Editorial Cartoon: The Minor Offense Jail Problem

            This editorial cartoon suggests many meanings. There has been much talk lately in regards to the astonishing statistics of prisoners with minor offenses. Many political candidates discuss this topic on debates and hearings speaking on what their take is on the frowned on subject matter.

            President Obama recently conveyed his disapproval for the long-term convictions of minor drug offenses. He expressed his concerns on the HBO hit Vice. I thought it was an interesting piece with varied data to support these incoherent offenses. I think this is a topic that is long overdue as it expresses the modern day slavery effect on the black and brown people of this country. Today’s prison society is a corporate machine spending billions a year on inmates. It could be so easy to say stop and spend the money on more useful projects like feeding and housing the homeless or upgrading our infrastructure and public school system.

            America’s prison system is an industrialized corporate machine that has the court system under its tyranny.   Some countries 3 times larger than the U.S have less prison numbers does this seem uncanny? Money controls this country and those who can make corporations more of it rule.

Overcoming Strife and Tribulation Never Looked So Good By C. S. Steele

            Being sexual assaulted at the age of three by your own family member, being a fatherless daughter, and becoming a teen mom statistic, you would think these trials and tribulations would suppress a person abilities but Ms. Jamie Kellam has succeeded well beyond her familiar grief.

            As cases of childhood sexual abuse become more common no one looks at the after effects on the human psyche. According to www.victimsofcrime.org, 1 in 5 girls are sexual assaulted and 1 in 20 boys are sexually assaulted. Most assaults occur during the vulnerable ages of 7 to 13, Jamie’s sexual assault started at the tender age of 3.

            “I never let what happened to me as a child effect my future,” says Jamie. “I knew I was different and I decided at an early age I wouldn’t let a tragedy write my history,” she says.         

            As a child, Jamie used her tenacity and wit to overcome childhood grief. She excelled in academics, especially in English, Math and pretty much every other subject.

            Jamie’s teachers constantly praised her for being an exceptional student. She enjoyed school so much she never wanted to leave and cried when she had to go.

            “She was always into books and learning, says Nina Albari Jamie’s cousin. “She never wanted to leave school it was weird to see a child like that at an early age,” she said.

              Jamie kept excelling in school and things seemed to be looking up for the straight A student. Like any other adolescent the curiosity of sex starts to linger in the mind. Most young adolescents give in to the temptation for the opposite sex, many not knowing the repercussions of sex.

Photo courtesy of Jamie Kellam on Pinterest

           

At the age of 16 Jamie became pregnant by her high school sweetheart.  She decided to have the child, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Chyenne Butler-Sanchez three days after her 17^th birthday.

According to www.teenagepregnancystatistics.org, about 90 percent of pregnant teens across the country drop out of high school. Pregnant teens that are of black or Hispanic descent are more likely to drop out because of socioeconomic backgrounds.

“She didn’t let the pregnancy stop her ambition,” says Sonjia a.k.a. “Sunni” Butler, Jamie’s mother. “She finished her studies like a regular child and exceeded past my expectations.”

Jamie went on to graduate high school on time despite her teenage pregnancy. She then attended Saint Paul’s College in Virginia, majoring in Political Science. She would go on to graduate Cum Laude.

During college she took a spring break vacation to Atlanta, GA attending the popular festival “Freaknik.” From that moment on, she was determined to make her way there.

Eventually moving to the peach state, bringing her daughter with her she prospered as a Paralegal.  Even though progression brings success it sometimes brings distress. Jamie had to handle the pressures of being homeless at one point, becoming a late night dance specialist all while raising a daughter.

“I have been through a lot, Jamie says. “I needed a fresh start and when I went to Atlanta I was like I gotta move here!” she chuckles.

Photo courtesy of  Jamie Kellam on social network Twitter

            Eventually Jamie returned to school to begin working on her master’s degree in English. She chose to attend the highly acclaimed Clayton State University in Morrow, GA. 

                  Jamie graduated from college in 2012. Continuing her education proved to be a success when she was hired at Atlanta Metropolitan State College as an Academic Center for Success tutor.

            “It’s been so different up here ever since she came,” says Karina Brown education major. “The air isn’t so tense, she so nice and pleasant and always willing to help,” she says.

            Working with the students at Atlanta Metro has sparked a bug in Ms. Kellam. She is here to ensure that the students receive the proper feedback on their papers, projects and homework so teaching them should be a breeze.

