Business Profiles: Celebrity Caterer Cooks Up Fresh Food for the Soul

New York, New York, July, 18th 2014, Mischelle Leathers was busy preparing to cater the annual BBQ/Fish Fry of 600+ attendees for the Historic Abyssinian Baptist Church.  In September, she will be catering another event of over 1,500 guests. Given her growing success catering for celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Harry Belafonte, Bill Clinton, Mos Def, Chris Tucker and many more she can’t help but reflect on her humble beginnings.

Starting at the age of four, Ms. Leathers began learning the art of cooking delicious soul food with a penchant for using the freshest ingredients. Her perspective on garnishing and preparing soul food using the freshest meats, poultry, and vegetables was driven home for her especially in the summers when visiting her birthplace of Durham, North Carolina. There she experienced, up close and personal, the difference fresh ingredients contribute to creating exceptionally delicious meals.

Her relatives in Durham had gardens filled with fresh produce; they raised poultry and hogs; and had a pond where they caught fresh fish.  Mischelle was always attentive and became acquainted with the cooking techniques of her southern relatives. By the time Mischelle was a teenager, she was able to prepare full-course meals and contribute to cooking for large family reunions, fish fries and barbecues. Inspired by her rural beginnings, today Mischelle insists on only the freshest ingredients for her catering business named appropriately of course: Mischelle's Catering.

With such an exclusive insistence on the freshest, tastiest ingredients possible, Mischelle exhibits an untiring work ethic when cooking for events of 500+ guests.  Her work ethic and love of cooking is a trait passed down from her Mother, Mary Johnson and her grandmother, Ossilean Ellis who were at times were known to hold three full-time jobs, simultaneously, in order to support  the family.

Ms. Leathers would later attend NYU and also work as an event planner for the large and prestigious public relations firm Burson-Marsteller (B-M).  For over twenty-years, Mischelle was employed by the public relations giant. B-M employees are known world-wide providing their clients with unrivalled strategic thinking, program execution and gold-star communications services.
For years, Mischelle was regarded as Burson-Marstellar’s exclusive in-house conference and event planner.  She was responsible for the strategic planning, coordination and administration of world-wide executive board meetings, employee-training sessions and social events.  Her duties also included event site selection and creating menus for all off-site and internal events.

With her love of cooking fresh, well-presented, and delicious soul food combined with her expertise and aplomb with professional event planning, Mischelle Leathers has become the go to caterer for cultural cuisine that will exceed your expectations and is sure to make your taste buds smile. For more info on Mischelle Leathers Catering company Click Here

New Paradigms of Community to Support Black Business.

The National Black United Front (NBUF) is addressing the need to recycle the buying power of the Black dollar. It is claimed that the Black dollar only circulates 1 time before leaving the community while other ethnic groups recycle money in their community up to 7 times. 

The thing that will hold this back is most blacks don't wanna own neighborhood businesses so the dollar can circulate. Local businesses aren't ideal. In fact with few exceptions I wouldn't suggest for blacks to open neighborhood businesses.

Truth be told most local businesses have high overhead, low profit margins, long hours, spoilage, shrinkage, and are dangerous to run. This is why the most successful Black businesses service the corporate sector and government.

In fact most neighborhood businesses are run by immigrants because they wouldn't fit as well into corporate America in that English may not be their native language. Immigrants run these businesses for survival or by default. Plus a lot of Blacks jump in cars and go shop in malls and downtown areas and not in their community any way.

I wonder given these factors and dynamics if we could recycle our money under a new paradigm of community. Could we create marketing epicenters or clusters online to support Black business in virtual types of communities and recycle that way? Hhmmmmm?

Short Guys Get No Respect! Except...

Anyone under 6ft these days gets no respect. Last night I was walking with my daughter and a well dressed guy walks by but he's only 5'3" and she whispers (but not quietly enough) "Daddy look there's a really, really, short man over there."

I said to her "I'm sure he heard you and you've just made his day." SMH I can only imagine what he goes through.

