Vision Beyond The Lens by -J.J. McQueen-

To understand what's good about a place you have to see it. You have to live it, love it, smell it, and often times it has too become a part of who you are. Those things only take place when you invest yourself in the experience of it. It requires a person to look deep into what some consider the ugliest parts of its' environment. For many that's a difficult stance to take. Primarily, because that type of thought process isn't the average person's reality. Investing all of who you are into an unfamiliar area requires a unmeasurable amount of selflessness. However, for those that take on the challenge of fostering an undaunted vision, they're now impacting generations beyond their years. Day campers dab after a one day football camp hosted by Ringo McKiver and former High Point All-Stars. Corey Dawkins High Point Hornets head basketball coach teaching a basketball skills camp. Coach Marcus Wilson helping with meals after football camp.  They e...

Culturally, humans celebrate historical moments and locations differently. It's often done in ways that most individuals outside of each subgroup will never understand. The reverence for whatever significance these places and things hold usually shows themselves subtly, and/or boldly.   The essence of these special places and moments are seldom captured without mounds of emotion. If by happenstance someone fails to acknowledge or address them, everyone present will asked two very important questions. Who's responsible for capturing our most precious moments, and who will make sure that they're captured moving forward? The Ritz, Washington Street High Point, NC    The Celebrated Robert Hayes, 56 Year Barber/Entrepreneur, Washington Street, High Point, NC After those two questions have been answered, and the call to the assignment has been accepted by a responsible party, the work starts.  The unnerving task of documenting history begins.  The chosen...

Baltimore is one of those unique places in America that breeds basketball talent. It has a spirit of relentless history for carving out some of the best players that the hoops game has ever seen. That type of mindset and drive for basketball greatness could move individuals to two questions.  Where does the idea of being the best basketball player come from? Why do kids and young people believe that they'll be the next great basketball player to rise up from Baltimore? Those are two important questions when analyzing the thought process of kids chasing their dreams.    The Rock In Baltimore on some blocks the ideals of entrepreneurship is measured by how many " rocks " one can sell.  No, it's not a poplar statement, but one that reigns true on some streets.  Ordinarily making references to a " rock " [pseudonym for a basketball] in cities like Baltimore could easily be associated with something negative. Fortunately in this case, those common thou...