2 | MACAZIN

CONTENT04 MY LIFE MY LEGACY

24 757 ALL STAR GAME

CONNECT WITH US REALIZE MAGAZINE

One man’s journey to ensure that every student that he can reach, is afforded an understanding of the benefits and

opportunities that higher education can bring. Discouraged by the lack of high school graduates that even considered

college as an option, he and his wife decided to change their thinking.

This year, the first annual Adidas 757 All Star Football game took place in Norfolk. This event showcased the talents

of local high school seniors while providing an opprotuntiy to be view one last time by college scouts. The collective

efforts of the local community and voluteers not only made this event possible, but highly successful.

RAM Legacy, LLC1B Lyford Key

Hampton, VA 23666(757) 745-4159

www.ramlegacyllc.com2015 All Rights Reserved

Editor in ChiefRaniesa Gray-Johnson

Contributors: Keisha Barham

LayoutRAM Legacy LLC

REALIZE Magazine is published quarterly by RAM Legacy, LLC. Any reproduction of any portions of this publication is prohibited without wrtten permission from the publisher prior to doing so. RAM Legacy doesn’t accept any responsilbility for statements made by indiividuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning the publication may be submitted to the editor by email at ramlegacyllc@gmail.com.

Like, Follow, and Subscribe to us:

@RAMLegacy

Realize Magazine

MACAZIN | 3

18 IS THIS THE DREAM?

16 WHY REALIZE? 12 CHEF JALIL 09 REALIZE. ACHIEVE. MASTER.

21 WAKE UP!

WELCOME

In the midst of all the social injustice going on domestically and globally, let us not forget that we are all apart of the human race. Every life is valuable, just as every life matters. So many of us support and believe in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream, but are we truly honoring it?

We’ve changed!! Dominon Authority Magazine is now Realize Magazine! New focus, new content, same quality content! Find out what prompted the change here!

Chef/Personal Trainer Jalil Lindsey-Lowe is changing the way women think about fitness with her group Six Packs Under Stretch Marks. Her unique approach and tough love keeps women focused and successful.

The new year is a perfect time to start making changes that can last a lifetime! Here are a few tips to help you get a head start on achieving your goals for this year.

Words of wisdom, love, and encouragement to help you awaken the greatness that lies inside of you! Now is the perfect time for you to wake up and getting motivated by realizing the dream inside of you.

There is a old saying that urges us to find that

thing that bothers you most in the world,

and there you will find what you were put here to

solve. The biggest problem I see in our society is

a lack of hope. People are afraid to be who they

really are because they have no hope that they will

be accepted. They have no hope that the future

will get better. They have no hope in their dreams

coming true.

RAM Legacy, LLC was created as a way for my

family and I to spread hope throughout our com-

munities by using our collective gifts and talents,

to inspire people so to Realize that you are capable

of achieving any goal you have set for yourself,

assist and encourage you to Achieve that goal,

and help you become a Master in walking in your

purpose. We believe that the first step is believing

in yourself and never giving up hope for the future.

Through Realize Magazine, we aim to empower

each and every individual we come in contact with

creatively, collectively, and consciously with love.

RAM Legacy, LLC is about people engaging people

with hope for a better tomorrow.

Stay up to date with everything we are doing at Realize Magazine. Check out our website by scanning the QR

code below!!

4 | MACAZIN

MY LIFE MY LEGACYLegacy is not what’s left tomorrow when you’re gone. It’s what you give, create, impact, and contribute today while you are here that then happens to live on. ~Rasheed Ogunlaru

As parents, many of us have dreams that our children will do and be way more than we

could ever be. But are we truly doing everything we can to make sure that they are truly ready for life outside of our homes? Are we really preparing them for their future? Of course, most of us have had the conversation with our children about college. Do they want to go? Where do they want to go? But, unfortunately, many of us have failed to properly equip them with the necessary understanding of what going to college truly means, and that it is a viable option for some, but not all.

It is important that we get them invol-ved with mentorship programs that will help foster their understanding of the college experience. We need to make sure that they understand that college is not just a huge party, but can be the biggest stepping stone to securing their future dreams and goals if it is taken seriously. And then we also need to make sure that they are being constantly flooded with positivity and encouragement so they don’t falter in their objective to go to college. High school can be tough, on top of classes that challenge them, they often have to deal with intense

FEATURE

MACAZIN | 5

Dr. Daryl Crosby, Visionary and founder of My Life My Legacy, a nonprofit mentoring program designed to encourage high school student to pursue higher education.

and compelled you to continue on to your doctorate?

Dr. Crosby: My family was instrumen-tal in me pursuing education. I was an average high school student, no extra-curricular activities. My dad always stressed the importance of education. Nothing against garbage men, but he always reminded me that unless I wanted to do that or construc-tion, I would need to make education my focus. I needed to do what it took to be the guy directing and mana-ging, not the guy sweating and taking orders.

My dad insisted that I understood that I only had two choices after gradua-tion, college or the military. I knew I wasn’t the military type, so that meant I was going to college. The military isn’t for everyone, and unfortunately, many go because they don’t feel like they have any other choice. Either they are unaware of other options, or they don’t feel that they can choose another option.

