Spring break is right around the corner! And it’s time for your sun kissed skin to look even more fab!

Check out our teen blogger, Ryan, as she shows you how to BUMP up your BEAUTY look this season!

Stay dope, loves!

Our hearts are still fluttering for all of the support that came pouring out for our Love & Found NYC drive hosted by C.O.R.E Mag & Creative Dreamers on February 18th! On a cool Thursday evening from 6p-10p young professionals came out to create Love Baskets for the teens of the Ali Forney organization. Take a peek into this beautiful night….

Before packing the Love Baskets

Volunteers listening to Bill Torres of Ali Forney

Bill Torres of Ali Forney

Volunteers listening to Bill Torres of Ali Forney Center

Packing up goodies

Love notes for the baskets

Packing it up:)

Beautiful volunteers

Eden & Ellisa Oyewo, with our awesome teen C.O.R.E Mag contributor, Xandria Remi Milligan!

A BIG Thank YOU to all of the loves who poured out their love!

C.O.R.E Mag + Creative Dreamers want to thank you!

Learn more about Ali Forney at www.aliforneycenter.org!

There’s nothing stronger than a bond between sisters! Heaven Sent Sisters is proof that sisterhood empowers + lifts young women up to a higher level in life.  Beverly Hooks, Tamara Thomas and Kyinqua Wright launched the  L.A. based organization Heaven Sent Sisters in 2013. These women were brought together by a common belief that many youth in their community lacked meaningful academic and career guidance as well as many other important life skills. Determined to make a difference, the women convened a series of meetings to discuss the issues. With research, hard-work and commitment to working together for the cause, Hooks, Thomas and Wright founded Heaven Sent Sisters. It is the goal of these women to carry out the Heaven Sent Sisters’ mission and vision.

This empowering organization currently coordinates outings and workshops for girls ages 13 years-18 years old in the ‘Because it Takes a Village Program’ which brings girls together to socialize, meet new people, experience music, art, culture and many other important subject matters, all while having the opportunity to experience mentorship!

Let’s get to know Heaven  Sent Sisters a little more…

Heaven Sent Sisters is an amazing organization that builds self-esteem, develops necessary life skills & increases education + awareness, what made you ladies want to create a platform to allow teen girls to shine?

The development of Heaven Sent Sisters began when our Founder/President, Beverly Hooks, called a group of women together to discuss the vision she had of starting an organization for young girls in the community to have positive role models who they could spend time with and look up to. Considering the nature of today’s society and access young girls have to so many negative images and examples, we felt it was important to get involved with girls to help them see the positive in themselves so they don’t define themselves by what they see in the bad examples that are out there. We wanted girls to see women who are prime examples of successful women. We believed that by being the example it would allow girls to see that they have the potential to be successful in whatever they set out to become no matter what and where they come from.

Being a voice in the community motivates others to be great, how do you teach young women to be a positive role models?

We teach young women to be positive role models by being the example. We teach girls to love one another and to come together rather than tearing each other down. We show girls how important it is treat everyone with kindness. We promote a sisterhood within our organization where girls can become close and develop lifelong friendships with one another.

We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?

There are many people who inspire us but one of our biggest inspirations is the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS). I smile as I write this because she is such an example of what a woman should be. She is many, many things but most importantly, she is such a positive example to all women and girls. She carries herself with such class, speaks so eloquently and is an educated woman. She involves herself in causes that really matter and she gives her time to give back to the causes that really mean something to her.

If you had to give one piece of advice to teen girls who are struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would it be?

Be you. We are all made unique and we are all beautiful just the way God made us. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks or says about you. In the words of India Arie, “What matters most is what you think of yourself!”

Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one trait you have learned from working with girls?

I’ve learned how important it is to stop and listen. A lot of times we just need someone to listen. We all face different challenges in life and often times we are quick to want to tell people how to solve their problems or we try to analyze the problem for them but sometimes what we need is for someone to hear us and listen to us without judgement.

We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you + your organization?

