Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys

April 7th and 8th, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. @ the PA Convention Center. TheBlack History and Culture Showcase features a diverse mix of enlightening exhibits and activities that use “real people, real objects and real stories” to accurately present important eras and extraordinary achievements or events in African American history. This tribute to Black History utilizes interactive, educational, inspirational exhibits, living legend history makers, award winning documentary films and lectures by African American history educators. The Lest We Forget Exhibit features the most extensive collection of slavery artifacts and Jim Crow memorabilia ever assembled for public examination free-of-charge. This includes shackles, branding irons, documents and more. Attendees can meet “living legends” like Negro League Players, Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers. http://www.blackhistoryshowcase.org/

Exhibiting the sensitivity which guided him throughout the lengthy process of developing Red Tails, George Lucas invited illustrator David Russell in 2008 to design key action sequences in the film, including the powerful opening attack scene.  Russell, whose father James C. Russell was a decorated Tuskegee Airman, was understandably thrilled to work on the production.  In designing these sequences Russell wanted to make the viewers feel they were “in the cockpit”, and brought his considerable storytelling abilities to bear, enhanced by his father’s exciting wartime experiences.  And the Seattle Post Intelligencer critic Tim Hall writes: “What does work for Red Tails is the intense action sequences. Each dogfight puts you right in the cockpit with the pilots.”The Variety senior film critic Peter Debruge described these airborne scenes as “dazzling.”   Lucas gave David Russell his first industry break on Return of the Jedi.  Russell went on to become one of top Hollywood concept and storyboard illustrators.  A master of visual storytelling, his remarkable list of credits includes Paradise Lost, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Moulin Rouge, Master and Commander, The Thin Red Line, Tombstone, Terminator2: Judgement Day, Batman and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.   In 1985, Russell became the first African-American to be admitted to the Illustrator’s and Matte Artist’s Union, courtesy of Lucas’ good friend Steven Spielberg, who hired the artist on The Color Purple, another groundbreaking film. http://www.dynamicimagesdr.com/

Michelle Van Der Water. She is recurring on the second season of VH1's "Single Ladies" which returns this May. She will play Taylor Tillman- a beautiful and sophisticated socialite. Her character is old money and truly glamorous. She has a great presence and there will be high drama. She is an old friend of Raquel's and Malcolm's new girlfriend.   Michelle was born in Cape Town, South Africa to a ?Dutch-African father and Indian-African mother.  Her ?family immigrated to Australia when she was one year old. She has a  Bachelor of Creative Arts in Graphic Design and New Media Degree from Wollongong University..   Michelle has previously been seen in ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’, ‘Castle’ and ‘Melrose Place.’ She was also the face of Sheva Alomar/the lead character in Resident Evil 5. 

Dr. Durado Brooks has served as the director of prostate and colorectal cancers at the American Cancer Society’s National Home Office since 2000.  In this role he is involved in creating and implementing strategies to improve the prevention and early detection of prostate and colorectal cancer. Dr. Brooks practiced primary care internal medicine in community health centers,  in Ohio and later in Dallas, TX. Dr. Brooks earned his MPH degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. www.cancer.org Carolyn R. Aldigé is president of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, a national non-profit organization she founded in 1985 in memory of her father, Edward P. Richardson, who died of cancer one year earlier. Prevent Cancer has provided more than $120 million in support of its mission: cancer prevention and early detection through research, education, community-based programs and advocacy, and has become nationally recognized as a leader in the fight against cancer through prevention. www.preventcaner.org

Special Guest:  Helene Belisle, Arthritis National Research Foundation Executive Director. Helene Belisle has been Executive Director of the Arthritis National Research Foundation since 1996, helping guide the organization to its current focus funding arthritis research grants nationwide. Ms. Belisle joined ANRF after four years in fundraising for a Long Beach, CA non-profit organization. For many years prior to entering the non-profit field, Ms. Belisle was a marketing executive for a real estate investment firm. Special Guest: Dr. Carl Ware has been a Member and Head of the Division of Molecular Immunology at the LaJolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology since 1996. He received his Ph.D. in 1979 from the University of California, Irvine, and conducted his postdoctoral work at the University of Texas and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston. He established his research laboratory in 1981 as an Assistant Professor of Immunology at the University of California, Riverside, advancing to full professor before joining the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.   www.curearthritis.org