I was blessed to go to HU. My dad was the Chief of campus police there, so he was able to put in a good word for me. I realize what he did for me, he put his position on the line for me, so I didn’t want to disappointment him or anyone else in my family. I was the first of my siblings to graduate. College was a lot easier than I expec-ted, mainly because I was interested in my classes. I was involved and had a desire to know more. The good thing about college is you get to pick what you are studying, instead of being told. Yes, you had the standard Math, Science, English, and History, but once you get through those courses, that’s when the fun begins. Some people peak in high school, but not me, I peaked in college. I stayed on the Dean’s list. It was easy for me, doing those 5 years was fun.

Now, my doctorate program, that’s another story. Life happened. Ma-rriage, two kids, and a job. Things

peer pressure and sometimes even family problems at home.

One man decided to do something to help. He and his wife made a decision to support high school students on their academic journey. Understan-ding that legacy is more than leaving money for future generations, but also leaving a heritage of solid moral cha-racter, exemplary academic success, and social involvement within the community, Dr. Daryl Crosby founded My Life, My Legacy (MLML). Recent-ly, I had the opportunity to sit down with him and find out how he got started and what the future holds for MLML.

REALIZE: Tell me about your back-ground. Where you are from, where you went to school, what some of the challenges were that you faced as a young man.

Dr. Crosby: I was raised in a military family in Hampton, VA. I am a Ke-coughtan High school graduate and a Hampton University Music Education Major. I received my BA in Music Performance, and Masters in Music Education. I am currently teaching in Norfolk Public Schools. And in July 2013, I completed my Ed.D in Educa-tional Leadership from Nova Sou-theastern University. This affords me a great opportunity to be a positive impact on young people.

REALIZE: What encouraged you to go to college, motivated you to finish,

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I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY YOU CAN SEE IN YOURSELF

WHAT I ALREADY SEE IN YOU...GREATNESS!

~Dr. Crosby

Dr. Crosby and his wife, Jaryn with a few of the mentees of the My Life My Legacy program.

got tough. I had to be focused and determined to finish it. This was more of a challenge for both my wife and I; and I like challenges. I completed it July 2013, but did not walk until July 2014. It took 6 ½ years, but we got it done! It was tough, but worth it. A lot of people don’t have what it takes to do it. They don’t have the drive. They don’t have the drive to continue after high school; but that’s what it takes.

REALIZE: Tell me about My Life, My Legacy. What is it’s mission, vision, core values?

Dr. Crosby: My Life My Legacy is a non-profit focused on preparing high school students for higher education. We help young people understand the importance of higher education. We help them understand that life goes on after graduation; education is important. We really believe in higher education, and the power of education period. We understand that every-body isn’t pro-college. And that’s fine, but we are here to encourage those who have decided that this route is for them.

My wife and I really benefited from our college experience. It made us more well rounded because we got to meet people from all walks of life, and made life-long friends. It is more that just getting a degree; it is about the experience, and that experience is pri-celess. We believe that young people need to have this experience. Many aren’t being encouraged to go, there is no conversation at home or even amongst their friends about going to college. When we deal with young people whose parents and grandpa-rents haven’t gone to college, they are not encouraged to even consider it as an option. So many parents are just focused on their kids graduating high school and go right into the work force.

Several years ago, graduating high school and going straight into the work force was fine, but with the way the economy has changed, you can’t stop at high school anymore. So when you have a family whose mentality is about just getting a job, they are mis-sing out on the opportunity that going to college has. So we endeavor to encourage young people to seriously

MACAZIN | 7

Dr. Crosby and his wife Jaryn truly believe in leaving a legacy. Here they are with their

beautiful daughters Jaris and Jayce.

consider college, and we have been quite successful.

We started back in 2009, and this May the first students that completed the program will be graduating college. We have been able to help quite a few students enroll into college. Some of our alumni attend Norfolk State, ODU, Florida A&M, Chowan, VA State, VCU, VA Union to name a few. We are very proud of what they have accompli-shed.

We got started at our former church. We have always been involved with youth, always had a good rapport with them. Young people have always felt comfortable connecting with us; whether it is at our house, playing ball, or whenever we get together. One day we were talking to two young men that were seniors at Hampton High. We asked them what their plans were after graduating and got a blank stare. Neither of them had a plan and had no idea what they were going to do next. This was baffling to us, because they were just a few weeks from high

school graduation and had no clear direction for their next step in life. And these were very intelligent, sharp young men. So we questioned if they ever thought about going to colle-ge, and their response was “No, not really.” My wife and I knew then that there was a void that no one in their lives had been able to fill. We decided then to use our knowledge, expe-riences and resources to help young people understand the importance of higher education. Life does not stop after high school, it only just begins. You don’t have to just go into the mi-litary because you don’t have another plan. And even if you did decide to go, education can propel you further in that career as well.

Freshmen coming into the program can feel a little left out at times. There is a lot of attention going to the juniors and seniors, but at the same time, we understand that we are plan-ting a seed. It’s all about exposure. We are trying to expose them to the college experience. It doesn’t have to be a traditional college, it can be a trade school or community college. We just really feel that it is important that they understand that high school is NOT the end. You are not done!

continued on page 30

8 | MACAZIN

“If you struggle with seeing the desired image, it’s time to look inwardly for a new

view.”—Keisha B.

