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A Very Special
 Premiere for African-American Women:
The POCKETBOOK MONOLOGUES featuring the Coin Purses |
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MEET THE CELEBRITY CAST & HONOREE |
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| Author & Creator, The Pocketbook Monologues, WVON News Director |
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Award-winning personality, Sharon K. McGhee, born in St. Louis, has a new home of exciting challenges in Chicago as news director for WVON radio,
“The Talk of Chicago.” Sharon hosted the top rated morning talk show, "Good Morning St. Louis," for five years. Sharon won the prestigious AIR Award on KATZ radio for a series on the death of Emmitt Till. A radio merger and new management decided to take the station in a different direction and cancelled the entire talk format. Sharon wanted to keep her career on the fast track and sought employment in a major radio market, and today she is proud to call the Windy City home.
By all accounts, talk radio is a format made for Sharon McGhee, a self-proclaimed news and information junkie equipped with a strong opinion. Sharon receives her daily information "fix" by surfing the web, reading five newspapers, and monitoring other news outlets all before many people wake up. During her short time in Chicago, Sharon has won the prestigious AIR Award for a five-part series on Breast Cancer. Sharon also launched the first WVON book club, "Between the Covers.”
Sharon's latest journey as author and producer of the stage production, The Pocketbook Monologues, started in the newsroom at WVON when she had to report the latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control on women of color and HIV/AIDS. The startling numbers have prompted McGhee to take action. After seeing Sheryl Lee Ralph's "Sometimes I Cry" and Eve Ensler's the "Vagina Monologues," she was inspired to talk to women of color from all walks of life. For the past eight years, McGhee has talked to women of color that are CEO's of Fortune 500 companies to crack heads. According to McGhee, "every woman has a story to tell". McGhee uses the monologues that cover everything from menstruation to menopause to jumpstart a conversation that implores women and girls of color to take responsibility for their sexual health. The PocketBook Monologues are receiving an enormous response from women’s groups to take this information to girls of color. Responding to the need, McGhee has incorporated”Coin Purses" "pocketbook ladies training" as part of the production.
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Kim Coles is best known for her zany characters and outrageous sense of humor. Kim got her start as the runner-up in the Big Beautiful Woman pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She rode her beauty pageant success into a plus-size modeling career. She, then, began performing stand-up comedy and her show biz career really took off.
She landed the gig of warm-up comedian for The Cosby Show. From there she appeared on several stand-up shows. She, also, worked as an opening act for several popular musicians (Luther Vandross, Bobby Brown, and The O'Jays).
Her big break arrived when she was cast by the Wayans brothers in the sketch show, In Living Color. After she left that show, she appeared in Living Single.
Kim has continued to work steadily, appearing in sit-coms, reality shows, and game shows. She is a successful author and playwright.
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| News Correspondent, Tom Joyner Morning Show |
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Jacque Reid is currently a news correspondent on the nationally syndicated radio program, the Tom Joyner Morning Show. In addition, Reid is currently a guest host on the ABC daytime syndicated program, The View. Prior to that, Reid served as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Jacque came to radio from CNN Headline News, and BET Nightly News, where she was known as the face of the former flagship evening news program.
As co-host of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, she served as the feminine mystique adding balance to the witty banter of her male counterparts, comedians Steve Harvey and Nephew Tommy Miles.
While the principal anchor of BET Nightly News, Reid brought a wealth of experience and talent along with a stylish, contemporary presence to a national cable newscast on a daily basis. She covered major news stories that included one-on-one interviews with President George W. Bush, former POW Shoshanna Johnson, Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry, and former President Bill Clinton. She was the first to interview Luther Vandross' mother as the singer lay in the hospital recovering from a near fatal stroke. She also anchored team coverage of the Trent Lott controversy, and hosted a live half-hour roundtable discussion following his televised interview on BET. During the 2004 Republican National Convention, Jacque joined CNN's Larry King Live and worked as a guest correspondent and contributor.
Reid has also been an occasional fill-in anchor and featured correspondent for CBS News and had previously worked in those capacities on CBS' The Early Show, providing reports on the day’s hot topics. In 2005, Reid also filed stories for the CBS Weekend Evening News, and worked as a fill-in anchor for the CBS overnight news program, Up To The Minute.
In addition to news events, from 2002 - 2005, Reid provided special coverage each year for the BET Awards Show, hosting a one-hour interview special, and anchoring a special live broadcast outside of L.A.'s Kodak Theatre following the program. Her celebrity interviews have included such A list stars like Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx.
