TWELVE KC

2

For Connoisseurs & Conscious Living

3

Welcome to our House!

Step inside, recline and enjoy a sip. This is

Kansas City’s new destination for “Urban

Sophisticates “or as we call it, for “For Con-

noisseurs and Conscious Living”. That tag-

line encapsulates upscale living and awareness.

Beyond that, TWELVE is uniquely Kansas

City, the heart and soul of the nation.

Here we shun the cow town persona and

highlight the experiences, careers and people

on par with any “major” city.

Our readers will often don fine wear and ex-

perience the finer things: exquisite foods,

world travels, imported automobiles. Some

are well-versed in this lifestyle and will teach

us. Others will read TWELVE to raise their level of play.

This will be an interactive journey. You have an opportunity to contribute to the content by

writing, submitting story suggestions, and of course, attending the launch parties and more.

Contact us at [email protected] to get involved!

Sincerely,

Ken L

TWELVE BEGINS

DON’T MISS

Check out pictures from our ART of FLIGHT

launch event on pg. 21.

Be sure to join us at our next live event to win a

MAKEOVER pg. 24

INSIDE

Qudos: Taste 6

Break Out in

2013

8

FMILL: People to

Watch

10

MLK Calendar 12

Health: Keeping

Resolutions

14

Greek Founders

Day

26

Wine Class 28

JANUARY 2013 Volume 1, Issue 1

Though a lifestyle publication isn’t unique, TWELVE evolves the genre. It’s the only magazine

that you both read and live. We set out to create more than a literary piece. We’ve merged

both the online world and the live event into the “magazine experience”. Once a month, we

release a new issue of the magazine. The release is paired with a live launch event where the

feature elements and characters of our magazine are brought to life for you to touch, taste,

feel and experience. The live experience becomes part of gathering ground of additional sto-

ries, photos, and more for the final written magazine.

What’s Different? Read It & Experience it Live

4

CLOSER TO MY DREAMS Plan now for Spring Graduation! Establish a Gift page today for the graduating student. Enable friends and family to easily make a contribution to salute their well-deserved ac-complishment. Help toward future expenses such as travel plans, a new car, or a new suit for interviews or jobs. Chances are a little extra money toward the tuition bill would be useful too! It’s FREE to start your page. Log on today.

Where The Nation Goes to Give

GIFT PAGES PROVIDE:

Real-time direct payments

Customized donation amounts

Goal meter option for tracking

Social media sharing

Email & contact invitations

Personalized gift page urls

Picture & video additions

Reporting

Specials & bonuses

Because sometimes they need it. Other times they deserve it.

6

If you’ve been paying attention, you

know that Kansas City has under-

gone a major transformation over

the last five years. There was a time

when having a 3am venue license was

the only distinction among clubs.

Kansas City was more suited for me-

diocre lounges. Travelers would

often flock to Atlanta, New York,

Cali, Miami and Vegas and talk about the brand new experiences, new music that we’re

weren’t accustomed to in Kansas City. The word “Upscale” defined the look more than

the experience.

Then in 2007, the Power and Light district enters Kansas City and spawns a movement.

Though the common sentiment among many in the African-American community is that

the P&L district wasn’t built for us. That’s likely true. Yuppies are the target. However, it

was built with the intention of making the town a destination city. Flat-screens, plush

lounges and bottle service are the new standard accoutrements for any club or restau-

rant’s point of entry in Kansas City.

QUDOS Cigar & Cognac Bar

1116 Grand Blvd Kansas City, Missouri 64108

MON (CLOSED)

TUES-THURS 4:00 pm - 3:00 am.

FRI 11:00 am - 3:00 am. SAT 5:00 pm - 3:00 am.

SUN 5:00 pm - 1:00 am.

