50 Black LGBTQ Winners Who Are Helping Others Win

In 2013 our “50 Black LGBTQ People Every Black LGBTQ Youth Should Know” series, produced entirely by youth from across the country, received so much national attention – we decided to do it again, but with an impact.

In 2014, the theme for National Youth Pride Services internally is “One Shinning Moment”. After operating under the same mission for the past 10 years, we decided to change the vision. mission and focus of the organization to better reflect what we want to accomplish on the national level:

NYPS is an intellectual, creative urban movement that focuses on socially forward, leadership and development activities for black LGBT young adults

We decided to focus on helping black LGBTQ youth move from average to awesome. After watching the video entitled: “What is the State of the Black Gay Community Today?” we felt there were more positive attributes than the youth in the video detailed – and we were on a mission to prove it. This gave birth to our “One Shining Moment” campaign – focusing 100% of the positive, rich, outstanding, incomparable legacy of black LGBTQ people.

Our mission to help black LGBTQ young adults “WIN” started in April and has been a huge success. Some said we were foolish for attempting to end negativity within our own community and promote lifting up all black LGBTQ people you encounter – especially online. Our last series on financial management, saw 224 people take our 30 Day financial management challenge and move from ordinary to extraordinary with their finances. This is because winners help others win! Everyone has something to give to help someone else out – the question is, does everyone believe that? Does it really take a village?

We are not the only ones that believe “winners help others win”. There are many fantastic, outstanding black LGBTQ people working hard everyday, in their own city, region or life to help the next generation WIN! Join us in our journey this fall as our online magazine looks at 50 Black LGBTQ Winners Who Are Helping Others Win! Of course we could never highlight everyone and the order in which we profile someone has no significant meaning. We wanted to show the positive side of being black and LGBTQ and this is just one way, of many, we are chosing to do it.

Here is a look at some of the 50 Winners Who Help Others Win that we plan to introduce you too this Fall (those in our previous list were excluded from this list)

MJ Harris

CC Carter

Holiday Simmons

Devin B Ward

Kim L Hunt

Venton Jones

Allain Cherranfant

Morgan Williams

Sasha Alexander

Micky Bradford

Chris Dixon

Darius Jones

Join us on our journey as we look at 50 Black LGBTQ people who feel we have value. They not only say it, they let their actions show that winners help others win.

It’s Our Time To Shine!

#OneShiningMoment

 

Introducing Our Fall Series for black LGBTQ Young Adults: “Choices”

If you took our pledge in April to make 2014 your “One Shining Moment” then you have followed our very popular series that have taught you:

• How to be a living resume
• How you can reduce stress by evaluating the people you have in your circle: status anxiety
• You are worthy of respect
• How others opinions of you do not matter
• There is no such thing as failure
• Attitude is everything
• How to move from living paycheck to paycheck by doing 3 simple things
• and much, much more.

Our next series, debuting in the Fall is called “Choices”

Whether you believe it or not, everything up to this point in your life that has or has not happened to you is because of the choices you have made. Every aspect or our life when examined a little closer can be traced back to a series of choices we have made.

Mondays in September, join us for our 5th life development series for young adults.

Financial Management ToolKit

At least TRY to take our 30 day financial management challenge. Start today!

So you have just 10 days left in our financial management challenge on making a conscious effort to manage your finances because you made up in your mind that the best way to show that you love yourself, is to not cheat yourself. But what happens when the 30 days are over? Here are some tools to help you continue your financial management plan for as long as YOU want. Remember, your financial situation can change. You can do anything YOU really want to do because what you feed grows, and what you starve will die. Here is the 4th and final part of our series Dollars and Good $ense.

Everyone has a phone these days and not just any phone, a smart phone. Ten years ago, status in the US was determined by the type of car you drive. Forbes states that today status is determined by the type of mobile device you have. Since everyone has one, why not use it for more than just photos and status updates (those are ok by the way). The best app on the market, in our opinion, that fits our “Think 3” financial management plan is the app called Mint.  Mint pulls all your financial accounts into one place. Set a budget, track your goals and do more
with your money, for free! Stay on top of your finances. See what’s happening with all your accounts – checking, savings, investments, retirement – at any moment of the day. And our free mobile apps mean you can track your money on-the-go.