            Jamie now teaches at her Alma Mater Clayton State University as an English 1101 and 1102 professor. Jamie also teaches at Georgia Perimeter College, Ecore and Southern New Hampshire University, the latter are online schools.

            “I could imagine she’s a great teacher,” says Aisha Jefferson a student at Atlanta Metro. “She’s such a good tutor, she explains things so well I’m sure her teaching is useful,” she said.

            Soon the new professor will spearhead the Supplemental Instruction department. The brand-new department has already helped some students with its tutoring specialist.

            Jamie also plans on continuing her education, she wants to receive a Doctorate in English as well as her Juris Doctor.

            “The new add on programs are great I think,” says Kenneth Greggs, a second year student of Atlm. “I can get help almost anytime I need it now and I’m sure she’ll be great heading this wonderful program,” he said.

            In the end, succeeding is something you must choose within yourself. Letting the troubles of life can no longer be an excuse after hearing her story.

            Jamie Kellam is an inspiration to the students the faculty and everyone she encounters. This unforgettable story of progression and not becoming a negative statistic can be our guide for overcoming strife and tribulations.

            “I thank the people around me for pushing me to greatness,” says Jamie. “I thank my pain for pushing me too,” she says.

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Atlanta Metro goes Vegan By C.S. Steele

Atlanta Metropolitan has gone vegan, well for the weekend. The Atlanta Veg Fest has come to the grounds of Atlanta Metropolitan to show future and existing vegans exciting new recipes and ground-breaking discussions in the vegan world.

Being a vegan is not just about better food options but rather a lifestyle choice. Vegans live strictly off of plant products that the earth provides. Many consider veganism not just a diet but also an upstanding philosophy.

                  Photo courtesy of www.vegkitchen.com “Tips to Transitioning to a Healthy Vegan Lifestyle”

           

“The need to change the idea about eating animals must be looked at,” said Kevin Roberts who has been a vegan for 8 years. “We as humans must take the opportunity to save the world.”

People of the vegan lifestyle usually have many reasons for going vegan some include: a conscientious relationship between humans and animals, the physiological human composition, spiritual evolution, solutions to population outbreak, and the open-minded concept of maintaining health and spiritual wholeness.

            Vegans eat only fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds. Vegans exclude dairy products, eggs, fish, fowl, flesh, honey, animal gelatin and any other foods that may hail from an animal origin.  They also exclude animal products such as leather, wool, fur, and silk for clothing and household goods such as soaps, cosmetics, toiletries and other household goods.

            “I personally can’t do without meat,” says Meagan Dorsey, a student of Atlanta Metro. “I do try and eat healthy but the whole no meat thing might take some work.”

                         Photo courtesy of www.atlantavegfest.com logo crafted by Steph Timms, a vegan graphic designer

           

Atlanta Veg Fest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support our community and to promote the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle founded in compassion for animals, people, and the environment.

The Atlanta Veg Fest was held Saturday November 7^th, 2015 in the Easley Conference Pavilion.  Many vendors supportive of the vegan movement came to back this cause.

                                                                                         Photo courtesy of www.medicinenet.com Vegetarian and Vegan Diet

            “I think its definitely exciting learning about the vegan world,” says Jamie Kellam Atlanta Metro English tutor. “This will give the students at Atlanta Metro an opportunity to learn about other options for a healthier lifestyle.”

            There were many opportunities to experience the vegan life at the Atlanta Veg Fest.  This festival was organized for every person in the family, vegan or not.

            The PlantBuilt athletes took the stage to show their dynamism in being vegan and a body builder. Other seminars range from “Animal Protection is Human Protection,” by Dr. Aysha Akhtar, “Eating Vegan on a Food Stamp Budget,” and “I Cant Live Without Cheese and Other Myths about Living Vegan.”  These seminars help with reducing the vegan is boring or has no flavor myth. Or the ever-so-popular veganism is for hippies.

            “I thought the body builders from PlantBuilt were pretty cool,” said Naim Scott, an Atlanta Metro student who took off of work to attend the festival. “I’ve been thinking about the vegan thing but I was honestly scared to, I’m so used to meat and other products I don’t know how hard it’ll be to stray away from meat and other stuff.”

           

            The doors opened at 10 a.m. closing at 5 p.m. for a full day of activities and sights for all ages and different levels of commitment from the vegan community of Atlanta.  There were also round table discussions involving Vegan consumerism, Grassroots activism, and Vegan nutrition.

            The first 300 guest received a goodie bag full of various coupons and samples from of the sponsors who range from Sevanada Food Store in Little Five Points to Soul Vegetarian Restaurant in the West End. The festival only asked in return for a $5-dollar donation at the door, but patrons were not turned away if they didn’t have a donation.