Empowerment means to us, helping girls reach the point of self-determination. When we empower girls, we are able to help them establish as sense of hope and power within. Empowerment means we have helped them to recognize that they have the power to have, do, be and achieve anything their heart desires.

Fun Faves!

Song? Whitney Houston- Greatest Love of All

Food? Mexican Food

Artist? Common

Celeb Crush? Tyrese

Check out more here!

Heaven Sent Sisters

“Love makes your heart crawl out of its hiding place.” -Zora Neale Hurston

C.O.R.E Mag – Creating Opportunity to Reach Empowerment + Creative Dreamer presents LOVE & FOUND NYC. Please come out and donate your time to assemble LOVE baskets for the Ali Forney Center. We are asking everyone to donate the following items: socks, underwear, and toiletries.

Join us February 18th 6-9p at the Wyndham Hotel in Chinatown to give back with other like minded individuals.

Contact us at info@thecorereader.com for donations! #LovandFoundNYC

SPREAD THE WORD.

Walking through the beauty aisle in the drug store, restocking on some needed essentials I’m immediately met with this overwhelming spectacle of red and pink teddy bears. Turn the corner, chocolates in big red boxes and on the opposite side a massive wall of red theme colored cards.  I started to think  “tis another holiday for red lipstick” and rolled my eyes just a little.

Now let me make two things very clear, I enjoy everything about Valentine’s Day and I love a classic red lip, anytime any day.  However (insert long dramatic pause), how often do we go to that particular scarlet shade for date night, during the holiday season, to do laundry, go to the grocery store or during sessions at the gym? (Or is this just me?) Let’s ditch the red lip this Valentine’s Day.

One lip shade that has made a statement over the last two years or so has come in hues of purple.  The night this majestic color captivated the world was the night of the 2014 Met Gala, where Joan Smalls graced the red carpet wearing a stunning Vera Wang gown (she was the designers date that night), bronze skin and this enticing purple shade of lipstick.  Joan reminded me of a modern day Aphrodite that night.  The purple lip shade, crafted by professional makeup artist Sir John B and Joan herself, a statement on it’s own, compliments Smalls glowing skin tone effortlessly. Joan’s flowing gown and fishtail braid completes this modern goddesses look.

Photo Credit: The Coveteur

Since, we have seen tons of celebrities hit the red carpet, give interviews and even host events in royal hues of purple.  Urban Decay makeup artist Shani Rich and Sephora Senior Artist Johan Castro weigh in on their favorite purple lip shades for all skin tones and ages, and how to wear them so you to can have your goddess moment.

What is your go-to purple lipstick?

“My go to purple lip color for all skin tones would have to be “ Matte After Dark” by Urban Decay” exclaims Shani Rich.  “It looks great on everyone and is good to wear all year round”.  “Try L.U.V by Kat Von D (one of my personal favorites) it is long lasting and looks great on every skin tone, especially if you’re hesitant on trying a full on purple lipstick.  This shade has a little fuchsia balancing it out perfectly.” suggest Johan.

On women of brown and deeper skin tones …

“A great shade for women of deeper skin tones would be “ZIPPER” liquid matte by Colourpop Cosmetics.  With this lip color I have to say less makeup is more.  The complexion should be clean with seamless foundation and contour application, and subtle highlight.  You don’t want to do to much as this lip color is bold and will stand out on it’s on.  Also, I would avoid matching the eye shadow with the lip.  That is a no-go and looks like way too much makeup.  Simplicity is key, especially when trying to achieve a flawless makeup application with deeper skin tones.” – Shani Rich

On women of light to medium skin tones …

“A great shade from women of light to medium skin tones is Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense 15.  This bold color is the perfect shade of purple. It won’t make your complexion appear washed out or as if you were about to relive your gothic teenage years.  The iridescence finish gives your entire complexion this subtle glow to it.  When wearing this shade make sure to apply tinted moisturizer or a sheer foundation to even out any redness in the skin, and play off that subtle glow from the lip color.  Avoid wearing heavy blush and opt for a bronzer or subtle highlight”. –Johan Castro

For our tweens …

I believe teenagers should wear lipgloss or very sheer lipsticks nothing too bold. Lipgloss is very age appropriate and still FUN! Like Sephora’s “ Sweet Mauve Sparkling” Ultra Shine Lipgloss “ says Shani.  As for Johan “For the younger readers tinted lip balms are great. Gives you a hint on color and conditions the lips”.  “Try Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balms in “Voluptuous Violet”.