MACAZIN | 9

REALIZE. ACHIEVE. MASTER.It’s a new year, with new possibilities and the perfect opportu-nity for you to make some life changes. Here are a few tips to help you get started!

INSPIRATION

Life brings pain. There are things that happen along the way that can really shake the very core of

your being. But when life brings you a painful blow through people hurting you or other issues what do you do? I have experienced a wide range of painful experiences. I have learned that there is a purpose behind it.What did I do during those times? I discove-red me. I began to look at the pain to turn them into milestones of purpose.So I ask just who are you? Do you allow your pain to push you forward? Or pull you back? Do you allow the things of what people did or did not do determine who you are and how you feel about yourself? So again, I ask who are you? It’s time to take a trip.

I take introspective journeys quite a bit. It helps me get reconnected with myself. I have discovered some beautiful things about myself—most profoundly seIf-love. I have learned how to value and respect myself and make the necessary investments into as needed. Have I met every goal of course not. Have I done everything that I desire not yet but every step I take I am gleaning and learning and making course corrections along the way with the help of God.

Identity represents what is distinct about something. You can change the image of what you see by making deliberate decisions to look at yourself with a new set of eyes and identify how God uniquely created and desig-

10 | MACAZIN

ned you. He made no mistakes. You are His masterpiece.

Ask yourself, “Why am I bitter”? “Why am I angry”? “Why am I still hurting from the things that happened in the past”? Are you ready for the journey yet? You may have to go back to your childhood to pinpoint where the root of the pain, un-forgiveness, and re-sentment set in. This approach may be uncomfortable but it is necessary to become a whole person and to move forward. In this self-discovery process, this will allow you to understand why you made certain choices, and take the approach to make better ones. It may take time but you are worth the investment.

Do not wallow in self-pity and stay stuck in what people say or think about you. When you know who you are no one or nothing defines you, you define you. Be who you are, embrace who you are, and most of all love who you are. You may have heard people say that everyone has a twin but you do not have the same fingerprints as anyone else. You are distinct, one of a kind, original, unique. Do not measu-re yourself to others standards. Do not compare yourself to anyone else you are significant be bold and stand confident in that. Again, allowing your pain to thrust you into your purpose.

Ask yourself, “How do I change my perspective”? “What areas do I need to focus on”? “Do I need to try doing something new”? Google it, You Tube it--Take the time to learn everything about yourself and invest in tools books, cd’s, dvd’s that will help you become a better you. Create your own personal affirmations try this one: “I will not live in the past of my pain but I will use each day as an opportunity to walk out my purpose.”

-Keisha B. Have fun and create affirmations for every area of your life. Believe it, speak it, and live it!

Embrace the inspiration of this poem I recently wrote:

Captured EssenceIn the distance is the sun shining, glowing, radiating.

The illumination from the rays reflect the beauty from wi-thin.

Lift up your head, lift up your hands and quest into the dee-per deposits of your heart.

The treasure has been found—you!

Live Inspired!Keisha B

Keisha Barham is an author, poet, inspirational speaker, and entrepreneur. Contact her at: keisha.braham@yahoo.com

or on faceebook.

MACAZIN | 11

I have made it a habit to not talk

about my husband and the fact

that I have been a widow for al-

most 17 years. Personally I think it is

completely irrelevant to any conver-

sation that I will ever have. On top

of that, I genuinely felt that it was

nobody’s business. I would get angry

when people would get curious and

ask me question about him and that

time of my life. I would always won-

der why they felt so bold as to ask

me about him. And the way people a

person’s reaction to me would chan-

ge enraged me even more. It was

almost as if I was not someone to be

taken seriously before they found

out, yet afterwards, I suddenly be-

came this wise and cultured woman

whose words should be respected

simply because I had “been through

something.” It made me feel as if I

was worthless until my pain proved

to people that I was worthy.

I do admit, it is a unique story that

humbles even the gruffest of indivi-

duals. Most people I meet comment

of how they couldn’t imagine ever

going through something like that.

And then, in their attempt to be

empathetic, remind me that either

God knew I could handle it, or that

whatever doesn’t kill me makes me

stronger, so I must have super hu-

man strength. I found both of these

reactions pathetic and admit that

they caused me to view the indivi-

dual with even less contempt than I

had when the conversation started.

I was very young when I got married.

Only 17 years old. I still remember

the first time I met Frederick Antwan

Johnson. We were in the high school

gymnasium at senior orientation

right before school started. It so

happened that we both were new

students to the school. I moved from

one district to another and he from

another state, Gulfport, MS. He sat

two rows down from me with the

new friend that he made, and I with

the new friend I had made. I had

no idea at the time how this first

glimpse would be one of the few

cherished memories that I have of

him today...

Cause and Effect is a story about the struggle of the human spirit to survive in a cold, unsuspecting, un-caring world. An account of how one woman faced with tragedy

and insurmountable opposition wages war against to most powerful foe that we can ever know…The Truth that lies

within us. As you read this book I challenge you not to jud-ge, but to be real about your own life and circumstances. It is my hope that you will be inspired to embrace the reality

that you are in fact fearfully and wonderfully made. ~Kelvin Harney

THE BOOK SHE NEVER WANTED TO

WRITE ABOUT THE STORY SHE NEVER

WANTED TO TELL. PICK UP

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AWAITED, MUCH ANTICIPATED BOOK ,

CAUSE & EFFECT TODAY!

