Thursday Today's Teen: Brooklyn Williams

The Thursday Today's Teen is a special way to to recognize the legacy of our black community. The realm of social media and the changing climate of our economy presents many challenges for our youth and teens. We are proud of Your Black World that has a future generation of leaders who are taking incredible steps for the next level of their lives and beyond. This last Thursday Today's Teen in the month of May is Brooklyn Williams.

TEEN BIO:Brooklyn Williams is currently a high school senior at two schools that are two thousand miles apart from one another. Her original high school is on the Northeast and the second is in the Southwest parts of the US. Brooklyn's father; a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force (USAF) received an assignment at a USAF military installation in Texas. Brooklyn was torn as a junior in high school about remaining in New York where she grew up with friends from elementary school. Most teens would probably relish the thought of not having parental supervision but Brooklyn took a closer look at her options. She recognized after a visit to the high school in Texas; during the Thanksgiving holiday break that the class sizes were a lot smaller and offered more hands-on instruction than the large over crowded classrooms with "stressed-out" teachers she attended in New York.

Brooklyn reflected on how she wanted to attend college but lacked certain critical academic study habits and skills. She made a decision to leave her impressive tenure as an all-star athlete which included, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and lacrosse. In Brooklyn's eyes, the awards from school, press she received from the local newspaper, and good prospect to become the recipient of an athletic scholarship could not come close to how she felt about being a mediocre student. Brooklyn knew her critical thinking, reasoning, reading and comprehension, and kinetic skills were sub-par. So, she enrolled at the high school in Texas , took a break from sports, and eventually became an award-winning honor roll student.

Brooklyn, found out through her high school counselor in Texas that her prayers were answered, to take her final semester of classes as a high school senior in New York and still be able to graduate in Texas. Basically, Brooklyn took advantage of The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (ICEOMC); a cooperative effort among 27 states in the US to work with military children regarding, the administrative, transferring of records, and related needs through a more efficient process to help with the progressive and academic development of students in the US.

FUTURE PLANS: Brooklyn was recently accepted into SUNY DELHI located in Delhi, NewYork. http://www.delhi.edu/ as a freshmen student for Fall 2011. She is planning to pursue her passion and love of animals by becoming a certified NYS Veterinary Science Technician. She is an advocate of animal rights and wants to open her own rescue and safe haven for animals. She is also the excellent care giver to her family pets, Sammie, Tex, and Quest; whom were all rescued homeless puppies in Texas now living in New York. Go Team Brooklyn!

Leslie Detouche is a certified literary concierge and freelance writer based in New York. Her website and facebook page will be coming this summer 2011. Please join the Your Black World Coalition at www.yourblackworld.com.

Friday Flash Feature: Eric Legette of Fathers With Voices

Photo: Chimovement

Leslie Detouche reports:

The Friday Flash Feature shines a spotlight on a person or group that is accomplishing various personal or professional goals in the black community. From starting a business venture, buying a home to advocating a worthy cause; we have a heritage that is rich with impeccable tradition of numerous trailblazers. We are proud of Your Black World that is overflowing with ordinary people doing extraordinary things. This third Friday Flash Feature in the month of May will be: Eric Legette of Fathers With Voices.

FLASH BIO: This coming June marks the 15th year celebration of service for Fathers With Voices. The President and Founder, Eric Legette of Fathers With Voices started the program in June 1996 and was the first client. "To this date trying to obtain visitation rights for my daughter was the most traumatic and gut wrenching experience of my life." Eric was awarded his visitation rights after seven months of litigation and made a vow to God to help other fathers. The mission of Fathers With Voices is to provide support and guidance to fathers during the family court process.

To celebrate 15 years of service, Eric Legette is giving 100 fathers the chance to receive personal consultation, guidance, insight and support for six months as well as giveaways of his book "Closing the Curtain on Baby Mama Drama," and motivational CD/DVD/VHS tapes of nationally recognized motivational speaker Mr. Les Brown and other related speakers.

Eric Legette states, "When I started Fathers With Voices, I had no idea I would be doing it this long," said Legette in a humble tone. "The strength of Fathers With Voices is the fact that I have experienced many of the hardships my clients face, so I am able to relate to their pain." Moreover, it is also my job to instill belief to dispel the myth that Fathers have no rights within the {system} and Fathers With Voices continues to succeed in breaking down that myth."

SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOUR BLACK WORLD AUDIENCE:

WHO: Eric Legette, Founder and President of Fathers With Voices
WHAT: FREE Tele-conference call with question/answer session
WHEN: Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST.
WHERE: Dial-in number: 605.477.3000 Access code: 852357#
WHY: To provide info about Fathers With Voices success stories.

Eric Legette has provided advice of fathers' rights on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and The Michael Baisden Show. For more information and events about Fathers With Voices contact: 336.899.6941 or visit website at http://www.fatherswithvoices.info-not.com.

Leslie Detouche is a certified literary concierge and freelance writer based in New York. Her website and facebook page will be coming summer 2011. Please join the Your Black World Coalition at www.yourblackworld.com.

Full Scholarships for Black Girls Rock Summer Camp Opportunity

The possibilities are endless in a world where Black Girls Rock! This summer Beverly Bond, the Founder and Executive Director of Black Girls Rock, Inc. will launch the Queens' Camp: For Leadership & Excellence designed for girls of color ages 12-17. All accepted participants will be awarded full scholarships to attend the 2011 Queens' Camp made possible through the generous support of private donors and corporate sponsors.

Beverly Bond states, "Our goal is to foster the participants intentional pursuit of excellence, integrity, self-discipline and collective accountability so that they are prepared to be sound leaders in academics, creative & performing arts, public service and civic engagement," Queens' Camp aims to promote a youth culture of excellence by providing the intellectual support and social skills necessary to uphold important qualities such as self-confidence, social development and active leadership.

QUEENS' CAMP DETAILS

**WHO: Black Girls Rock, Inc.
**WHAT: 2011 Queens' Camp: For Leadership & Excellence
**WHEN: July 16-30, 2011
**WHERE: Ramapo located in Rhinebeck, New York
**WHY: To highlight the importance of global sisterhood, teamwork, community building, communications, problem solving, self reflection, leadership and healthy decision-making.

The application deadline is June 3, 2011. Through a highly selective application process, Black Girls Rock will accept female applicants from diverse socio-economic and geographic backgrounds for the overnight camp opportunity, who exhibit strong leadership qualities, high moral character and excellent academic standing.

For more information about the Queens' Camp schedule and to download an application, please visit http://www.blackgirlsrockinc.com/ or call 718.789.ROCK!


Leslie Detouche is a certified literary concierge and freelance writer based in New York. Please join the Your Black World Coalition at www.yourblackworld.com.