Before you reach for your favorite red lip this Valentine’s Day season, ask yourself, how many times will I wear this again, this month alone?  Try these recommendations from the pros, make a statement like Joan and feel like a goddess during these days of love.  Seriously who doesn’t want to feel like and exude the aura of a goddess?

-Autumn Johnson

Ok, it’s second semester and you’re saving up for prom or if you’re a senior that means college is right around the corner! Between saving for your spring break or books for school, you still want to have a few extra coins to treat yourself on a mini shopping spree! Well, we have a hidden trick just for you and that’s called thrifting! Before you turn your nose up to the idea plenty of dope musicians, actresses and bloggers find some of their best pieces in the bins of their neighborhood thrift store! Trust us, you can look hot on a budget and no one will ever know if it cost you $2 or $20!  Check out our thrifty tips!

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Divide + Conquer- Just breathe. I know when you see racks and racks of clothes that aren’t color coordinated or specifically styled it can make you walk back to your car. Well, fight the urge and divide and conquer. Have what you’re looking for in mind and go section by section. Mentally section off  each part you would like to hunt and start at one section an move on to the next. accessories, shoes, etc.

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First Saturdays- First Saturdays aren’t just to kick off the fun of the month but don’t forget the sales too! Majority of thrift stores have half off of all items on the first of the month. Talk about the deal of the century, right!

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Be Open-Okay so the store isn’t filled with tons of mannequins with ready to made outfits so you have to be open-minded to pieces. You might not fall in love with a top right away but take a moment and see what you can pair it or style it with. Style is your personal imagination running wild.

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Stay dope on a budget!

The week is almost over! All you need are some musical vibes to keep your study focus strong, right?

Time to vibe out with Hello – Adele (Reggae Cover) from Conkarah from Jamaica and Rosie Delmah from The Solomon Islands.

Stay dope.

  Press For A Day

Alot of teenagers know the career they want and then for some of us, it changes from time to time.  I want to be an investigative reporter, but there have been moments of me daydreaming about standing on the sidelines at some fancy shindig, taking pictures of stars doing their best Ms. America wave. Although it’s not my chosen field of journalism, the urge to go paparazzi just once was becoming more than a fantasy. I wanted to satisfy that urge to make sure I was going into the right field of journalism. I made up my mind that the next major event I attended was going to be as press. The biggest problem was finding something I wanted to attend. I have attended many red carpet events where the purpose of the event gets lost amidst people networking or promoting their own self interests. Most of the time I just want to leave and go home.

I wanted my first journalistic experience to be a positive one so I wasn’t going to pick just any affair to cover. It had to have substance and meaning. While surfing Facebook, I came across an event which caught my eye. It was marketed as MLK Now and was to going to be held on the King Holiday. MLK Now was going to feature historic speeches performed by some of the leading talents in Hollywood today. The event was being produced by Campaign Black Male Achievement, VICE, and Blackout for Human Rights. To be honest, I had never heard of any of those organizations. I was already impressed by them for being able to put together a free program featuring performers that could charge thousands for appearances. Ryan Coogler, founding member of Blackout for Human Rights, was listed as executive producer and co-host of the event. I knew him as the director of Fruitvale and my favorite movie this winter, Creed! The event was going to be held close to where I live, Riverside Church in Harlem where Dr. King performed his famous 1967 speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence”. When I clicked on the link to register, it was standing room only. I signed up anyway. Then it hit me.

