APRIL (and May): SHOWERS, SOLITUDE AND
NYC IN FULL BLOOM

Okay, I’ve been off my game and haven’t blogged for a while, so I’m posting this late. May is already here and I promise to do better. But, I want to keep my faithful readers posted on what I’ve been up to for the past six weeks.

For the second time in six weeks, I recently had the distinct pleasure of hearing Carol H. Williams, CEO of CHWA—Carol H. Williams Advertising share insight about the marketing communications industry during the 2^nd Annual Diversity in Advertising/PR Career Day at the New York Hilton.

Her advice: “Stay in the Game.”

While it’s simple and sound advice, some are reduced to road kill in the game of life, particularly in the world’s most competitive market, NYC. Develop skills, perfect your craft, work hard and stay in the game. With nearly 30 years of journalism, consulting, communications and teaching skills under my belt, I’m still in the game!

Yes, I'm still in the game and still perfecting my talents. Never miss out on an opportunity to learn, make new friends, reestablish old links or make new connections.

Kips Bay Decorator Show House

In addition to raising money, this unique fundraiser links fashionable East Siders with those from the West Side, outer boroughs and beyond, generating funds for a worthy cause.

Conceived 36 years ago by “ladies who lunch,” the blends the best and the brightest design talent, innovation and artistry. A long-time client, Roderick Shade, has twice had the distinct pleasure of being selected as a featured designer, a tremendous industry recognition.

This “premiere” fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club is open until May 22 at the fashionable Manhattan House, which recently went from luxury rentals to condos. Check it out and pick up concepts you can use in decorating your own apartment or home!

Fashion Forward Personal Reflections

Classic clothes and fashion-forward action was evident April 24 as I seized the opportunity to watch the women on Fifth Avenue as I walked through midtown Manhattan.

Argh! I’ve become my mother and mentors with their classic clothes and view of the world. Not a bad thing : )

My mother, Juanita T. Scott, and long-time mentors, Betty Darrell (retired, Pepsi-Cola Executive) know the value of tailored, classic clothes that stand the test of time.

Just like Joyce Dolin, a woman I worked with years ago at Hill and Knowlton who used to work with Barbara Walters at NBC-TV. When you’d compliment Joyce on a suit, she would have a fantastic story of when she bought it (usually in the 60s, 70s), even though it looked like she got it off the rack at B. Altman’s.

History lesson: The former B. Altman building is now the New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library. On behalf of W.A. Taylor & Company, distributors of Courvoisier, Joyce used to stage fabulous “tastings” for gentlemen in the lingerie department of B. Altman’s to stimulate Valentine’s Day and holiday gift sales.

Yes, Joyce was a pioneer. This was pre Victoria’s Secret! Just like the classics, love, liquor and lust just never seem to go out of style!

Joyce’s fashion secret: “My dear … buy classics and stay the same size. You’ll find that you can amass a tremendously elegant wardrobe over the years that will never go out of style.”

Millynneum Insight’s word to the wise: Define your own sense of style and use classics as a “condiment” to enhance your individual taste.

SoHa is So Harlem!

During my visit to the relatively new Harlem Marshall’s (yes, I love discount stores), a truly fabulous and elegant older Harlem resident saw me try on a jacket and she said, “You must get that!”

I bought the jacket, but more importantly, I revel in the moment we shared, and the smile on her face when I revealed that I hope to be as “truly fabulous” as she is at her age, and would of course take her fashion advice! She chucked, we connected. For me, that’s a simply priceless exchange!

Coupled with the recent rezoning of 125^th Street to include luxury condo hi-rises, real estate developers have dubbed portions of Harlem “SoHa,” or South Harlem.

Guess what? SoHa is still “So Harlem” in my book. Bristling with pride and bustling with street vendors, Harlem remains the epicenter of Black life and is thankfully still teeming with long-time residents, tourists and talented purveyors of books and artifacts that celebrate the African American experience, including a wide range of Obama ’08 memorabilia!

Old and new residents walk shoulder to shoulder with shopping bags and strollers that celebrate generation of families and new residents who’ve moved in. I pleasantly recognized the number of people in wheelchairs of all ages, who were out and about, enjoying the day … shopping and soaking up all the flavor this epicenter of Black life has to offer.

SoHa: So Harlem … so New York … so wonderful!

First Annual WE ACT Earth Day

Take action by becoming a member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, an important advocacy group that serves northern Manhattan. To learn more about how you can bring the “green” movement home in your neighborhood, visit http://www.weact.org.

