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Youth Bakes a Bright Future

AFRO NEWS — The temperatures outside may be cooling off, but it’s quite the opposite inside the kitchen of 13-year old Madelynn Martin. With the home oven set to 350 degrees, you can even say it’s sweltering. That’s part of what her popular “Very Strawberry” recipe calls for: two large eggs, a stick and a half of butter, some baking flour, milk, fresh strawberries—and a hot oven.

Published

5 years ago

October 25, 2019

Oakland Post

National Community Reinvestment Coalition Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Madelynn Martin, 13, CEO of Madelynn’s Bake Sale, is wowing consumers with her popular treats and business acumen. (Courtesy Photo)

By Troy Donté Prestwood

The temperatures outside may be cooling off, but it’s quite the opposite inside the kitchen of 13-year old Madelynn Martin. With the home oven set to 350 degrees, you can even say it’s sweltering. That’s part of what her popular “Very Strawberry” recipe calls for: two large eggs, a stick and a half of butter, some baking flour, milk, fresh strawberries—and a hot oven.

The young CEO of Madelynn’s Bake Sale, who uses a dash of love as a signature ingredient, just received the “Youth Entrepreneur of the Year” from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition—her second straight—for demonstrating achievements, innovation and vision in support of the District’s small business community. But this latest award doesn’t seem to overwhelm the teenager who remains focused on developing new cupcake flavors and finalizing her website.

“Once we’re done with the site, I want people to see our new cartoons, all the places I’ve been, play fun online games, and place orders,” Martin said. “I consider myself an original so I’m always working on something new. Two years from now I see my business growing really,” she told the AFRO.

Flanked by Cafe Mocha radio co-hosts Rapper Yo-Yo (left) and daytime television host Loni Love (right), Tosha Terry and Madelynn Martin (both centered) received the “Salute Her” family legacy award at a ceremony held last month. (Courtesy Photo)

The Alice Deal Middle School honor roll student lives with her mom in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast. She has a business resume that easily outshines CEOs three times her age. In 2016 at the age of nine, Martin started her cupcake business with money largely saved up from her allowance. She went on to win first place in several competitions including the D.C. State Fair, the Women’s Business Center, where she also received a business grant from the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business, and served on youth business panels for Google and the Montgomery County Children’s Business Fair.

Local television station WJLA-7 showcased Martin on its Inspire Report segment. Earlier this year she won “Best of DC 2019” from the Washington City Paper. Martin along with her mom, Tosha Terry, was honored by the nationally syndicated Café Mocha Radio show with a “Salute Her” family legacy award. Recently, Martin was once again awarded, “youth Entrepreneur of the Year” by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

“I see my role as ensuring she has a solid foundation for the future,” said Tosha Terry, who recently presented Martin with keys to her own condominium. “I tell Madelynn it’s more than baking cupcakes, it’s about running a successful business and carrying on our family’s legacy of leadership and ownership. I’m extremely proud of her accomplishments so far with more to come,” Terry said.

Terry credits her daughter’s third grade teacher at Hearst Elementary School for recognizing Martin’s love for numbers. Katy Monaghan, who now teaches fifth grade in Annapolis, said she knew on the first day of class Martin was special.

“I realized early on that she knew her math facts really well. She could do computations in her head that other students couldn’t do,” Monaghan said. “We did a lot of real-world class projects like operating a store. I remember telling her mom that Madelynn was really good at it and that we should continue with it.”

Monaghan said, hands down, Martin’s mom deserves the glory for her daughter’s success because she did all of the necessary “front-loading” with her.

“I was very fortunate to have a parent like Tosha in my class to help lead the way for others. She set the bar really high. When you have a parent who is willing to support their child’s dreams, the sky is the limit for this kid,” Monaghan said.

Terry told the AFRO parents often ask for advice on how to get their kids on a similar path as Martin. “Nurture it,” she said. “Every single person on earth has a gift. Our gifts need to be nurtured. Children display their talents easily – they express their dreams easily. Listen, watch, encourage and allow your child to find their flow,” Terry said.

Martin is confident she will need to expand her team, which for now consists of just her and her mom, to keep up with future orders.  “The hardest part has been not having enough employees,” Martin said. “I’m going to need more bakers, cashiers and a person to run the store.”

Even with the level of business success amassed by the young CEO, it’s clear Martin is still a normal kid who loves traveling, swimming, and the occasional selfie with friends. She’s excited to be in the eighth grade but told the AFRO she has plans to attend Howard University for her MBA, and perhaps medical school.

For now, she offers these words of encouragement to others following in her footsteps: “Be brave and follow your dream. That’s the advice I would give to people all around the world.”

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

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