Neal is on a mission to help other kids learn the value of saving money. She knows that it’s the key to building a more stable, secure future. She loves kids her age but gets concerned when she meets other children who do not know that they should be saving their money. When she’s not busy adding money to her piggy bank, she enjoys taking part in gymnastics. Her goals are to eventually be on Steve Harvey’s Little Big Shots or as a guest on The Ellen Show.
by Fred Willis | Nov 9, 2017 | Jazz, Music News, Television
AFTER NEW JAZZ SITCOM GOES LIVE, WHITE COLLEGE STUDENTS RANT SAYING “JAZZ WAS SAVED BY WHITE PEOPLE” AND “BLACK PEOPLE DON’T LISTEN TO IT ANYMORE”
A controversy arose on social media following a recent BlackNews.com story entitled, “Giant Steps TV Show — America’s First Jazz Sitcom Launches on Amazon” which was published on October, 31, 2017. Apparently, three white students at The New School School in New York posted that the show “sucked” and was “bad for jazz”, “not remotely funny or interesting”, and then followed with a claim that “whites saved jazz because Black people don’t listen to it anymore” and that “whites have evolved the music to be more intellectually engaging”. They further offered anecdotal proof claiming that booking agents nationwide hire more white artists than black artists.
This happened on the same day that Grammy award-winning iconic drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts had given the show 5 Stars on Amazon, where the bulk of comments surrounding the show applaud it as funny, entertaining, historic, and a first step in addressing the plight of jazz within the sitcom format, utilizing three top Black musicians as the principal actors.
Several musicians excoriated the students’ assertions, including William Murray, an celebrated original member of the famed Howard University Jazz Ensemble, legendary bassist Mickey Bass, who stars in the show, and Dr. Geraldine Seay a Florida A&M history professor and owner of B Sharp’s Jazz Club in Tallahassee, Florida.
Former Duke Ellington Orchestra alum Gregory Charles Royal, who created, wrote, and co-stars in Giant Steps with Mickey Bass and Lauryn Hill saxophonist Brent Birckhead said, “These comments open up a simmering wound that has been on the surface for decades. Jazz in no way knows color, but in every way it knows tradition. Many Black musicians feel that the ill effects of academia have created a class of people who have no idea about jazz’s traditions, nuances, humor or historical context.”
He continues, “We never expected people such as this to ‘get it’ with our show. And obviously the show will improve its production quality as we move out of the pilot. But the bigger issue is do we as Americans want our artforms co-opted by people who have no sense or desire to respect or understand tradition or context? That jazz is the only Black artform that has been co-opted to this extent, Giant Steps and other future shows depicting the jazz experience in creative ways are an obligation of its warriors to produce.”
To View Facebook Posts:
www.facebook.com/giantstepstv/
Watch Giant Steps Free on Amazon Prime:
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075SSRVPM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1
Related:
America’s First Jazz Sitcom Launches on Amazon
Source:
BlackNews.com
by Fred Willis | Oct 31, 2017 | Jazz
Giant Steps, a new sitcom starring three very accomplished Black jazz musicians, has just been released on Amazon Prime.
Dubbed “America’s First Jazz Sitcom,” Giant Steps, which is shot in Harlem, is an old-school comedy in the spirit of Sanford and Son and stars legendary bassist Mickey Bass, Duke Ellington Orchestra alum and creator Gregory Charles Royal, and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s saxophonist Brent Birckhead. 
“In the tradition of Black creativity, where we always find a way to express ourselves in fresh ways, the sitcom format allows us to hit America with jazz in a brand new flavor,” says Royal.
Giant Steps centers around three older guys: Mickey, the legendary bassist, his longtime student Chuckie, and Mickey’s best friend and manager Manny, who share a Harlem apartment where, as the tagline states, “Every day is a rollercoaster”. Their arch rival is a young braggadocious sax player named Brent, who thinks the old cats need to step aside and let some new blood into the game.
The unique nature of the show allows the main actors to actually perform, something that has never been attempted in modern television and a tradition lost from the early movies of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and others.
The aspect of the musician-actors is not a coincidence, as it is the primary mission of its creator Gregory Charles Royal, who has championed the concept with his organizations New York Jazz Film Festival and American Youth Symphony. “Just like Def Comedy Jam did with comedians, jazz musicians need to also adapt and branch out into the current mediums of the 21st century,” says Royal.
