Merri Pemberton

GC STYLE QUARTERLY SPECIAL EDITION SPRING 2013 featuring The Debut of the Global Message of Hope Project featuring participants from around the world to share how they are helping to change the world Special Commemoration of the 2013 Presidential Inauguration through Photography One Can Make A Difference Turn Your Weakness Into A Strength Become A Fighter With a Vision and Fueled with Love MAKING HISTORY AGAIN WE’LL CHANGE THE WORLD GC STYLE MAGAZINE Special Thank You To White House Press Office *Permission for usage of Inauguration Photography Senate Periodical Press Gallery and Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents Andrew Trimbee Former Editor of the First English Newspaper in the Gulf (Gulf Weekly Mirror) and the Author of The Inshallah Papers Cherylwonner Gardner Actress and Changemaker Rick Mizuno Percussionist and Host of Indies In Motion Radio Show (Los Angeles) Mark Humes U.S. Army Veteran and Founder of Paladin Radio Sam Lavey Fashion Designer and Co-Founder of Santina Manzione Scott Haskin Film Composer Contributing Composer for Songs for Sandy Hook (CD to benefit Sandy Hook families and community) Brandon Bennett Distributor, OrganoGold Coffee GC STYLE MAGAZINE www.gcrestproductions.com CONNECT WITH GC STYLE TODAY!- Cover Photo Credit: Hands Making Heart. Compliments of Gabriela González. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/gabrielaaa . Copyright 2013 GC Style Quarterly Magazine. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), for commercial purposes without the prior written permission of GC Style Quarterly Magazine. All images, media, and graphics in this magazine credited to other parties are also under copyright and cannot be used without the written permission of those named parties. Table of Contents The World Comes Together and Makes a Difference 6-7 History Was Made....Again! Commemorating President Barack Obamaʼs Second Inauguration through photography. 8-13 Becoming A Natural-Born Fighter With Vision Fueled By Divine Love Global Message of Hope by Merri Christi Pemberton, Recording Artist and Editor of GC Style. 16-17 One Can Make A Difference Global Message of Hope by Andrew Trimbee, World Renowned Journalist and Expert on Middle East Relations. 18-21 When High Fashion Creates A Vision To Change The World Global Message of Hope by Sam Lavey, Designer and Co-Founder of Santina Manzione. 22-24 Table of Contents continued ... Solider of Light Radio for Military Veterans Global Message of of Hope by Mark Humes, Founder of Paladin Radio and Military Veteran. 25-26 The Best Radio Show for Indie Artists Interview with RIck Mizuno, Host of Indies In Motion (Los Angeles) and former Percussionist for the Grammy Award-winning band The Captain and Tennille. 27-29 One Her Way To Hollywood and Changing Lives Global Message of Hope by Cherylwonner Gardner, Film and Television Actress. 30 Film Composer Uses Music toComfort Sandy Hook Families and Community Global Message of Hope by Scott Haskin, Film Composer. 31 Young Entrepreneurship and Its World Impact Global Message of Hope by Brandon Bennett, Young Entrepreneur and OrganoGold Distributor. 31 The World Comes Together and Makes a Difference. This is the most exciting magazine issue yet, as we focus on the people, entrepreneurs, and organizations who are using their time and energy to make a real difference in the world and also inspire us to change the world. Anyone can do something that will contribute to positive and even monumental change, but it starts with a vision. Every human being is blessed by God himself with the ability to dream and with the body to help make a vision come true. From Martin Luther King’s vision of a more equal society among all people and 14-year old Malala Yousafzai’s relentless vision and strength to stand up for education for girls in the midst of danger that threatened her own life to those who use art and music that speak peace and the Divine Visionary Passion of the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ when he broke the barrier that separated human and the Almighty God, which opened the door to experience the limitless Love of God; these acts took Vision and Love. Vision and Love breathes into Hope. In this special edition issue of GC Style Quarterly, we first start with a photographic commemoration of the second Inauguration of President Barack Obama including his participation in the National Day of Service activities, which demonstrate that all of us can do something to inspire Hope and bring monumental change to the world. We give a special thank you to the White House Press Office, who was gracious to share access to some of the official Inauguration photos with the magazine, so that we could provide awesome visuals of that Inauguration event and the history and inspiration that it will always carry. GC Style Quarterly Editor, Merri Christi Pemberton I am especially proud to present a project that I founded called the Global Message of Hope. This is a new project that literally brings the world together to make a real difference and inspire change in the world. We are using this magazine issue to feature people, businesses, and organizations from around the world who not only share their messages of hope for a better world, but they are actively using their work and activities to make it happen. Now some of you may say, “Well, don’t we have many other publications or media that have done similar projects where they show people who are doing great things for their communities?” The answer is “Yes”, but we are taking it further. The World Comes Together and Makes a Difference. The magazine selected individuals and entities to share their inspirational messages of