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ON SALE MARCH 7, 2015!!

12 | MACAZIN

SIX PACKS UNDER STRETCH MARKSJalil Lindsey-Lowe is an Alumni of Johnson and Wales Uni-versity, Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition and Wellness Consultant through American Fitness Professionals and Asso-ciates. Her Passion for Culinary Arts joined with her pursuit of healthy living, led her to create a brand that services clients in the area of Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness.

WELLNESS

MACAZIN | 13

Starting with a typical Facebook Fanpage, Jalil has extended the SPUSM brand to include a Mealplan of the Month, 90-day fitness challenges, and a private group

for support!

It’s that time of year again. You know what I’m talking about; that time of year when everyone makes up his or

her mind to start working out and getting healthy. Then the gym gets overcrowded, weight loss equipment disappears off the shelves of local stores, and everyone’s social media posts are focused solely on their efforts to get fit before the warmer weather gets here. And for the first mon-th and a half-two months for the really dedicated-of the year, everyone sticks to their goals. But right around mid-Fe-bruary, people begin to get frustrated with their diets. Broiled chicken and rice with no bread and no carbs for dinner every night is starting to become your least favorite time of the day, and after 6 weeks of giving it all you got, the hunger pains and only minimal weight fluctuation cause even the most devote to throw in the towel. Not to mention feeling like you have to give up ladies night, time with the guys, or any birthday, wedding, bar mit-zvah in order to avoid the temptation of eating anything not part of the diet plan you have subscribed to.

We have all been there. Having a need, and even a desire to get healthy, but totally not willing to give up the best part of life to do. Let’s face it, we all love food-good food. Who wants to give it up? How can we merge great food, healthy habits, and fitness, and not feel guilty? I got the opportunity to talk to someone who I be-lieved has truly learned to do this in such an amazing way. A wife, mother, personal trainer, and chef, Jalil Lindsey-Lowe has made it her mission with Custom Eatz and Six Packs Under Stretch Marks to show as many people as possible that health and fitness can be fun and taste AMAZING!!! Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself !

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Jalil attended the Inglewood Public School system from Kindergarten through high school graduation. Inglewood is known to be a very rough neighborhood, with rough schools, but having parents who expected nothing but the best from her, Jalil knew she had no choice but to chose right over wrong. She credits having both parents in the home as the driving influence for her to stay focused and out of the trouble that was so readily avai-lable. After high school graduation, she had some decisions to make. Her parents

made it clear that her only options where to go to school, get a job, or join the mili-tary. There was no option for her to stay at home, so in her desire to see the world and meet other people, she decided to join the military.

As an only child whose parents both wor-ked full time jobs, Jalil spent a lot of time alone. She used food as her comforter and companion, which caused her to gain weight. She was using food as a substi-tute for emotional relationships. Before she could enlist, Jalil had to lose some weight, but there was no one available to help her. Her recruiter assisted her with getting a gym membership and directed her in what areas that she needed to focus, but essentially Jalil was left to figure out her fitness program on her own. She did a lot of research, but eventually did a lot

of yoyo dieting that managed to get the weight off, but did nothing to curb the deep-rooted emotional issues that caused her weight gain in the first place. She eventually joined the military and was able to maintain the fitness standards, but as soon as her enlistment was up, the weight came back. This led her to join a weight loss clinic to get help with figuring out the right way to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

At the same time she was getting help achieving her own weight loss goals, Jalil was working in restaurants as a chef. A graduate of Johnson and Wales Culi-nary Academy, Jalil realized that she was having fun with her meals, enjoying them and not feeling guilty about what she was eating because she was not cheating on her diet. Soon, people were asking her

14 | MACAZIN

JALIL INCORPORATES A HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH EACH OF HER CLIENTS

OFFERING THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS TO A HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE: CUSTOMIZED EXERCISE PROGRAMMING, HEALTHY MEAL PLAN-

NING AS WELL AS MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT WELLNESS.

WELLNESS

Jalil incorporates her love and passion for cooking

in her customized training plans for each of her

clients. She has aims to prove that eating healthy

still tastes great!

for her recipes and she realized that she is able to show people that eating healthy can taste great and you can have fun with your meals. Out of this desire, her consulting company Custom Eatz was born. But as a chef, Jalil would just go in the kitchen and cook, she didn’t always follow a recipe or write one down. She soon realized that developing a recipe and meal plan was taking a lot of time and effort. She didn’t want to just give people a recipe; she wanted them to have all the tools they need to be successful. So her first meal plans were very detailed and elaborate.

Jalil admits that although she put a lot of work into the meal plans, in the end, they intimidated people. She had difficulty getting people to follow up or even talk with her despite her continued attempts to reach out. It wasn’t until she star-ted working with her own coach that she understood why. Her plans were to strenuous. She realized that many people needed something less complex to start with, and then eventually build up to a more detailed plan based on their specific health and fitness goals.

Once she was able to achieve her own healthy weight and maintain it, Jalil began to help others do the same. Having dealt with the emotional and mental struggle to lose weight, she understands what people go through to get through, and recogni-zes that it take more than a sheer desire to succeed; you have to deal with the root cause behind the scenes. As a coach, Jalil uses her platform to help people deal with the deep-rooted issues that they may not even be aware is causing them to fail in all their efforts. She started creating pro-grams and meal plans that would assist people in their goals, but also worked one on one with each of her clients to identify what they may be holding on to that is holding them back. Once she realized that her methods were helping people, she deciding to get her personal training certification.