(816) 474-2270

www.qudosbar.com

Newsletter Title

Windell Fields and David Lux

Co-Owners, QUDOS

Taste Matters

kcsoul.com

TASTE

7

quaint place for friends to

come to celebrate and bond

with friends. It’s simply

spelled with a Q to be dif-

ferent. Next, the owners

wanted a place where peo-

ple could come and “enjoy a

Stogie or Scotch, relax and

unwind” says Lux. They

developed it so it has appeal

for multiple targets. Ac-

cording to Lux, “It’s a great

place for men, but we de-

signed it so it has appeal for

a date”. For instance, on a

group date, men can lounge

on the patio with a cigar and

women enjoy conversation

Qudos Cigar Lounge and

Restaurant became part of

this new “Upscale” lifestyle

in Kansas City with their

launch five years ago. Bor-

dering the P&L, it fits well

with the theme of the dis-

trict, but adds a welcome

twist: Qudos caters to the

crowd that includes the

urban market.

David Lux, Qudos co-

owner, originated the con-

cept of an upscale cigar

lounge and through a refer-

ral, and made acquaintance

with business owner, Win-

dell Fields. The two talked

and forged a partnership

and made the idea a reality.

The result is a sophisticated

setting of leather lounge

chairs, and cocktail tables, a

humidor with lockers and

cigar accessories, and a res-

taurant serving casual and

elegant fare.

Their first priority is making

their venue different. That

starts with the name. Qu-

dos represents Kudos, or

Congratulations. Like the

old sitcom Cheers, it’s a

and cocktails on the inside.

Cigars usually typify a more

sophisticated experience.

Even for the urban elite, it’s

not something that’s com-

mon to many of us. Qudos

realizes that and says that

Qudos becomes a place

where people can get edu-

cated. Men and women get

introduced to hand rolled

cigars, and have started to

learn flavors, qualities and

know what they’re smoking.

Many good concepts, of

African-American owners,

have come and gone. Red

Vine and Harpers on 18th &

Vine, as well as the Peach-

tree Restaurants, which

were early homeruns with

their upscale soul food din-

ing establishments. Few

make it beyond four years.

Now in its fifth year, Qudos

has proven its ability to re-

tain its value. It won’t al-

ways have a huge rush, but

Lux and Fields have devel-

oped a successful model

that sustained by flexible

programming such as lounge

events, parties and Saturday

Salsa, which is popular

Qudos: Taste Matters

“Qudos

becomes a place

where people

can get

educated. Men

and women get

introduced to

hand rolled

cigars, and have

started to learn

flavors, qualities

and know what

they’re

smoking.”

Volume 1, Issue 1

among Latin visitors.

The owners continue to

search for new opportuni-

ties. Now, discussions are

taking place to open up in

other cities. That’s right,

Kansas City may be finally

exporting our concepts,

rather than recreating

from others. Kudos!

9

Ready to Break Out?

Here are some quick tips to keep at your disposal: 1. Acknowledge your fear, the amount of power you have given it, and that it stands between your achievement.

2. Remember, FEAR is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real. It is every reason you should NOT achieve

your goal.

3. What you resist persists. Lean in and dig deep. Look, it is perfectly okay to be outside of your comfort zone.

4. Write down a few specific actions you can take, that get you closer to your goal.

5. Be one of the few who walk the path of the unknown achieving exactly what you know to be possible!

W. Sarah Fletcher is a Professional Coach and Development Specialist at Greatness Realized. She specializes in the coaching, training, and development of her clients as they transition from good to GREAT. Get supported and realize your greatness! Con-tact Sarah at 816.588.2506 or visit www.greatnessrealized.com.

FEAR. Such a small, dirty little word that has

exactly the amount of power we give it. This four letter word holds such a grip over our lives and over the areas where we really want to ac-complish something BIG. The more we resist confronting the fear, the greater it becomes, eventually suffocating our vision, dreams, and ultimately paralyzing us and halting our actions.

SHIFT your thoughts about FEAR and your ACTIONS will

follow. Fear is an amazing gift that lets us know we are exploring uncharted territory in our lives. Fear, when matched against the place you want to be in your life, lets you know you are on the preci-pice of something GREAT. Being scared is not an indicator to turn around and abandon your plan and goals, rather, it’s an indication to focus, lean in, dig a little deeper, and keep forging ahead. How many times last year or even in the last few months alone, did you have something you wanted to accomplish but settled for less in-stead? You settled because you were afraid - scared of the new and different path that had yet to be explored. Fear set in. With the new year here, aren’t you tired of the same results, falling short of what you intended to create and achieve? Ready to stop relinquishing your power to fear? What do you choose this year?

http://www.greatnessrealized.com

10

FMILL FLIGHT PLAN He’s always moving. Catch him

if you can and discover the next

treat in store for Kansas City.

