Actress Jaqueline Fleming: Acting on a Vision

by Cyrus Webb

There is no substitute for hard work and dedication. When you are living in alignment with your divine purpose, there will be continual blessings showered upon you that seem almost beyond belief.

Just ask actress Jaqueline Fleming.

She has been enjoying a year that would be any actor's dream: Not one but THREE movies in theaters already in 2012: Woman Thou Art Loose: On The 7th Day, Contraband and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as well as the pilot of her own sitcom UNDER ONE ROOF being shopped around for a network. Yes, life is pretty good for her right now.

"It's been exciting," Fleming told me during our conversation. "I'm so glad to do what I love, that is to tell the story. It's why I got into the business the first place."

That same feeling has carried into her sitcom as well. She told me that this was an opportunity to give viewers a look at a family dynamic that people literally around the world could relate to.

I believe that what has contributed the most to Jaqueline Fleming's success is her ability to not only pursue her career but use her platform as a way to give others an opportunity. A great example would be the acting studio that she has now opened in New Orleans.

During our conversation she told me that she had come out to New Orleans from L.A. about 4 1/2 years ago for a New Year's Eve party. Something else was in the works, though. "One thing led to another," she explained, "and I saw a vision for a acting studio in the city." She not only saw it, but began putting things in motion to make it a reality. "It was a purpose greater than myself," she says. "This is my way to help other people get into the business." This led her to beginning an entertainment and production company to expose the talent in the southeast region.

The rest as they say is history.

How has she been able to do all that she has accomplished? "It's not really about you," she told me. "I am just taking advantage of the opportunities in front of me. We all have the same amount of time. It's all in what you do with it."

Jaqueline told me that she is just having a great time living life, and that she hopes that something she has been able to do contributes to others being able to see their own potential as well. May that be something all of us strive for!

To stay in contact with Jaqueline subscribe to her feed on Facebook by searching her name "Jaqueline Fleming". You can also follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jaqfleming.

Mary's Motivational Message: ONLY A FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE

Last week while posting on Face Book, I came across the “wisdom” posted below.

“Be careful who you open up to, only a few people actually care. The rest just want to have something to gossip about.”

I was surprised by the number of individuals who responded in agreement.

For the record, I was offended because without doubt, I know that Satan wants the masses to believe that only a “FEW” people care. In fact, it is in His best interest that the world holds this belief. He wants you to feel as though your existence only matters to a FEW, He wants you to internalize that only a FEW are capable of loving you and celebrating the person you are, He wants you to believe that if you departed from this earth today only a FEW would miss you, He wants you to believe that your existence has had no positive impact on the lives of others.

However, that is not GOD’S perspective. It is GOD’S expectation that we love, respect and cherish each other. It is GOD’S expectation that we engage in fellowship. It is GOD’S will that we support and encourage each other. Did you know that we learn our greatest life lessons from each other, while being an example of “His Love”?

If you are currently attracting individuals who are wearing a mask, ask yourself, “Why am I maintaining dysfunction within my life?” Life is just too short for nonsense. It might be in your best interest to start issuing pink slips.

At times it may appear that Satan is in control and that only a FEW care. Every day many take their lives, believing that they didn’t matter and that only a FEW cared about their existence.

Never forget that GOD CARES and the fact that HE does, should comfort your soul. HE is all powerful and has instructed us to be a reflection of HIS love. Trust that your EXISTENCE matters and we must all STRIVE towards surrounding ourselves with individuals who truly love us because so many do.

Also, as you judge others, hold yourself to the same level of expectation. Start by asking yourself today, “Am I being the gossiper or am I showing those within my life that I love them and truly care about their existence.”

I’m thrilled that we are all simply a work in progress.

Love, Peace and continuous Joy, Mary

Mary E. Gilder is the author if the award winning novel, “A Misrepresentation of Myself.” Mary can be contacted at: meg@maryegilder.com or bookclubs.maryegilder@yahoo.com . Also, visit her website at: maryegilder.com

Tony Lindsay Presents... "A Look at Langston Hughes"

There are not many writers whose careers span literary movements. James Mercer Langston Hughes was a writer whose career did span literary movements including the two major African American movements. It can be argued that since Panther and the Lash was published posthumously (1967) he was not a contributor to the Blacks Arts Movement, but it cannot be argued that his influence on the writers of that period was substantial. Langston Hughes’ writing had the theme of Black is Beautiful and Black Pride before the phrases were coined.