BERNICE MCFADDEN is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels including the classics Sugar and Glorious, which was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, selected as the debut title for the One Book, One Harlem program, and was a finalist for the NAACP Image Award. She is a three-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of the 2011 Fiction Award  the BCALA. Her sophomore novel, The Warmest December, was praised by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison as “searing and expertly imagined.” McFadden lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her latest novel is Gathering of Waters. Gathering of Waters is a deeply engrossing tale narrated by the town of Money, Mississippi--a site both significant and infamous in our collective story as a nation. Money is personified in this haunting story, which chronicles its troubled history following the arrival of the Hilson and Bryant families.   Tass Hilson and Emmett Till were young and in love when Emmett was brutally murdered in 1955. Anxious to escape the town, Tass marries Maximillian May and relocates to Detroit.   Forty years later, after the death of her husband, Tass returns to Money and fantasy takes flesh when Emmett Till's spirit is finally released from the dank, dark waters of the Tallahatchie River. The two lovers are reunited, bringing the story to an enchanting and profound conclusion.   http://www.bernicemcfadden.com/

 Jason is the son of pianist and music educator Ellis Marsalis and his wife Dolores, and the youngest sibling of Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. Together, the four brothers and Ellis comprise New Orleans’s venerable first family of jazz. Jason is well known for his prodigaldrumming. Working with the Ellis Marsalis trioas well as the Marcus Roberts trio, he hasfine tuned his playing in two of the mostdemanding settings in modern jazz. However,with the release of 2008’s “Music Update,” listeners are now recognizing Jason for hisunique sound on the vibraphones. Jason has appeared at many of the foremost jazz venues through the US and Canada, and has toured Europe on the summer festival scene.  His playing is unique; drawing from a wide range of influences, Jason performs original music as well as many hidden gems in the jazz literature and beyond As a drummer, Marsalis collaborates frequently with his brothers Delfeayo and Branford, in addition to Marcus Roberts and Ellis Marsalis. When he is not filling the drum chairs in these groups, Jason performs as a vibraphonist with his own quartet, and with musicians such as former Harry Connick drummer Shannon Powell, Irvin Mayfield, and others. Audio samples of Jason’s work on vibes are available at his website: WEBSITE: http://www.jasonmarsalis.com.

Special Guest: Angela Ginn, RD, LDN, CDE, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson,  works as an education coordinator/nutrition diabetes educator at University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Maryland General Hospital, where she counsels patients on treating and managing diabetes and other endocrine diseases.  She is the owner of Real Talk Real Food, a consulting practice for health care corporations and organizations, and develops nutrition education programs for disease prevention.  Ginn is a writer for medical industry and conducts webinars for consumers on diabetes and nutrition-related topics. Through cooking demonstrations, she works with local governments on promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.  Ginn is the founder of Mocha Foodies, a group of African-American nutrition professionals formed to educate members of minority groups on healthy eating, as well as to mentor students at historically black colleges and universities who are studying dietetics.  Ginn is a graduate of Morgan State University.  

Girls need help. “The DivaGirl’s Guide to Style and Self-Respect” is the answer to her “help me” cry. This book isn’t full of random “shoulds” to memorize. It explains all the “whys,” so today’s girl can make wise decisions. Over many years of operating her urban charm school, Cheryl Ann Wadlington has talked to—and listened to— thousands of girls. She understands where they’re coming from and where they’re going. She’s that big sister who believes in them and says, “You can make it!” SPECIAL GUEST: Cheryl Ann Wadlington is one of the nation’s premiere fashion and beauty journalists and a leading consultant in the field of personal growth. An accomplished writer, television personality and sought-after motivational speaker, she has reached millions through publications such as Self, Essence, Life & Style, and The Philadelphia Daily News. She founded Evoluer Image Consultants, an award-winning full-service agency in Philadelphia that provides clients with extensive makeovers, personal shopping and wardrobe management. She also operates the nonprofit organization, The Evoluer House, which has graduated more than 700 socio-economically challenged girls from this highly successful personal development program. Cheryl majored in advertising and communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Fashion Merchandising at Bauder Fashion College. She also served on the faculty of the Temple University School of Communications and the advisory board of Cheyney University’s Fashion Merchandising program.