hope and how they are contributing to making a meaningful change. Also the magazine’s advertising spaces became “cause-driven”, where businesses and organizations were given the opportunity to focus more on how they were contributing to a cause greater than the “financial bottom line” and their messages of hope. The money received from the advertising space sales are being donated to one or more of the four charities that we selected this year (See: Causes We Support at http://www.gcrestproductions.com/causes-wesupport.). The Global Message of Hope will not stop at just its introduction through the magazine. As some of you may know, I am a recording artist as well. This project will be integrated into some of my album and music projects, so that we can use music and entertainment to support worthwhile causes and further promote a true Message of Hope. I hope that you can join us as a Global Message of Hope participant in our future activities. For more information, please visit www.gcrestproductions.com . The world watched the second inauguration of the first African American President of the United States. Barack H. Obama was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2013. This day was also the national holiday celebrating the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The year 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s historical March on Washington. The turnout for those who were in Washington, D.C. to attend the event was 800,000 plus. Although lower than the 2009 inauguration turnout of President Obama (2009 turnout was 1.8 million), the event captured the excitement of a dramatically changing nation, which is experiencing a demographic shift and diversity growth like never before. The estimated 800,000+ actually made this Inauguration into the largest “second inaugural” ever according to the Associated Press. Following description and photo credit provided by the White House Press Office: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. First Lady Michelle Obama, holding a Bible that belonged to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Lincoln Bible, and daughters Malia and Sasha stand with the President. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert) I had the pleasure of being given the ticket to attend the Inauguration Swearing-In Ceremony to cover the event as a member of the press and assigned press credentials (my press pass) by the Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents (Washington, D.C.). This was a great honor for me, and I was “over the moon” excited to be part of this historical event to provide news coverage on behalf of the magazine’s special edition issue. Due to a travel delay, however, I was unable to attend the ceremony in person. I was crushed, but immediately I remembered the old saying “When one door closes, God opens a window” . Thanks to the very gracious White House Press Office, the magazine was given permission to use some of the beautiful Inauguration photography for inclusion in the magazine. We also have a special commentary seen throughout the article to further speak on this historical event. I am happy to say that this assignment was a success. I am proud to be present to you the GC Style Photographic Commemoration of the Second Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Merri Christi Pemberton, Editor of GC Style Quarterly Magazine Americans from across the country took part in the January 19th National Day of Service, which honored the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day also kicked off the Inauguration weekend events before the public Inauguration ceremony. The January 21st Inauguration Ceremony fell on the national holiday when America celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. In the photograph (right), President Barack Obama is shown helping with a school improvement project at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, D.C. This day of National Service symbolizes what is best about America: Honoring liberty and freedom by serving others and helping all who are in need. Following description and photo credit provided by the White House Press Office: President Barack Obama helps stain shelves during a National Day of Service school improvement project at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) The Swearing-In Ceremony for the 57th Inauguration experienced a milder noon temperature at 40°F, according to AccuWeather.com, compared to President Obama’s first Inauguration (28°F). Colder weather was expected for that evening behind an arctic cold front. The ceremony included a mixture of civil rights legacy and star-studded entertainment. The Invocation was given by the civil rights figure Myrlie EversWilliams, former head of the NAACP and wife of the slain civil rights figure Medgar Evers. The National Anthem was performed by the multi-platinum artist and 17 Grammy award winning superstar Beyoncé. Additional musical selections were performed by the original American Idol winner and Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson, and the legendary James Taylor. Following description and photo credit provided by the White House Press Office: President Barack Obama talks with Vice President Joe Biden during the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) One of the most intriguing photos taken of the President during the Inauguration. The President takes that memorable last look at the massive crowd who gathered to see his Second and last Inauguration. One can see the great appreciation and humility in his expression as he takes it all in. History was made again. Following description and photo credit provided by the White House Press Office: President Barack Obama pauses to look back at the scene before leaving the platform following the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. Standing behind the President are First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and Marian Robinson. