DaGRIP

DaGrip present A Memorial Day Special Edition: ”Honoring our Veterans”

 

Our Veterans are important people.  They made sacrifices to protect this country and keep everyone safe.  Many soldiers never made it home and we must be forever grateful to them because they paid the ultimate price with their lives. By the grace of God, there are soldiers who survived and we were able to listen to their stories and experiences while serving in the armed services for our Memorial Day Special Edition.

Our Memorial Day Special Edition is a 2 part series. Our line-up is second to none. Not only will you hear from veterans; but you will also hear from various organizations that provide services to assist veterans.  Hang in here with me for the next two weeks you will be encouraged. This week Dagrip welcomes Freddie Hands, Tina Miles, and Jett Edwards.  All of the interviews were conducted at the Legacy event center in Gastonia, North Carolina during a spectacular event, held in recognition of veterans in the surrounding area.

DaGrip with Nicole Woods - Head Coach of the UNC Wilmington Lady Seahawks

David Anthoni welcomes Nicole Woods, the new head basketball coach of the UNC Wilmington Lady Seahawks to talk about her recent opportunity to take the helm of a college basketball program. Woods leaves the Lady 49ers  where she was the recruiting coordinator and aided Charlotte in bringing home the 2021-22 Conference USA regular season and tournament championships and a bid into the NCAA tournament.
 
Woods played four seasons at Belmont Abbey (2002-06), where she blossomed into an NCAA Division II Bulletin Second-Team All-American, averaging 24.1 ppg, less than .01 ppg behind the national leader. Woods was also selected Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference (now Conference Carolinas) Player of the Year after averaging 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists during her senior campaign.

Woods earned degrees in Accounting and Business Management at Belmont-Abbey and graduated in 2006 as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,641 points. Her 676 markers in 2005-06 are a school record.

Woods, who was inducted into the Gaston Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, played professionally in England for the Nottingham Wildcats in 2007-08, leading the team in assists and ranking second in scoring.

DaGrip welcomes CPR Instructor - Melvin Burris

 

DaGrip welcomes Melvin Burris CPR instructor to share some health safety tips as we approach the summer. Mr. Burris was born in Cleveland County and has lived in Gaston County for over 40 years. He is a graduate of Hunter Huss, class of 1982. Burris became a firefighter in 1987 with the Gastonia City Fire Department and retired as a fire inspector in 2016.

Burris graduated from Gaston College with an associate degree in Fire Science. He is also a graduate of the NC Fire Prevention school and a Level 3 public educator. He is a CPR/First Aid Instructor, Basic Life Support Instructor and a Fire Safety Instructor. Burris has been a mentor for Gaston County schools for over 25 years. He has been the president of the Upward Highland Foundation for 22 years and the chairman of the Gaston Highland Festival for 27 years. With 30 years of experience, Burris shares insights that help organizations especially churches build safe spaces.

 

 

DaGrip & Coffee with Karen - Celebrating 15 years of the Desperate Church Wives Book Series

Fifteen years ago, Lady Karen R. Williams authored Desperate Church Wives and shared the stories of women striving to expand the Kingdom. Today, many of those women's visions and prayers were heard by God and individuals are rejoicing from the manifestation.  As the podcast unfolds, Lady Karen talks about her other books especially "Building Daisy."

 David Anthoni adds a powerful visit from Ashleigh B. Gilliam, filmmaker, writer, and actor about her inspirations from notable black personalities in film and TV. 

 

Books by Lady Karen R. Williams can be ordered from

www.karenrwilliams.org

 

 

DaGrip with Chettie Martin : The releases her debut single entitled “Dwelling Place

Independent recording artist Chettie Martin releases her debut single entitled “Dwelling Place”. Since her early childhood, Chettie has used her melodious voice to uplift and encourage others. Accompanying her father to his preaching engagements, Chettie along with her siblings sang for the glory of God.  As years passed, she desired to go further with her music career. Filled with emotions, one day God ministered to her heart igniting the paper with the lyrics of her debut single.

 

During the podcast, Chettie shares how personal struggles fueled a passion to pursue her dream. She hopes to build upon this single soon by completing a full album.

 

Dwelling Place can be found wherever you download digital music.  Below are a few links.

 

https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0BRND153T?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_aoAwc25hHMLEriwzqtVI2D1dF

 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/dwelling-place/1662732908?i=1662732909

 

 

DaGrip with Cynthia P. Stitt: Building A Stronger Generation of Gifted Young Women

DaGrip welcomes Cynthia P. Stitt to the podcast for Women's History Month.  Cynthia P. Stitt is an ordained minister, inspirational author, poet, songwriter, and stage-play writer. She became a licensed Minister in May of 2000 and was ordained in July 2006. She currently serves as the Youth Pastor at Mt. Zion Restoration Church in Gastonia, NC under the leadership of Pastor Rodney Freeman.  She has two sons Joshua and Jalen and played an active role in caring for her Goddaughter Cearra Crawford Friday. She is a native of Gastonia, North Carolina.
Cynthia graduated from Hunter Huss High School and then later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Master's Degree in Health Administration. Cynthia P. Stitt is a military veteran who reached the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force before returning to Gaston County to give back to her community.  She is a certified Career, Life, Executive Coach, and Master Coach Trainer through Paradigm 360.  She is the owner of VisionWorks Enterprise, LLC, and her non-profit C & J Creative Expression, Incorporated.  Cynthia believes in perseverance and encourages others through her writing. 
Cynthia is an active member of the community, and she has a passion for Public Health, and she retired in June 2020 from the Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health and has received the honor as one of the 100 Distinguished Public Health Nurses of North Carolina. She currently works with Gaston Business Association as the Leadership Gaston Coordinator.  She faithfully volunteers in the Highland Community at the Erwin Center where she works with a group of young men and women referred to as "My Sistahs and My Brothers."  She works with the youth in the community with the goal to provide mentorships and support to the youth so that they will be empowered to accomplish life dreams with a focus on academic achievement, life skills, and character building.  She has served the youth in the community for the past 25-plus years. She enjoys being a faithful volunteer on Thursday mornings with Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry at Mt. Zion Restoration Church. She has also served on several Community Executive and Advisory Boards in Gaston County.  She serves the community faithfully with her sisters she holds so true in the Zeta Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated ®.
Cynthia lives by the inspiring scripture "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13.  She believes in God’s purpose and destiny for her life and encourages all she meets to live purposeful so that God is glorified.

