Friday, July 26, 2013

Indie Review welcomes Principal Nadia Lopez !

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)
Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123
Tweet: @IndieRevue
 

Principle Nadia Lopez

A quality education is the foundation upon which one can construct a strong, possibility-laden future.  Nadia L. Lopez and her cutting edge holistic, well rounded approach to education definitely provide a sturdy foundation for the students who attend her progressive Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a middle school located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Lopez had a childhood supported by immigrant parents who made education a top priority, so that Nadia would have the optimal opportunity to succeed in life.  She enjoyed school, and spent most of her time there after her parents separated, even outside of formal class time.  Lopez, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Wagner College and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Long Island University, as well as an Advanced Certification in Leadership from Baruch College, had originally planned on a nursing career.  However, after her training, she discovered that nursing wasn't really her passion.  So, after approximately four years toiling at Verizon as an account collections representative, where she learned the art of customer service, she turned her attention to education, spurred on by having had her own child.  Her career change was determined by the fact that she saw several disturbing problems within the New York educational system that her child would be entering.  So, the concerned Lopez, rather than just worry, set her course for creating a new educational model. 
Lopez initially worked at a middle school in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, teaching the seventh and eighth grades.  She subsequently taught at the Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science, an all-girls school in downtown Brooklyn.  Then in 2008, she was selected to join the New Leaders for New School, a nationally acclaimed leadership organization, as a Resident Principal within the New York City Department of Education.  After completing that rigorous year-long program, she became an Assistant Principal. 
In 2010, Lopez's dream became a reality, when she founded the Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a Brooklyn middle school (grades 6 to 8), which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM).  “Mott Hall” is a series of schools; “Bridges Academy” pays homage to Brooklyn, which links to the other New York boroughs via bridges.  And, Lopez is assisting her students with building their bridges to a brighter future. 
A visionary inspired by what the world has to offer, Lopez strives to enhance and enrich the educational experience for the students in her school.  She sees the students as individuals, for whom social and emotional health and support are vital to their ability to learn.  She also encourages their parents to become integral partners in their educational journey.  Innovative and willing to listen, Lopez encourages critical thinking in every facet of their lives with her students, so that they will analyze their possibilities as they learn. 
Lopez's open door, family-oriented approach to education is designed to create a supportive culture for the students.  She is setting a new standard, so that her students can begin to think and make wise choices early in life.  They learn how to network and build relationships under the guidance of Lopez and her hand-picked staff.  They become focused individuals who are prepared for life's challenges. 
One of Lopez's primary goals is to build literacy, which is an area of struggle for most inner city students.  She'd like to make her school a shining example, rivaling the top schools in the nation.  The Mott Haven Bridges Academy teachers are selected by a committee of current teachers and staff, who already understand what it takes to be on their team.  The candidates also teach a demo class of students, to give the students an opportunity to weigh in on the strengths and weaknesses of the teacher, from their vantage point.  
When it's time to graduate to high school, Lopez's students are aided in making an informed decision about their next learning institution.  They research together, with parents included, ask critical questions and receive answers and the visit the high schools, to see and hear first-hand what that particular experience is like. 
Lopez's students are armed with substantial skills when they graduate, as her school offers courses in Culinary Arts, Video Production, Sea and Mechanical Robotics and will soon offer Computer Coding, so that students will be able to create their own applications and programs, and be steps ahead of the game. 
Lopez, the self-proclaimed “Queen of Networking,” has partnered with various elected officials, corporations, non-profits and individuals in sports and entertainment (such as Black Girls Rock!, TEAM FIRST, Hip Hop Summit Youth Council and the NY Knicks), to empower, expose and motivate her scholars. 
Propelled by her desire for positive educational changes, the wind beneath the wings of Nadia L. Lopez is her dream of transforming the lives of children and impacting generations to come, within her Brooklyn community. 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Music: In the House - 1st Floor (Classic House mix)

To all you club house dub heads and fans in the spirt of deep Chicago house New York garage sound, check out this mix from the Thermal Soundwaves vault with all of your favorite classic tunes. Enjoy and dance dance dance .......


Friday, July 12, 2013

Indie Review welcomes GET Open !

