Dr. Adia Winfrey, known to many as “Dr. Dia” is a Hip Hop scholar who holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. She has a lifelong relationship with the Hip Hop culture and is fascinated with its ability to not only express emotion, but heal and ultimately transform lives. Growing up in a racially mixed town outside of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Dia “received messages from all sides that rap was BAD.

“This always hurt me, because I loved the culture so much, and I wanted the rest of America to recognize the genius of it. I made a vow early on in my high school career, to speak out about the positive aspects of rap music, which I did in the classroom, and at the church I grew up in, Gilt Edge Baptist Church,” she said.

Today, Dr. Dia has granted G360 an exclusive interview about her program HYPE (Healing Young People through Empowerment) and why she believes the hallmark program will be key to transforming and healing the lives of African-American males and hip-hop lovers.

G360: Dr. Dia, thank you taking time to join us and sharing your story with our audience.

Dr. Dia: Thanks for having me.

G360: Let’s talk about HYPE and why you believe it is so important for teens and young men of this generation.

Dr. Dia: Well, HYPE is a program formed out of my understanding of Hip-Hop as a form of art and therapy. It is a workshop formatted in a group setting using Hip Hop lyrics to create dialogue and discussion between the facilitator and participants.

G360: Do you find it hard for kids to open up in therapy sessions?
Dr. Dia:  You would be surprised to learn that the kids are open in almost every session. In some of the sessions, some kids have opened up and immediately talked about thoughts of suicide, their family life, their feelings about gangs and more. We primarily work on them being able to see beyond (the immediate gratification of) today. We talk about where ideas come from, how we process our thoughts and what their perceptions of the world are.

G360: How long have you worked on this project?

Dr. Dia: I have grown with the process for more than 6 years now. The project has drawn a lot on my determination. I can say that this experience has been a blessing all the way. I started the program in grad school and got a lot of positive feedback from my professors, peers and clients. Nearly everyone embraced the project and supported my effort to do it. The most challenging experience I had came in doing my clinical research at a local juvenile detention center. There were staff members and naysayer’s who stereotyped me, the program and the kids to be their vision of what society crafted. Black men are stereotyped to be angry, rappers, violent drug dealers and athletes. Society has further stereotyped rap music as an identifying genre of what black men represent holistically – and it’s not the truth.

I remember one instance where a staff member insinuated I was producing gang material and gang signs by having the picture of Tupac and other well known rappers on the cover of my workshop book. My first thought was, “how do you create gang signs with eyes? It was just a collection of pictures of rappers.” I upgraded the book cover by integrating pictures of well known African-American leaders like Malcom-X and Martin Luther King just to see what her response would be this time. I heard nothing else from her.

G360: I bet! What does the future of HYPE look like?

Dr. Dia: I am looking forward to working and connecting with (socially conscious) artists and poets who believe in helping to restore our youths. We all have a part to play in this process. My primary goal right now is to work with underground/unsigned artist who haven’t made that big breakthrough so they will be able to work with the kids at a grassroots level. The partnership could be a learning process that’s beneficial for everyone involved.

G360: Now you love Hip-Hop and is are using it to empower young men through HYPE. At any time does it make you uncomfortable to be a woman teaching this type of curriculum?

Dr. Dia: Hip-Hop grew up with me, so many of the kids are surprised that I know so much about the art. Using Hip-Hop as a tool to educate, train and coach would seem most natural for me because it is a part of who I am – even as a woman.

G360: In your brochure, you emphasized the importance of mentoring. Why is this component so important to you?

Dr. Dia: In the midst of my research, I found parent involvement of any kind improved how the child responded to the program. I also found that after kids are motivated to change their life or realize they have the potential to do so, they don’t have a mentor to walk them through the “how” process. This transition process was especially important to me in undergraduate school. A Psychology professor of mine walked me through the process of graduate school nearly a year before I was graduating with my bachelors degree. If she were not there to help me understand the ropes, I may not be where I am today. The same applies for HYPE participants. Our kids will be trained for a year by our staff and then connected with a mentoring program in their community that will help them grow to the next level.