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and their families attended service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. to start the Inaugural Day. Reverend Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta gave the sermon. Following description and photo credit provided by the White House Press Office: President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, and their families attend an inaugural prayer service at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) GC Style Quarterly Magazine presents..... GLOBAL MESSAGE OF HOPE Photo Credits: Background Photo - Earth 3-D Image. Compliments of Flavio Takemoto. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/flaivoloka . The Global Message of Hope welcomed a variety of participants to share their messages of inspiration and how they are contributing to their communities through their work and charitable activities. The project allows participants to talk about their businesses, organiziations, and their work as they relate to contributing to our communities, the world, and for positive change. Opinions expressed in the Global Message of Hope articles may not necessarily represent “all” GC Style Quarterly beliefs and opinions, however, the magazine and all participants are in full agreement that the Global Message of Hope project provides the opportunity and platform for us to come together to express hope for making the world a better place and actively contributing to make it happen. Photo Credits: Background Photo - Gaia Shine (Earth 3-D Image). Compliments of Flavio Takemoto. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/flaivoloka . Above Photo - Hands Making Heart. Compliments of Gabriela González. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/gabrielaaa . BECOME A FIGHTER, FUELED WITH LOVE I am a Fighter, and I do love a good battle! Don’t worry, I am not talking about inflicting a bunch of pain on others. In fact, any kind of hate, injustice, and/or mean-spirited nature have absolutely NO place in this kind of fighter. This kind of fighter battles to change the world and her strength is fueled by Love. There are others like me who you see everyday. Just look in the mirror, and you will find another one. We are the best allies that you will come across. The reason why we are awesome allies is because no obstacle and no “dead end” can stop us from achieving a vision to change the world and help others live to their full potential. Continue on the next page. GC Style Quarterly Editor, Merri Christi Pemberton My Global Message of Hope: Becoming a Fighter with Vision fueled by Divine Love Creating worthwhile change starts with a vision for something better, and using love to fuel this vision. This is the kind of “love” where you want others to live to their full potential and be able to wake up every morning knowing that they have a chance to be part of something beautiful that is bigger than themselves. All of us have different opinions and thoughts on what should be done to meet these goals, but I believe that every human being has that “love” in them to want everyone to live happily, be filled with hope, and free from hurt and pain. If you don’t know if you have this capacity to love in that way, then please consider this: God is Love, and He gives all of us every breath. Every time you breathe in and out, you take in Love and you breathe out Love. You take in and you “share out” that Love. Start with that thought, because its only just the beginning. The next step after seeing your vision and having it fueled by love, is to become a Fighter. I have learned the lesson of what it means to become this special Fighter many times over. In fact, for me to have come this far in my life and career, I had to become much more than a “natural born fighter”. I had to become a “super-natural” fighter, since this identity had to first start deep in my spirit. Becoming a Fighter is about dominating and conquering whatever obstacle, challenge, pain, and dark area in your life that try to block you from achieving that vision. Its NOT about how much pain you can inflict on others, its about using that love to empower your vision to come to pass and to empower you in helping as many people as possible. A Fighter who isn’t fueled by love, isn’t a true fighter anymore. In fact, he or she then becomes a bully instead. by Merri Christi Pemberton I, like all of you, am not perfect. Imperfections can actually become your strengths, when they are used to help others.When one stops trying to be “perfect”, but instead allow love to take the lead; then even imperfections can turn into strengths. Things have a way of falling into place when that happens. I receive endless strength and power through my faith in God. I am inspired about how Jesus fed, healed, and listened to the pain of others as read in the scriptures. He would say that he was doing what his Father (God) would do. He was in fact demonstrating how much God loves us. Experiencing that kind of Love changed me, changed my life. Like never before, I began “craving” for opportunities to use my work and creativity to open doors for people to help them gain better opportunities, to uplift them, and to sometimes just be there for them as a listener. I found that when your heart is filled, whatever has filled your heat will flood out of it. If your heart is filled with fear, then fear will flood out of it. If its filled with love and courage, then love and courage will come out. My Global Message of Hope is that you let Love fuel your vision. Breathe it in and share it out. You will become an undefeated world-changing fighter. ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ANDREW TRIMBEE Founder of the first English-language newspaper in the Gulf (The Gulf Weekly Mirror - Bahrain) MEETING MR. TRIMBEE Although I have yet to meet Mr. Andrew Trimbee in person, I had the great pleasure to speak to him through the internet by way of Facebook. I was introduced to him through his nephew Marc Geordie Merchant almost two years ago, and since then I have been very fortunate to learn the extraordinary history that Mr. Trimbee accomplished and was part of. As the Editor of the first English-language newspaper in the Gulf, which was called the Gulf Weekly Mirror, Mr Trimbee faced and overcame mountains of obstacles, yet experienced an adventure that very few people have had the chance to even taste. As GC Style Quarterly’s special dignitary participant in the Global Message of Hope Project, Mr. Trimbee has written a piece called “One Can Make A Difference”, which uses his life experience in starting the Gulf Weekly Mirror to show how one person can make a world-changing difference, when they take that “one” chance to seize the opportunity in front of them. Mr. Trimbee had indeed seized the great opportunity of starting the newspaper, which catapulted him into quite an unforgettable adventure and a place in history. I see that same spark in his nephew Marc as well. That is where one’s courage and passion for creating new paths and changing the world become more than just a one time thing, it becomes a legacy. Mr. Andrew Trimbee, you sir have created a family legacy that I believe will continue for generations to come. Photo Credit: (Above and the following page). Photo of Andrew Trimbee. Compliments of Andrew Trimbee. HOW ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Andrew Trimbee Location: United Kingdon and Granada, Spain Andrew Trimbee, a former London journalist and author who spent ten years in the Arabian Gulf, is now a consultant to the oil and gas industry and a communications adviser to Middle East governments. He works out of London, and has bases in Spain and the Gulf. One person can make a difference, in the fight against prejudice, racism, and religious intolerance. It seems a lifetime ago that I arrived in Bahrain to launch the Gulf’s first English language newspaper. This desert kingdom was still largely traditional, barely changed by progress, ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty for more than 200 centuries. Yet within a handful of years, it had made a giant leap into the 20th century, with the arrival of Jumbo jets that spanned the world in barely one leap from Australia to Europe, and with soaring oil prices that brought a level of prosperity scarcely dreamt of. Today, the sand-blown island – home of the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet - has been transformed beyond belief, with glittering high-rises towering over superhighways and unending streams of traffic driving fender-to-fender along the palm-fringed promenade. This is the Bahrain of today, with a skyline that owes more to Miami than the Manama of yesteryear. In an abundance of shopping malls, gleaming and spotless, you can buy the latest fashions that Europe has to offer. Behind the shiny plate -glass windows of showrooms are Ferraris, Porches and Aston Martins. Yet just behind this facade, you can still find the old life: the sprawling suq with its scores of shops selling anything from rice and vegetables to airconditioners, cameras, hi-fis ... and Persian carpets, Arab robes, and the Bahraini pearls which made fortunes for the owners of the pearling fleets of yesteryear, before the advent of the Japanese cultured pearls slowly strangled the market. A lifetime ago, there had been real wind-towers, stone-built and square, designed to catch any tiny breath of cooler air and waft it downwards, bringing relief as night-time temperatures topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Today, looming over the city, are the dramatic twin towers of a new technoage, tethered together by three small skywalks, each with its giant wind turbine. Turning lazily, these huge propellers use those same currents to generate power, keeping the lights burning behind the tinted windows of the multi floors. Continue next page. Photo Credit: Compliments of Andrew Trimbee. Andrew Trimbee at the Arts Centre in Granada, Spain. Next Page: Scenic photo of Granada. But this progress has come at a high price. The periodic unrest that characterised life in Bahrain escalated into violent riots last year that saw vicious clashes with a number of deaths, as the majority Shia population took to the streets to demand greater representation from the minority Sunnis their rulers. An uneasy peace was only finally restored with the arrival of armoured vehicles and troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which rumbled across the sea causeway to take up sentry duty. To its credit, the ruling family, headed by King Hamed bin Isa Al-Khalifa, were swift to respond, acknowledging that mistakes had been made, pledging greater representation, greater opportunities and retribution from the courts for police brutality to protesters, and also vowing to stamp out corruption in government departments. After I left the newspaper, my career took me into industry and board directorships before I returned to England with my family to rejoin the newspaper business, eventually becoming night editor of The Daily Telegraph. But I never forgot Bahrain, and at a time when the whole Middle