Latest news with #SayItLoud
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Cheerleaders Needed, Pompoms Optional: Does Your Marriage Have a Spirit Squad?
Cheering for our team is as much a part of American sports as the national anthem, pep bands, and mascots. We've even made an art and a sport out of cheerleading itself, with camps and competitions, acrobatics, pompoms, and spirit sticks. The job of cheerleaders is to rev up the fans and get them roaring their support so that they become what is known in football jargon as the '12th man' on the field. Outside these stadiums, cheerleaders can also generate or recharge the spirit, especially when the game gets tough. The enthusiastic support of parents can keep their student plugging away in chemistry class; an employer's upbeat words can rouse morale in the work crew. The same is true for marriage. Here's some advice from a man who spent more than 20 seasons on the gridiron being fired up by cheerleaders. Pep Talks and Praise Now retired, NFL tight end Ben Watson played for Duke University and the University of Georgia while in college before making a name for himself in professional football for 16 years. In 2018, he won the Bart Starr Award for being the player who best exemplified 'outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.' In his short 'Our wives should have no doubt that we are their biggest cheerleaders,' Watson writes. He asserts that husbands can reach that goal line by making their spouse feel 'seen'—that is, by ensuring that they receive frequent acclaim for their accomplishments. Watson next recommends having the kids join this pep rally and 'see' their mother's accomplishments as well. Inspired by the support that his wife, Kirsten, gave him when an injury knocked him out of a season's play, Watson recommends that husbands cheer on their wives through adversity, as he did when Kirsten was struggling to write a book. Related Stories 1/24/2025 12/31/2024 'I encouraged her through writer's block and reminded her she is a skilled and talented wordsmith,' he writes. Finally, Watson explains how important it was to celebrate Kirsten's journey after copies of her newly published book arrived in the mail. He gathered the kids and had them watch and cheer as she opened the box and unwrapped the copies. At the end of Watson's article is a 'Huddle Up Question.' 'Huddle up with your kids and ask, 'What could we do to help your mom have a great day?'' Watson writes. That's cheerleading at its best. And just in case some hard-nosed macho man finds the term 'cheerleader' ridiculous, he should know that Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush were all Wisdom From Wives In her 'Do not play the 'my husband is so stupid' game,' she writes. 'One way you can uplift your husband is to speak of him in a respectful way when you're around others. This shows others that you cherish him, care about him, and don't want him to look poorly! In marriage, you're supposed to be a team.' In 'Say It Loud! Becoming Your Husband's Personal Cheerleader,' former cheerleader Robyn McKelvy 'Cheerleaders don't cheer at games because they are guaranteed a win,' she writes. 'A cheerleader cheers because her team is in the game. Your husband needs a wife who will cheer him on just because he is in the game. As his cheerleader, you are on the field with him, boosting him when he thinks he cannot go on.' Cissie Graham Lynch reiterates some of these points in her 'Before he gets home today, think about how you will cheer him on tonight,' she writes. 'Or, before you forget, send him a text while he is at work and let him know what a great job he does providing for your family.' From these and many other online articles, husbands and wives can find tips on boosting the spirits of a spouse. They all have some common concepts. Here are two of them. Teamwork At their best, a husband and wife function as a team. This is just common sense. They work together to thrive in the world while at the same time creating a home that is a bastion of love and the private life. Abigail and John Adams made up one of the greatest of these teams ever seen on the playing fields of U.S. history. While John Adams was helping to form a new government and represent U.S. interests overseas, it was Abigail who kept their family's home and farm up and running and oversaw the education of their children. Vital to the success of this arrangement was this couple's concept of partnership. As Lindsay Chervinsky, historian and director of the George Washington Presidential Library, Often addressing each other as 'My Dearest Friend' in their exchange of more than 1,000 letters, both Abigail and John acted as cheerleaders for each other throughout the challenging times in which they lived. You're Never Too Old for This Cheerleading Gig A kind note can continue to encourage a loved one long into the future. Biba Kayewich When 73-year-old Abigail lay dying, her More than 60 years ago, when my grandparents were operating a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, Grandpa would rise by dawn to milk the cows while Grandma would get up to prepare their breakfast. One morning, when he was late returning from his chores, she went to the barn and found that he had collapsed with a heart attack. He died three days later in the local hospital. But before she discovered him on the floor of the barn that morning, Grandpa cheered one last time for his wife. He frequently left her notes on the kitchen table before setting out on his work duties, tokens of appreciation and his love for her. On this particular morning, he had left just such a note, a moving little tribute that Grandma spoke of again and again after his death. Marriage is a two-person team on which both husband and wife are players, coaches, and cheerleaders. It's that last component that keeps the team spirit healthy and burning with love and hope.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black History Month: Boynton community gets closer look at roots of food, music and art