G360: Mentoring is very key in the growth and development process. How do you see HYPE as a tool for healing young men?

Dr. Dia: It is hard to do the right thing in general, not to mention added social pressure to be strong, intelligent and good natured. Healing is a layering process, so we need people around our clients who are both personable and professional. We need the balance. Our kids are hardwired and they are looking for a reason to live. We are always on the search for mentors who will take them to the next level. We are not interested in putting a band-aid on their scars – we want them to open up – heal and become stronger men. More teens are becoming fathers, and even worse –  fathers without a father figure. We want black men to find their place, be mentally/physically healthy and fluid. We can not talk about the behavior of a people without looking at their past and question why are they angry and fighting.

G360: Dr. Dia we can hear your passion and want to thank you for sharing this information with our audience.

Dr. Dia: You’re welcome. Thank you for having me.

H.Y.P.E. was born out of Dr. Dia’s lifelong love of Hip Hop, and desire to uplift Black youth. “It has been an honor and a blessing to talk to professionals about H.Y.P.E., and even more so to work with youth using the H.Y.P.E. curriculum. The overwhelmingly positive feedback I have received has been so encouraging, and it is my ultimate goal that H.Y.P.E. will be implemented everywhere there are Black youth whose voices need to be heard. ”

HYPE is currently being offered in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area and by special request in other locations. The HYPE curriculum can be purchased at http://www.africanamericanimages.com/AAI/New%20Releases.htm. For more information on HYPE or Dr. Dia visit www.letsgethype.com!

“In order to live you must die,” Al said.

Nearly 21 years ago, Al’s bowel was nicked after undergoing a planned cesarean section at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in LA. Doctor’s gave her only 72 hours to live and encouraged her to make the final arrangement for her burial. Digging beyond the doctor’s report, Al knew her time was not over and God’s plan for her life was just beginning.

“It was in those moments I learned to clearly hear God’s voice and He encouraged me to truly embrace the person he was making me,” Al said.

She was determined that God would have the final say. She would live! Yet, what would it mean? Al detailed the number of times she spent running away from herself and everything God was taking her to.

“There were days I wanted to just to pay someone to take the nasal/twang out of my voice. I didn’t like it. I wanted to sound like Aretha Franklin. I was also afraid that the music coming out of me would not be accepted by the church because it didn’t sound like 11’oclock Sunday morning (music),” she said. “I was not able to fully accept myself and my gift because it did not fit in the mode I was born into.”

Raised in a predominately “gospel” upbringing and gospel/spiritual background, Al has more than 47 preachers and pastors in her family bloodline.

“I never wanted to be an urban country gospel singer, but it is the gift God gave me. It is His will for my life and I had to embrace it.” “God said in order for you to embrace your call you must wrap your entire arms around it. Give me yourself cheerfully.”

The Urban Country Gospel sound combines the best elements of Gospel, Country, R&B and Pop. It is a unique musical combination of gentle funk with a driving but subtle bass beat; the twang of sweet steel guitar and a groove that’s new yet familiar. This sound did not come easy to Al. The beginning road to this place would be marked by Al’s near death experience which lead to a deep transformational process of embracing herself in all God was getting ready to take her through.

MENTORS

Living past the first 72 hours was enough for Al to celebrate, yet she knew a new level of death would have to be experienced before she would really live again.

“God saved me for a reason and I would be a fool to continue to waste it on doing what I want to do.” Over the next several years, Al slowly recovered and began to sing again. She was beginning to gain ground.  In that time, entertainment legends such as Louis Gosett Jr., The Williams Brothers and Stevie Wonder begin to surround her and support the new sound emerging from her vocal chords.

“Stevie told me…’work on it until it feels good to you’ and create a different sound so people will not be able to put your music in a box,” Al said.“(Stevie Wonder) was a mentor to me and he made me feel like I could make good decisions about my music. God used him to bring out what I never knew existed.”