Mary Ann McLaughlin, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.C. Dr. McLaughlin is serving her second term as President of the American Heart Association Board of Directors, New York City. The medical director of the cardiac health program at Mount Sinai, she is a cardiologist who specializes in protecting women’s heart health. Her research explores how hormonal differences between men and women affect heart disease. Dr. McLaughlin is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, she trained in Internal Medicine at The New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.  She completed her fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and received her Master’s in Public Health degree at Columbia University School of Public Health.   Dr. McLaughlin is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Health Evidence and Policy. She is the recipient of many awards and grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the American Heart Association, the New York Academy of Medicine, the American College of Cardiology and the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research.  Website: http://www.heart.org Twitter: @american_heart

Ms. Kamali attended Howard University's School of Communications. A trained dancer and student of the theater, Asha  was crowned Miss Howard University. Asha has starred in national commercial for K-Swiss, Papa Johns, and national print ads for RocaWear and K-Swiss.  She has received rave reviews for her performances in independent films.  Ms. Kamali has performed and choreographed for NBA's Washington Wizards Dance Team, Eric Benet, Mya, Destiny’s child, and Madonna to name a few.   She has choroegraphed for Atlantic Recording star, Keke Palmer, for her debut album, "So Uncool."  Her choreography is featured in the music video, "All my Girlz," which is featured on the soundtrack of LionsGate breakout film, "Akeelah and the Bee." Asha also casted and starred in the video. She also choreographed Palmer's second music video, "Keep it Movin." Asha has choreographed national tours for Palmer and the WNBA as well as for Disney. Asha is also one-third of the production company, Brown Paper Dolls. She is co-creator, co-writer, producer and starring in Brown Paper Dolls debut series, Milk and Honey also being executive produced by Idris Elba. http://milkandhoneyseries.com/

Steffen Morrison started attracting audiences' attention upon winning the semi-finalist position in what is considered Holland's most popular non televised musical talent competition, De Grote Prijs van Nederland. Since then, Steffen Morrison has been on a steady path to success, leaving his mark wherever he performs. His rugged warm alluring and identifiable voice sets him apart from many entertainers and the fervor he puts in his live performances have caught the eye of world renowned performers such as Joss Stone and Raphael Saadiq for whom he was the opening act of their concerts in The Netherlands. Even the mighty sportswear Establishment Reebok has chosen Steffen Morrison's track "Shake it" which was propelled to immediate international recognition and is making the world take notice. Steffen Morrison's album "Revealed" has already met the good fortune of being nominated for an Edison Award, The Netherlands' most prestigious music award. Steffen Morrison collaborated on his album- which he also co-wrote and co-produced- with the likes of Los Angeles based Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, who has worked with emblematic musicians such as Prince, 2Pac, Blondie and Michael Jackson to name a few. WEBSITE: www.steffenmorrison.com TWiTTER: www.twitter.com/steffenmorrison

Change To A Positive Mindset And Extend Your Lifeline: A Journey To Miles Of Smiles, Positive Energy Power, Hope, Health And Happiness by Edith Namm & Rita Kaufman     Special Guest: EDITH NAMM has 25 years of experience as a Counselor and Educator, over 20 years of experience as a Certified Specialized Handwriting Analyst and is a thyroid, breast, colon and liver cancer survivor who has authored 6 books on stress management and is dedicated to sharing simple, safe, specific self-help strategies that can free your mind from fear, empower you to feel self-confident, set realistic achievable goals and increase your smile mileage. Regardless of your age, gender or economic background, your journey to Positive Energy Power, Hope, Health and Happiness can show you how to survive and thrive in a 24/7 stress-filled world.  

Special Guest: Taína Asili carries on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing present and past struggles into one poetic voice. She is a puertorriqueña vocalist, poet, educator, and community organizer from Philadelphia, PA and Albany, NY. Her recent artistic work is with her live band, Taína Asili y La Banda Rebelde, soulful vocals laid over a unique fusion of Afro-Caribbean, reggae, rock, and hip hop sounds. Taína is a winner of the 2005 Transformation Award given by the Leeway Foundation. She has shared the stage with artists such as Ursula Rucker, Sonia Sanchez, Pamela Means, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and Tyrone Hill of The Sun Ra Arkestra. Taína completed her debut album with La Banda Rebelde entitled War Cry. Check out www.TainaAsili.com   Video of Taina Asili and La Banda Rebelde: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJiqEzg7CPc