BOYNTON BEACH — India Ambré Perkins, known in Rhythm and Blues / Jazz circles as Ambré, said she's been focusing a lot on the roots of her voice and message. Nominated for multiple Grammy awards, the 28-year-old artist from New Orleans said performing in Sunday's Black History Month celebration "Say It Loud" in Boynton Beach gave her the opportunity and stage to do just that. 'I didn't know I had that many fans in Florida; this is my first time performing in Florida,' Ambré said of the 200-plus people in attendance at the Boynton Beach Arts and Culture Center, which hosted the event. 'I've been really pondering what my message is and what I have to say that's deeper than what everybody else is saying,' said Ambré, who has released three full-length projects and is currently signed to Roc Nation. She first gained fame after collaborating with Kehlani on a cover of Drake's Preach album. The event at the two-floor center featured various installations from local artists, interactive displays and live music. The Louisiana native who once lived in Kissimmee said her culture has deeply influenced her sound, with jazz roots pulled from her upbringing in New Orleans and her time in the marching band playing trombone. 'My sound, at least now, I'm leaning more into my roots when it comes to jazz and funk music … I'm trying to get back into that world, blending a lot of stuff,' she said. Creative writer, spoken word artist and actor Bertrand Boyd also spoke to the crowd. Boyd, who appeared in the 2019 film 'Queen and Slim,' called it 'an honor' to perform for Black History Month and described the event as 'more than he expected.' The renovated Arts and Cultural Center was the former grounds of Boynton Beach High School and it hopes to turn its newly renovated space into a place where the local community can gather and experience the arts — whether that's dance, song or artwork. 'We want to bring the community together through good music and through good artistry,' said Kelly Armstead, Boynton Beach's arts and culture director, regarding the event in partnership with Florida Variety (FLAVAR CO). ''Say It Loud' is an evening filled with unique visual artworks and live music, honoring our past and celebrating our future.' Food trucks served up various dishes from the Caribbean diaspora, including plates of Jamaican Cuisine and Haitian street food outside the center. Inside were vendors selling jewelry, drinks and custom grills. Also on display was art from Jess Kirby, Tracy Guiteau, and contemporary artist Harold Caudio, whose series 'MORE THAN AN ARTIST' uses vibrant colors and eclectic mediums to 'pay tribute to iconic Black figures, capturing the richness, resilience, and beauty' of Black culture, according to a post from center's Instagram. Boynton Beach's Stephanie Alyrical Gowdy, known as 'Alyrical,' a legally blind artist who uses her hyper-realism portraits as a medium to express unspoken emotion, also was on hand. 'I usually paint things that are hard to vocalize, emotions that are very hard to vocalize. I'm not good at vocalizing my own, so I just put it in my art,' she said in a panel discussion hosted by the center. 'I use a lot of African-American women as references, so I kind of combine culture with art.' The inspirations of the displayed art were told to the crowd with a theme of collaboration emphasized. RELATED: Finding Black history in Palm Beach County is daunting, but rewarding RELATED: West Palm Mayor: Still-shuttered Sunset Lounge good to go this summer Painting live in the halls of the center, Alyrical's talent stretched beyond the canvas, reaching the eyes of viewers whose identities inspired her work. 'I lost my vision in 2012 … a lot of people think it completely disabled me,' she continued. 'Instead of perishing, I use my inner vision to create.' Native to Opa-Locka, Haitian artist Tracy Guiteau said she uses the paintbrush as a means to tell stories, incorporating hidden words into her paintings. 'When it comes to the art business, there's no blueprint for that. I'm just a regular Opa-locka girl. I want [other artists] them to be able to see that it can happen with consistency, with passion, with determination,' she told the panel. Heard past the main stage and into the halls were the sounds of various DJs, playing songs from Beyonce to Michael Jackson. After their time on the dance floor, guests could grab a drink sponsored by cognac house Rémy Martin. The Cotton Room, exclusive to guests with a VIP ticket, featured a set from DJ Dani Fortune, spun on vinyl. On the walls were portraits of renowned Black musicians, such as Prince, Diana Ross and Grace Jones. Paralleling The Cotton Room was an immersive display reminiscent of the traditional barber shop, a space integral to Black culture and conversation. Guests could take pictures in the shop seats while viewing old copies of Ebony Magazine. In a mural-style painting on the wall were the words 'Say It Loud' written in red paint. Beside them, a painting of various Black hairstyles, reminiscent of a barber shop catalog. 'Guests can step back in time and reminisce on the days of visiting the barber shop or beauty salon… surrounded by good conversations, reading the Ebony and/or Essence magazine and just being present in the moment,' Armstead said. Sign up for our Post on Boynton Beach weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton Beach 'Say It Loud' Black History Month event draws big crowd
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boynton to host art exhibit for Black History Month
BOYNTON BEACH — On Sunday, the city of Boynton Beach will host its first 'Say It Loud' Art Exhibition in celebration of Black History Month. The exhibition will feature musical and visual artists, including headliner and award-nominated R&B artist Ambré. Other creatives include spoken word artist Bertrand Boyd and visual artists Tierra Armstrong, Tracy Guiteau, and Harold Caudio, showcasing artwork inspired by the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012. According to the city's website, 'Say It Loud' aims to celebrate and showcase 'Black culture and artistry through performances, interactive exhibits, panel discussions and immersive experiences' in honor of Black History Month. 'We are such a diverse community here in Boynton Beach; there's a lot of history here … We didn't want to do the same old presentation. We wanted to do something a little bit different that was multigenerational; we wanted to connect the past to the present,' said Kelly Armstead, Boynton Beach's director of arts and culture. 'We want to bring the community together through good music and through good artistry.' Full of conversation and history, 'Say It Loud' will feature various DJ's, art installations, and vendors. The Arts and Culture Center hopes to bring residents together and show its support for the local community by featuring artists who got their start right here at home — in Palm Beach County. ''Say It Loud' is an evening filled with unique visual artworks and live music, honoring our past and celebrating our future,' Armstead said. 'Whatever you want to 'say it loud' about, this is the perfect time.' The art exhibition will take place at the Boynton Beach Arts and Cultural Center from 4 to 9 p.m. A panel discussion with featured artists begins at 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton marks Black History Month with 'Say It Loud' art fest
