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Is Reaching out to a New Generation!

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Is Reaching out to a New Generation! The Michigan Banner November 1, 2014 Volume 11 • Number 19 First Great Lakes Bay Regional Newspaper Celebrating 11 years of Positive News! Leading in Diversity “Empowering Communities and Changing Lives” “Gentlemen of Quality” is Reaching Out to a New Generation! Who would have known that a young man from this stereotypical, disparaging background A Great Success! would become the riveting, prolific leader that he P 3 is today. Lorenzo Pierson has impressed many and shocked most. Not because of his many achievements or popularity, but by his ability to reach, to innovate and to inspire many, while he champions many noble causes, with nothing but mere initiative and a ‘GO’ from God. Pierson graduated from Delta College with an Associates in General Studies and an Associates Community Sharing... in Arts. He then graduated from Saginaw Valley P LB1 State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree where he majored in Communications and Political Science. He is a proud member of Mt. Olive Institutional Baptist Church where Pastor Marvin T. Smith is Senior Pastor. Lorenzo is best known by most as a concert and event promoter. As the C.E.O. of LP Lorenzo Pierson,CEO Entertainment, a promotion and film company, Congratulations Youth Empowerment Solutions he has organized and promoted nearly a hundred P 12 events, bringing artists such as Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Leandria Johnson, Mighty Clouds “If you live long enough, you’ll make mis- of Joy, Lee Williams and many, many more to the takes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a Saginaw area. His events, shows and concert are better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not famed to always be sold-out or to capacity. how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, Pierson is also the founder of the ‘Gospel never quit, never quit.” Fest’ an annual Gospel concert in the park event, ~ Lorenzo Pierson, and the founder and organizer of “School is Cool.” Author, Speaker, Community Leader & CEO Stepping on Up! This is an event where more than a thousand children receive free back packs full with school supplies. P 15 By Gail Clarke His most recent accomplishment is becom- Saginaw - What are the ingredients that ing a top selling new author. In January of 2013, make a leader? Is it being a product of inner-city he released his first two books, “Black is Not My life while experiencing first-hand the gruesome Favorite Color” and “Standing Strong in the Midst challenges of facing the violence of the streets? of the Storm.” In the summer of 2014, Lorenzo Being raised by a single mother, never knowing released a game changing five books on the same your father? Experiencing incarceration? Losing day, along with two documentary films: “Black everything? Are these the foundations that create Men Matter and Black Women Matter.” Politics Section a leader? SEE Page 2, Gentlemen of Quality P 18 November 1, 2014 His universal male adults, but no such established mentoring message touches hearts program existed or was tailored to the and engages minds of all grooming and steering of this younger age ages and backgrounds. male group. Overcoming obstacles “I didn’t have a dad in the house,” and transforming Pierson said as he announced the initiative, adversity into victory Gentlemen of Quality, to help black youth. have defined Lorenzo’s “And I was angry about it, even though I didn’t inspiring life story. necessarily realize it at the time. I made some Through his poor decisions as a youth. I didn’t always take personal experience of school as seriously as I should have. I knew I turning trial into triumph, had the ability to be whatever I desired to, but I Pierson learned, “it is used my circumstances as excuses.” not what happens to Remembering how much he needed you…. it’s what you do mentorship and guidance at that age, he about it!” He speaks at thought to himself, “If we can arrest them universities, public and now with love, direction, wisdom and private schools, acceptance we can keep them out of jail and churches and many non- thus developing tomorrow’s leaders, building profit organizations. a strong community.” According to Pierson, as C.E.O. of Just recently Youth Empowerment Solutions Inc. young speaking at Saginaw black males face many more difficult Valley State University, challenges today than yesterday. There are Pierson is headed to no programs that completely address the Baltimore Community issues young black males face in Saginaw College next week, and County. In Pierson’s top selling book “Black then off to New York, is not my favorite color” research shows and finally back to shocking statistics about black males. Saginaw, where he will • 54% of African Americans graduate be honored November 1, from high school, compared to more than 2014 by the Women’s three-quarters of white and Asian students. Progressive Club of • Nationally, African American male Saginaw and presented students in grades