The first season is a 3-part episodic titled ‘April Fools Jazz’ and can be viewed free with an Amazon Prime membership. Royal hopes that an African American outlet such as a Bounce or a BET will see the value in the programming to produce season two.
Watch Giant Steps – Season One here:
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075SSRVPM/
Visit the show’s official web site at www.GiantStepsTV.com or follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/GiantStepsTV) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/giantstepstv)
Starring:
Mickey Bass
Paul Tafoya as Manny
Gregory Charles Royal
Brent Birckhead
Zari Veres Royal
Marist Veres Royal
Guest Stars:
Meilin Gray
Greer C. Morrison
Scott Seidman
Seth White
Source:
BlackNews.com
by Fred Willis | Aug 15, 2016 | Lifestyle
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCjE5RKhBKU[/embedyt]
Lydia Elle’s book reached #1 best seller status in the Christian faith category for books and #1 in 3 Kindle categories (faith, prayer books, and spirituality). It also hit #1 on four hot new release lists, in addition to appearing on the Movers and Shakers list as one of the top selling books.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx5_GhA2Mi4[/embedyt]
Facing the worst dark season and losing family, friends, and finances, Elle found herself in the middle of the perfect storm. Realizing help could only come from God, this fueled a time of much needed introspection and redirection of faith. As the situation grew worse, the discovery that faith could increase within appeared, overshadowing the outside fear of circumstances. Elle saw that God was using this period of introspection to wash away all that was hindering forward movement toward true purpose. Rediscovering the power of prayer, Elle found hope in the consistent daily conversations with Him, receiving strength and all that was needed to emerge a stronger person.
“I can’t tell you the first time I did a season of prayer. I have always known how important it is, but the power of prayer seemed fleeting in my life. That was probably a direct correlation to my faith in its power. I have been guilty of using God as a genie—of coming to Him asking for gifts and making requests as a last resort after I had done (or more often not done) all I was supposed to,” Elle explains.
And So I Prayed provides practical life lessons through Elle’s personal conversations with God. While revealing many moments of laughter and tears, ultimately the key purpose of the book is to provide a different view of difficulties and storms by finding the lessons hidden in the midst of the storm.
When asked why she wrote the book, Elle responds “I wanted to help every hurting heart that asks ‘why me,’ and only finds hope in the anticipated end of the trial. I want people to know you can find so much more in the trial while searching for the lessons being taught. We can and should go to God with honest prayers rather than the ones we think He wants to hear. My storm washed away this pretense. It was definitely needed. God knew that.
I can’t say that I would have wanted Him to wash away all that I had claimed to be and pretended to become, but God does what’s right for us even when we don’t know that it’s right ourselves. Though I did not like the rain at all, I know now that I needed it. I needed it to be where I am today—a climber of mountains, not an observer of them.”
And So I Prayed: The First 40 Days is a candid, transparent and witty book that reveals how to appreciate all that God is trying to teach us, even in times of trial and testing. It is available on Amazon.com now.
Who Is Lydia Elle?
With a BA in Mathematics and Music, an MBA and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Lydia Elle is a multifaceted author who has found success in a variety of career paths including acclaim as an international vocalist. Elle is an award winning member of Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ, a non-profit organization that trains and provides a platform for aspiring talent to present their skills before top entertainment industry executives. Elle has garnered the attention of many within the acting and music industry.
While continually expanding and leveraging her influence to inspire, motivate, and encourage people to achieve their purpose, Elle has a passion for a number of topics including women’s education rights, anti-trafficking, and mentoring youth as they prepare and matriculate through college.
Elle’s debut extended play recording (EP), I Prayed, was released in July 2015 and is currently available on all digital music outlets. This compilation, produced by Grammy-nominated, award winning producer, Erik ‘Blu2th’ Griggs, speaks in melody what the book presents through word. It is available on iTunes here.
To learn more about Elle’s products and music, visit www.LydieElle.com.
Kennedy O’Neal may only be 5-years old, but this kindergartener already understands the importance of saving money at a young age. Her fascination with money actually started while she was still in diapers. As a toddler, she began stashing money away in her piggy bank and would always on the prowl for loose change in the couch or car to add to her collection.
