Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys  

M.K. Asante, Jr. is an award-winning author and filmmaker who the Philadelphia Inquirer calls “a rare, remarkable talent that brings to mind the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance.” The author of three celebrated books, Asante is the recipient of the 2009 Langston Hughes Award. His latest book, It's Bigger Than Hip Hop, was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "An empowering book that moves you to action and to question status quo America." His other books are the award-winning poetry collections, Beautiful. And Ugly Too and Like Water Running Off My Back, winner of the Jean Corrie Prize from the Academy of American Poets. He wrote and produced the film 500 Years Later, winner of five international awards including the Breaking the Chains award from the United Nations. He wrote and directed The Black Candle, an award-winning film narrated by Maya Angelou. Asante studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, earned his BA from Lafayette College, and an MFA from the UCLA School of Film and Television. He is a professor of film and creative writing at Morgan State University. You can learn more at his website: www.mkasante.com.

Mingo is a vocalist, lyricist, performer, and a musician innovator. He was born in Philadelphia, PA and experienced his first musical performance in the Baptist Church. Gospel is his first teacher and his first Love. Mingo prides himself on his writing and singing of songs which have profound lyrical content. He believes that “music should touch one’s soul, while inspiring and motivating others.” He further describes his art form as a mixture of: Jazz, Spirituals, and Rhythm & Blues which express positive vibrations. Mingo has performed at numerous venues along with other well known artist such as Frankie Beverly & Maze, Kindred Family Soul, the Delfonics, the Intruders just to name a few. Mingo’s band is called Khemestry, brining the right mixture and balance of music to each audience.

SPECIAL GUEST: Samuel F. Reynolds is a practicing astrologer in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. He has trained with some of the most notable minds in the astrological world, like Alan Oken, Robert Zoller, and Christopher Warnock, all of whom have helped him obtain his Level III certificate from NCGR in 2004. He writes for numerous online and print publications, including aol.com and tarot.com. He’s also been a speaker at national astrology conferences, like Moses Siregar’s Blast conference, the International Society for Astrological Research’s National Conference and the State of the Art astrology conference in Buffalo, NY in the fall 2009. Samuel provides astrological counseling for Robert Currey's Astro*Live*Link, a British-based dial-in service dedicated to astrological counseling for people throughout the English speaking world, and on weekends, he has hosted the “Zodiac Lounge”, a NYC-based spiritual bazaar, where he brings together various healers and seers to serve in economically challenged communities. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Astrology Career Institute (www.astrologycareerinstitute.com), which provides students with the resources and marketing tools to become practicing astrologers themselves.

SPECIAL GUEST: Carmel Sullivan, Founder and Executive Director -Co-Abode’s mission is to provide support and services that connect women raising children alone. Thru this connection, single parent women families pool their finances and resources to improve their living conditions for themselves and their children by sharing a home. CoAbode was founded on the principle that two single moms raising children together can achieve more than one struggling alone. Through a variety of community based programs CoAbode provides single mothers with affordable housing opportunities, specialized support groups, educational scholarships, community outreach and involvement as well as referrals to vital resources designed to make parenting a child alone easier, healthier and more secure.http://www.coabode.com

***NOTE: Lamar Tyler and Nisa Muhammad were unable to make the show today due unexpected circumstances. I will try to resedule them for another day.

SPECIAL GUEST: Shane K. Perrault, PhD is a psychologist and coach with more than 16 years of experience. Dr. Perrault received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Ohio State University and did his residency at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and the Baltimore Veterans Administration. Official Blogger for Psychology Today Magazine. Dr. Perrault is the founder and Lead Psychologist at the ADHD Performance Counseling Center in Silver Springs, MD. http://www.adhdpc.com

SPECIAL GUEST: As a certified marriage and family therapist, Dr. Peggy Vertreace incorporates the inter-relatedness of mind, body, and spirit into her therapeutic approach, which is influenced not only by her clinical and theoretical perspective, but also by her strong theological foundation. Peggy earned her Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family from Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, and completed her post-graduate training from Council for Relationships in Marriage and Family Therapy. Peggy is a certified Master level instructor of the PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationships Skills) Program couples.www.councilforrelationships.prg

SPECIAL GUEST: Ruth Naomi Floyd is a renowned vocalist and composer whose diverse music repertoire includes Christian-themed jazz compositions and arrangements of African American Spirituals. The five cds of this soaring mezzo-soprano receives high acclaim both nationally and internationally. Her passion for music extends to the students she teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Vocals at Philadelphia Biblical University and a music teacher at Spruce Hill Christian School. Visit her website at www.ruthnaomifloyd.com. Ruth finds joy in creating portraits that are etched in her mind and soul as exhibited in her fine art photography. A recipient of numerous awards and grants for her photographic images, "The emotions depicted in the moving images of Ruth’s photographic art speak volumes without one word being uttered." Her works are included in permanent and private collections, and she is represented by White Stone Gallery in Philadelphia. Visit her website at www.rnfimages.com. Ruth serves as an HIV/AIDS Prevention Specialist, as well as an HIV/AIDS activist and educator. For over fifteen years, Ruth has served with HOPE Ministry and The HIV Care Team at Esperanza Health Center in Philadelphia. She has conducted HIV/AIDS workshops and conferences in the United States and Africa. Check out http://www.ruthnaomifloyd.com/.

SPECIAL DATE AND TIME: Monday December 7, 2009 at 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST.