Habari Gani Vol. 1 No. 2 October 2007

Community Activity

The Lane College parade was a success. The Dragons even finished up the day with a WIN!!!!!!! against Stillman College. Here, we are seen getting ready.Yes, there was a chill in the air. The team spirit is the essence of Character through Culture.

We decorated the vehicle, greeted friends, laughed and got a good lesson in the power of teamwork. Remember the journal Junie B. Jones kept? It was her Top Secret Personal Beeswax Journal. Maybe you could start your own?

We are continuing to define this newsletter as an expression of community activism. A record of events, thoughts, places and people who in some way big or small affect your life.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Community activism is an extension of allegiance to this country, and, thus, the topic of this newsletter is just that. After the Civil War, Frank Bellamy in 1892 wrote this to unite children in the United States which had been previously divided. The result was a verse that inspired a sense of pride about what the country would become and not what it had been.

First Pledge (Before 1954)

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Second Pledge (After 1954)

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

What about being an American makes each of you proud?

Scheduled Events (2007)

Oct 27 '07 (Sat)
Pre-Halloween Trick or Treat. Downtown Business will be giving out treats from 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Look for the business with balloons outside.

Dec (NO exact date set) Beginning of Book Club (We will name it!)

We have begun to prepare for our performance season. We will focus on poems and the play, Birmingham Jail. Performance season begins with Kwanzaa on Dec 26 and ends with a performance at Africa in April in Memphis. We meet on Mondays at the Public Library from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m.



The holiday season is almost upon us. Remember to keep your grades up as this is a critical time in the school year.

Mr. Kanye West

I happen to think that Mr.Kanye West is a talented, gifted, poet. His ability to master wordship is parnone. He is young, youthful and youth-minded. He embodies all that creativity is suppose to be. I salute Mr.Kanye West - Ms. Jendayi

HABARI GANI

Vol. 1 No.1 September 2007


The 18th Annual African Street Festival

The performance was beautiful. The community benefited by the cultural ambassador’s diligence, patience and awareness. Many praises were given to Ms.Jendayi with instructions to relay this positive affirmation to the ambassadors. Know that the City of Jackson is very proud of you.


AfriLiterature

Africa is the land of fables. Aesop, as some writers maintain, was born in Africa during the sixth century B.C. - in Cyrenaica, which was then Greek speaking. Some of his fables are still told in Africa. He himself told fables that he must have heard from Indian travelers, perhaps indirectly from Persian storytellers. In any case, some African fables certainly come from Indian sources, especially some of those heard on the coast of East Africa, which has had trade links with India for many centuries
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.


"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"



"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.

Then the Grasshopper knew...
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

Upcoming Events

(ambassadors are scheduled to attend)

Sept. 24, 2007 (Monday) Short tour of Lane Campus @5:00 p.m.
Mission at Cyber Café (Lane’s Campus near pond). After mission meeting, celebrate Jhnous & Kaleb birthday @ 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 28, 2007 (Friday) at 7:00 p.m. Laurice Lanier in Concert (West Tennessee Native) and Julliard Arts School of New York Graduate. This is one of the best performing arts school in the world. She will perform at
Forest Heights United Methodist Chruch, 863 W. Forest Ave. in Jackson

Oct 18, 2007 (Thursday) JunieB. Jones Performance at Dixie Carter Performance Center in Huntingdon @ 7:00 p.m. Tickets compliments Ms. Jendayi

Oct 20, 2007 (Saturday) Performance in Lane’s College Parade.


BLOG-A-LOG

Hooray! The creation of an AFRIBLOG is underway. The is a way for Us (ambassadors, parents, friends & family) to connect. Each and every one of our lives is busy. The newsletter is available in a more extensive form thru the blog. It’s fun, informative and so very much needed. In the future, you can email me pics, stories …etc, you would like to include. After review of entries, and if it’s pertinent to culture of the group then, it can be included. My email address is tlcjendayit@hotmail.com. The AfriBlog address is http://msjendayi.blogspot.com/



Lifestyle
Eat Foods from the Earth that sustain our bodies and our minds.