You should definitely have a bank account. Money kept by you is automatically money spent by you. If you have had a rough start with banks in

We aren’t saying people are not poor, we are saying there IS something YOU can do with the money YOU already have.

the past, try a credit union. One of our members also informed us that Wells Fargo has second chance banking. But if all else fails, we suggest opening a American Express “Serve” account. For just $1 a month, this card is guaranteed to help you save money as every store/merchant does not take it. Most only take Visa or Master Card.  This is suggested for the person who has a bad habit of running up debt using their bank card because it is easily accessible. I have one of these cards and can tell you, I am always surprised when I check my balance because I forget how much is in it. 70% of the places I shop don’t take it, and I already have a disdain for using ATM machines because of the fees. This card is basically a second “savings” account for me. Get a FREE card here

Its best to have a financial adviser when just starting out. You actually already have one and just don’t know it. People tend to pick up the habits of the people they spend the most time with – usually those are bad habits. Whether you are a member or not, we are always available to help out with financial advise on:

• Retirement
• Insurance
• Investments
• Unemployment
• Taxes
• House/car purchases

And for things we cannot help with, we know just the right person/people to call. We already gave a few tips on eating, shopping – basically living – and if you missed that, simply click here

We hope this series has at least inspired you to start thinking about your finances differently. If we can get people at a early age to stop thinking with the poverty mind, we can help them move from the poverty line.

London Scholarships and/or Financial Planning Starts September 1, 2014

Have you already reached out to us about London 2015 and are awaiting your next steps? Well the wait is almost over! September 1, 2014 is the day you can begin to apply for a travel scholarship through our approved partners.

But wait, there is more! There are 32 other organizations who offer travel scholarships to young people who are looking to go abroad for conferences and education events – in which our conference qualifies for! Head over to Google and start now!

In addition, we purposely planned out financial management series “Dollars and Good Sense” to wrap up, allowing everyone who is actually trying to get better with money, enough time to be prepared for London – and life in general. Not following our financial management series/plan? Don’t worry. Click on One Shining Moment and look for the series.

For more information use our Member request form. Non members should use youthpridecenter@gmail.com

Please note, offers and deals for members are not available to the general public, but the trip is open to all.

All of our trips are designed for anyone to attend. Those who follow good financial leadership always make it, those who have little faith in themselves talk themselves out of things before they try.

Shifters, Witches, And Vamps, Oh My!

This review was written by Hakeem Hicks of Columbia, SC

Shifters, Witches, and Vamps, oh my!

To date, there have been very few paranormal series featuring LGBTQ characters of color. Author Shadrach Walker is definitely changing that with his trailblazing series One Warlock’s Love Story. The series is a coming out and a coming of age story for Zander Borealis Knight, an 18-year-old warlock who lived a pretty sheltered life until the day he meets his openly gay best friend. Zander went to a gay club for the first time, he finally interacted with vampires and shifters, he had his first kiss, and almost died all in the same day.

“Just then, Tau kissed the back of Zander’s neck and started grinding his huge dick into Zander’s back. Zander turned, playfully pushed Tau away, and began dancing so smoothly that he surprised himself. The drinks, the freedom, and Tau’s attention were making him feel alive — and sexy. From Tau’s reaction, he must have looked pretty good doing it. Zander quickly realized that Tau was a decent dancer, too. As a matter of fact, he was a great dancer, and he moved with surprising agility. If the stares from nearby dancers were any indication, then they must have looked like quite a pair. Zander was so caught up in the moment that he failed to realize that he was actually levitating several inches off the ground. When other dancers started to notice, Tau grabbed him and carried him off the dance floor. “There’s no magic allowed in the club,” Tau grunted in Zander’s ear. “I’m sorry. I got carried away,” Zander whispered back. “

If you love Harry Potter, Twilight, and Noah’s Arc then One Warlock’s Love Story is a must read for you. Walker covers all bases throughout his series- struggling sexual identity, family issues, self-acceptance, sex, love, and magic. One Warlock’s Love story has it all for you. Give the series a shot and your destined to become an OWLS- loyal supporters of the series.

Three books of the eight book series have already been released and can be purchased here.

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Editors note: a portion of the proceeds from the books benefits NYPS

 

Don’t Show Off, Show Up!

Based on what I see on television or see on my social media accounts – or as a results of answers I get around fundraising time, most people come from a generation of poor (or broke) people, therefore they do whatever it takes to continue the trend. This will ensure they pass it on to their kids and then their kids’ kids.

But this isn’t a reality for every person of color. In fact there are plenty of people in their 20’s and 30’s who come from the poverty mind (see last weeks post) and use what they see people around them doing to remain “broke” as motivation to get financial management principles in order at a young age. They know the key is to invest, not consume or in today’s terms: don’t show off, show up.

Status Anxiety is real in our community (see Wake Up and Be Awesome). The battle to outdo the next person is a more attainable goal to most people than a future of having whatever you want. Social media wants you to answer the question: what are you doing right now?  You focusing on the right now, is making them wealthy later.

We introduced the 30 Day Financial Management Challenge in Part 1 of this series to much fan fare. it is simply – only if you already understand the importance of invest, don’t consume. Here are some quick thoughts on this point:

• Avoid spending money on things that don’t pay you. Poor people go into debt to buy things that make rich people richer, like the newest cell phone to fit in, when the current phone works just as well. Wealthy people use debt to make more money. Getting a car is great if the purpose is employment to make money. Getting a car so you don’t have to ride the bus is, well, you know.
• What you feed grows. What you ignore dies. You have to make your financial management a priority. Ignore it and it will ignore you. ONLY and we emphasis ONLY those who make financial management a priority will be successful at it.
• “Broke” isn’t cool. Most people use this word as a badge of honor – especially when it comes to helping someone in greater need than

  

  This is Part 3 of our 4 Part Financial Management series.

  them.  Get rid of the idea that being “broke” is ok and there is nothing you can do about it. In fact, remove it from your vocabulary.

• Hang around people who are good with money. You wouldn’t call a mechanic to cater your banquet would you? You pick up the habits of the people you hang around. That person that you always go to to borrow money (because you know they have money) is the person you should be hanging around. If you grow up around poverty, you have already learned the habits of those around you. Try the habits of those who you know are where you would like to be. Winners help others win.
• Love yourself (see “Selfies”) If you truly love yourself, you would not cheat yourself. The person who says they CAN do something will end up doing it. The person who says it can’t be done – will not get it done. Beware of cynical people. They don’t want to be inspired and you know they saying about misery: it loves company.
• Embrace unfortunate events. You don’t have problems. You have lessons. Figure out what happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
• Give. Donating is an investment. Invest, don’t consume. So many people think that giving to a charity or cause will make them “broke”. The fact of the matter is, no one ever became “broke” from giving, they became “broke” spending on themselves. All wealthy people have a habit of sharing and giving. Think to yourself: do you have the habits of “broke” people or the habits of “wealthy” people.
• Go All In! Don’t pick and chose the parts of financial management that are the easiest, stick to the entire plan for as long as you can. People will say that you can’t do it. You Know Different!

Don’t show off, show up!

Read: Fired and Evicted, yet Retired at age 27

2014 NYPS Summer Music App Fest Starts Today!

Our first ever Summer Music Fest on our App starts today. Almost 10 different sections of our popular app (the only app for black LGBTQ young adults not geared towards dating) are dedicated this entire month to showcasing the best in LGBTQ music.

From signed to unsigned, professionals to beginners, allies, hitmakers, DJ’s and more, we have something for everyone every day in the month of August.. Don’t have our app or can’t find it? Download it from the About page from our website menu!

Today Frank Ocean and others kick us off! Enjoy

Love Yourself: You Are NOT Your Past

Have you ever come across a person who you knew years ago that assumed you were in the same mindset, or doing the same things from your past life – and their reaction to you was quite standoffish? Judgemental? Rude even?

Rest assured there is no perfect person. Everyone gets better by age. But in order to #LoveYourself, you have to know how to deal with these types of people. Take a moment to view this video and learn why those people are the problem…not you.

F.W

2014 NYPS Regional Conferences Video Preview

Pre Register on our Events page.

Langston John Blaze: Later Never Comes, Stop Procrastinating