Bodybuilding came much later; it was never anything that she aspired to do. Jalil never thought she fit the mold to be a bodybuilder. In her mind, you had to be a special person to do that, not her. But soon, Jalil’s faith stretched her thinking to a place where she believed that not only was she definitely cut out to be a body-builder, but she could be effective in it as well. She realized that the only thing that

was stopping her was her own limiting thoughts and beliefs. Once she decided to find a coach, she reached out to someone she had met previous that noticed her potential. She began working with a coach to prepare for her first competition and nine months later, Jalil took 5th place and qualified for the Junior National compe-tition. Though she qualified, both Jalil and her coach knew she was not ready to compete on a national stage, so she took 15 months off to prepare. Her hard work paid off; when she competed again, she won first in two shows and qualified for the National competition again, in which she will compete later in 2015.

Six Packs Under Stretch Marks (SPUSM)started as a Facebook support group to encourage women to achieve their fitness goals. But it soon started to grow into a personal training business. Jalil does mobile personal training, and only trains a select number of clients because she works very hard and very closely with each client. She incorporates many of the meal planning techniques that she uses for Custom Eatz, as well as assists clients in dealing with the hidden issues that are holding them back. SPUSM is the online training part of the program where she can hold group challenges, like the 90 day fitness challenge, and even the meal plan of the month. Jail’s foundation for crea-ting the group is found in Esscl 4:13. She believes that like the three strand cord is not easily broken because of its strength, the more people you have working toge-ther and encouraging one another, the stronger you will become. Her goal is for the group to always be about sisterhood and support and helping each other, so it remains a secret group.

Jalil credits her husband and her faith for her success. Having a husband that is extremely supportive, and unshakea-ble faith helped to really push past her limiting beliefs and doubts and step into what she really feels she was called to do. She also states that learning to effectively manage her time is key as well. Once she was able to clearly see her goals and identify her focus, it became easier to say no to those things that either were not in line with her goals, or that she just did not have time to do. Jalil recalls times when she would over extend herself, and admits that once she realized that doing that cau-sed more harm than good, she was able to develop a tight schedule and maintain the focus to stick with it. It also helps to keep her organized as well.

When asked about how she measured her success, Jalil is honest an open about sometimes feeling like her methods and techniques aren’t working. But she says that after taking time to really evaluate that way of thinking, she began to un-derstand that she might not always see the fruits of her labor immediately. Jalil’s phi-losophy is to serve each and every person with compassion and empathy because the seeds she is helping to plant will eventua-lly lead to a healthy harvest.

MACAZIN | 15

JALIL LINDSEY-LOWEJalil is also a Nationally Qualified NPC Figure competitor.

She successfully manages her family while maintaining fitness.

16 | MACAZIN

Moving from Dominon to Realize...

I have been publishing a magazine for about two years now, but due to my own insecurities about the project, it has not

done as well as it should have. I stifled the growth of the publication because I found myself not really as interested in it as I was when I first started it. It became a chore to me, instead of a passion. At one point, I even quit entirely because it just was NOT what I wanted to do.

This lead to some deep searching about what caused my sudden disinterest in some-thing that I put so much time in developing. So I’ve spent the last few months, seeking, searching, and praying for guidance on not just this project, but the direction of my life as a whole. And I realized that the reason why I was so uninterested in my magazine is because it was no longer MY magazine. Dominion Magazine had lost my vision. It was not the publication I wanted to write, but the publication that I thought I was supposed to write based on what others had said and spoken into my life. But not at all

what I believed God said to me.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I love the Lord and will continue to praise and worship Him all the rest of my days, but I do not be-lieve that He called me to write a “Christian” magazine. My passion and vision is in the world, where the saints and the ain’ts abide together. I am called to help PEOPLE. Not just the saved folk, not just black people, not just single parents, not just women. People.

I believe that people can’t get to their place of peace, hope, and deliverance unless they can be understood in their present state. And because no one is taking the time to truly understand and discuss what their present reality is, people are losing hope for the future. They are discouraged about the outcome of their lives, and doubtful of any form of success, prosperity or redemption.

Therefore, in my endeavor to be impactful in the lives of everyone that I encounter, I have renamed the magazine and re-focused

PLEASE UNDERSTAND,

THAT THIS MAGAZINE MAY

RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS

BECAUSE I AM NOT YOUR AVERAGE WOMAN.

Many people asked me why I gave

up Dominion Authority Magazine.

But for me, it was not giving up, but

realizing what my true calling and

purpose is...

MACAZIN | 17

TRUTH

its mission. The mission of REALIZE is to empower people to REALIZE their dreams in order to ACHIEVE lasting success and MASTER every area of their life! I envision this magazine as a publication that people can read to encourage themselves to push forward towards their goals regardless of their current circumstances. We will include articles of hope, wisdom, perseverance, and faith. This publication will challenge the reader to take the next steps towards their personal goals, educate them on various topics to help them be successful, and also provide information on various local resour-ces and community events.

