This week we continue with Rochelle Frazier’s question regarding the Urban Literacy Project. Rochelle asked:
Recently you began the Urban Literacy Project. What is the purpose of this project and how will it uplift youth?
Omar Tyree Responds:
Continuing with the business question of last week, I pick back up with the 5 Key Components of Literacy by discussing the 3rd Component of Thinking. The human ability to Think becomes the engine of everything we Read, Write, Visualize and Apply. But we have far too many students and citizens who have talked themselves into believing their thoughts are unimportant. And far too many common people answer, “Nothing,” whenever they are asked the elementary question of what they’re Thinking about. However, no one is EVER Thinking Nothing! Even while humans sleep, they Think in the form of dreams. The human mind never shuts down. Nevertheless, we shut our own minds down by repeating to ourselves that there’s nothing going on upstairs in our brains, which is a lie. Therefore, I teach students, teachers and parents alike to always value the genius of their thoughts, or forever follow the world in a dark cloud that adds no source of creative light. You are as you THINK! So if you Think Nothing . . . But if you Think Everything . . .
Then I deal with the 4th Component of Visualization, or being able to comprehend and Visualize what you Read, Write, Think and Apply. Can you actually see the meaning of the words? As I explain in lectures, successful people are those who can see the victory before they even begin the battle. As the Bible says, “Without vision the people will perish.” Well, we can all have Vision through literacy. The words we all Read, Write, Think and Apply have meanings beyond the page, beyond the microphone, beyond the backboard, beyond the tape recorder, and beyond our own minds. But if we cannot Visualize the images of the words when we Read them, Write them, Think them, or Apply them, then we are not really literate. Comprehension is all about developing the image of ideas through our mind’s eye! That is the visual power of literacy!
I wrap up with the 5th Component of Literacy being Application, or the ability to Apply what we Read, Write, Think or Visualize. When a person can Apply their learning, they can then Read directions on how to put together a bike, Write about who bought the bike for them and why, Think about where they want to ride it, and Visualize a faster or bigger bike. That, my friends, is the Application of literacy. And if we intend for American students to become valuable to our society, then every student must be able to Apply literacy. That’s our goal for the Urban Literacy Project, to teach everyone the importance of these 5 Key Components all around the country, and maybe next, THE WORLD!
Again, for more information, visit my web site @ www.OmarTyree.com / Urban Literacy Project links, and inquire about how we can work to bring the Urban Literacy Project to your local school district.
Sincerely,
The Chairman - - Omar Rashad Tyree
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
What About the Children
This week’s “Business Question of the Week” focuses on our next generation. Rochelle Frazier from Memphis, TN asks:
Recently you began the Urban Literacy Project. What is the purpose of this project and how will it uplift youth?
Omar Tyree Responds:
A decade ago, in the limelight of my writing and publishing career, I was so bothered by a refusal of African-American males to read books of fiction, that my then agent barked at me, “Omar, look, men don’t read fiction! They just don’t. They won’t even read it if you give them the books for free! But if you are so concerned about them reading, then join a literacy foundation or something.” My agent was really pissed off at me, because I kept trying to write books that included the perspectives of men, even though the reading audience was nearly 90% women, and it was screwing up much bigger paychecks for both of us. So years later, instead of joining a literacy foundation, I decided to create my own, the Urban Literacy Project, to address the terrible reading habits of African-American and urban men at the youngest stages.
With the Urban Literacy Project, our goal is now to muscle our way into the public school systems nationally, and help the mostly female school teachers to utilize my 5 Key Components of Literacy - Reading, Writing, Thinking, Visualization, and Application, for not only the boys, but for ALL of the young readers. I want to help teachers battle against students who say they don’t like to Read by allowing them to understand that they actually Read with their Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tastes, and Feelings every day of their lives without ever touching a book. So imagine how much more they could Read with their minds when they finally do grab a book?
For those who say they don’t like to Write, I instruct the teachers to tell students that they Write every time they Speak, Move, or make any Facial Expression. Yes indeed, verbal expression, body movement, and facial expressions, as the term goes, “It’s written all over your face” are indeed methods of writing without touching a pen, a pad, a typewriter or a computer. So imagine how much more students can Write when they finally learn to utilize a pen, a typewriter, a computer, or even a cell phone to express themselves, because they actually write everyday of their young lives anyway.