Gaining a new sense of confidence in herself and her new sound, Al began to truly live again. God was in the midst of her tears and cheers. Instead of holding back her sound, she spent several years documenting her experiences and perfecting the music, which lead to the compilation of more than 50 songs.

“Everything I experienced or went through I created into a song. I realized what we are trying to get rid of is what God is trying to use,” Al said.

“In this time, I realized my music could not be constrained to Sunday morning, but it needed to be tool for healing in our everyday lives. That is what Urban Country Gospel represents – Our everyday walk in this life with God and our fight to live even when we feel like we want to give up and die.”

A NEW LIFE

Al’s dual singles “Stand Still” and “Holy Is the Only Way” is now playing on radio stations across the nation. The debut record is available on Xodust Word & Music/Thank You Entertainment distributed byFontana/Universal Music Group.

“Urban Country Gospel is easy listening. Everything on the project people will be able to relate to. If you believe in something go for it and don’t let anyone stop you. Also, know God for yourself and he will give you life,” Al said.

Urban Country Gospel will be around for a while and so will Al Mac Will. She lives her life to the fullest with God and is now changing the lives of others through music in a way she could have never imagined.

“I’m not just a music artist. I am a servant being used as an instrument to tell you about what is possible.” “Your life is a gift — use it to glorify God and empower the lives of others.”

…. has known all of her life that she wanted to make a difference, but the level of impact she would make would soon exceed her wildest dreams.

“Kids are having kids and SOMEONE needs to tell them that (life) is going to be okay,” Marsha shared with Gospel360online. “Most young people do not have someone to guide them and their (character/behavior) is getting out of control.”

Marsha’s heart for a dying generation and sheer determination to push past life’s hardest trials has created a woman ready to fight for what’s right. In this exclusive interview, the life coach and family/youth educator shares how she triumphed through a life past foster care, being blessed with parents who cared and why it is so important for us to reach a lost generation of youth.

Marsha Clarke-Everett started her life in transition after being given up for adoption at the age of three months. Her life was normal yet she always found herself battling rebellious behavior, while also helping people with issues. In moments of self discovery, Marsha found she had a deep fascination with the criminal justice system and set her sights on becoming a prosecutor. Her plans were set! She would graduate from high school, attend Florida A&M University and major in Criminal Justice. Finishing the program, she would then enlist in the military.

“How many of you know that life does not work the way I want it to work. God’s plan is not ours,” Marsha said.”  Instead she landed a job in the foster care system as a family educator. “I was able to see how poorly the system was set up in regards to reuniting a child with its family. Their efforts were poor.”

From that position, Marsha moved into teaching at an alternative school for 6 to 8^th graders. In her term at the academy, she strayed away from traditional methods of teaching and instead focused on behavior modification techniques and learning how to integrate oneself into mainstream society. A deeper level of understanding would come for Marsha in accepting a new position as a life coach for an all boys aftercare program.

“It seemed like I was always drawn to people with problems and I knew I had what it took to help them – I just didn’t realize that helping them was called life coaching. If I did not get a dime (life coaching) is what I would do. When I am coaching there is always a lesson for me as well. I need to practice what I preach,” Marsha said.

Since the aftercare program, Marsha moved to Maryland and it is where she has been for the past 17 years with her husband and daughter – working in many public sectors, including the prison system and with the federal government.

“Right now, I am working on a program that would allow juveniles to be exposed to a life coaching program as a part of their community reunification. I believe it will make the difference between them being on the street or changing their lives for something even better,” Marsha said.

“I have a heart for helping people and transforming lives in both kids and adults. I love working with children because it offers a glimpse of hope that things can be better. I also believe the community and our churches need to do better with guidance and working with all populations.”

Failure is a welcomed option for Marsha who embraces her imperfections, but has the heart to learn from her mistakes and get back in the game.