East was receiving a universal bad press, I decided to write my book, The Inshallah Paper, describing my time in Bahrain and the Gulf Mirror, to set the record straight. My message was to show the people of the Gulf as they actually are, in the wake of 9/11, and to show Islam for what it is: a caring religion. I wanted to explain this, to introduce the people, their courtesy, their hospitality, and how Islam looks after people less fortunate. I wanted to proselytise for a region much misunderstood. The Gulf was good to me: even today, I consider myself half-Bahraini. The action of fanatics, an absolute minority feared and condemned across the Arab world, has coloured the views of the rest of the world. Writing this book was my way of trying to right a wrong, of trying to build a greater understanding and awareness that can bridge continents. And the book was a success; the first edition is now almost sold out and the number of “fans” on Facebook is nearing 900, many of them from the Gulf states. There were rave reviews across a broad spectrum of newspapers: in England, the News of the World, the greatest selling newspaper in Europe, awarded it a maximum five stars and made it their lead book page story. In the Gulf, it garnered a host of column inches in the most influential papers. The airlines Gulf Air and Swissair gave it prominent coverage in their inflight magazines. The prime minister of Bahrain requested a signed copy. A paperback version is shortly to be published and there is talk of a film version. As one prominent Arab government minister told me: “The Inshallah Paper has turned out to be our best ambassador of all for the whole of the Gulf.” Praise indeed. One person, it seems, can make a difference. To learn more about Andrew Trimbee and his autobiography, please visit: http://www.theinshallahpaper.com. Amazon listing: http://www.amazon.com/ Inshallah-Paper-Andrew-Trimbee/dp/-. Andrew Trimbee currently shares his expertise as a consultant with international companies and through speaking engagements that require a well-rounded understanding of Middle East business culture, government. and relations. He splits his time residing in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom and Granada (Spain). HIGH FASHION DEBUT IN THE GLOBAL MESSAGE OF HOPE A special exhibit of high fashion artwork by NYC designer Sam Lavey, founder of Santina Manzione. Fashion Designer Sam Lavey produced three couture sketches specifically for the Global Message of Hope and its display in the GC Style Quarterly Magazine Special Edition Issue. Sam Lavey originated the idea of incorporating the vibrant and symbolic Koi Fish into the couture artworks. As a result, the “Koi Fish” was selected as one of the symbolic images to represent the Global Message of Hope Project. VIew Sam Laveyʼs personal “Message of Hope” to the world and more of his couture sketches on the following pages. Image Credits: Couture Sketch by Designer Sam Lavey, CEO of Santina Manzione. The sketch incorporates the Koi Fish to represent “perseverance against challenges”. TO PERSEVERE Recognize this model? The image and likeness of recording artist and GC Style Quarterly Editor Merri Christi Pemberton were incorporated into this spectacular Sam Lavey fine couture art dress sketch as the model. Throughout history, the “fish” represented abundance and perseverance. This is especially true of the Koi Fish, which is associated with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose . One of the primary reasons the colorful koi fish is symbolic in Japanese culture, and in the world, is because it is known for swimming upstream no matter what the conditions are. Image Credits: Above and Background Image of Koi Fish by photographer Christine Crott. Website: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/ Xtyn24 HIGH FASHION DEBUTS IN THE GLOBAL MESSAGE OF HOPE NYC Designer and Artist Sam Laveyʼs Creations Enable Women to Not Only Wear Stylish Attire, but Wear a “Vision”. Before Denise Williams and Sam Lavey founded Santina Manzione, they had made a decision that one of this labels most definitive goals would be to help those in need. It is this reason that for the past several years Santina Manzione has made contributions the BCRF, to help fight against breast cancer, child poverty; well being as well as restoration of the arts and environment around the great city of New York. If there is one message of hope Sam and Denise can give it is, “NEVER give up HOPE, there is a brighter tomorrow”. As quoted “ Hope is the Horizon we head for, leaving nothing behind us but fear, and though we may never reach our goals its hope that is going to save us from who we once were”- Mila Kunis, Family Guy. Image Credits: Couture Sketch by Designer Sam Lavey, CEO of Santina Manzione. The sketch incorporates the Koi Fish to represent “perseverance against challenges”. Paladin Radio proudly supports music by artists who served (serve) in the U.S. military. For more information on how to get airplay, visit www.paladinradio.org . “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome” After receiving the news that his mental and physical injuries received during his military service limited his job choices, United States Army Veteran Mark Humes embarked on a whole new path where he is now a rising force in the entertainment industry for military veteran-musicians. Five years ago, Mark Humes started Paladin radio and has joined the effort to help military veterans receive airplay as musicians and to use music to heal. With his recent partnership with the Mission One Voice initiative (in support of CAMMO -Center For Military Music Opportunities), Mark has demonstrated how one can turn any