                                    

                                    Me and My Mule

My old mule,

He’s gota a grin on his face.

He’s been a mule so long

He’s forgotten about his race.

I’m like that old mule-

Black – and don’t give a damn!

You got to take me

Like I am.

Hughes’ first work, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, was published in The Crisis magazine. He was 19 years old and one of the early contributors to the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes loved being Black and he loved Black people. He took great pride in being part of the Harlem Renaissance and expressed his sadness when the spirit of the period ended.

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raison in the sun?

Or fester like a sore-

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over-

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

The works of Langston Hughes, an African American poet, have and will continue to influence world literature.

Tony Lindsay is an award-winning author and adjunct professor at Chicago State University. His new book ONE DEAD DOCTOR was selected as one of Conversations' 25 Summer Reads of 2012 and is available now on Amazon.com. Tony can be reached at tonylinsay7045@sbcglobal.net or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tony.linssay2. 

Celebrity Jeweler Mark Lash: Living A Life Designed for a Purpose

by Cyrus Webb

Twenty-five years ago Mark Lash was working in his parents' basement making pieces of jewelry for his family and friends. Today he is dressing celebrities all around the world. What happened in between,however, will show us how there is definitely a design for our own lives. All we have to do is embrace it.

Talking with Mark Lash on Conversations LIVE recently I got the impression that he had learned what it meant to live his life on purpose, knowing that he been given something special.

"I started in my teens," he told me. "I have always been great at design. At first it was just my making small pieces for friends and family." Though his parents had plans for him outside of being a designer, Mark knew that those plans would not give him the satisfaction that he wanted out of life. He had to make a choice. "I decided to go with my heart," he explained. "If you have a passion for something you have to go for it. There is no fun in doing something you don't love.

Creating things with his hands fulfilled something for him that nothing else could match. "It was exciting for me," he said. "This is where I see myself being able to make a difference. I saw a niche in the market for my custom work. I kept moving forward, and here I am today. I never looked back."

And why should he? Creations of Mark Lash have been on the red carpet of the Grammys, Oscars, Juno and SAG Awards. Celebrities like Celine Dion, Susan Graham, Sherri E. Shepherd, Cee-Lo Green, Ricky J and Eva La Rue have all been spotted wearing his pieces but it's not just about the celebrities. At his store in Canada he is able to provide a service to his clients that create memories which are sure to last a lifetime. His is not just a name anymore. It's a brand, representing something special. "I have some people who come into the shop just to see if there is a real Mark Lash," he says with a smile. "I like to come out and meet the people and know about them. They are all important to me."

Living a life designed for a purpose, Mark Lash is reminded all the time about the importance of being true to yourself and your gift. "One of the first pieces I designed for a celebrity was for Drake," he told me. It was at a time before Drake was who he is today, but Mark says that it reinforces the value in going with your heart. "Drake did it and look at where it has gotten him," he says.

Mark says the lesson for all of us is to follow your passion. "If you do something daily that you enjoy you're going to be better at it," he says. "If you have a passion and something that you really think is meant for you, then hold on to it. See where it takes you. Believe me: passion and going with your heart is going to make it successful."

Discover more about the Mark Lash collection and the man behind it at www.marklash.com.

Fashion Designer Keny Cohen: Bringing Classic Back

by Sabrina Andrews

Fashion has the ability to not only make you look good but feel good as well. If you think it does wonders for the individual wearing the piece, just imagine what it must feel like for the designer. Keny Cohen knows exactly what that experience is like. This year her clothing line Katriel has been finding its way not just on red carpets but her name is resonating with people in the entertainment industry as well as those individuals who are just looking for something special. Actress Abby Miller, known for roles on AMC's Mad Men and FX's Justified says that Katriel "rocked her world" when she was recently photographed wearing one of Cohen's designs.

"It's really exciting," Cohen recently told talk show host Cyrus Webb during an interview on Conversations LIVE. "I've put in a lot of hard work, and the attention is just confirmation that the hard work is paying off."

Cohen told Webb that she gets a great deal of her inspiration from old Hollywood movies. "I love classic styles and really feminine dresses," she says. "Katriel is about classic styles with a fresher twist."

Just because she has been getting notoriety for her work don't think that means Keny Cohen is just about dressing a celebrity. She told Webb that her designs are for all ladies. "I want to make a woman feel comfortable, confident and glamorous," she says.