The same way that listening to your favorite song pumps you up and gets you motivated and feeling like you can take over the world,

The team that helped me produce Dominion Authority Magazine. Each has moved on to bigger and better things!

is the same feeling that I want readers of Realize to have when reading this publica-tion.

Please understand, that this magazine may ruffle some feathers because I am not your average woman. I have been through some tough circumstances and have still managed to come out with my head held high, so my goal is to be an advocate for those who feel like they are looked down on because they don’t fit the mold. I am breaking the mold to get the heart of hurting people; people who have dreams that are literally killing them because they don’t believe that they are ever going to achieve them. This magazi-ne isn’t for those that are just looking for entertainment while waiting in the doctor’s office. This magazine is for those who have

a strong desire to succeed, but just need that extra encouragement to get them back on track and keep them focused. This is for those that want to ignore the naysayers that are telling them that they will never amount to anything because of the shady past they may have. This magazine is for those that want to believe that their lives can be different.

I say this all to say thank you to all of you who have support me from day one and those who have come alongside since. The first issue of Realize magazine will be relea-sed on January 17, 2015. Please continue to check my website as more details and information regarding ordering your copy will be updated this week!

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IS THIS THE DREAM?

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. ~ MLK

SOCIAL ISSUES

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As citizens, we muct remember that law enforcement are in place to protect our

domestic rights as citizens. Not all are racist and misrepresent their badge

Politics have always played a major role in race relations throughout this country. It is interesting to note that although we have a minority president, we still have a long way to go.

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look and do nothing. ~Albert Einstein

In light of recent, tragic events, I find it an opportune time to talk about the elephant in the room. Injustice. Not

just racial injustice, but social injustice, economic injustice, and generational injustice.

The media has taken this opportunity to exploit the raging tensions between local police and African American males. It is not uncommon to log onto the internet, or open up a newspaper, or turn on the television and be visually accosted with imagery depicting the battle in the streets. The constant barrage of negative imagery is enough to make even the most neutral of individuals begin to feel the twing of anger towards the seemingly endless cir-cle of police brutality ravaging minority neighborhoods. Adding to the already

intense emotions are those individuals on social media who seem to take pride in pointing out each and every individual discrepancy ANY law enforcement officer has ever made in the last 50 years; enti-cing followers to respond with their own memes pointing out the obvious contra-diction in responses of law enforcement to Caucasians caught in similar acts.

Protests, marches and riots have swept the nation in support and in opposition to the local and national government’s responses

to how these situations have been hand-led. Instead of providing the protection needed for our cities, the majority of law enforcement agencies are spending most of their time reading the mind of Olivia Pope by trying to figure out how to redeem their severely tarnished image. Supporters for and against both sides of the argument can been seen and heard ra-llying for their respective causes, each side adamant that their view is the right view, neither able to see from an objective view. And though this topic definitely needs

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It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass un-til there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and

equality.~MLK

AN INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE

EVERYWHERE.~MLK

to be discussed, the manner in which it is being done leaves much to be desired. Everyone wants their opinion to be heard, and everyone wants their feelings to be recognized, but at what expense?

We all know and understand that nothing is accomplished when everyone is yelling and screaming and no one is listening. The art of listening is the single most efficient way to resolve conflict. With everyone fighting to have their opinion acknowledged and their voice heard, who is really offering a resolution to the pro-blem? At what point do we stop playing the blame game and come to the common realization that ALL of us played a part in what happened and what is continuing to happen?

How can we truly celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. if we fail to really take to heart the true meaning embedded in his words. Dr. King dreamed of a world where everyone was free to pursue their constitutional right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He believed that ALL men were created equal, regardless of their skin color, national origin, or economic status. He believed that people should be judged not on the color of their skin (or their geo-graphical residence), but in the content of their character. Yet, in the midst of a legacy that we so proudly celebrate, nei-ther of these dreams have been realized or even acknowledged.

The things that our civil rights leaders endured do not give minorities a pass to act as if anything is owed to them. In contrast, minorities should be doing everything in their power to ensure that we are honoring their legacy by taking full advantage of every opportunity affor-ded to us as a result of their sacrifice. We should be furiously supporting economic development in under-privileged commu-nities and supporting educational expan-sion throughout all parts of the country. And we should be using our hard earned right to vote to make informed decisions at the ballots when electing our country’s leaders. To not take full advantage of these opportunities is to ignore and disin-

herit everything our leaders left for us.

As a people, we must continuously strive to make our society a better place for ALL who live in it. Not just those who are dee-med worthy as a result of the sacrifices and struggles of their ancestors. It seems to me that this has caused an entitlement attitude among many. So many people feel they are owned something because their forefathers struggled. But that is not the case. The generations that came before you endured the things that they did to ensure that you would have an opportunity now to have control over your own life. The civil rights movement was in no way about leaving an excuse for future generations to whine and moan about the injustice of the generation before them. As a matter of fact, I believe that they would chastise us for using them as a cop-out.

Drugs, alcohol, the pursuit of money, illicit sex, twerking, and the like are NOT what Dr. King’s dream was about. He en-visioned a world where ALL people were

no longer judged based on their color, but on their actions. But I dare say that these are NOT actions that Dr. King was referring to. These actions do nothing more but to solidify the stereotype that some people have already associated with our communities. These actions and beha-viors do nothing more than to give the perception that we don’t value our own li-ves; we waste more time killing ourselves than any police officer, white, black, Asian,

or other can ever do. Not that this gives any type of excuse, but it is definitely clear that as a man thinketh, so is he.

