Faith in the Bay - June Issue (2009)

www.faithinthebay.com faith in the bay | JUne 2009 \\

June 2009

FAITH THEBAYin

Positive male role model creed diallo shabazz

Visit us online: faithinthebay.com

mission work inJohannesburgrev. theoPhous reagans, esq.

happy father’s

day!

not another hot summer lady cherise mcbride

are we on our way to economic

recovery?deborah matthews

// faith in the bay | JUne 2009 Lifestyle Digest for the Bay Area’s Urban Faith Community

In this Issue: JUNE 2009

Positive Male Role Model » Creed: You are a force of nature!

Not Another Hot Summer: » All of us have the power to influence the young people around us.

Calendar of Events »

Are We on the Road to » Economic Recovery? Watch for the tangible factors of recovery

Health Tip: Plateaus - » Our bodies are very resistant to change. It takes a new stimulus...

What is Health and Social » Equity and Why is it Important? While overall health has improved, serious health inequities persist.

Mission Work in Johannesburg: » Personal reflection of faith and commitment.

Faith in the Bay is a lifestyle digest for the Bay Area’s urban faith community.

MAiling Address Faith in the Bay®

PO Box 2633, Berkeley, CA 94702 Phone & Fax: (877) FAiTH-08

[email protected] Twitter: @faithinthebay

Faith in the Bay® is published monthly. © 2009 All rights reserved. no part of

this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Faith in the Bay Family sends

Father’s Day Congratulations to all Fathers - including those playing

both roles, and others taking up the responsibility.

Special shout-out to new Fathers:

Rev. Michael McBride & Lady Cherise McBride. They’re the proud parents of:

Sarai Hope McBride

&Recording Artist Lawrence Matthews & Wife Sharon Pringle-Matthews in their

new blessing in the form of:

Lawrence Matthews, Jr. (L.J.)

we want to hear from you! Tell us how your

faith impacts your social justice mission

in the community. Contact us at

[email protected]

for details


I am powerful. My journey is the path of Kings, Princes, and Noblemen. My footsteps will blaze trails for future generations.

I invented “looking good”, and perfected “being brilliant.” I am a force of nature. The lightening illuminates my presence and thunder echoes my name.

I have weathered the weight of the world, my heart beats like a drum and shines like a diamond.

I am a father, a son, an uncle, a nephew. I am a part of a family and a community greater than myself. Together, we will rise and fall.

I accept responsibility for the children, for boys who are not my sons and brothers, and for girls who are not my daughters or sisters. I will teach, protect, and serve them like a samurai: Part Warrior, Part Wise Man, my Word is bond.

I will honor women as my mothers, and girls as my sisters. Females are sacred, and by honoring and respecting them, I will bring out the best in me.

I will respect my elders. I praise elders for their sacrifices and triumphs, they helped me succeed. I thank elders for their mistakes and failures, experience is the best teacher.

My past influences me, but does not define me. The present is my playground, today anything is possible. My future is unwritten, and can be created anew each day.

I am powerful. I am honorable. I am brilliant. I am beautiful. I am free. -- Diallo Shabazz is an educator, writer, activist, and collaborative member of BAMIA (Black and Male in America). He can be reached at [email protected]

Positive male role model creed

have you noticed the wednesday rush?

It’s Cookie Wednesday! Gregory’s Gourmet Desserts began as a manufacturer of cheesecakes and grew to include cobblers, pies, and cookies. After numerous requests they’ve decided to open their wholesale bakery to the public. Every Wednesday at

11am customers have the opportunity to purchase slices of their signature cheesecakes, pies, servings of cobblers, or choose from over a dozen types of cookies sold individually or by the dozen. We highly recommend the Red Velvet Shortbread Cookie, or

the Tropical Cobbler! See you there!

Gregory’s Gourmet Desserts 285 23rd Street Oakland, CA www.gregorysgourmetdesserts.com


Seems like towards the start of every summer, I hear the same foreboding proclamation: “Whew, it’s gonna be a

hot summer.”

But in our urban communities, these aren’t meteorologically-based forecasts for sunshine and high UV indexes. Instead, such statements are uttered with a twinge of regret. They signal an expectation for amplified violence and retaliatory activity for the next few months. Already, I have heard that statement in reference to this summer, and with good reason, as crime rates rise. Even Berkeley, a city touted as one of the more peaceful ones in the Bay Area, has seen an increasing homicide rate in 2009.

One of those killed recently was my student, Larry Spencer—a young man whose bright smile and charismatic personality brightened every place he went. Over 400 young people attended his funeral—a testament to his lovable spirit and the indelible impressions he left on those of us fortunate enough to know him. But to readers of the local news, he remains anonymous, at most, identifiable only as “Oakland’s 39th homicide of the year.”