obstacle, injury, weakness, or dead end into a golden opportunity for change. Sergeant Mark Humes and The Soldier of Light Radio Paladin Radio has a special meaning to Mark, and how he views what the station could mean to the world and military veterans. “Paladin” represents a heroic champion, one who fights for a cause bravely. Mark calls a “Paladin” a “soldier of light”. His vision for Paladin is to use this station to bring people together and welcome military veteran-artists who want to share their music and voices with the world. To Mark, “Paladin” means being one of the “good guys”. Under his leadership, Paladin Radio recently received its listing in the Windows Media Guide of official internet radio stations. In GC Style’s recent interview with Mark Humes for the Global Message of Hope project, he expressed how important it is to Paladin, and the musicians to whom he serves, that the radio station is licensed, included in the Windows Media Guide, and is one that is dedicated to giving airplay to indie artists alongside popular mainstream artists. Mark’s background in music and familiarity with music business are evident. His father performed in the “All That Jazz” revue, and additional family members have performed and toured in bands. Mark formerly played the bass guitar, until the severity of carper tunnel’s syndrome in his hands now prevents him from performing. “Turn Your Weakness Into Your Strength” “Turn Your Weakness Into Your Strength” were words that Mark spoke during our interview, which shared what his journey has been about, and the message he currently shares through his work. When Paladin partnered with Mission One Voice to give airplay to military artists, Mark knew that he would be directly helping veterans who have PTSD. After that pivotal time in his life when he received the news from the VA hospital about his injuries, Mark became a living testimony for “Turning Your Weakness Into Your Strength”. He sees PTSD differently now. “Its not a weakness, it just means you have to do things differently”. You can turn your perceived weakness into a strength”. The future of Paladin Radio, according to Mark Humes, is to continue bringing people together through music, giving artists including those who served in the U.S. military, a platform for exposure; open new opportunities for U.S military veterans to express themselves as professional recording artists, and continue growing the station’s reach to impact the world. Paladin Radio is live streamed and can be heard in various international locations around the world such as London, England; Paris, France; Sydney, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa and as well as various cities in the United States of America. Link: http://www.paladinradio.org/ Photo Credit: Paladin Radio Logo. Compliments of Paladin Radio. www.paladinradio.org. THE BEST RADIO SHOW FOR INDIE ARTISTS Interview with RIck Mizuno, Host of the Los Angeles radio show Indies In Motion and former percussionist for the Grammy Award-winning band and one of the most popular duos in pop history Captain and Tennille. I had the distinct pleasure to be interviewed by Rick Mizuno, the host of the Los Angeles radio show Indies In Motion, to promote my upcoming album at the time called Tangerine Skies. My experience being interviewed on his show, and also learning more about the show, has been nothing less exciting and valuable. This is a golden time for the indie artist, whether you are a musician, filmmaker, author, etc; because the internet and new media tools have given new opportunities for these artists to get their names out there and to be heard like never before. Rick Mizuno saw the possibilities for indie artists to get the attention and recognition they deserve, which partially drove him to start Indies In Motion. The other thing that drove him was that he genuinely believes that his purpose is to use his work and talent to help others receive these opportunities. For that, it was a no-brainer to invite Rick for an interview with GC Style Quarterly's Special Edition issue, to be included in the Global Message of Hope. Merri Christi: What persuaded you to join Global Voices Broadcasting’s roster of radio programs with your show Indies in Motion? Rick: I really vibed with Global Voices immediately. Global Voices had fresh ideas, they seemed a little more daring. I felt it was a good move for me. You are always looking for a ways to grow and to be able to take things to the next level. I felt that being at Global Voices Broadcasting, which has proven me to be correct, gave me the space to do those things. Special Note: One of the plans that Global Voices Broadcasting was working on, during the time Rick met with the network prior to joining them, was to have live video streaming. The live streaming is now a reality. which includes live streaming of Indies In Motion. Merri Christi: Although Indies In Motion interview many indie musicians, it also features different types of indie artists. Rick: We have a whole gamut of artistic creativity: Film, art, dance, literature, comedy, theatre and everything else in between. We also feature those who work behind the scenes such as venue owners, managers, agents, make-up artists, and publicists. I love the collective energy that we receive on the show from these artists. You can find stations for indie music everywhere, you can find many outlets for indie films, but you don’t find as much respect for indie dancers and comedians. What I do with my show is to provide a platform for a mix bag of everything. This gives an equal playing field for indie artists from a variety of disciplines. Let’s say an author has written a book, and we feature him with a