“We are human. The only way to know how to get something right is to fail at it first.  It’s all about making a commitment. Say to yourself, “I know I have to make this work… don’t leave a lot of jiggle room for procrastination – make it work! See what commitment feels like you. Often times we put ourselves in a mental state of failure. Set out to do what you want and just do it,” Marsha advised.

Making it in life requires tools, resources and experience. Education may top the list for many, but Marsha says if you want the most out of life just do what you love.

“I know a lot of educated fools. There is some validity in having degrees, don’t get me wrong – you need credentials. It has its place. However, God cares about none of this stuff,” Marsha said. “Most leaders have a heart for people and are able to drive in that passion and change lives.”

This motivational mogul in the making is starting small waves of change right where she is. Marsha believes understanding people through authentic relationship, being active in the community and using the resources of local agencies are essential if true change is to occur with both youths and adults.

“What I would like to see is in the community is more transitional housing and shelters. Youth getting counseling with a majority of skills sets being built around life skills and principles,” Marsha said.

She also envisions having a Purpose Driven Life Coaching Center in every state in addition to creating a trade school/academy that teaches principled centered living. Marsha’s life hasn’t been a crystal staircase, but she admits that the person she has become and will continue to grow into was founded in a base of supportive foster parents.

“I was adopted at three months old, and my parents raised me to be and do what I wanted to do. Even though I was a very rebellious child, they still hug in there with me and never gave up on my ability to make it. Because of their patience and constant belief in me – I do not put any restrictions on who I can become.”

At heart, Marsha is a down to earth change agent who is trusted by her peers, open, warm and real. It’s time to get it in and win for 2010 and Coach Marsha is ready to help you make that move.

“What you see is what you get! I tell all of my clients both young and old to put your action steps into practice and God will send people to guide and help you along the way. Come along with me for the journey – God never disappoints.”

Marsha Clarke-Everett is a Certified Christian Life Coach who specializes in Transformational Coaching and moving individuals from ordinary to extraordinary. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University and an MBA from National Louis University. For more information about Coach Marsha visit her blog Purpose Driven Life Coaching.

Rod “Success Coach” Kirby defines himself as an innovative entrepreneur who is finally getting things right. As editor and chief of “The Success Center at www.rodkirby.com, Rod holds on to his faith in God, while also following several key principles that has taken him from one level to the next. In this exclusive interview, Rod shares his hard learned lessons, while explaining why it is important for him to stay in purpose and sharing key principles to maintaining business success.

G360: What is the best thing about being in “this position?”

RK: I have never been in this position before – it is a new place and (creating the blog) is the best thing I have ever done.

Several years prior to the launch of his website, Rod served as a graphic designer. A high school mentor taught him about foundation and understanding your craft. “He taught me key principles to business success that I still use today,” Rod said. With a desire to explore other career options, Rod began to research new ways to reinvent himself and  came across the emerging concept of blogging. In his heart, Rod knew blogging would be an innovative way to generate additional income, while also connecting with people who could use his services. He decided to transition from graphic design, but he wanted to enter the game with a win-win deal for all parties involved. He launched the blog for a period of time and then scheduled a re-launch effort in March 2009. Rod researched blogging and social networking to gain new skills and resources in his budding craft, while creating a timeline to implement his plan. In these moments, Rod was in the heart of his new entrepreneurial journey.

RK: The old Rod use to gather (get rich quick) ideas to hustle up money for the moment. Creating The Success Center was a “God idea” – this site would be used to help me and someone else.

In the midst of the transition, Rod faced internal obstacles of procrastination, fear, a push to be consistent and constant thoughts of NOT wanting to go broke in the transition process.

G360: How were you able to make it through the rough days?

RK: My faith in God and being consistent in the idea of not being rich or famous, but making a difference in the lives of other people. In creating the site, my finances were not fluid and I kept thinking, “How are you going to show people how to make money and you are not rich?” I came to the conclusion that, God uses people where they are. Often times, (in the beginning of this process) I did not know the answer to the questions people had. Instead of trying to say just anything, I focused on being honest and helping them by sharing the resources I had.