This Urban Alumni Network

salutes Gary “FMILL” Mitchell

11

What’s the meaning of your name? F. Mill

is a shortened version of a moniker F. Million-

aire that was given to me by a graphic artist that

I used to work with. I adopted the name fully to

host Millionaire Entertainment events when I

first started the company. The F. stands for

many things but at the end of the day when you

party with me, I want you to feel like you have a

million dollars.

Where we you born?

Kansas City, MO

Describe what you do

I run Millionaire Entertainment, an event based

company dedicated to providing up-

scale entertainment and resources to other pro-

fessionals and companies in the entertainment

industry. I also work full time doing promotions

and advertising in the gaming industry.

How did you get started? I started producing

events in college at Xavier University in New

Orleans as a way to promote my clothing line.

Ever since then I have always used parties and

events as a way to get people’s attention to

communicate a message or to create a certain

type of feeling.

Best Known For? I’m known for representing

style and sophistication in nightlife. Most of the

time, lol.

Education Background? Bachelors degree in

Business from Xavier University

Any special skills? Creating and articulating

plans and messages in writing and verbally paint-

ing clear pictures of any vision, to the target au-

dience.

What’s in store for the future? Continue to

build Millionaire Entertainment into a wealth of

resources for the entertainment industry start-

ing with Kansas City. My ultimate plan is to

move into real estate development.

Name some favorites? - I like to discover

new places, especially restaurants. I also like to

travel. Las Vegas, Colorado, and Phoenix are a

couple of my favorites. Surprisingly, I don't like

beaches like most people.

12

Add Your Black History Month events and more to kcsoul.com. Just create a login or use your Facebook log-in.

Fri 01/11 Burning Sands Stepshow Venue: Uptown Theater: 37th Broadway

KCMO

Time: 6:00PM-Until

Producer: KCMO Alumnae Chapter of Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Contact: Andrea Jackson Email: step-

[email protected] Phone: 816-668-8522

Web: www.dstkcmo.org

Sat 01/12 Centennial Sip: Pub Crawl Event type: Party

Venue: The Black Archives : 1722 E. 17th Terr

KCMO

Time: 8:00 PM - 3:00 AM

Producer: KCMO Alumnae Chapter of Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Contact: Rashanda Fuller Email:


Web: www.dstkcmo.org

Sat 01/12 Sprint Artist Tribute Event type: Concert

Venue: Folly Theater: 12th & Central KCMO

Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Producer: Southern Christian Leadership Conf

Contact: Arlana Coleman Email: ajoy-

[email protected] Phone: 9135227526

Web: www.sclckc.org

Sun 01/13 Interfaith Service Event type: Community Action

Venue: Community Christian Church: 4601

Main Kansas City MO

Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Producer: Southern Christian Leadership Conf Contact: Arlana Coleman Email: ajoy-

[email protected] Phone: 9135227526

Web: www.sclckc.org

Thu 01/17 Black Achievers Award

Dinner Event type: Business/Finance

Venue: Downtown Marriott Count Basie Ball-

room: 200 W.12th Street Kansas City MO

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Producer: Southern Christian Leadership Conf

Contact: Arlana Coleman Email: ajoy-

[email protected] Phone: 816 241-8100 Web: www.sclckc.org

Sat 01/19 A.K.A.- K.C. Metro \"Ser-

vice of Peace\" Event type: Community Action

Venue: TBA: Kansas City MO

Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Producer: Alpha Kappa Alpha - Xi Tau Omega

Contact: Jamie Braden

Email: [email protected]

Mon 01/21 15th Annual MLK Holiday

Breakfast-Free Event

Event type: Community Action

Venue: Beta Lambda Educational Institute: 2915

Swope Parkway KCMO

Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Producer: ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY

INC.