Then I deal with Thinking, which we also do every day of our lives. But since my team wants me to keep my answers short, we will need to pick back up on the goals of the Urban Literacy Project next week. But if you want to learn more information on your own about the ULP, simply go to my web site @ www.OmarTyree.com and look up the Urban Literacy Project on my links page until I have a chance to finish this loaded question next week.
Recently you began the Urban Literacy Project. What is the purpose of this project and how will it uplift youth?
Omar Tyree Responds:
A decade ago, in the limelight of my writing and publishing career, I was so bothered by a refusal of African-American males to read books of fiction, that my then agent barked at me, “Omar, look, men don’t read fiction! They just don’t. They won’t even read it if you give them the books for free! But if you are so concerned about them reading, then join a literacy foundation or something.” My agent was really pissed off at me, because I kept trying to write books that included the perspectives of men, even though the reading audience was nearly 90% women, and it was screwing up much bigger paychecks for both of us. So years later, instead of joining a literacy foundation, I decided to create my own, the Urban Literacy Project, to address the terrible reading habits of African-American and urban men at the youngest stages.
With the Urban Literacy Project, our goal is now to muscle our way into the public school systems nationally, and help the mostly female school teachers to utilize my 5 Key Components of Literacy - Reading, Writing, Thinking, Visualization, and Application, for not only the boys, but for ALL of the young readers. I want to help teachers battle against students who say they don’t like to Read by allowing them to understand that they actually Read with their Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tastes, and Feelings every day of their lives without ever touching a book. So imagine how much more they could Read with their minds when they finally do grab a book?
For those who say they don’t like to Write, I instruct the teachers to tell students that they Write every time they Speak, Move, or make any Facial Expression. Yes indeed, verbal expression, body movement, and facial expressions, as the term goes, “It’s written all over your face” are indeed methods of writing without touching a pen, a pad, a typewriter or a computer. So imagine how much more students can Write when they finally learn to utilize a pen, a typewriter, a computer, or even a cell phone to express themselves, because they actually write everyday of their young lives anyway.
Then I deal with Thinking, which we also do every day of our lives. But since my team wants me to keep my answers short, we will need to pick back up on the goals of the Urban Literacy Project next week. But if you want to learn more information on your own about the ULP, simply go to my web site @ www.OmarTyree.com and look up the Urban Literacy Project on my links page until I have a chance to finish this loaded question next week.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The First 100
This week’s Business Question was sent in by Kyle Bleacher from Chi-town. His question reads:
President Obama has been given grades of A to D for his first 100 days in office. What are your thoughts on his progress so far with issues such as the economy, health care, the war, etc.?
Omar Tyree Responds:
First of all, I want to share a belated HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all of the mothers out there, and to the soon-to-be mothers. Now we get back to the question. Barack Obama and his ascension to the presidency of the United States of America was one of our first blog questions of the year. We broke down in business terms how he became successful in his endeavor. So it only makes sense for us to come back and evaluate him after his first 100 days. And we will address each of your 3 sub questions.
#1) The Economy – Whoever thought that Barack Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, or whoever else would be able to step into office on January 20, 2009, and immediately correct a slumping economy is delusional. It was not an overnight process that got us all into trouble, and it will not be an overnight process that gets us out. However, President Obama understood that he had to do SOMETHING and do it FAST! And he’s been able to do so. So I give him an A for his immediate efforts. We have plenty of folks (mostly Republicans) who are sitting on the fence complaining about the moves that he is making, but again, no one’s economic plan would have corrected our situation immediately, so we all must wait until the year is out to effectively grade Obama.
#2) Healthcare – Same deal. I give Obama an A for effort. I mean, this man jumped right into office and went to WORK! He is trying to create a healthcare plan for ALL AMERICANS. How can that be a bad thing? As long as we all live in America and pay taxes, then let’s have a government that looks out for its citizens in every way possible. So I’m in agreement with this major move. Those who may not be in agreement (more Republicans) are most likely already covered with healthcare. So they look at it as more wasted money on those who cannot afford to pay.