The activities that consumed the bulk of your time show a vivid picture of your thoughts and the content of your character. If you prefer to spend your day standing on a corner selling drugs, using vulgar, misogynistic language to address women, and attempting to convince all

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Have you ever had a dream that you never allow yourself to really dream?

You know what I mean, that idea, thought, or desire that you have to do something totally amazing and completely against your current reality. That thing you want to do that you believe that only you can do, no one else. You know, that thing that you keep telling yourself that there is no way in the world you could ever do. Yeah, that.

Well, what if I told you that you were wrong. What if I told you that not only can you do, but that you HAVE to do it. The world is

WAKE UP!!

MOTIVATION

The time is now!! That dream that you have kept hidden in your heart for so many years is bursting to come out. It’s time! now is the perfect time for you to realize your dream. Make it a reality!!

waiting on you! You have some-thing inside of you that the rest of us needs. And as long as you continue to tell yourself that your dream is crazy, the rest of us are missing out on that greatness.

Oh, you think that your past disqualifies you, or your lack of education or experience. No, it doesn’t. As a matter of fact, it is the exact reason why you have to do it. It is time that we show the world that the only standard that defines us is the standard that we measured ourself with yester-day. We make our own way in this world, not society. It is up to us

to show the world who we are, not allow them to tell us who we are.

Let us no longer be defined by someone else perception or im-perfection. Let us no longer allow other people’s insecurities convince us that we are not capable of great-ness. And let us no longer dim our light for fear of overshadowing another. Be bold, be brave, and dream BIG!!! It’s time! The world has been waiting on us!!

So that thing you want to do…yeah, that one. DO IT!!! Boldly. Unapologetically. Sincerely. And be happy while you are doing it.

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There is and always has been a lot of talent in South Eastern Virginia. Musi-

cians such as Missy Elliott, Tim-berland, and Pharrell call Virginia home, and so does actor Wayne Newton. But Virginia also has its share of sports talent as well. From Lawrence Taylor and Mel Gray to Kam Chancellor and Russe-ll Wilson, who both currently play for the Seattle Seahawks, Virginia has had several notable athletes start right here in our local public school system. So it’s a refres-hing and long overdue for Virginia to have its own all-star game to showcase some of these talented

Adidas 757 ALLSTAR GAME

COMMUNITY

A community event and a chance for local high school seniors to showcase their talent one last time before heading off to college

athletes.

This year’s game was the first in what local sport enthusiasts aim to make a long history of games for the area. Spear-headed by Mr. Craig Spruill with Playmakers Sports, the game quickly gained re-cognition by Adidas who signed on early to sponsor the event. Spruill is not stranger to the sports arena having served as an sports agent for top athletes across the country for several years. His goal was to create a platform for local high school students to perform one last time before ending their high school career.

Craig Spruill and Several participants of the game visited the Norfolk Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughter. The athletes spent time, socializing playing games, and interacting with the youth that are currently undergoing medical treatment at the facility.

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Participation in the game was not something that Spruill took light-ly. Athletes had to meet specific criteria in order to even be consi-dered. Spruill and his team took into consideration an athlete’s gra-des, community service projects, overall sportsmanship, and even their attitude and character off the field. Many players met the initial criteria, so even with these strict guidelines in place, there still was the difficult decision to limit the number of players on each team to ensure that every player had the opportunity to get ample play time.

Once an athlete was identified as a potential player in the game, their name were added to a Watchlist, which Spruill and his team used to further identify those players that exemplified excellence in every area. The list was then limited to just high school seniors as the game is meant to be the final opportunity for the athlete to showcase their talents to family, friends, and any potential colle-ges that may also be considering them. Once the 70 players were identified, the teams were formed with the Southside (East) playing against the Peninsula (West).

In addition to being invited to par-ticipate in the game, athletes were required to participate in local community events that served to build character, promote a positive culture within the community for the game, and prepare the athletes for future public relations interac-tions. Each player was also requi-re to attend a financial literacy course sponsored by 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union which helped them to get a basic understanding of managing money as an athlete in college and beyond.

On December 20, 2014, the two teams came head to head at Powha-

This year’s 757 All Star Game was sponsored by Adidas. Local sports enthusiasts have come together to ensure the game will becoma an annual event to showcase the talents of local

students.

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tan Field in Norfolk, VA. A well played game where each team gave their best, but in the end, only one side would come out the victor. The Southside (East) would claim victory over the Peninsula (West) with a 7-6 score. Since the game, several players have received confir-med offers from colleges all across the country. Plans for next year’s game are already being discussed. For more information, email tea-madidas757@gmail.com.

THE PREMISE OF THE ADIDAS 757 HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME IS TO REWARD LOCAL STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR

THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALSO PRO-VIDE A PLATFORM FOR THEM TO FACILITA-TE THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS AND

SIMULTANEOUSLY ENHANCE THEIR OPPOR-TUNITIES TO CONTINUE THEIR PURSUIT OF

ATHLETIC CAREERS.

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llege students to come out and speak to them. The first group of students who entered the program will gradua-te this year, and that is a great feeling, knowing that you were instrumental in helping them get to this point.