Reid has also taken her journalism talents interactive. She hosted a marathon four-hour talk show on the Internet for CNN's Webcast and was seen on computer screens around the world, mostly by students who sent in questions for various guests. The topics included the civil rights movement, the impact of future civil rights leaders, the importance of gospel and jazz, and the history and future of African American education.
Before joining BET, Reid anchored the morning news at CNN Headline News Network. Reid joined Headline News from KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Houston, TX, where she served as an anchor and reporter. Prior to that position, she was an anchor and reporter for the CBS affiliate WKYT-TV in Lexington, Ky. and a reporter for WBSG-TV in Brunswick, Ga.
Reid earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism from Clark Atlanta University, a Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She is a health and fitness enthusiast who enjoys reading, arts and entertainment, and participating in community service activities with children.
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Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is the second child born to Felix and Belle NOT the oldest. Phyllis Yvonne Stickney was one of the first comedians of color to perform at the Juste Pour Rire Comedy Festival in Montreal. Canada. She performed with the late John Candy as well as being introduced at the festival by Ed Bagley Jr. to perform her stand up comedy. Her stand-up performance at the world famous Apollo Theater was one of the selling points to sell the now popular Showtime at the Apollo to the network. Ms. Stickney is also a motivational speaker and published author and poet. She was the first female to ever perform with The Last Poets on the sound track of Panther (1995). Essence Magazine's 25th Anniversary Issue named her as one of the 200 African American Women who has changed the world. Ms. Stickney has created and designed a line of clothing for every woman called Butterbaby, the line is scheduled be launched in Spring/Summer of 2004. Ms Stickney is the Founder/Executive Director for a non-profit community based organization called Alternative Careers in the Arts. She is also an accomplished stage performer and has received two AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theater. She was also the writer/Creative Consultant on the ABC short lived series New Attitude a Castle Rock production. |
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Taylor Jenkins-Thompson-Thompson was born on February 27, 1995 in New York City. Currently, Taylor is a seventh grader at Greenwich Village Middle School.
Taylor is a member of the Junior Scholars Program at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture where her major is Internet Radio. Her activist stands led her to protest against the regentrification of Harlem.
Taylor attended Our Children’s Foundation for five years where she had the opportunity to travel to historically black colleges, and reenacted the March across the Pettis Street Bridge in Alabama just as Dr. Martin Luther King did.
In addition to her social activism, Taylor has studied dance at The Dance Theater of Harlem, as well as the violin, Spanish; in addition she studied visual arts at The Children’s Art Carnival of Harlem. Taylor was a participant in a poetry competition at Columbia University for which she won first prize. This spring, Taylor’s artwork was installed in the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
Taylor’s other interests include reading, art and music.
Her future aspiration is to become a doctor specializing in children born with the AIDS virus. |
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Toni Belafonte is as versatile as she is beautiful. The former Division I collegiate athlete is an established model who has appeared in Vogue and on BET's Rip the Runway. She's also appeared in the stage play .Star of the Picture Show. and in the films Redemption Sunset and Grasslands.
One of the industry's most celebrated African-American entertainers, Toni Belafonte is proving that she can hold her own. |
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Originally from Chicago, Erica Watson is a stand-up
comedienne, actress, and film/television directorliving in NYC. In the
Fall 2008, Erica Watson is starring in the Lee Daniel's film "PUSH"
opposite Mo'nique, Lenny Kravitz, Sherri Sheppard and Paula Patton.
Earlier this year, Watson starred in the 20th Century Fox theatrical
release "Dirty Laundry" and she currently featured in two commercials
for the Oxygen Network called "Tresstify" and "Kiss &Tell".
Most recently, Watson was a featured
commentator/pundit on 3 different BET Specials:"The Evolution of Mary J.
Blige", "I Wanna Thank My Momma", and "The Evolution of Jay-Z". Because
of her views on politics and pop culture, Watson is a recurring panelist
on the BETJtalk show "My Two Cents."