            “The goodie bag was a delight!” said Sherry Newsome, a seasoned Atlanta Metro student. “Even though I’m not a vegan my doctor told me to eat healthier so I’m here to find new ways of eating better for my health.”

Photo courtesy of www.fiercefitfoodie.com

           

            Whether you choose veganism as a lifestyle choice for health or for environmental reasons, the promotion of being a vegan has its benefits.

            According to www.countinganimals.com, each vegetarian saves more than 25 land animals each year.

“Becoming a vegan was one of the single most liberating experiences of my life,” says Kevin. “I am healthier, more vibrant and I feel closer to the animals by helping save their livelihood.”

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Book Release Brings Change to Atlanta Metropolitan By C.S.Steele

            From the executive boardroom of Georgia Pacific and Medtronic, to grasping the feat of writing a book, H. James Dallas bring his informative book for leaders to the square of Atlanta Metropolitan State College.

Dallas joins Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the Student center in October 2015 for the release of his descriptive first book entitled “Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change.”

           

                                                                                               Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

                                    The cover of James Dallas’ new book

            “I think it’s a great opportunity for the students and the faculty, it’s a book everyone should read and I wanted the leaders of my faculty to be a part of this book,” said Dr. Gary A. McGaha, president of Atlanta Metro.

            Leading the way to change seems to be the talk to the town lately. The current POTUS, President Barack Obama, used the change initiative to lead his presidential campaign back in 2008. More recently, change has been on the minds of many Americans with the forefront of deadly violence against minorities by authoritative figures.

            Change does not just occur in politics or social injustices, but also in the workplace.

            “Workers also need to be able to synthesize disparate ideas in order to make cognitive leaps that underline innovation,” said Judith Heerwagen ph.d of Heerwagen & Associates. (https://www.wbdg.org/resources/chngorgwork.php)

            Dallas is a polished senior executive with an extensive background in international and domestic corporate structures.

Dallas has victoriously completed over 10 transformational turnaround initiatives, 15 acquisition integrations, and five operations/quality-shared centers.

            “It’s so exciting having someone of his stature bring his enlightenment to Atlanta Metro,” said Melanie Turner, a 3-year student of Atlanta Metro.

                                                                                                                                     Photo courtesy of James Dallas  Medtronic, Inc. Executive profile                                    
                 He served on the management team at Medtronic, Inc., as senior vice president of quality, operations and IT.

          Prior to 2006, Dallas was the vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

"I do plan on getting the book because I plan to be an entrepreneur so I know this book will help me achieve my goals,” said Tailor Robinson a business major at Atlanta Metro.                                                              

Most management books refer to studies conducted at major companies. The difference between those and Dallas’ book is he gives live testimony of his experiences.

He has laid out personal experiences and the application of that knowledge in his forward thinking book.

“I think that it’s important to hear testimony in a book, especially when you want to do the same thing the person you’re reading about has already conquered.” said Patrice Jordan a housewife and entrepreneur who travelled from Howell Mill Rd to the event.  “It really helps to know that you’re not alone when trying to become a better leader.”

Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change gives a glance at the senior executive’s challenges and experiences with large-scale companies.

Dallas constructs his first book in four main parts: priorities, politics, people, and perseverance. He discloses his own trials and tribulations in dealing with being a leader.

“I’ll definitely read this book over and over again, with his track record I believe in his work ethic,” said Tanisha Gambel, Atlanta Metropolitan business student.

                                                                                                        
Photo courtesy of Google.com

Atlanta Metropolitan State College new student center

            This book lays out how executives of all levels become distracted and trip, so to speak, over the hurdles of becoming a top-level executive.  He promotes difficult and progressive behavior necessary for the workplace.

            Dallas also combats how to sustain change through communication and comprehensive practices. The book also details how to engage with people up and down the corporate ladder.

            “He has constantly proven himself, I’ve seen articles on him and his successes in the corporate machine, his track record speaks volumes to me, says Patrice Jordan. “Anyone who is named one of the most successful black men in America has something to say and I’m going to listen.”

            This book has been named an effective reference guide for up and coming leaders for change in the workplace by countless journalists and executives.

            Dallas has a “coaching moment” at the end of each chapter for readers to refer to important sections and remember profound text in the book.

            “I grew up around here, I love this area,” says Dallas. “I wanted to bring something positive to the school to uplift everyone in the school. This book isn’t just for executives, its for students and faculty to achieve success.”

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