Contact: Charles Lambert Email: lambert-


Web: www.kcalphas.com

Sat 01/26 Keys 20th Annual Event Event type: Forum/symposium

Venue: Negro League Baseball Museum: Kansas

City MO

Time: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Producer: KC Keys

Contact: Harrel Johnson Email: [email protected]

Web: www.kckeys.org

kcsoul.com –KCs Urban Source ADD EVENTS OF ALL TYPES

POETRY, CONCERTS, PARTIES, NETWORK-

ING AND MORE. Just create a kcsoul.com

Login or use your Facebook login and post for

FREE.

Just a snapshot of events

from the nonprofit calendar.

For complete listings, visit

kcsoul.com

2013

13

DECEMBER 2012 SCENE: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

1, 7th Annual Toy Drive by 100 Black Men of Greater KC with Brian Foster, President and Denzil Ross, Co-VP at ALOFT Hotel. 2.

Stanley Taylor and Joseph Thomas at FMill’s Sapphire event at the Pop-up Art Gallery. 3. Kendrick Lamar at the Midland by AMC. 4.

Sean Tyler, Brian Kennedy and Dewain Whitmore, Jr., at the “You Can Do It Too!" Music Producers/Songwriters panel discussion at

the Blue Room. 5. Lewis Diuguid, Leadership award recipient at 6th Annual,100 Black Men Gala at the CBE at Sprint Center. 6.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Lambda Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., MU Omega chapter coat drive at the

Beta Lambda Education Institute building. Be Seen. Request a photographer attend your event: First, add it to the calendar at kcsoul.com,

then email: [email protected].

1. 2.

4. 3.

5. 6.

14

By Crystal and Garry Lumpkins (Paraclete Health Ministries)

New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but are often difficult to

keep throughout the year. That’s why resolutions should be made

with some forethought and a successful plan. Health habits are de-

veloped over time and aren’t easily broken. Here are some ques-

tions to consider when deciding your resolutions for 2013:

Do I have the resources that I need before I start

this journey? Plan to gather the resources to meet your goals before you

start: workout gear, water bottle, exercise journal, recipes, accountability/prayer partner.

If you are trying to follow a strict diet regimen but are not

HEALTH

How to keep your 2013 Resolutions

kcsoul.com

15

planning meals before going to the grocery store, it’s less

likely that you will be successful.

Do I have an accountability partner(s)? Studies show that if you have someone who

can serve as an accountability partner or

partners, the chances of success increase

significantly.

Call them up and share your plan. Then

schedule the times you will talk and identify

the best days and time to get together.

Maybe your local church or neighborhood

has a group that you can walk with on a

regular basis.

Have I set some short and long term goals?

Making short and long term goals are

good for two reasons – one, you can

see what you’ve accomplished in just a matter of a

week or a month.

Two, you can also use long term goals to address

other health issues that may be harder to break.

Seeing that you have accomplished one issue will

make you that much more confident in addressing

others.

Remember that only one to two pounds is a healthy weekly weight loss goal.

Do I have an exercise plan? Signing up for a gym membership is one way to do it,

but an exercise video can be an inexpensive alternative.

A personal trainer can be a good resource to establish

an exercise routine, but now there are thousands of

websites (sparkpeople.com) that will give you tips and

tricks for losing that unwanted weight.

Schedule the days and times you will exercise and get a

babysitter if needed. Start with a few days and work up from there. Thirty

minutes of exercise is a good goal, but 15 minutes is

better than nothing.

How can I track my success? There are programs such as My fitness pal

(www.myfitnesspal.com) that can help you chart your pro-

gress. This site has a smartphone app that can make track-

ing calories, exercise and weight a breeze.

Will food addictions get in the way? Think about those unhealthy items that you need to get

through the day. Don’t try to eliminate them all to-

gether, but start with reducing them or find some alter-

natives; try a Chai’ tea instead of coffee.

How do I manage my stress? Problems with “stress eating” often stem from not

A personal trainer

can be a good re-

source to establish

an exercise rou-

tine, but now there

are thousands of

websites

(sparkpeople.com)

that will give you

tips and tricks for

losing that un-

wanted weight.