So what is the role of the faith community in such turbulent times? If we are ordered by God to bring the gospel—the Good News—to our urban communities, where do we start? What is the Good News in such a time as this?

For certain, Jesus’ way of compassion and forgiveness are starkly countercultural

not another “hot” summer

today. On the one hand, Jesus admonishes us to forgive so that we may be forgiven, to love our enemies, and to turn the other cheek when stricken. On the other hand, violence pervades our world and affects our communities in disproportionate rates. So as people of faith in urban communities, we are positioned in a delicate situation. We must advocate for peace without embracing fear. We must acknowledge the violence around us without affirming it. We must reach people’s hearts with the Good News that blessed are the peacemakers, that Christ offers life more abundantly, and that we will reap in joy what we’ve sown in tears.

The best place to start is right where we already are—in our churches, families and neighborhoods. As traditional forms of authority wane in influence, authentic relationships become crucial. Simply put, young people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

All of us have the power to influence the young people around us, and it starts by simply affirming in them the beauty that God sees. A persistent “I love you” or an occasional compliment can plant seeds that another will water and God will increase. Individually, we can take time to mentor a young person in our community, offer to take someone to the movies, or allow a teen to shadow us at work.

Here in Berkeley, to keep youth off the streets and out of trouble, people of faith are collaborating to take teens on day trips

...continued on page 6


WEDNESDAy WoRSHIP IN THE WoRD (7-8:15pm Weekly) A 75-minute ultimate worship experience that is bound to change your life. Beebe Memorial Cathedral, Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., Pastor, 3900 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland [510] 655-6114 | www.experiencebmc.org

THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN MéxICo: FRoM yANgA To THE PRESENT (May 9 - Aug. 23, 2009) Presented by Oakland Museum of California presents a look at the little-known history of enslaved Africans brought to Mexico in the 1500s and their contributions to Mexican culture. Organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago. Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA www.museumca.org

CRAIgSLIST FouNDATIoN 6TH ANNuAL NoNPRoFIT BooTCAMP (Saturday, June 20, 2009) Boot Camp attracts people committed to social change, such as emerging and seasoned community leaders, representatives from business, government, philanthropy and nonprofits, as well as passionate individuals. University of California, Berkeley Campus. www.craigslistfoundation.org - $75

TAkE CHARgE oF youR FINANCIAL FuTuRE - ECoNoMIC EMPoWERMENT FAIR (Saturday, June 20, 2009) Survival Tools for Today’s Economy. Free Credit Report, Credit Counseling, Vendors, and more. Plenary sessions: Keep the Man Out of Your Pocket & Credit and Money Management Basics. Sponsored by St. Paul AME Church in partnership with Operation Hope, BOCA, City of Berkeley, and the Cooperative Center FCU. 2024 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA www.stpaulberkeley.com

MCgEE AVENuE BAPTIST CHuRCH BBq CookoFF (Saturday, June 20, 2009, 11-3PM) McGee Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Michael A. Smith, Pastor, 1640 Stuart Street, Berkeley. $10 plate / $15 combo [510] 843-1774 [email protected]

AMBASSADoR FoR CHANgE CRAB FEED (Saturday, June 27, 2009 3pm) 1st Annual Crab Feed with all you can eat garlic crab, pasta, garlic bread & salad. Allen Temple Family Life Center, 8501 International Blvd. [510] 484-4711

LoCkER RooM MEN’S MINISTRy 2ND ANNuAL DAy (Sunday, June 28, 2009, 3:30pm) Men Moving to Maturity in Ministry- 1 Chronicles 12:1-40. Our Guest Speaker will be Rev. Dr. Lawrence Van Hook, Pastor of the Christian Community Church, Oakland, CA. Victory Baptist Church, Rev. Martin Peters, Pastor, 2103- 24th Avenue, Oakland, CA [510] 261-2008

FAITH DAy IN THE PARk - FREE CoMMuNITy EVENT (Saturday, July 11, 2009) Bring the whole family! Free health screenings, Free produce, free entertainment, childrens activities, youth asthma basketball clinic, 5on5 basketball competition, food vendors, local farmers market and more. Mosswod Park, Oakland, CA. For more information contact Tracy Smith [510] 752-2003

DERRICk HALL & CoMPANy - NEW CD RELEASE CoNCERT & LIVE DVD RECoRDINg (Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 6PM) Presented by the Brightside Music Group. Southbay Community Church, 47385

calendar of events


Have an Event or Program Coming up? To add your program and events to our

calendar, send material (including dates, times, ticket prices, location and a brief

description to: Calendar Editor, Faith in the Bay,

P.O. Box 2633, Berkeley, CA 94702 or via e-mail to [email protected]

Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539. $15 Advance / $20 Door / $30 Limited VIP includes CD and special seating. For more information contact [415] 370-5907

So you THINk you CAN HooP: 3oN3 CoMPETITIoN ( July 11 - 12, 2009 9-5pm) Oracle Arena, Oakland. Presented by Councilwoman Desley Brooks in association with Goodwin Sports Management soyouthinkyoucanhool.com

oNE NIgHT REVIVAL WITH REV. JAMAL BRyANT (Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.) Guest: Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, Pastor, Empowerment Temple AME (Baltimore, MD). First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry, Pastor 3701 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609 (510) 655-1527

My Sister’s keeper 8th Annual Day: Empowered Women of god Conquering Stress & Aging (Sunday, July 26, 2009 3:30pm) Victory Baptist Church, Rev. Martin Peters, Pastor, 2103- 24th Avenue, Oakland, CA [510] 261-2008

2009 PRAISE DANCE CoNFERENCE: TRANSFoRMINg youR VISIoN INTo REALITy (Thursday, Aug. 6 - Saturday Aug. 8, 2009) Evangelist Patricia Williams, Director of Chosen Dance Ministry, & Pastor Everett Robinson, of the Will of God Christian Center share a vision to edify and build up the people of Gods Kingdom. Airport Hilton Hotel, 1 Hegenberger Road, Oakland, CA (754) 246-9288 chosendanceministry.com

ART & SouL FESTIVAL (August 15 - August 16 11:00 am - 6:00pm) NEW DATEOakland’s premier art and music festival, featuring multiple stages of live, diverse, music, crafts of over 150 artisans, and an eclectic selection of tempting foods.

during the week. The idea, inspired by the Chicago Ceasefire Project, takes advantage of the idle time youth have by offering them an opportunity to build community and just have a little fun! And all it requires is a few vans and some willing adult role models. And of course, a little money.

My student Larry, like many others who have died violent deaths in our communities, was seeking a way out of the cycle of violence he saw around him everyday. The last time my husband saw him, Larry proudly announced that he had enrolled in college to become a medical assistant. My hope is that one by one, people of faith in the Bay Area will courageously connect with youth in our midst so that this summer and beyond, the only thing ablaze in our streets would be the vibrant futures of our people. -- Cherise Martinez-McBride is an educator and proud new mom. She is also the First Lady of The Way Christian Center in Berkeley - www.thewaychristiancenter.org

...continued from page 4

Downtown Oakland [510] 238-7402 www.artandsouloakland.com

For a full list of calendar events - Please visit us online at www.

faithinthebay.com


How many of you, fitness buffs and beginners, have ever stopped making progress in strength

gains or losing weight? How many of you ever guessed that the reason that you were in a slump was due to following the same old workout regimen?

Our bodies are very resistant to change. It takes a new stimulus, such as simply changing sequencing of exercise pattern and/or intensity or a different type of training, to continue changing the body’s appearance or to continue gaining strength. If you are currently participating in strength training and/or a cardiovascular routine that you have been doing for three months or more, it’s time for a change.

There is a distinct term fitness professionals use when describing the cyclic change of a workout--periodization. Periodization is broken down into four components: strength, speed, power, and endurance. Each of these components is a completely different type of training and will propel your body over that nasty plateau.

When training for strength, most of you think of weight lifting. The traditional free weights and weight training machines are ideal for this component of periodization. The weight should be heavy enough to perform 12-8 repetitions in good form.

Many of you probably have never tried training for speed, unless you have played sports. Speed training is done in intervals. For instance, to become a faster runner, it is important to do “speed work.” This entails running at your regular pace and mixing it with periods of greater speed. Speed training can be assimilated into any other

sport as well.

Power is the third component of periodization and is also very work-intensive During a power workout, it is ideal to use more explosive movements, like jumps and squats. Your set should be relatively short and very intense and your recovery period should be a bit longer so that you can catch your breath. Using weight when training for power is not necessary. Jumping as high as you can from a squatted position for a minute is a goodexample of a power exercise.

When training for endurance with weights, you should increase your repetitions to about 15-25 and lighten the weight to maintain good form. This type of training requires little rest between sets.

After checking with your doctor and an exercise specialist, you may implement all of these components into your workout. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or a pro athlete, you can incorporate these components to match your fitness level. I recommend moving on to the next component of periodization every two months. Good luck! -- Health and Happiness, Kriss

Plateaus

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Up Next...July IssueCelebrating the NAACP’s 100th »

Anniversary & Churches role in Social JusticeCalendar of Events »Giveaways & More »

Place your ad today! Contact [email protected] for details

Is our economy improving? This is an excellent question. One of the most painful parts about the recession is the

current loss of jobs. Since the first quarter 2008 there have been approximately 6 million jobs lost in American and we have yet to hit the rock bottom.