Ryan Coogler “Artist Conversation” with J Cole

I didn’t just want to attend this event. I wanted to cover it as press and blog about it for The COREreader. I emailed the event planner requesting a press pass. Low and behold, a few minutes later I received an email confirming my attendance as press. I was ecstatic. Then I started to worry. I didn’t want to cover my first affair using my phone as a camera. My mom tried to make me feel better telling me about all the bulletin boards featuring photography with the iPhone. Doesn’t she know those professional photographers could use a Fisher Price kid camera and make the photos look good? Mom trying to make me feel better wasn’t working. I guess going to buy me a nice Nikon never crossed her mind.

When I arrived at the church on Monday, January 18^th, I was a bundle of nerves. As I watched the professionals set up their camera equipment I felt so out of place. I didn’t belong. I knew many people at the event including the head technician of Riverside Church, members of the wonderful activist group Justice League, and attendees who recognized me from my work in the community. I actually had people requesting a photo with me! I still felt out of place. My mother’s advice was to introduce myself to other members of press, let them know it was my first event and be guided by them. When I wasn’t warm to the idea, she left me with the parting words, “Sink or swim. Grow up”.

Michael B. Jordan on the edge of his seat while he watches Mr Harry Belafonte.
Photo credit Bayete Ross Smith

All of a sudden, I really was alone. I got in the elevator to go to the sanctuary of the church. Imagine my surprise when Ms. Octavia Spencer herself and Michael B. Jordan entered in the elevator behind me. I dared not say a word to them. Ms. Spencer smiled and said, “Hello dear”. I remembered my home training and replied hello back. Mr. Jordan nodded. I smiled but fainted inwardly.  I excitedly texted my mom. Inside I was screaming and yelling like a crazed groupie. On the outside I maintained professionalism.  I entered into the sanctuary and went to the press area. I was officially covering a major event! One of the members of the press announced #MLKNow was trending on social media. This was it! Time to start swimming.

Most of the MLK events I go to are usually the same. Politicians are in attendance, and they usually talk about the importance of MLK and his movement. However on Monday, January 18, 2016, I experienced an MLK celebration that was so unique and really highlighted the true essence of MLK and the civil rights movement. MLK Now celebrated King Holiday from the artist prospective. From actors to vocalists, all the entertainers embodied what it was like to be a part of the civil rights movement. Each entertainer adopted a significant person and delivered one of their speeches as if they were them.

Artist J.Cole

The lineup of celebrities was incredible and the audience were definitely in for a treat. Ryan Coogler, director and filmmaker of Fruitvale Station and Creed spearheaded the event. He brought along two stars from his hit movie Creed, Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson.  Jordan delivered a speech by the assassinated activist Fred Hampton entitled “Power Anywhere Where There’s People”. The speech was given with extraordinary conviction and passion. Chris Rock proceeded after Jordan, joking announcing he was following behind “the heartthrob”. He had nothing to worry about. His performance of James Baldwin’s “My Dungeon Shook” was so compelling that not one person thought of Oscar nominations or Rock being the host. Tessa had me raising my fist in the air when she recited Angela Davis’  “Victory Speech”.  Lin Manuel Miranda, known for his star roles in the Broadway plays “In the Heights” and “Hamilton”, played MLK and delivered the speech given by Dr. King during a historic visit to Riverside Church, “Beyond Vietnam/ A Time to Break Silence”. Condola Rashad, actress and daughter of Phylicia Rashad, played Shirley Chisolm and gave her “Presidential Campaign Announcement”. Actor Andre Holland had the audience mesmerized as Malcolm X whose “Police Brutality and Mainstream Media” speech is still relevant today. Tony award winning actress Anika Noni Rose did double duty performing Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” and singing J Cole’s Be Free while he looked on from the audience.

Tony award winning actress Anika Noni Rose

When the great at 88, Harry Belafonte, delivered Patrice Lumumba’s “Proclamation of Independence”, followed by personal revelations of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, the audience were literally on the edge of their seats. Rounding out the rest of the artistic part of the program, an emotional Octavia Spencer delivering Dr. King’s final speech “Been to the Mountaintop” and Adepero Oduye as Ida B. Wells’ “This Awful Slaughter.”