I mean I'm about 5'10" and women say to me all the time "You need to grow up!"  But I stopped at 16. LOL!

But if you are rich and famous "SIZE doesn't Matter!"  Yeah hot chicks will still date you even with their stilettos on if you're a baller shot caller like my man Kevin Hart. Do you Kevin do You. LOL!

Is the Devil Trying to Destroy Black People?

In a YouTube Video I recently watched on Facebook Television Preacher Jesse Duplantis, made some very interesting statements about Black people to say the least. I think he meant well however his statements were too allegorical to make a real impact on the plight of Black people. But listen to the video yourself above and form your own opinion.

It's interesting. I think as another Facebook user Crystal Gaines stated "there's SO much more to be said and DONE than just singing Amazing Grace." I also know he's using Amazing Grace as a metaphor for putting our trust in God again.

However,  we have to remember we sung Amazing Grace but also ran the Underground Railroad, had uprising and rebellions, started our on business and religious institutions, boycotted, protested, and fought in the Civil War. And I say this being a Christian.

I can take some more than others but I'm not a big fan of tele-evangelist and preachers especially their perspective on religious application on social issues. Their opinion seems to be glib at best.

About the Publisher of Kamau's Qu!ps

Kamau's Qu!ps is Published by Kamau Austin. Kamau is a popular Blogger, Writer, and Internet Marketing Professional helping small businesses grow more profitable businesses online. If you need web design, blogging, search engine or social media promotion contact him at Search Engine Plan

Kamau's Qu!ps reaches over 30,000 web users a month through it's Blog and Social Media Promotions. For Advertising Opportunities visit Search Engine Plan.com

Black Man sent to Prison Even After Overpaying His Child Support

Clifford Hall photo Courtesy Fox 26

There has been a popular media controversy about Clifford Hall a Black man who has been sent to jail for six months due to a issue with his child support payments. Due to clerical or administrative errors on his job his child support payments where in arrears.

Mr. Hall subsequently paid all his child support payments and then some from what was reported in the media but still was sent to jail for 6 months.  To be honest this is a cloudy civil court case. I I don't know all the details.

But this much I do know. The legal system was obviously abusive to Clifford Hall. I can't help but feel the prison industrial complex is behind moves like these to put more black men behind bars.

A lot of people are going to jail for situations like this. It's a way to justify putting Black men in jail is all I can see. It makes no sense.

He will be charged with paying Child Support while in prison. So when he gets out of prison he will have lost his job and be in arrears again.So technically speaking they can put him in jail again. They're setting him up to fail.

The Prison Industrial complex has a way to send functioning Black men to jail. They know black men are last hired and first fired so if you can't always pay on time they send you to prison.

If you survive prison you now have a record so it's even harder to find a job so you fall behind again. It's a Catch 22.  So now they don't just have thugs and felons as slave labor in prisons they have the working class and middle class guys struggling to be fathers in jail too.

What is great about this strategy is Child Support is a wedge issue between Black men and women. So Black women will most likely not speak out or support Black men who go to prison for this type of mishap. It will cause further division in the Black family and community.

It is quite a racket Texas and other states have going on. I hope people can work together to solve child support cases on their own without going through the legal process.

The courts and the legal system isn't doing what's in the best interest for families and children by locking fathers up who are working hard to be in their children's lives. This trend is a disgrace.

About the Publisher of Kamau's Qu!ps

Kamau's Qu!ps is Published by Kamau Austin. Kamau is a popular Blogger, Writer, and Internet Marketing Professional helping small businesses grow more profitable businesses online. If you need web design, blogging, search engine or social media promotion contact him at Search Engine Plan

Kamau's Qu!ps reaches over 30,000 web users a month through it's Blog and Social Media Promotions. For Advertising Opportunities visit Search Engine Plan.com 

Kamau's Thoughts of the Day

Should America Help Africa. People are wondering if America can help Africa and if our intentions are genuine? Is American genuinely concerned with Africa or is its concerns really neocolonialist in nature?