popular indie artist who has a very strong following. As a result, more people are going to hear about the author. Merri Christi: You have been a musician since childhood, tell us more about how you got started. Rick: I’ve been a musician since I was a kid. It was never my desire originally, however, to pursue it as a profession. I just enjoyed music. I enjoyed everything about it. My mom instilled in us (I and my younger brother) to be involved in the arts and sciences. We’re from humble beginnings and she didn’t lavish us with a lot of toys, but she made sure we had books and opportunities to learn music so we could develop our minds. I took piano lessons and later picked up the trumpet through school. I really wanted to play drums, so I got a set of conga drums and started to play them by ear. In fact, I saw a lot of people during that time playing the *Special Note: Captain and Tennille were among the most popular American bands and duos in pop history.“Love Will Keep Us Together” won Record of the Year at the 1975 Grammy Awards. The band featured the husband and wife duo “Captain” Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille. Merri Christi: How were you picked to join Captain and Tennille? Rick: I received a phone call from the band’s personal manager, and they needed an additional percussionist. One of my friends, who was their drummer at the time, recommended me. I auditioned on a Wednesday, and was on a plane flying out on Friday to play a gig with them. The first time I met them was during sound check. conga drums. When I joined a garage band, someone paid us to perform. I thought, “You can make money at this?” Turning Music Into A Career: I got married in my teen years. At that time, I took whatever job I could get and was going to college at night. We also had a growing family with our first child being born soon after we were married. I took a moment to reflect on where I was in life, where I was going, and what to do for a career. At the same time, I wanted to enjoy what I was doing in my work. That lead me to pursue music as a career. I was probably about 21 years old, when I decided to do that. With me living in Los Angeles, that made pursuing music as a career an easier decision. Since then, I began receiving great opportunities to travel and perform. I loved it! Merri Christi: What were some of the highlights in your life as a musician? Rick: I was the percussionist for the band The Captain and Tennille from about-, and I performed in their live engagements. It was like a family atmosphere, and they really took care of the band members. Percussion was a very intricate part of the band’s sound. Captain and Tennille had a big band with horns, and a full rhythm section and percussion. We performed on a lot of television programs as well. This included performing on the show Dionne Warwick had at the time. The band also shared a bill with legends such as Bill Cosby and world renowned illusionist David Copperfield. *Special Note: Sharing a bill- More than one group performing in the same show, or sharing a show performance slot. Merri Christi: Where was your favorite place to perform? Rick: I love going to Lake Tahoe. the Captain and Tennille band usually played there twice a year. The people there would roll out the red carpet when we came to perform there, we were treated with great hospitality. It was like a mini-vacation for us where we invited our families. We would play one show a night for about two weeks, but had plenty of time to spend with our families doing things like horseback riding, skiing, and etc. Continue on next page. Photo Credit: (Previous page) Upper Right Corner - Photo of Rick Mizuno and Indies In Motion logo. This page: Upper Left- Rick in the Indies In Motion studio. Compliments of Rick Mizuno and Indies In Motion. Merri Christi: When you perform, what message or feeling do you want the audience to get out of your music? Rick: I always wanted them to feel good, and for the music to take them to a better place. To many of us, music gives a sense of escapism. When I was performing live, many people would come after work and just wanted to escape. It felt good seeing many of them genuinely appreciating the music. Merri Christi: After the passing of your wife (10 years ago), how has that experience affected your work and purpose in life? Rick: I like for my work to reflect the things that I learned and developed while I was married, particularly when it comes to being committed to a person. When on occasion someone may ask me about my experience losing a loved one, I do share my experiences. I share my experiences regarding living a life after losing someone who was very close to you and giving hope to others who are going through the same thing. In my case, my hope stems from my faith in God and Jesus Christ. Also, my hope stems from the love of family and love of oneself. I realize that if I am still here, that means I have purpose. I have goals and things I need to do. That helps me to focus and continue to live, breathe again, live again, and explore opportunities. Merri Christi: Speaking of purpose and opportunities, what do you have planned or see happening in 2013 for Indies In Motion? Rick: The show is averaging 30,000 per month. That is a good number, but I want to double that. The Indies format will pretty much stay the same. What I have been doing through the radio show is a live performance called Indies In Motion Road Show. I typically do that show once a quarter (three times a year). The show has a live nightclub-like setting, which has a number of artists who I have also featured on the radio show. I may have three or four different music groups on the show, one or two comedians, and