16

MEDDRIN, INC.

Christopher White is the owner of Meddrin, Inc. which specializes in Fashion Styling/Image Consulting

Mission:

Founded in 2004, It is our mission to fully service the client through exposure to the mystique of fashion

savvy, and current trends. Our professional image coupled with the continued growth of our client base

and professional relationships will solidify our success and propel Meddrin Inc. to the forefront of the

fashion imaging industry.

Company Overview:

Meddrin Inc., an inspiring and relevant company offering services within the realm of fashion styling and

image consulting.

Meddrin Inc., is a platform for visionaries with creative talents in the Fashion Styling and Image consulting,

propelling the image of our clients. Meddrin Inc., represents a lifestyle of all in the obtainment of goals

and achievements in life!

kcsoul.com

17

dealing with stress in other areas.

Write in your journal 10 things that you are thankful for before

you list your complaints.

Journal your thoughts daily or weekly, but don’t just complain,

take this time to identify people or situations that are causing you

pain and devise a plan.

Touch base with friends weekly not just to vent, but to listen.

This is often harder for men, but in the light of recent events, we

need to get a few things off our chest before we explode.

Connect with God at the start of the day to renew your spirit. He

is in control.

Play uplifting music, and listen to audio books and radio programs

that inspire.

How will I celebrate my success? Celebrate your success along the way. When you’ve accomplished a

short-term goal, maybe purchase a new set of gym shorts or health

product that you’ve been eyeing. The goal here however is not to

celebrate success recklessly with something that is unhealthy or has

contributed to the unhealthy situation that you are in.

How can I help others who are struggling with similar is-

sues? We call this, “Paying it forward”. When you and your accountability

partners have helped each other to reach your goals, reach out and

help others who are struggling with some of the same health issues

that you are struggling with – this only reinforces the decision that

you’ve made to keep your resolution. Invest in someone else by taking

them to the gym, starting a cooking group or even volunteering to

cook a healthy meal for your church or local sorority. It only takes

one small gesture.

Best Wishes for a successful 2013! For more informa-

tion about Paraclete Health Ministries, email:

[email protected]

Paraclete Health Ministries. Our

mission is to come along side the

church in an effort to educate and in-

spire it become holistically

healthy - mind, body, and

spirit. We also endeavor to

promote and provide re-

sources for the church

health ministries and

community organizations to make a positive impact on their local communities.

(Continued from page 15)

mailto:[email protected]

19

Charles E Smiley was born and

raised in Kansas City Mo. All his

life he’s had a passion for music

and entertainment from high

school choirs to just local bands.

What really inspired him to be-

come a DJ was watching them

take total control over the music

by remixing.

In 2001 he started off with

smaller gigs such as weddings

and private parties and really got

a chance to read a crowd. In

2008, he was giving his first club

opportunity at one of the premier

clubs in Kansas City and has

been holding it down every

since.

Inspired by many, he was driven

to compete in the CITY DJ BAT-

TLE where he was crowned city

DJ champ 2009, 2010, 2011. All

in all, he enjoyed the opportunity

to entertain and create the party

atmosphere with all genres of

music. He believes this is his

calling.

“This

is

What I

Do!”

22

Petey Sensay born Petey

McGee has a fresh and prolific rap

style that has been 23 years in the

making. The Kansas City, MO

born rapper has spent his life be-

tween KC and New Jersey. After

writing poetry in middle school as

a way to garner the attention of

young ladies, it wasn’t until at-

tending a performing arts high

school that the poems began to

transform into songs. Not long

after, Petey began to experiment

with battle rap, where he was

able to sharpen his rap skills. With an undefeated battle rap

record in every high school he

attended, Petey formed the group

Buck 50 with New Jersey based

rapper Face49, New Orleans

based rapper 747Kevin, and Kan-

sas City based rapper Suli. Also

while in high school, Petey linked

up with his big cousin, Kansas

City rapper Donta Slusha and was

featured on all of his projects as

Lil Petey. Recognizing Petey’s raw talent

and unique style, Slusha began

working on solo projects for Petey

and released his first album “Cause

I Said So” in 2008 and the artist

Petey Sensay was birthed. Since

then, Petey has released two mix-

tapes: “Scream At Me” volumes 1

and 2 and three albums: “Cause I

Said So”, “Monster’s, Inc.” (both

produced by Beezer) and

“Do~N~Me”.