WE ACT’s first Earth Day celebration April 19 at the Harlem State Office Building brought together dozens of groups who are mobilizing to conserve energy and protect New York’s environment. The group has won numerous accolades for their pioneering work.

Executive Director Peggy Shepard was recently one of two winners of the 2008 Jane Jacobs Awards, presented by the Rockefeller Foundation for contributions to preserving New York. Peggy’s award is for “lifetime achievement” celebrates more than 20 years of work in support of environmental justice, or E-J, in support of northern Manhattan residents.

Another great thing about Earth Day was an “earthy” reconnection with an old friend and colleague, ace photographer Karl Crutchfield; you probably see his photo credit everywhere! Nearly 100% recovered from a recent health challenge, we shared heartfelt stores of life, laughter and care giving to “less than able” family members.

Carl often cooked for the love of his life. When she passed away a few years back, he began to offer his valuable chef services to elders in his building! Whatever your talent, take the time to share it.

And, take the time to stay in touch. We shared a hearty laugh, because after not seeing me for a few years, he thought I had dropped off the face of the earth or perhaps moved.

While they take time and a little bit of effort to maintain, connections that count are extremely valuable. I’ve learned they don’t always don’t have to be about business … but they do have to be genuine and real!

Otherwise, why bother?

My husband Roland does a much better job of this than I do. I’m getting better, but hey, we can’t change our personalities in one fell swoop. Just do it in your own special way. Me, while I’m known in some circles as “The Verbalizer,” (a.k.a. tremendous talker), I’m also known for my handwritten notes.

Lately, my telephone conversations and notes have waned; overshadowed by blogging, which incorporates my multiple passions! It offers me a comprehensive space to share a Millynneum Insight – my own special brand of ideas.

However, in some ways, Carl was right. I have moved; out of some circles and into new arenas. I’ve moved on to tackle new challenges that I love in areas like teaching and developing a new franchise, G2GPR: Grassroots to Global Public Relations. I’m also having big fun taking my consulting firm to a new level via books, online learning and other important ventures serving students, enterprises and companies of all sizes.

And, I’m proud to celebrate my 18^th Year working with Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, the corporation’s pioneering corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, built from the ground up in partnership with the National Dental Association, educators and community groups. To date, the program has reached more than 70 million children and their families in 80 countries.

You have to leave some circles in order to refine and expand your global worldview.

The trick is to take each life lesson, allow the “axis of excellence” to take effect, resulting in a galactic expansion of knowledge and service to the citizens of the world!

Do Yourself a Favor … Devour Documentaries!

Recently, I joined City College of New York colleagues for Cinema Cum Laude, at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY. The quaint downtown business and cultural district is literally a stone’s throw from the Metro North station in Westchester County, about 30 miles north of Manhattan.

What a treat! It’s always wonderful to expand your worldview through the wonderful world of cinema.

The films featured work by those completing their Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) in Media Arts Production at CCNY, a program built and led by David Davidson. While only in its tenth year, students have won many coveted awards including the Student Oscar and The Student Emmy and snagged top honors at “Cityvisions”—the MFA showcase and festival held in Manhattan each May; visit http://www.citivisions-ccny.com for the full schedule.

Cinema Cum Laude 2008 featured:

> "Hush” (D. Fernando Cordero) A psychological thriller about a young woman grieving for the loss of her child while she also struggles with her abusive husband.

> "Stranger in Paradise” (D. Masood Haque) A documentary about a Pakistani man who wins a visa lottery to pursue his dreams in America, only to be ensnared in a post 9/11 nightmare.

> “Tijuana Nada Mas” (D. Yolanda Pividal) A documentary look at the struggle of street kids who live in the busiest border city in the world.

> “Plain Jane” (D. Darren Methlie) A day-in–the-life of a young girl in a small town in rural Connecticut. Forced to cope with an unwanted pregnancy, Jane must come to a decision amidst a family crisis that has driven her away from the father of her child.

> “Work” (D. Erin Harper) A meditation on three disparate lives – a stack trader, a street person and a jazz musician.

> “Three 1-minute Documentaries” (D. Erin Greenwell, D. Daniel Akiba, D. Bangbay Siboliban) dealing with issues of family, death and identity.

> “Two Dollar Dance” (D. Yolanda Pividal) Lonely Hispanic men, working illegally in the US and far from home, visit local bars where they pay money for the fleeting companionship of a dance.