Latest news with #Maclin
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Men can often be lonely and isolated. Milwaukee group gives chance to connect.
Major Maclin and Richard McClain settled into a booth at The Family Table Restaurant in Brown Deer with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and bacon filling the air. As servers darted around the packed restaurant, Maclin, 75, laughed with McClain, 77. They reminisced about simpler times, recalling lazy summer days at Franklin Square, Columbia, and Garfield Park playgrounds. Growing up here, they experienced the unrestrained freedom to play ball and chase one another throughout their neighborhood without worrying about violence. "Some young people today find it hard to believe that there was a time when we didn't have to worry about shootings and crime. Just recently, a child was shot because someone left a gun out so they could get it. This was rare during our childhood," Maclin said. Over plates piled with scrambled eggs and golden toast, Maclin and McClain celebrated their shared past, weaving a tapestry of memories against the backdrop of a changing city. Their conversation was just one of many simultaneously happening among nearly 70 people who gathered at the restaurant on a recent morning for breakfast with elders. Every second Friday of the month, a large group of prominent men from various sectors gather for fellowship and conversation. "I try to attend this event every month because this room is filled with wisdom that you can't find in a history book," said Richard Badger, 52, director of Workforce Initiatives for Wisconsin Community Services. Opinion: Milwaukee losing another federal lifeline. Impact will be swift and devastating. Badger said listening can teach you a lot, and the breakfast conversations provide a safe space for Black men, who often lack opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings, to share their minds. "It's the best two or three hours you can get," he said. The group began in March 2019 when a small circle of friends gathered at the Family Table. They shared their experiences, and the group started to grow. However, five months after its inception, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill. Once restrictions were lifted, they resumed meeting under the name 'Breakfast Club M.K.E,' said Louis DeSilva, 73, one of the original five founders. 'This is more than just men meeting for breakfast. We provide information on various topics that can help them, and it fosters a sense of fellowship,' DeSilva said. What began with six men expanded to 26, then 42, and now averages up to 70. Although the food is good, not everyone comes to eat; some attend to hug friends they haven't seen in a while or grab coffee with someone they have never met in person. When I attended in March, I saw many men who played a vital role in my life and several I admire, such as Mac Weddle, a driving force behind Milwaukee's Juneteenth celebration, and Will Allen, an international leader in urban and rural agriculture who established Will's Roadside Farms & Markets. The guest speaker that week was Greg Lewis, executive director of Souls to the Polls, who talked about the power in voting. The monthly events feature a guest speaker, and the topics cover a range of subjects, including health, politics, mentorship, volunteering, financial planning, and intergenerational connections. Weddle, 77, said if you come to the breakfast club, you won't be alone. There's bound to be someone here that you know, or who knows your people. He moves around the restaurant like a social butterfly, transitioning from table to table, joining conversations, and helping people connect with others they haven't met yet. 'With all the negative things people talk about in our city, we want our community, especially our young folks, to see that we can come together for love," said Weddle said, another founder. "Many young people don't know if they can see it." Attending events like the breakfast not only provides the men valuable insights but may also contribute to the overall health. Numerous studies show that many African American men face social isolation, and some experts argue that this tendency to withdraw can heighten the risk of serious health issues, potentially resulting in premature death. The National Institutes of Health reports that men are less likely than women to seek mental health services, which can contribute to feelings of sadness and loneliness. Taking small steps can break the cycle of isolation. Men can reach out to others by making plans, meeting for coffee or a meal, or calling to check in. Opinion: Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI. Was that right? Tell us. As I was sitting at the breakfast last month, I was reminded of my closest friends, individuals I've known for nearly 40 years, including George Tillman Jr. and Mac Strawder. We have a group chat and talk about everything and communicate constantly. The best part of our chat is that while we motivate each other to exercise and eat right, it's also a space for sharing memes, having fun, and discussing serious topics that we face as Black men — topics that only another Black man can truly understand. Some of our most serious conversations have been around the racism we face and the death of various family members, something all my close friends have experienced recently. Men are taught to keep many thoughts and feelings to themselves because they often feel uncomfortable being vulnerable about their emotions. This can lead to signs of loneliness, which may cause additional stress and potentially result in health issues that could land them in the hospital. The beauty of Breakfast Club M.K.E is that it helps men forge connections they may not otherwise have. While some attendees have known each other for years, others became friends with people they just met. Maclin and McClain forged an unexpected bond at the breakfast late last year, but they talk as though their have been friends for decades, sharing everything from the silly to the series, such as reflecting on their parents' powerful stories migrating to Wisconsin from the South. This journey was driven by hope, as families escaped the oppressive grip of Jim Crow laws in the South, seeking a better life filled with opportunities, dignity, and the chance to live freely. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, ranging from the thrill of rabbit hunting to the intricacies of political debates that echoed the passions of a bygone era. They argued over the vibrant history of Milwaukee, painting vivid pictures of how the Black community thrived with culture and charm. "You didn't have to go downtown because everything you needed was right in our community," McClain said. "You remember that?" They even shared how different young people are today when it comes to settling disputes. 'Back in the days, you could fight with someone and be friends 15 to 30 minutes later. Today, the first thing they want to do is grab a gun to prove how tough they are, but that ain't tough,' Maclin said to McClain. 'That ain't tough. The problem is people afraid to get their butts whipped,' McClain added. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on Twitter @jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Men need social outlets. I found group that provides more. | Opinion
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Maclin scores 20, Radford knocks off UNC Asheville 77-53
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. RADFORD, Va. (AP) — Brandon Maclin scored 20 points as Radford beat UNC Asheville 77-53 on Thursday night. Maclin also contributed five rebounds and six assists for the Highlanders (17-11, 7-6 Big South Conference). Truth Harris shot 4 for 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line to add 15 points. Josiah Harris shot 5 of 8 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points. The Bulldogs (19-8, 10-3) were led in scoring by Toyaz Solomon, who finished with 10 points and two blocks. Kameron Taylor added 10 points and two steals for UNC Asheville. Josh Banks had eight points. ___
CBS News
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
From Sing Sing prison to the Oscars: A Mount Vernon, N.Y. man's unlikely journey
A Mount Vernon man is headed to Hollywood this week to prepare for the Academy Awards. Clarence Maclin is a nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay for his contributions to the screenplay of "Sing Sing," which tells a story that Maclin lived inside the walls of Sing Sing prison. "There's portions of my life that I wouldn't want anyone to follow... . This way of thinking failed me. And how many others did it fail?" Maclin said. "Sing Sing" tells the true story of "Rehabilitation through the Arts," or RTA, a prison program that uses theater to build communication, empathy and compassion. "We can use these same life skills to help rebuild the communities that we damaged. Because, you know, we're responsible for our own behavior, we know that," Maclin said. Maclin co-stars in the film, playing himself, alongside Colman Domingo. "A lot of people tell me this film has caused them to reconnect with loved ones or individuals that they had written off, because of their incarceration." Maclin is using his platform to promote RTA and other rehab programs like "The Last Mile," which teaches computer skills to incarcerated people. "The national recidivism rate is 60 percent. This program and programs like this have a 3 percent, or less than 3 percent recidivism rate," Maclin said. Maclin is heading to Hollywood for the run-up to the Oscars on March 2. It's a cinematic second act his younger self never dreamed of. "I look around like, where am I? It comes to me, Oh, I really am here. It's great," Maclin said.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tennessee teacher honored with 2025 Music Educator Award
For nearly two decades, Adrian Maclin has changed lives inside and outside of his classroom. Maclin, a music teacher at Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is the winner of the 2025 Music Educator Award, which is presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. "We don't refer to ourselves as a choir class," Maclin said. "We refer to ourselves as a choir family." Impact on his students Maclin's current and former students say he is a father figure to many. "He had this energy, it's like an attracting energy that you just want to be around," said Jo Aguilar, a student at Cordova High School. "He's given me life lessons. It's not just about choir." Maclin's dedication and determination has changed the course of some of his students' lives. "When I first moved here, me and my family, we were having a little bit of some financial problems and some transportation issues, and Maclin would pick me up at 5:30 in the morning, take me to school," former student Zachary Head said. Sean Hunt, a current student, said a schedule change put him in Maclin's class and quickly made an impact on him. "I came into high school and I hooked up with a couple of people I thought were friends. I got myself into a little bit of trouble," said Hunt. "One