Watson is also the DIRECTOR of the reality TV Series
"My Model Looks Better Than Your Model"on the BETJ Network. When she is
not performing at Caroline's on Broadway, Gotham Comedy Club,Broadway
Comedy Club, Comic Strip Live or New York Comedy Club, you can catch her
hostingvarious events across the country. |
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When she's not launching and organizing outreach programs or busy with her production company, Good Tree Media, Sheron Smith is overseeing the career of her son, hip-hop phenom Mos Def. Smith has managed her son since he was nine years old. Since then he's rocked stages all over the world and received acclaim for his film, television and theater roles. Now Sheron Smith follows in her son's footsteps as she takes the stage in one of the most provocative theatrical productions of the year. |
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"Her vision and leadership have been phenomenal and we are so pleased to present her with The Pocketbook Honors this year.”
--Dr. Miriam Burnett |
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Rev. Lynda T. Rassman is a true champion and proponent of AIDS education and awareness. A native of South Carolina, Rev. Lynda T. Rassman was called to the ministry at the age of 12, and activated her faith at the age of 19. Since immersing herself into what she described as a 'more holistic ministry', Rev. Rassman has dedicated her life to helping children and families, including 23 years spent teaching special education.
Rev. Rassman's first pastoral charge in a Southern Jersey congregation was a member who had been infected with HIV. At the time there were few facts, and a great sense of fear of the disease loomed over both the church and the community. When she visited the member's home she immediately realized that she had been called to fight the fear of HIV/AIDS with education. She embarked on a mission of educating the community and helping and encouraging others lead, lift and support from the heart those who were facing HIV/AIDS.
Rev. Rassman has played an integral part in the New Jersey Human Development Corporation as Program Director of Project F.A.I.T.H (Families Acquiring Information Together on HIV/AIDS). Project F.A.I.T.H. is a statewide, community-level HIV/AIDS education and prevention program that targets faith leaders in various houses of worship or non-traditional settings throughout the State of New Jersey. Rev. Rassman also serves as the Program Director of Project Rebuild, SISTAS and Rapid Testing. |
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"Rev. Justice is a man of extraordinary vision and commitment. His dedication to educating and mobilizing the New Jersey community in the fight against AIDS has been tremendous and it's with great appreciation that we present him with The Pocketbook Honors this year."
– --Dr. Miriam Burnett, President R.A.P.H.A. Foundation, Inc. |
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Rev. J. Stanley Justice, is head pastor of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton, New Jersey. A native of Millsboro, Delaware, Rev. Justice completed his undergraduate work in elementary education at Delaware State University. He received his master's degree from the University of Delaware and completed his theological education at Yale Divinity School. Since receiving his calling to the pulpit, Justice has proved to be a powerful voice in the community and has led both his congregation and the community at large in facing the subject of HIV/AIDS head on, while many Christian leaders remained silent.
Whether appearing as a keynote speaker or panelist, Rev. Justice has strived to educate and enlighten the New Jersey community about the impact of HIV/AIDS, while promoting prevention. He has played an integral part in the Department of Health and Senior Services' Project F.A.I.T.H. program, helping to communicate culturally sensitive messages regarding the disease. He is also the co-author of Faith-Based Outreach and Rapid HIV Testing: An Initiative to Reduce Disparities in HIV Disease in New Jersey.
Rev. Justice is the recipient of the first-ever Mercer County consortium HIV/AIDS award. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey HDC-State Commission on HIV/AIDS and a member of the Governor's Task Force on HIV/AIDS And Other Blood Pathogens. He continues to mobilize community leaders to generate awareness and implement vital programs for the purpose of education and prevention. |
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“Maxine Frere has been a pillar of hope for children and families facing HIV/AIDS. Her tireless dedication to this cause is exemplary and it's our supreme delight to present her with The Pocketbook Honors this year.”
– Sharon McGhee |
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A native of Harlem, New York, Maxine Frere worked as a stock girl and then a buyer's assistant for Lord & Taylor prior to pursuing a career as a registered professional nurse. Upon graduating from the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing, she touched the lives of countless children and in the mid 1980s began what would become a lifelong mission - caring for children infected by HIV/AIDS. Much of the earlier part of her career was spent helping families prepare for death. But now, due to medical advancements, awareness and other champions of hope like Frere, she's able to help children and families facing HIV/AIDS to prepare for life. Whether helping a family plan for college or standing beside one of her "kids" at their wedding, her commitment to education, health, resilience and hope resonates throughout her community.
Now at the age of 61, Maxine Frere's mission is as strong and vibrant as ever. She frequently talks to schools and churches offering much needed support, advice and encouragement to children and parents. She conducts educational programs on HIV/AIDS at her home church First A.M.E. Church: Bethel and has plans to pursue her Masters Degree in Health Education. |
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