The road for Rod is growing broader daily as he provides a full serving of guest editorial columns, interesting tools/resources for business growth, tutorial videos, video spotlights and valuable advice to the number of friends and business associates who has joined Rodkirby.com. His website building strategy was untraditional as he focused on “not doing everything at one time” and not immediately concentrating on gaining advertising revenue. The transition is getting fluid and Rod has found himself adding more products and services to the site, including business coaching and audio books.

G360: When you are coaching others what do you find most interesting about the experience?

RK: When I talk to people and coach them, God speaks to and through me. Everything I say to someone it serves as a reflection. (So, what is for them is also for me and vice versa).

The road to success can sometimes be hard, as many people find themselves giving in to failure and doubt. Over the past year, Rod has encountered many that have faced failure and give up on their dreams — rarely looking to learn from their mistakes and position themselves for a new opportunity to move forward.

G360: So, Rod how can people move on from failure. How would you define it?

RK: Failure is dream or vision unused. If there is something you feel strongly about – Do it! Not doing what you want to do is failure. It’s like being in the baseball game and not stepping to plate to swing the bat. (You have to get in the game if you want to play.

Playing in the game is essential as so many business professionals are looking to strike a balance between action and preparation. Preparation through education has served as a hallmark of accomplishment for many who want to achieve the best that life has to offer. Yet many entrepreneurs and business owners find themselves sometimes confused as to the direction they should follow when going after their dreams.

G360: Rod, what is your perspective on education and the role it plays in entrepreneurship and business success.

RK: Education is really important because it is designed to help you get a job. Education can train/prepare you (for what you will do), but it can’t help you to get there. You can only do (what you are called to do) by stepping out on faith and getting your hands dirty.

The road for Rod is just beginning as he maps out future plans for “The Success Center” to become a nationally syndicated and televised blog and talk show. He encourages people of all nationalities, creeds and cultures to stay inspired, informed, and to gain wisdom through reading and setting your goals high.

G360: Rod, what is your advice to people who want to excel in business success.

RK: Consistency and Excellence. Consistency brings people to you through awareness. Excellence reminds them (that what you have is) good stuff – and that will be sure to keep them around.”

“This place feels comfortable, and I know it can only get better. I am not going to get too comfortable because I know there is more to come,” Rod Kirby.

To learn more about Rod “Success Coach” Kirby or to access his audio books, business coaching services or business resources visit on www.rodkirby.com.

An Open Heaven

Wess recently gained quick success and is becoming increasingly popular for his ability to sing from the soul and render melodic sounds that ushers its listeners to a unique and unforgettable praise and worship experience. That practice is also coupled with his charismatic ability to share God’s word and his dynamic testimony with people in search of the truth regarding their life’s meaning and purpose.

It would seem that the grandeur of success and a heart to worship God came easy for Wess, but the glimmer that shines now was a distant fantasy to his original path of destruction and deep battle with alcohol and drug abuse.

The Beginning ….

As a youth, Wess traveled and sung gospel music along side his parents Pastors Joseph & Yolanda Morgan and his siblings. As his teen years loomed, Wess began to stray into a life of using and abusing drugs and alcohol. The addiction was devastatingly deep and Wess found himself in and out of jail, and drug recovery centers – pushing him away from a stable support system. A future filled with success (in God) during these times appeared dim for Wess as many were beginning to give up hope that he could be saved from this path of destruction. Yet, his close family and friends continued to pray and believe God for his complete and ultimate healing. Their prayers were getting ready to be answered.

In a final round of jail time, Wess found himself at wits end with life, cried out to God to save him in a major way and show him what it truly means to live a life in purpose. That moment marked the beginning of an uphill battle of late night tears, fighting through withdrawals, dependence on family and friends for emotional and spiritual support and most importantly a continued cry for God’s will to be perfected in his life.

A Change of Heart

Wess is moving in a new life with God and now wholeheartedly serves in his purpose, embracing his mission to be an agent of change.

G360: Why is it important for you to serve as an agent of change?