Requires Mom or Dad’s help.
Never cook on stove without parental
supervision.

Recipe
Creole Stir Fry
Prep time: 15 minutes (includes cooking)
Yields: 4 servings

2 C whole tiny okra (about ½ pound)
2 C sliced zucchini (3 six inch zucchinis)
2 C corn kernels
2 T oil

Heat oil to sizzling in a wok or cast iron pan.

Toss in okra and stir for a minute or so.
Add zucchini and corn and continue stir frying 3 to 4 more minutes until vegetables are crispy tender.


Book of the Month
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter
by John Steptoe

Online Museum
All pictures were taken by the youth of Mali

Develop a hobby. It just might
be photography.

!A picture is worth a thousand words!

Visual Griots of Mali: An Exhibition

of African Youth Photography
World Financial Center, Courtyard Gallery
220 Vesey Street, NYC
September 6 - November 25, 2007

Movie of the Month

It’s Friday and what movie should the family rent?

A young girl learns to believe in herself and value her intelligence in this critically-acclaimed, family-friendly drama. Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is an 11-year-old being raised by her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett), who was left on her own after the death of her husband. While Akeelah is a very bright she doesn't always believe in herself. Entering a spelling bee changes all of that.

This newsletter is inspired by my
vision of grassroots philanthropy.
Giving as the Universe asks
us as a small payback for all the She
shares. I want to embrace my readers
with patience, understanding and most of
all a true love of Humanity.

Ask the Dancer -Ms. Kharmania Smart



(What about boys interested in dance?)
Boys should dance because it helps them with
other sports. It increases flexibility and allows for
masculine parts in choreography


Genealogy
Remember the project"Where did I get the color of my eyes?"
Continue to talk to relatives about family history. We shall go to Alex Haley's home. He wrote the book Roots which got all of America interested in family history. Mr. Haley was born in New York, but moved to Henning, Tennessee with his father after his mother's death.



Habari Gani will be updated constantly for news upcoming events, birthdays... etc. Comment and let me know what you think. Come back and visit-Ms. Jendayi.

"Building A Community Through Excellence"

Community Events

Community Ambassadors "Are You Ready?"

President Dr. Wesley McClure

Are we excited about Lane College Homecoming Parade? The date of the parade is Oct 20, 2007. This (HBCU) was founded by Bishop Isaac Lane in 1872. As cultural ambassadors (children), we should be proud in celebrating yet another year of all that Lane College continues to be through the vision of Bishop Isaac Lane. Confirmation of participation is needed by Sept. 21, 2007. Costumes must be ordered as I will be out of town for 2 weeks with performances scheduled on the West Coast. We are now ambassadors with a mission.




Since Lane's colors are red & blue, we shall stay with the color theme.


Fees:

• The female ambassadors will wear red leotards with an African print sarong or blue sarong. The male ambassadors will wear red shirts with blue pants. NO JEANS!
  
• A banner will be made (group project) Cost shared


• Minature African flags (Cost $3.50)
  
• Drummer Fee (Cost shared)
  
• Poster board on doors if car available (Cost shared)


• Black, red & green streamers for car
  
• Volunteer needed to drive if car available.

The total fees will be available Monday, Sept 24, 2007.
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Monday Sept. 24, 2007

A short tour of Lane's Campus is scheduled. We will meet in front of the Administration Building at 5:00 p.m. as this is the latest time available This is a real treat for those who have never walked the campus. I know most of us have driven the campus. After the tour, we will celebrate Jhnous and Kaleb's birthday next to the pond @ the picnic table.

Last but not least, we are confirmed to attend the play, Junie B. Jones, at the Dixie Carter Center of Performing Arts in Huntington, Tenn. on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m. Confirmation needed. This event is open to all and tickets are compliments of Ms. Jendayi . It's about getting the theatre experience. http://easylink.patrontechnology.com/patronvideo/theatreworksusa/juniebjones1.rm

"Building a Community Through Excellence"