Our students know that they have access to us whenever they need it. And they call us to check on us or to keep us informed with their progress. This is what it’s about for us; it really makes us feel good. Their excitement about their college experience; MLML helped to make it happen. It confirms to me that I am walking in my purpo-se; I am doing what God called me to do.

REALIZE: What does the future hold for MLML and Dr. Crosby?

Dr. Crosby: We will continue to mentor our students while they are in college. And we have plans to expand MLML in the fall of 2015 to the Suitland, MD area. We are excited about that. The grand vision is to have MLML chapters across the country. We are also going to include an official SAT/ACT tutoring program that will be held twice a month. We are also looking to do a Legacy Leadership Summit, to bring in students and give them opportunities that will help to prepare them for leadership and the next level.

MLML is a part of the Legacy brand.

The brand includes my book, Legacy Within: The Educator, Characteristics of Greatness. I also will be presenting at educational conferences exploring the content of the book. As well as motivational speaking and certified professional leadership coaching. All I want to do is inspire. My hope is that something I say will inspire someone else; I want to leave a positive in-fluence on everyone I come in contact with. That’s is the legacy that I want to leave.

My philosophy is to never achieve success, but to continue to strive for it. I don’t want to ever be done, I want to always have something to strive for. When you sit still, you began to rust, but if you continue to move, you will continue to be useful. I would rather burn out than rust out.

I want to leave you with on of my fa-vorite quotes from Benjamin Franklin: “Most people die at 25, but aren’t buried until they are 75.” Most people don’t live to fulfill their purpose. They just exist until 75, then we bury them.

For more information on My Life My Legacy, or to contact Dr. Crosby, log on to:

WWW.MYLEGACY-INC.ORG or connect with him on social media at

www.facebook.com/daryl.crosbyTwitter and Instgram: @darylcros

Email: darylcros@me.com

continued from page 7

There is more in you, more that you can do. So we work on exposure and motivating young people to pursue more education after high school.

Many times, it takes someone not in the household that makes an impact. Mom and Dad can say it all the time, but sometimes it takes that extra mo-tivation from someone they respect and look up to for them to get it.

REALIZE: What qualifies you to do what you do? In other words, at what point did you Realize that this was your purpose?

Dr. Crosby: We have a very high student success rate. We believe our main job is to get students accepted to the colleges they applied. This is not a tutoring program, but we do provide assistance with SAT and ACT prep. We don’t have all the answers, but we have a lot of resources that are available to us as a result of being edu-cators, so can get them if they need them. We provide guidance. Out of 6 years, we have only had one student not get into college, but that student also didn’t apply to any. They just were not interested. And that’s fine. But every students that has applied, has gotten accepted.

We help them keep up with their admission deadlines and test dates. We take them on college tours and provide an opportunity for current co-

your friends and the world that you are the toughest man on the block, why do you not expect people to view you as a threat and become frightened? When you become comfortable settling for a life less that your potential because you are lazy and prefer to blame someone else for your misfortunate instead of owning up to your own faults, why do you expect people to take you seriously? And when you wit-ness a murder in your neighborhood, but refuse to speak up not only for justice, but to help keep your neighborhood safe, why then do you hate the police who are tasked with the difficult job of keeping the peace in that same neighborhood where you allow killers and drug dealers to run free.

There is power in numbers. Dr. King proved that during his time. So why is it that as a people, we can’t come together to make our own communities a better place to live. Too many of us are turning our backs on the things we disagree with in an attempt to be “politically correct” or just to mind our own business. But when something as tragic as the death of a young boy walking down the street

wearing a hoodie, and carrying only a bag of skittles, and a soda happens, then the people want to rise up and protest. Whe-re were the protests when the number of black on black crime cases rose to astrono-mical levels in Chicago, Il? Where were the protests when in 2000, the number of African American men going to college fell to the lowest it had been in recent years? And where were the protests when the school to prison pipeline became an alarming fact for many African American communities?

I am not saying that the senseless violence on minorities is in any way condoned as a result of how we treat ourselves, but what I am saying is that in order for people to take us seriously, we must first take ourselves seriously. Injustice is running rampant in our communities and we are doing nothing about it. Lives and futures are being unjustly taken out of anger, jea-lousy and fear; and it is high time that we change that. Education, entrepreneurship, honor, and commitment have always been strong characteristics of our people; and it is time that we start living up to those

qualities and lay aside everything else.

For more information on how you can be a more productive

member of your community, get in touch with your local Com-

munity Services Board or local community center. Becoming a mentor, volunteering at your local homeless shelter,

and getting actively involved in your own child’s life are also

great ways to start making a positive impact in the community.

Contact us for more information on how to get started:

ramlegacyllc@gmail.com

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The new healthcare laws have taken effect. And while they were put in place to ensure affordable health-care for all, you still need someone to explain exactly what everything means.

Contact Teante Gray for your one on one consultation today!

32 | MACAZIN

CONTACT US: (757) 745-4159 EMAIL: RAMLEGACYLLC@gmail.com www.RAMLEGACYLLC.com|

RAM Legacy, LLC aims to empower each and every individual we come in contact with creatively, collectively, and consciously with love.

RAM Legacy, LLC is about people engaging people with hope for a bet-ter tomorrow.

RAM Legacy LLC