K-12 were nearly 2½ times with the Frederick as likely to be suspended from school in Douglas Award. He has 2000 as white students. accomplished so much; • In 2007, nearly 6.2 million young one would think he people were high school dropouts. Every should be ready to student who does not complete high school slow down now. But in costs our society an estimated $260,000 in Gentlemen of Quality...Cont. from Page 1 reality, Lorenzo Pierson has only just begun. lost earnings, taxes, and productivity. The five books are: Lorenzo is the C.E.O. of Youth • On average, African American twelfth- • “Why Women Love Men Who Hurt Them” Empowerment Solutions, Y.E.S. A non-profit grade students read at the same level as • “When is Daddy Coming Home?” agency that provides mentoring, education white eighth-grade students. • “Someone to Look Up To” and prevention programs for youth in Saginaw • The twelfth-grade reading scores of • “Breakfast in Bed” County. He works with Shareka Martin who African American males were significantly • “Blacks in Public Schools” is the Chief Financial Officer of Y.E.S. The lower than those for men and women across Authorship propelled Pierson into a two of them joined forces with the same goal every other racial and ethnic group. career as a Motivational Speaker, where he in mind for Y.E.S. “Empowering Youth” • Only 14% of African American eighth flourishes and is now one of the youngest, Transforming Lives” Making A Difference.” graders score at or above the proficient level. most avidly sought after speakers in the US, Under the umbrella of Y.E.S., he has These results reveal that millions of young sharing his invigorating life story with many, formed Gentlemen of Quality for young people cannot understand or evaluate text, challenging them to choose to be their best African American males’ grades 6th through provide relevant details or support inferences on a daily basis despite what challenges 12th. He realized that there were programs about the written documents they read. may come. that address the mentoring needs of young SEE Page 4, Gentlemen of Quality November 1, 2014 The Michigan Black Caucus has 10th Annual Fundraising Dinner L-R: Amos O’Neal, Saginaw Mayor Pro Tem, Lois 32nd District Senate Candidate, Allen Richardson, MBC-LEO President, Don Snider, Ken Horn and Veronica Horn, Entrepreneur, Brenda Moore, Saginaw Council Member, with Michigan Black Caucus Attendees Mark Fancher, Attorney, ACLU - Courtesy Photo - Courtesy Photo L-R: BV Township Manager, Dexter A. Mitchell, L-R: Saleem Mannan and Jerome Buckley, Tammy Mitchell, and George Taylor, Area Sales The Michigan Banner Publisher Manager for Siemens - Courtesy Photo - Courtesy Photo The Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials had its 10th Annual Fundraising Dinner in October, 2014, in Saginaw. The event was a great success with dozens of people in attendance. Speakers were Lois Allen Richard, MBC-LEO President and Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Ypsilanti; Saginaw Council Member Amos O’Neal, 2nd Vice President and Fundraising Chair for MBC-LEO; Mark Fancher, staff attorney of racial justice for the ACLU; and Don Snider, entrepreneur and author. Proceeds of the event went to the Kayla Foundation, which aims to put defibrillators in Michigan schools. The purpose of the Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (MBC-LEO) is to provide a forum for its members to collaborate, network, coach, mentor, share information, and provide support to one another in the State of Michigan. The Caucus works in cooperation with the Michigan Municipal League (mml.org). Member- ship of MBC – LEO is comprised of local elected officials and municipal staff members and associ- ates in the State of Michigan. For more information about MBC-LEO go to www.mbc-leo.org. In This Issue The Michigan Black Caucus ...................................................................... Page 3 The Latino Banner ............................................................................... LB 1 - LB 4 Business.....................................................................................................Page 11 Political Section ........................................................................................ Page 18 NAACP Editorial ....................................................................................... Page 25 The Michigan Banner Page 4 First Great Lakes Bay Regional Newspaper November 1, 2014 Gentlemen of Quality...Cont. from Page 2 men as a whole. Gentlemen of Quality, and an extensively Community These young men will become positive long waiting list. leaders among their peers with a powerful On Tuesday, November 18 through impact. The movement is intended to in- November 21, all forty-five male youth, crease, encourage, and support the inclusion parents and staff will take a trip to Washington and educational success of under-represented D.C. “GQ” will visit and tour the Nation’s groups in education, in particular black males. Capital, Georgetown University, and Historical All programs and activities of the Museums.
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