Petey has gained lots of atten-

tion on the KC rap scene with his

signature rap flow and his unique

sense of fashion.

Look for upcoming projects

from Petey Sensay including 3 mix

tapes; “Window Seat”, “Scream At

Me 2.5”, and “CocaCola Kids”.

Featuring talent—residents of the

Greater KC, MO-KAN area or former

residents. To be considered for a music

profile, submit music and bio to

[email protected].

23

Raye Jackson “I’ll make you famous”, could be his tagline.

Raye Jackson has been an essential resource to artists, promoters and industry heavy weights for decades. He shot the initial headshot of

Janelle Monae, when she was just a rising local sensation in Kansas City. He shot Tech N9ne, and helped hook up his first deal. But the list

goes on from Lo-Key and Mint Condition to R.

Kelly. He was even personally hired by the top family in music, when he worked with Jackie

Jackson. Yep, of the Jackson 5.

Local hotshots at KPRS-FM to national tours,

he’s always been in demand due to his quality and unique approach to photography. “High-end People” is what he claims is his specialty.

Not the typical portraits, he shoots with intense color, but has a strong artistic and fashion flare. But you can’t box him in, because his black and

white photography is also a fan favorite.

Catch him at his downtown studio or an event

near year, creating another masterpiece.

27

It’s Tuesday, December 4, 2012, and it’s become a Black

and Gold Facebook timeline takeover. Thousands across the

nation flock to social media to congratulate the men of Alpha Phi

Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on adding another year to its legacy. Like

a birthday or wedding anniversary, Greeks take as much pride in

their Founders Day as any special occasion.

Founded in 1906, Alpha was the first of the nine African-

American Greek-letter organizations which comprise the Na-

tional Pan-Hellenic Council, an alliance of the primary black

Greek organizations. Other members include Alpha Kappa Al-

pha Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha

Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta

Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma

Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. You may

have your favorites or choose to argue which is best, but what

won’t change is the pride members have in their organization, as

demonstrated in the annual celebrations of their founding.

Why celebrate? Longevity deserves recognition. That’s not unique to African-

American organizations. Take any brick and mortar business,

and they are quick to point out tenure as a selling point.

“They’re experienced, been through the test of time, a wise in-

vestment”, we’d say. History lends credibility.

Returning to African-American perspective, the length of time

embodies the same equity as other institutions. It is even more

important, considering their very existence was challenged by

powerful institutional barriers like slavery and Jim Crow. We

first weren’t allowed to be educated and when we were, it was

far below par from white counterparts. To further magnify this

achievement, realize that Black Greek life started at Cornell Uni-

versity, not just any school, an established Ivy League institution.

Beyond organization origin, there’s also pride in the achievement

of individual members. Greeks can boast memberships from

Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American supreme court

justice to sports legend, Michael Jordan. Greek organizations

include the people who have shaped history, within and well

beyond the African-American community. Each organization can

name their share of “most” and “firsts”.

Jamie Braden, a member of the Xi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha

Kappa Alpha, the nation’s first African-American sorority, states

“Being first is prestigious, but the overall Greek community’s

purpose is what’s more important. Greeks are reflective of Du-

Bois’ Talented Tenth” says Braden. Dr. W.E.B., DuBois, sociolo-

gist, educator, civil rights leader and author, used the term

“talented tenth” describing African-Americans that should

achieve higher education. Those individuals would then become

the leaders to help secure economic and political freedom for

African-Americans. It’s clear that Greeks represent some of the

best and brightest. “Our existence is a credit to those leaders

who paved a way,” says Braden. Though she thinks founders

would be proud of the progress, she believes we owe it to those

who’ve built the organizations to continue to do more.