DAGrip welcomes Pierre L McElhaney - actor, minister, writer and owner of Nezo Entertainment

DaGrip welcomes Pierre L. McElhaney to the show. McElhaney a native of Gastonia, is a seasoned actor whose constant performance continues to keep him on the big stage.  From Atlanta to Texas, Pastor P is working with some of the biggest names in the business. His love for his city keeps him giving back to budding actors to sharpen their craft and offer their best gift.

Join the DaGrip this week as we discuss the impact of theater in Black America and what Pastor P is doing with Nezo Entertainment.

Black History Month Celebraton: DaGrip with special guest Rose Belk- Author, Artist, Leader, Pastor, Short-Film Producer

DaGrip welcomes Rose Belk to the show. Rose Belk is a minister, recording artist, songwriter, and author. As a native of Pineville, North Carolina, she began singing as a small child and gave her life to Christ at the age of twelve. The youngest of eight children, she was most impressed by the love God has shown her. Her parents were very instrumental in this impression and encouraged her to use her God-given talent of singing to His Glory. From this, she recognized her foundation in Christ and her gift to sing.

In 2000, Rose released her very first CD, My Song of Praise. Her gifts and talents are further showcased in her last five projects, Simply Rose - Nothing But Praise, This Is Your Season music video, her single, So Amazing, and her new hit single, Free to Be Me and new book, Free to Be Me – Secrets I Never Told!

Rose was the recipient of the Bank of America and Cultural Calendar’s Heritage award for Vocal Performance. She was a South Florida Gospel Music Awards nominee for Female Contemporary Artist in 2011. She has shared the stage with Helen Baylor, Phil Driscoll, Shirley Caesar, Ron Kenoly and others. She has also appeared on Bobby Jones Gospel. The pure sound of Rose Belk illustrates her pure heart, resonating a smooth and controlled tone and with a message that is crystal clear.

Rose is a graduate of Charis Bible College and has led praise and worship in many auditoriums, churches, and venues. Her love of God and gift in music has afforded her the opportunity to form, develop, and serve as the Director of praise and worship teams at Victory Christian Center and to conduct worship seminars. She was a contributing writer for Optimal Living Magazine, which is located in Washington, DC. Her creative writing skills are also exemplified in her new book, Free to Be Me – Secrets I Never Told. She has furthered her gifts and talent in her motivational videos, Morning Boost which is on YouTube.

Though Rose wears many hats, she always makes time for her family and loved ones. She is married to her soul mate of 42 years. Together they have been blessed with two children, a daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. She and her husband, Rogers, also run their own management company, R. Belk Music Group, LLC and record label, New Season Records and are pastors of True Identity Grace Church.

 

 

 

Black History - DaGrip with Lakesha Mobley - The Misrecognition of Black and Brown Girls

Lakeisha Mobley was born and raised in Charlotte NC. She is ordained clergy in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the mother of two sons. Lakeisha is the CEO of “It Startz With Me” a mentoring movement geared towards helping young girls ages 9 through 18 make sound decisions, better life choices and produce self-esteem so they may reach their full potential in life.

Along with 17 other women who have endured and overcame tremendous amounts of emotional abuse, constant disappointment, and heart-breaking betrayal, Lakeisha Mobley is a writer in the book entitled, “When the Soul Cries” and her contribution is entitled The High Price Tags. Lakeisha shares her reasons for being compelled to tell a transparent truth to help others win at life.

During the podcast, Lakeisha shares not only her success with her mentoring program; but also her passion for prison ministry. She knows  she is just getting started and things can only go up through helping the least of these.

The book “When the Soul Cries” can be found on Amazon, Walmart Books, Good Reads and many more digital  and published platforms.

Black History Month Kick-off with Karlease Smalls - Nurse, Emerging Young Adult leader, & Visionary

David Anthoni welcomes Karlease Smalls to share her insights on Black History month.

Karlease is a native of New York but currently resides in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Karlease is a member of Zion Wesley AME Zion Church. Karlease started her nursing career as a Certified Nurse Assistant at Five Oaks Manor nursing home for four years. In December 2019, Karlease graduated from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences with her Associate Degree in Nursing.

Karlease passed her boards and began working at Atrium Health Northeast Emergency Department February 2020. With many transitions in life, Karlease recently transferred to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Atrium Health. This past May she graduated from UNC Wilmington with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Her long term aspiration is to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Her biggest motivations in her life are her parents and her Angel sister.

She is a member of the National Council of Negro Women. Karlease has a love for serving others and her community. Her favorite scripture she lives by is Jeremiah 29:11”For I know the plans I have for you, “says the Lord, “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.