day they told me my schedule had changed and I go to room F-163. I went maybe like two weeks telling him I don't want to be in here, get me out. By that third week, I was singing everything." Now, Hunt plans to go into music education, thanks to Maclin. "That brings tears to my eyes when he told me that at the beginning of the school year," Maclin said of Hunt. Dedication to academic excellence Maclin, who began singing in church as a child, decided to dedicate his life to teaching when he was in high school. For almost 20 years, he has taken his choirs around the country to showcase their talents. "There are kids that come in, they're dealing with things. They're troubled. I've had kids come in homeless and my smile, me caring for them, I know that I've made a change in them," he said. Maclin insists his students' talents need to include academic excellence in addition to their singing abilities. In his class, you'll find the school's top three academic achievers. "A funny saying he has is, he's not going to take around a bunch of singing dummies around the country," Aguilar said, laughingly. He also reminds his students they are representing not only themselves, but a community. "It was a lot of pressure because we're a choir of predominantly African Americans or like minority students. So we already have a vision in other people's minds of what we are," said Natalya Crosby, who was her class valedictorian. "It was just like, 'OK, let's go in whenever we sing, whenever we perform and let's show them that we're more than whatever they could think that we are.'" His students say they're grateful for Maclin's unwavering support. "Thank you for believing in a kid who probably sometimes didn't believe himself," Aguilar said. "You mean the world to me. I love you so much." For Maclin, he's happy to have been a part of their journey. "It's the joy of seeing them be successful, knowing that the little part that I did made a change in your life," he said. Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing Trump offering "deferred resignation" to government workers unwilling to return to office AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street
CBS News
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
How the 2025 Music Educator Award honoree is changing lives and influencing his students: "He's given me life lessons"
For nearly two decades, Adrian Maclin has changed lives inside and outside of his classroom. Maclin, a music teacher at Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is the winner of the 2025 Music Educator Award, which is presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. "We don't refer to ourselves as a choir class," Maclin said. "We refer to ourselves as a choir family." Impact on his students Maclin's current and former students say he is a father figure to many. "He had this energy, it's like an attracting energy that you just want to be around," said Jo Aguilar, a student at Cordova High School. "He's given me life lessons. It's not just about choir." Maclin's dedication and determination has changed the course of some of his students' lives. "When I first moved here, me and my family, we were having a little bit of some financial problems and some transportation issues, and Maclin would pick me up at 5:30 in the morning, take me to school," former student Zachary Head said. Sean Hunt, a current student, said a schedule change put him in Maclin's class and quickly made an impact on him. "I came into high school and I hooked up with a couple of people I thought were friends. I got myself into a little bit of trouble," said Hunt. "One day they told me my schedule had changed and I go to room F-163. I went maybe like two weeks telling him I don't want to be in here, get me out. By that third week, I was singing everything." Now, Hunt plans to go into music education, thanks to Maclin. "That brings tears to my eyes when he told me that at the beginning of the school year," Maclin said of Hunt. Dedication to academic excellence Maclin, who began singing in church as a child, decided to dedicate his life to teaching when he was in high school. For almost 20 years, he has taken his choirs around the country to showcase their talents. "There are kids that come in, they're dealing with things. They're troubled. I've had kids come in homeless and my smile, me caring for them, I know that I've made a change in them," he said. Maclin insists his students' talents need to include academic excellence in addition to their singing abilities. In his class, you'll find the school's top three academic achievers. "A funny saying he has is, he's not going to take around a bunch of singing dummies around the country," Aguilar said, laughingly. He also reminds his students they are representing not only themselves, but a community. "It was a lot of pressure because we're a choir of predominantly African Americans or like minority students. So we already have a vision in other people's minds of what we are," said Natalya Crosby, who was her class valedictorian. "It was just like, 'OK, let's go in whenever we sing, whenever we perform and let's show them that we're more than whatever they could think that we are.'" His students say they're grateful for Maclin's unwavering support. "Thank you for believing in a kid who probably sometimes didn't believe himself," Aguilar said. "You mean the world to me. I love you so much." For Maclin, he's happy to have been a part of their journey. "It's the joy of seeing them be successful, knowing that the little part that I did made a change in your life," he said.