The program also contained performances by award winning India Arie, poet and activist Karega Bailey, artist Bilal, poet Saul Williams and an unannounced visit by Empire’s Jussie Smollett, who surprised the audience with a heartrending song. There was one tabloid moment when Ryan Coogler’s one on one conversation with J Cole revealed Mr. Cole was married. Although the audience were surprised by the revelation, they were too caught up in the spirit of the program to dwell on the unexpected announcement.

After the performances and speech renditions, a panel discussion was led by MSNBC National Reporter Trymaine Lee.  The panel featured Urban Cusp Founder, Rahiel Tesfamariam, executive director of Arab American Association of New York,  Linda Sarsour, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice executive director Dante Barry, Filmmaker/Activist and Sankofa.org director Gina Belafonte, and activist Leon Ford, Jr. The MLK Now event became a trending topic on social media and was watched by over 400,000 people on live-stream. I believe Dr. King would have been proud of the way the profound messages of yesterday were presented to the masses today.

If I’m going to become a serious journalist, I must get a professional camera. Covering the MLK Now event was a wonderful experience but I need a career where I can use my activist spirit and make a difference in society. As an investigator reporter, I can reach millions to expose unknown and untold truths.

Many thanks to public relations and event planner extraordinaire Janet Dickerson. My message to Mrs. Dickerson, “A heartfelt thank you doesn’t even seem sufficient enough to express my gratitude but maybe knowing I left a better person coming out of MLK Now than when I arrived will do it. Thanks for the pass.”

-Victoria Pannell

It’s Hot! Juicy! Ooooh you can even smell it a mile away. Hmmm let’s just call it a 6th sense. Yes! When the gossip is in the air you can pick it out a full line up! As much as you try to hold it in it just spills out of your mouth and splatters on the closest ear that‘s in listening reach. Every conversation even if you start off by talking about something productive it always ends up with the weekly “he say, she say” tidbits of the week. Your homegirl told you something in private & instead of keeping it to yourself you just tell yourself I’m only going to tell your one other good friend and that’s it! You can insert a side eye look right about now because we knows what happens next…yes just a messy game of high school telephone where the message somehow gets chopped and screwed.

Even though you might tell yourself just being the carrier of “factual” information is harmless it often does more harm than good…

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Watch What You Say– Yes people love you! They simply can’t get enough of your bubbly personality, your trendy clothing but you are the school’s verbal social blogger. You always seem to have the newest gossip before anybody knows. Now, as you might think that what you are spitting out can be backed up by the Encyclopedia in all actuality, you may be the cause of the problem. As much as this may be hard to swallow people who continually spread info about other people’s lives often do not have a life of their own and are not focusing on themselves enough. True statement. Ouch!

Like Wildfire-In most cases people who want personal info to spread, they will ultimately share it with other people themselves. The fact that someone came to you in private and shared information with you means that they trust you. Trust is a hard trait to gain, so don’t take it so lightly. If they ask for you not to spread it, you should respect them and your friendship enough to not continue to pass on rumors.

Goes Around, Comes Around– “What goes around, comes around,” right? Right! Not trying to simply scare you but you must understand that life is a cycle. Which means whatever you put out in the world is what you will get back in your own life. So to break it down, if your are the rumor queen of your clique or school, do you not think that soon enough there is going to be a rumor spread about you pretty soon?? As basic as it might seem it’s important to treat others how you want to be treated. You would hate for the school to think you made out or even slept with a your guy friend, especially if it’s not true right?

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Just always think twice before you sip or spill the tea! You are too fly to be caught up in everybody’s world except your own!

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Stay dope.

Yes, we know it’s great that you get a day out of school but it’s pointless if you do not understand why, right?  Today take time to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  and the importance of spreading love, peace and unity as it flows through today’s society. Even on a personal scale take time to see how YOU can make small changes to bring each other together instead of dividing us with hatred. It can be as small as not being defensive when a new girl comes to your class and just being open with them and yourself. It takes each of us to bring our piece of the puzzle to create the entire picture!

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Just like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left his legacy which is still changing hearts, you must always pay it forward in your life. too!