a dance troupe. We also have poetry readings and feature indie filmmakers. For filmmakers, we have had a film projecting screen where we screened trailers from their movies. Auditioning for the road show: On the website www.indiesinmotion.com, go to the request form page. The form will ask the artist to give basic information to complete and submit online. Usually, I like to see the artist perform prior to inviting them to perform on the road show. This is to make sure they are the right mix for the show. Even though I may play their song on the radio, sometimes an artist may not come across that well when performing in a live setting. On the radio show we want to represent people of all calibers and levels. My main criteria is that you actually are pursuing the art form you want to represent. If you are an author, then you must have a book out. If you are a musician, you must have a radio-ready song to send to me, no demos. Plans for an online television show: In the future, I plan to start a show loosely based on the current Indies in Motion, but I want to have it as an online television show. This is still in the pre-planning stages, but I have this idea in my heart and soul all the time, so I know its going to happen. His Life’s Purpose: My main calling is to help make a difference. I am a big cheerleader and will come along beside you to cheer you on. I created Indies in Motion for that reason. I am an indie artist as well, and know what its like to not get airplay at first, especially when you are just starting out. Its in my nature and in my DNA to be of help to others. In fact, I believe that to help achieve my own dreams, I should help others achieve there dreams. Actress Cherylwonner Gardner Empowers Others To Reach for the Stars My hope for the world is for everyone to have strong mental health which will improve their self- esteem and treat others with the up most respect. I am creating a project in order to help inspire and empower people of all ethnicity to do bette for themselves and others. Location: Los Angeles, USA Named after her Aunt Cheryl and Grandmother Wonner, Cherylwonner was born with a unique name. Her journey to her career in film carries with it a style and strength that perfectly describe Cherylwonner’s presence. Cherylwonner was told that she wasn’t going to make it in the film business as an actress. Despite her earlier training and accomplishments in both acting and modeling, she still faced the naysayers. Cherylwonner Gardner never gave up and continued intense training in her craft. The result is a rising talent who is gaining both lead and supporting roles in film and television programs. Read more about Cherylwonner Gardner at Stage 32: http://www.stage32.com/profile/82392/actresscherylwonner . Cherylwonner’s Film and Television projects includes: Tragedy Of A Mother And Son - Lead Role Safe House - Supporting Role Last Step - Supporting Role Upcoming Film/TV Projects: Then The Night Comes - Supporting Clique - TV Show Cherylwonner Gardner, Film and Television Actress Photo Credit: Both photos above - Cherylwonner Gardner. Compliments of Cherylwonner Gardner. Film Composer Uses Music to Comfort Sandy Hook Families and Community Scott Haskin (Phoenix, Arizona - USA) There is no secret how music can bring people together, and can fill hearts and minds with inspiration and hope. Film composer Scott Haskin understands all to well how music can become a "message of hope". His single "Peaceful Meadow" was selected and licensed for a benefit CD called Songs For Sandy Hook for the families affected by the recent tragic Sandy Hook shooting. "Hoping that through this CD, we can begin to bring comfort and peace to Sandy Hook and the world.” - Scott Haskin Scott Haskin continues to reach out to the world through his music; music that tells a story and can be a place of new adventures and new hopes. His CD Romance for Piano is available at Sounclick and on his website. The soothing Mental Sauna II CD will be released in Spring 2013. For more music from Scott Haskin, please visit: Sandy Hook Benefit CD link: http://stevenmitchellrouk.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-sandy-hook https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/scott-k-haskin/id- Young Entrepreneurship and Its World Impact Brandon Bennett (Live Oaks, Texas - USA) When I became the distributor for the coffee company OrganoGold, I took to heart its motto "Bringing The Treasures of The Earth To The People of The World". Through my work, I am able to tackle the two biggest issues in the world right now, Health & Wealth, with an 8 oz cup of coffee, tea, & hot chocolate. With the company distributing in 30+ countries, I have been able to join a great effort to help people become healthier without having to think about it. Coffee drinkers are not going to stop drinking coffee, so why not switch to a healthier alternative? OrganoGold has changed the lives of so many men & women, not only from a health standpoint, but from a wealth standpoint. We are known as a redemption company, here to help anyone who wants to have a better life health wise, wealth-wise or both. In addition to that, we also have our own charitable foundation called OG Cares, that allows us to give back to the community and bring up the younger generation the right way. Link: www.bbennett2287.organogold.com . www.scotthaskin.com Online Platform for Indie Filmmakers Showcase and distribute your films. www.filmbay.com Tangerine Skies new album by Merri Christi Featuring the breathtaking “Take 1 Chance” Listen here: www.gcrestproductions.com Portion of music sales goes towards hunger relief and health-related charities. World Soul music has arrived.....