#3) The War – If you’re referring to Iraq, we should have never been there in the first place. So, President Obama is now setting goals to correct that mistake. However, since we are already there and created the mess, it would be ridiculous to pull out overnight. A comprehensive withdraw plan makes sense. In reference to Afghanistan, Obama’s move to establish more troops in that volatile region makes sense as well. The continued insurgence of terrorist’s practices in the Middle East does no good to anyone. So he gets another A from me in assessing that more security has to be committed against nations and leaders who continue to fight against the establishment of PEACE!
The overall Equation of Barack Obama remains a good one. He has now proven to be a Passionate man who creates more RED ACTION than just words. Remember his presidential opponents used to make those comments about him only being a man of words. I don’t think that’s the case now. Obama has also shown a lot of GOLD Artistic SKILL in governing the most powerful nation in the world. Remember folks felt he would be too young and inexperienced for the position of president? He continues to have the GREEN Support of the common people, with many Republicans now leaning in his Democratic direction to get things done, while other Republicans now seem to do nothing but talk. And the increased Business of our nation is still to come. However, with President Obama’s various stimulus plans, whether you like it or not, his intentions are obviously to create more business than stand still and watch the nation’s commercial viability die.
Need I say more? Until any negative results come in, President Barack Obama gets an A from me. And even if everything is not perfect a year from now... Well, who is perfect anyway? You catch my point. Let the man do his job and judge him by his intentions. And right now, the president’s intentions all look like GRAVY!
President Obama has been given grades of A to D for his first 100 days in office. What are your thoughts on his progress so far with issues such as the economy, health care, the war, etc.?
Omar Tyree Responds:
First of all, I want to share a belated HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all of the mothers out there, and to the soon-to-be mothers. Now we get back to the question. Barack Obama and his ascension to the presidency of the United States of America was one of our first blog questions of the year. We broke down in business terms how he became successful in his endeavor. So it only makes sense for us to come back and evaluate him after his first 100 days. And we will address each of your 3 sub questions.
#1) The Economy – Whoever thought that Barack Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, or whoever else would be able to step into office on January 20, 2009, and immediately correct a slumping economy is delusional. It was not an overnight process that got us all into trouble, and it will not be an overnight process that gets us out. However, President Obama understood that he had to do SOMETHING and do it FAST! And he’s been able to do so. So I give him an A for his immediate efforts. We have plenty of folks (mostly Republicans) who are sitting on the fence complaining about the moves that he is making, but again, no one’s economic plan would have corrected our situation immediately, so we all must wait until the year is out to effectively grade Obama.
#2) Healthcare – Same deal. I give Obama an A for effort. I mean, this man jumped right into office and went to WORK! He is trying to create a healthcare plan for ALL AMERICANS. How can that be a bad thing? As long as we all live in America and pay taxes, then let’s have a government that looks out for its citizens in every way possible. So I’m in agreement with this major move. Those who may not be in agreement (more Republicans) are most likely already covered with healthcare. So they look at it as more wasted money on those who cannot afford to pay.
#3) The War – If you’re referring to Iraq, we should have never been there in the first place. So, President Obama is now setting goals to correct that mistake. However, since we are already there and created the mess, it would be ridiculous to pull out overnight. A comprehensive withdraw plan makes sense. In reference to Afghanistan, Obama’s move to establish more troops in that volatile region makes sense as well. The continued insurgence of terrorist’s practices in the Middle East does no good to anyone. So he gets another A from me in assessing that more security has to be committed against nations and leaders who continue to fight against the establishment of PEACE!
The overall Equation of Barack Obama remains a good one. He has now proven to be a Passionate man who creates more RED ACTION than just words. Remember his presidential opponents used to make those comments about him only being a man of words. I don’t think that’s the case now. Obama has also shown a lot of GOLD Artistic SKILL in governing the most powerful nation in the world. Remember folks felt he would be too young and inexperienced for the position of president? He continues to have the GREEN Support of the common people, with many Republicans now leaning in his Democratic direction to get things done, while other Republicans now seem to do nothing but talk. And the increased Business of our nation is still to come. However, with President Obama’s various stimulus plans, whether you like it or not, his intentions are obviously to create more business than stand still and watch the nation’s commercial viability die.
Need I say more? Until any negative results come in, President Barack Obama gets an A from me. And even if everything is not perfect a year from now... Well, who is perfect anyway? You catch my point. Let the man do his job and judge him by his intentions. And right now, the president’s intentions all look like GRAVY!
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