WM: I have been called to serve as a Christian role model, to contribute and find purpose. I have been placed (in this time and season) to become relevant to God’s people. I also have be positioned as an empathetic worshiper not only for myself, but to impart and share the double portion of anointing (through worship) with others around me.

G360: How has the concept of worship help to transform you as a person?

WM: We have Christ (meaning The Anointed One) within us. Christ is the anointing that resides within us. Worship is the atmosphere created to magnify the God in YOU. When you position yourself to worship God – that praise magnified and makes the God in you bigger than life. So in essence, worshiping Christ increases the anointing inside of you.

G360: So, why is it so important for you to promote the power of praise and worship through your sophomore album, Under an Open Heaven?

WM: In this season there is so much negativity in our economic system and society. The system is failing and it is affecting all of our lives in a major way.  You will only get engrossed in what you magnify — and whatever you magnify will manifest. I want to encourage people to take emphasis of what is wrong. Instead, take that attention and redirect that energy on Christ. He will begin to overwhelm the issue or problem you have. It is just like taking a magnifying glass and directing it on your personal worship experience – in those moments you will truly see God. God is so much bigger than everything that is wrong in life and this world.

Wess marked the start of his new mission by releasing “Look At Me Now,” under his own record label Bow World Music. His debut CD was quickly embraced by the Christian media industry who publicized his remarkable triumph with alcohol and drug recovery.
Making a Difference

Today, Wess Morgan is the founder of the Wess Morgan Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is focused on drug and alcohol prevention and recovery. The foundation works with other churches, government programs, civic and community centers near and far to help educate and steer youth away from the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse. Now, Wess is ready to give the world a new sound of worship through his sophomore album, “Under an Open Heaven,” featuring him and the Celebration of Life Church Choir where Wess serves as Senior Worship Leader and Associate Pastor.

G360: So, in making the CD, what was the most challenging moment and how did it help you grow as a person and worship leader?

WM: Well, anything moving has friction. I worked with different personalities and doing so is like operating a moving machine. The most challenging component to producing the CD was dealing with people. Sometimes people and personal agendas have a way of holding up the fluid process of plans and purpose. If a person holds their personal purpose above the common goal – friction occurs. It is when everyone can get on the same page – you will see things will move forward more efficiently, with limited chaos. In that effort, God is glorified.

G360: God does gain glory in unity. Outside of your purpose in the worship, you also created the Wess Morgan Foundation for at-risk youths battling drug abuse. Why was it important for you to create a non-profit organization for drug and alcohol prevention when so many programs of that nature already exist?

WM: My home life and background are different and unique, so I have a great panoramic view of most programs that exist. So much of the focus (in pre-existing programs) is about how not to get high or drink. Most 12-step programs teach principles – then people start burning incents to them. That is not true freedom. There is such a distinct difference between a program and God transforming your life and setting you free. Our concentration is primarily about focus. We encourage people to take ownership of their addiction and refocus on what is holding them back.

G360: So now that you have come into purpose, what advice do you have for others who want to overcome their barriers to serving God and be who He has called them to be?

The road is clearing for Wess and God’s work in and through him is just beginning. Overcoming triumph is about making a true personal choice to let go and do what it takes to move back to your true God nature. Wess lives everyday of his life pushing into God and magnifying his double portion of anointing across the nation through praise and worship music. The choice we make today will be the reality facing us tomorrow. Success never guarantees that new challenges will not arise.

G360: It would seem to the world that your story of triumph and overcoming is picture perfect now that you have returned to do a greater work. What challenges do you still contend with and how is it helping you to stay the course?

WM: The biggest challenge is paying for the consequences of bad choices made in the past. There are certain laws you can not break. When you make certain choices that threaten your destiny, there is still a price to be paid. When I got cleaned up it took me years to get clean. The harvest of bad seeds still came up from my past. But I was encouraged to work and continually refocus.

For more information about Wess Morgan or to purchase his CD, “An Open Heaven”  www.wessmorgan.com