This is how I feel about the issue. Yes, Africa has resources and promise. But let's face it Africa has a lot of problems too.

Many Blacks in the US would like to help Africa and they lobby and put pressure on the US to help. So it is a complex issue.

Africa is a huge continent. Some of the nations are doing well others are languishing. People of good will of all colors are going to want to see less disease, hunger, and drought in Africa. So in my humble opinion we should advocate for Africa but also keep our eyes open to people trying neocolonialist efforts to control the continent.

About the Publisher of Kamau's Qu!ps

Kamau's Qu!ps is Published by Kamau Austin. Kamau is a popular Blogger, Writer, and Internet Marketing Professional helping small businesses grow more profitable businesses online. If you need web design, blogging, search engine or social media promotion contact him at Search Engine Plan

Kamau's Qu!ps reaches over 30,000 web users a month through it's Blog and Social Media Promotions. For Advertising Opportunities visit Search Engine Plan.com

Remember it's Father's Day not Bash Dead Beat Dad's Day

You know I don't have time to really "go in" on why I have ambiguous feelings at best and not thrilled about these Hallmark Cards for single moms on Father's Day. I'm trying to enjoy my day. However, I will make a couple of points and send you to a provocative link.

I know people want to give single mothers these cards and it's up to you to buy those cards.  But I'm Just Asking (IJA) can we have just 1 day where responsible Fathers are recognized?

Honestly, A single mom is probably an extraordinary mom or even SUPER mom but: they are not Fathers! Can't we have one day in peace without a sideshow of condescending remarks tainting the day due to deadbeat dads?

It's freaking "Father's Day" for Pete's Sake not: Bash Deadbeat Dad's Day! SMH. And ironically Hallmark markets this to the Black community when the Center of Disease Control (CDC) just released a new study stating Black Fathers are more actively involved in their children's lives than men of other ethnic groups.

People have 364 days of the year to bash Dead Beat dads. Can we have our 1 freaking day in peace? My name is Kamau Austin and I approve this message! Read more on Hallmark's controversial card

Also I would never try to bash less than perfect mothers on Mother's Day. Why would I want to talk about sidebar issues on such an important days that needs to be recognized.

For instance women have started telling me Happy Mother's Day because my daughter lives with me. I tell them I appreciate the thought but my daughter has a mom. I can't replace her mom.

Recently I was asked by a Facebook Friend "First, would you have accepted the kudos if your daughter's mother was an absentee? Second, looks like black art to me. Could it be that it is merely marketed to black people because it is by "black people"?

"My response was All my daughter's care is on me and I receive little support or visitation from my daughter's mom right now. My daughter has big problems with her mom so all her care is on me.

That's why she is with me. There are a lot of ugly issues.

However, I try to encourage some forgiveness and healing so one day my daughter can have a relationship with her. No one can replace her mom so I hope and pray their relationship can be healed one day.

This is no reflection on you I can understand your position. You do the work so there's nothing wrong with your perspective.

However, I don't like Hallmark marketing a card to our community like that based on skewed stereotypes. If they are going to have a Father's Day card for single moms let it be a card for all ethnic groups.

But for me I'd never want to take away from my daughter's mom. None of us are perfect. I've been in a labor and have seen what women go through to have babies. I am humbled by their sacrifices." 

Also if it is just marketed to the African American community bad idea IMO. Moreover, according to recent studies of the CDC Black fathers are more involved in their children's lives than men of other ethnic groups. So Hallmark shouldn't be marketing a card like that primarily to the Black Community if that is the case. Market it across the board if they feel compelled to market it.

About the Publisher of Kamau's Qu!ps

Kamau's Qu!ps is Published by Kamau Austin. Kamau is a popular Blogger, Writer, and Internet Marketing Professional helping small businesses grow more profitable businesses online. If you need web design, blogging, search engine or social media promotion contact him at Search Engine Plan

Kamau's Qu!ps reaches over 30,000 web users a month through it's Blog and Social Media Promotions. For Advertising Opportunities visit Search Engine Plan.com