The price of purchasing a home continues to be at record low pricing. The real estate market is saturated with foreclosures, short sales and not yet completed renovation investment homes which are approximately 50% of recently sold homes.

Most purchases have been 1st time ownership entry level homes priced under $450,000.00

For example a family with an income of approximately $65,000.00 - can purchase a home with the sales price of up to $300,000.00

Home buyer incentives of the current tax

credit of up to $8,000.00 if purchased in 2009, lower mortgage interest rates ranging from 4-6% and low home prices are a winning combination for many families with the vision of homeownership.

To have the recovery turn around, I suggest we continue to watch for the tangible factors of recovery, there are a few key developments ; the number of foreclosed homes, short sale homes and other types of distressed homes sales must declining,

long term home owners beginning to see values increase again, employment numbers begin to increase while unemployment declines and we begin to feel comfortable and secure in utilizing our purchasing power for the items we enjoy.

The spring and summer months are the largest volume of real estate sales, now is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the values offered in the industry? For all your real estate needs~ Our Land Realty & Funding, Deborah Matthews Broker 510.704.0644 [email protected]

are we on our way to economic recovery?


what is health and social equity and why is it important?

Over the past decade, there have been sustained health improvements for many residents of Alameda County. This is good news. And yet while overall health has improved, serious health inequities persist. Health inequities are defined as differences in health that are unnecessary, avoidable, unfair and unjust. Health inequities are related to both a history of overt discriminatory actions, as well as present-day practices and policies that perpetuate diminished opportunity and hazardous exposures for certain populations.

The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), a collaborative of eight health departments, including Alameda County, has a framework for understanding health inequities. To address health inequities, we must tackle broader social inequalities - access to power,

resources, and opportunities – all of which determine the distribution of health and disease within the population.

Social inequity causes health inequity. Health, disease and death are not randomly distributed. Illness concentrates among low-income peopel and peopele of color living in certain geographical places. Inequities in economic, social, phsyical and service environments continue to create and maintain clear patters of poor health in Alameda County, statewide, and nationally.

-- For more information please visit: http://www.acphd.org/healthequity/ and download their recent publication, Getting Under the Skin - Using Knowledge about Health Inequities to Spur Action (May 2009)


mission work in Johannesburg

In September I traveled to the African continent for the first time. I went with Minister Bongane Nyathi to

attend his sister’s wedding in Johannesburg, South Africa. The wedding was traditional and went on for three days. It was really beautiful and festive.

I learned a little about Zulu and Sotho cultures and history and observed many of the traditional festivities and customs. In fact, the Nyathi family invited me to be a part of the wedding party at one of the wedding ceremonies and taught me to do some Zulu dancing. I was pretty good!

After the wedding reception an elder, who was an uncle to the groom, approached me and began speaking to me in Sotho. I asked him to speak in English but he refused, saying: “I Lesotho man, I speak Sotho”. He continued speaking to me in his native language and all the while holding my hand and looking into my eyes. He then kissed my hand, embraced me and in English said: “Welcome home son”. He blessed my soul! It brings fresh tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

While visiting Johannesburg, I also had an opportunity to speak at W.W. Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Kliptown/

Soweto. The church has a rich history. It is the site of the early meetings of the African National Congress (ANC) and is rumored to be the place where the ANC Charter was signed. The members of the congregation were warm and exuberant, praising God with gladness. They received me enthusiastically and promised me that they enjoyed my preaching.

While visiting the church I visited a child care center that the church sponsors and learned that some of the 60 children that they assist are orphaned. These children leave the child care center each night and sleep in shacks with no heat and no running water.

They have no parents to care for them or look out for their well-being. In some cases they are cared for by grandmothers who hardly have enough to take care of themselves. My heart went out to the children and I decided to raise funds and awareness to try to help them....

Like what you’ve read so far? Continue reading the rest of the article online

@ www.faithinthebay.com

-- Rev. Theophous Reagans, Esq. is an associate minister at Allen Temple Baptist

Church - www.allen-temple.org


A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT Bring the Whole Family!

For more information contact Tracy Smith @ (510)752-2003

Bay Area BlackNursesAssociationIncorporated

Mo'Better Food

● FREE Health Screenings ● FREE Produce ● FREE Entertainment ● Children’s Activities ● Youth Asthma Basketball Clinic ● 5 on 5 Basketball Competition ● Faith Team Relays

● Local Farmers Market ● Food Vendors

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Faith in the Bay - June Issue (2009)

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