Now that we recognize the importance of Greeks and their

founding, the issue becomes whether the credit earned through-

out Greeks’ history is still merited today. Are the aims and lev-

els of achievement still being met? Being in the lineage of a No-

bel Prize Winner doesn’t entitle descendants to credit predeces-

sors’ achievements on their resumes. Tracing a family tree to

Frederick Douglass does nothing to address the present day

evils such as AIDS, poverty or racism. Where’s your work and

your commitment to service? Greeks have often been chal-

lenged with this question, especially when a hazing incident or

elaborate socializing seems to take the limelight.

(Continued on page 30)

ABOVE: Founders Day salute at TWELVE MAGAZINE LAUNCH on January 4th at Qudos. TOP RIGHT; Greeks lounge at NINTH IN-

NING, following NPHC-KC meeting. BOTTOM RIGHT: December 4, 2012, Alphas gather to salute their founders, the SEVEN JEWELS.

29

GRAPE GATHERING

A sophisticated “underground”

movement has surfaced. Well, we

consider it “underground” since it’s been around since 2009 and now eight events have been hosted, but chances are, this is your first expo-

sure to the event. Originally operating from a fairly

exclusive invitation only list, it’s popularity is thrusting it into the mainstream. It’s considered a quarterly wine social. Dozens of pro-

fessionals converge on a household to unwind, enjoy wine and mix

with like-minded professionals. Those attending tend to be urban professionals, acquaintances of the producers, but people of all races tend to participate. We interviewed Doug Ngomsi, the founder, who

gave us the inside scoop on the Grape Gathering. Who are the GG producers?

The "GG Producers" include Fred Manasseh, Terrell Jolly, Rashel Kelly, and me. We're known as the community's "Sommeliers" as we all bring an element to the Gatherings and actively plan and discuss

how to evolve from each one. Other supporters include: Sheriece Green, Krystal Tatney, Funmi Adewumi, Damon Smith (who has

moderated the Question Game) and Jill Anderson who hosted the last Gathering. Dr. Ngomsi “The Doc” is

the anchor and I tend to run several things by him but he usually defers to us and is happy to just provide

his support during the event and ask if he can still keep his all-white robe.

Dr. Ngomsi, is knowledgeable, but claims not to be a wine expert. What’s his background? Right - Dr. Ngomsi has a PhD in Pedagogy and is a former educator. He runs his consulting firm and does

cultural and diversity training for school districts, companies, hospitals, and even city services (law enforce-

(Continued on page 30)

Dr. Ngomsi “The Doc” educates.

The Question Game. Men & women pull & answer questions of the opposite sex. Doug Ngomsi, Founder

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The reality is that Greeks have issues. Individual members don’t

always live up to their potential. Just like the broader society

they live in, Greeks have their share of college drop-outs and

criminals. There are inactive members who have long set-aside

any relationship with the organization to which they pledged a

life-long commitment. Greeks have also had their issues, almost

since inception in managing their brand usage, negative stereo-

types, and matters of secrecy.

Yep, Greeks have imperfections, but they pale in comparison to

their larger positive impact. Around the world, Greeks are re-

sponsible for millions of scholarship dollars, thousands of com-

munity service hours and delivering highest ranking professionals

in all industries and disciplines.

Charles Lambert, member of the Beta Lambda chapter of Alpha

Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and president of the Kansas City chap-

ter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, sees the alumni chap-

ters even more engaged today. They are focused on the service

tenant of Greek’s mission. “I’ve seen more of a commitment and

interest in area Greek alumni chapters” says Lambert. In fact,

the NPHC-KC has grown to twenty chapters in 2012 and it’s

been working to foster collaboration among organizations, de-

liver programs—scholarships and serving others in need.

In January, five of the nine Greek letter organizations celebrate

their Founders Days. This year, Delta Sigma Theta, the world’s

largest African-American sorority, becomes the fifth organization

to hit the laudable centennial milestone. Tiffany Hogan, member

of the KCMO Alumnae chapter says Founders Day is an oppor-

tunity to show appreciation for the organization they love.