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)
Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123
Tweet: @IndieRevue
 
GET OPEN
 
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This Hip-Hop collective has been in existence since 1994, Get Open was founded by SibaGiba(Producer/MC) when he was studying music at SUNY Purchase College. He met the other 4 original members in school; Kiambu (MC), VonMeista (MC/Producer), Zook (MC) Los (Spoken Word/MC) and DJ Jes Lover (DJ/Producer).

Get Open has traveled and performed as headliners in Germany and France over the years and has also opened for artists such as KRS 1/BDP, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Tha Alkoholiks,Special Ed, and many others in the US.

Through a collaboration with composer Saundi Wilson who also attended Purchase, Get Openwas featured with the late Jazz Trumpeter Lester Bowie's creation: Hip-Hop Feel-Harmonic orchestra in 1995, which assembled more than 40 musicians and Get Open. During our senior year, 1996, we released our first 12inch vinyl single. It caught the attention of West coasts DJs like J.Rocc (Beat Junkies), DJ Numark (Jurassic 5),Truly Odd (Heavyweights, Strong Arm steady), Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw) and T-Love the MC and journalist at URB magazine. From that single, Yellow Productions (France) today known for producing Dance/Pop act Bob Sinclar, offered the group an EP deal which went on to sell 5,000 units in Europe without any promo. It featured Sadat X of Brand Nubian.

During this time, Siba was enjoying great success after producing for Everlast's (House of Pain) multi platinum and grammy nominated album "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues". Overtime Records Inc was born and released a solo 12 inch single of VonMeista featuring Sadat X in association with Ozone Music (Co-Flow-El P, Mike Ladd, etc…). Although still making music seperately, the group has been on a hiatus since 2001. Siba formed Brüknahm with Mr Saundi Wilson, worked the Jettsonz Productions (Nina Sky, Sean Paul) and in 2009 co-founded a non-profit organization, the Hip-Hop Loves Foundation.


Friday, July 5, 2013

Indie Review welcomes Kay K Rosemond !

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)
Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123
Tweet: @IndieRevue
KAY K ROSEMOND

 Born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn in the late seventies Lyonel “Kay-Kay” Rosemond was exposed at an early age to a cultural melting pot that would eventually shape his view of life. During this period, Lyonel was a virtual sponge in the community, never afraid to speak to a stranger or take an unconventional path to achieve his goals. Although he does not recall every detail of his early upbringing, he fondly remembers being enamored with the soul singers of the 70’s, which included Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Otis Redding. However, he would soon become entrenched in the hip-hop scene that was beginning to take over during his adolescence. At the time, little did he know that these musical influences would have a great deal to do with the career he ultimately chose as an A&R with Motown/Universal Music Group.
During his early years, Lyonel did not expect to pursue a career in music, but rather was more interested in expressing his natural talent and love as an artist. While other kids were munching snacks while watching the Sunday morning cartoons, Lyonel would find himself drawing many of the characters as a way to perfect his craft. At an early age he decided that he would pursue a career as an artist for his favorite comic book company, Marvel Comics. Lyonel soon enrolled in a school for cartoon illustration and shortly after began receiving requests from friends who needed logos for the companies many of them hoped to form. In 1994, however Lyonel began to see his career path change course after he was contacted by his Uncle Jimmy Henchman Rosemond who was already well known in music industry circles, and was about to start his own management company. Lyonel remembers being excited about his new opportunity, but feeling that his knowledge of the music industry was limited to what he saw on TV, not the behind the scenes work that many took for granted.
Once entering the music industry Lyonel realized that art was not his only talent, as he quickly adapted to the scene and learned what something he feels very few comprehend – most of the artists we love and follow often don’t live the life they portray. It was at this time that Lyonel realized that the music business was in fact business first, and he began to actively increase his contacts by making a conscious attempt to mingle with those that would become his peers. His hard work paid off, when in Kedar he was offered a job to work in the A&R department at the historic record label Motown. Since joining the Motown family Lyonel has worked with a bevy of artists including Erykah Badu, Chico DeBarge, Lil’ Wayne, The Temptations and R&B crooner Joe. He feels that his work with Badu was the most special because of the authentic approach she took to developing her music, never rushing to complete a song or forcing a concept – “I learned so much from working with Erykah” says Rosemond. 
Work however, is not the only important thing in Lyonel’s life, as he is deeply spiritual and involved.