The success of Keny Cohen and Katriel would have been lost if she had not realized early on the importance of doing what she believed in, even when it didn't seem like the thing to do. "You just have to stick to what you want to do and believe in it and yourself," says Cohen. "I'm so happy that people understand my vision and like it." She also credits having the support of her family and friends along the journey.

During the interview Webb asked Cohen about the next generation of designers that are coming up after her and what advice she would offer to them. "There is so much competition out there," she admitted. "You have to have a vision and stick with it. Don't let people who are telling you no affect you.

"It's a lot of hard work. You can't back down at all. Keep going with what you want to do, sticking with it no matter what. You can't give up, because you're not going to be happy if you do."

At the end of the day Keny Cohen says that she just loves fashion and making people feel beautiful. She also told Webb that "the dress allows the woman who's wearing it to show through." In the process, Cohen is allowing who she is as an individual to show through as well: Classy, sophisticated and willing to take risks, she is exemplifying what it takes to make it in any profession.

For more information about Katriel and its creator visit www.katrieldesigns.com. You can also find Katriel on Facebook and Twitter.

Recording Artist Zeek: Fulfilling His Destiny Through Music

by Cyrus Webb

We all know what it's like to work hard for something that we want, only to find that it's not coming to us the way we want or when we want. That is when we have to make a choice: Are we going to give up or keep pushing forward? For recording artist Zeek, the answer is a simple one. Failure is not an option.

When I spoke with the 21 year old recently on Conversations LIVE it was really amazing to see how he has been able to not just cultivate his gift for music but how the world was now able to experience it with him. Raised in a home where his mother taught him vocally and his father introduced him to instruments, Zeek wrote his first love song at the age of eleven. "It was at that point that I started thinking I would really love to do this," he told me.

Since then he has been not just honing his skills but understanding what he calls his "divine connection." With a new single out (CAN'T STOP FALLING FOR YOU) as well as a new album, it seems as though all that he has worked for is paying off. "It's somewhat surreal for me," he confessed. "When people tell me that a song I wrote helped them or that they've been through something I wrote about before, it been so confirming and pushes me to even go harder in what I do."

Part of what has helped Zeek in reaching his goals and appreciating the moments of achievement is how he looks at the timeline of his journey. Instead of looking at things as a "No", he told me that he prefers to consider it as "Not right now." That slight change in perspective has served him well, and he is sharing that mindset with those that he meets.

"You have to keep pushing," he says. "You know what your purpose is. You know that there isn't anything else you would rather do, so quitting isn't an option. That has been what has kept me going." Zeek also credits his professional support system for being there along the way. "You need someone who can keep you focused on the bigger picture," he says. His team along with his family have definitely been what he has needed as he moves forward into his destiny.

In talking about destiny, Zeek shared some great advice for all of us. "I truly believe everything is about timing. If your gift has been given to you, then it's your destiny. Because it's your destiny it has to happen because it has to be fulfilled before you leave the earth." I think if we could think of our gifts that way it would keep us looking ahead and not worrying about what has happened and what hasn't happened to us so far.

Knowing how hard he has worked to get to where he is now, Zeek goes out of his way to express that love back to his fans. He is able to do this not just at public events but on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well. "I love everyone who supports me," he says. When talking about reaching out to his fans online he adds this: "It's actually like I'm having that one-on-one conversation with them. I don't take it for granted."

His encouragement for anyone with a dream or going through something? "Everyone is the same. The main thing is that we all experience life. Hold on to the fact that someone has gotten through what you are going through right now. That should give you the strength to keep going."

CAN'T STOP FALLING FOR YOU is available now. Find out more information about Zeek and his album and upcoming events at www.zeekonline.com.

New Issue of Conversations Features Kenny Lattimore, Towanda Braxton, More

Conversations Media Group is pleased to announce that the new issue of Conversations Magazine is available and features individuals who are showcasing their talents and sharing valuable tips on a successful life.

"It's exciting to be able to share these amazing stories," says Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief of Conversations Magazine. "Each individual has something to share that I believe will not only inspire us in our own lives but showcase what is possible for all of us."

The August/September issue features interviews with recording artists Kenny Lattimore, Zeek, Camero (BET's Reed Between The Lines) and Towanda Braxton (Braxton Family Values), actors Jacqueline Fleming (Contraband and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Leif Gantvoort (Desperate Housewives and The Amazing Spiderman) and more.

The issue can be purchased now for $6.99, shipping included at www.conversationsmag.com or at the button below.