Delta has planned a range of local and national events to com-

memorate its 100 years of service. Activities include a float in

the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, recreating the historical

march in D.C. highlighting their participation in the Women’s

Suffrage parade, in March of 1913, and their national convention

in Washington D.C. in July. Locally, the KCMO Alumnae Deltas

have moved their annual Burning Sands stepshow to Friday, Janu-

ary 11, 2013 as part of several, local centennial commemorative

events.

Greek Founders Days are a celebration of African-American

resilience and perseverance, an important achievement for all to

celebrate, just like Juneteenth or Black History month. We sa-

lute all Greeks in their accomplishments and challenge all--Greek

and, non-Greeks alike--to use their history as inspiration to

achieve. Stay tuned for Greek life events at kcsoul.com


ment, etc.) When it comes to wine, he's an autodidact. His knowledge is self-obtained from several decades of tasting from years spent in

France and traveling the world. He has visited

vineyards and chateaus and has relatives in the country with "eyes on the ground" but he'll be the first to tell you that that doesn't make him

an authority. Even professional Wine Masters continue to evolve in their knowledge. One of the things he said early on was that wine is as

good as the person who is drinking it. And eve-ryone's tastes are different so aside from the "science" of wine-making and preserving, no one can truly become a know-it-all.

What was the original purpose and has that changed?

The original purpose was to take note of the growth of wine in the US and in our own com-munity by offering a setting for people to learn

about the offerings in a relaxed setting. The concept originated with home socials I had seen during his previous employment with

Cerner. With that template in place, the Doc and I thought it'd be unique to use these bot-

tles and offer a dinner "tasting" with the same crowd in mind but with a focus exclusively on

wine - learning more about different varietals, regions, customs, addressing misconceptions etc. Thus, The Grape Gathering was born.

That purpose remains the same today and the idea behind it is even more relevant now. An

overwhelming number of the Gathering atten-dees are professionals with college degrees who primarily work in the private sector or other related fields. By nature that makes net-

working valuable. As rising leaders of our firms, companies, or communities, it is not uncom-mon for us to end up at lunches or dinners

with managers who might order bottles of wine, so being conversant or having just a


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working knowledge on the topic can go a long way in

both formal and even less formal settings. How have the events changed?

Though the purpose is intact after 8 Gatherings, the sets have evolved somewhat. We used to do knowl-edge "quizzes" and offer prizes (a set of glasses, wine versions of "Monopoly" etc.) to encourage knowl-

edge. But we've also evolved by featuring a certain sort of wine, adding themes (like the GG5's BBQ/wine pairing theme "Grilling with Grapes"), with the

Doc's knowledge Q&A, and even with the incorpora-tion of the "Anonymous Question Game" towards the end of the evening, which is something Terrell

and I saw go over very well at a social held at KD's house sometime in 2010. Since the GGIII, people

have come to expect it.

As the event grows, what are the key things you’d like to maintain as a priority? Given the growth, we'd like to maintain the inviting

atmosphere of the Gatherings. Most people don't know but a lot of formal wine tastings tend to be "sponsored", meaning that the objective at the end of

the night is to get attendees to fill out purchase or-ders for the wines they sampled that night (preferably by the case and at premium prices). This tends to appeal mainly to the country club crowd. So

in a way there is always an undercurrent of salesman-ship. This is one thing that the Doc and I wanted to stay clear from from the beginning.

So first, with an expansion to larger venues and the continued attention it will bring, we want to keep it

authentic. Whether you own an oversize bottle of Carlo Rossi (the "Colt 40" of wine) or own a cellar of exclusive bottles, the event should appeal to you.

Many comments from people and from the surveys at the GG8 --especially among first-time attendees--

is that there's no filter or pretentiousness at the GGs - everyone is just there to learn, share in the culture,

and enjoy a night with a crowd of people they can relate to.

So if I could prioritize it....Learning and enjoying wine

while drinking responsibly, Networking with fellow

professionals, Keeping the event real and "inviting" to

all (meaning no pressure to shake gatherers for wine

sales or introducing high barriers of enjoyment with

high entry fees.

The Grape Gathering is a big hit and sure to grow.

Join them soon for another taste. Stay tuned to

kcsoul.com.

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