FERRELL E. PHELPS: A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS VISIONARY
By: DayVia Smith
Ferrell E. Phelps is a person whose talents and a big heart. He is a talk show host, a celebrity photographer, and an entrepreneur who really cares about making the world a better place. He’s the founder of the Skin I’m In Model & Talent Agency (SIIM), which is an amazing company that wants to shows everyone that they are beautiful, no matter what they look like. The agency is all about diversity and acceptance. They have this great motto: Every Body Should Be Represented.” It’s not just a business, its a movement to help people feel good about themselves and their own skin.
Mr. Phelps’ journey to creating SIIM Agency started with his photography and a series of exhibitions. These shows were so successful that they inspired him to start an agency that would actually represent and celebrate people from backgrounds. He used his photography skills to raise money and show everyone the Freedman’s Town Documentary Project. He was capturing what life was like for the people who lived there after the Civil War by taking pictures of the reenactment on the old brick streets. He wants to make sure their stories are never forgotten.
I was in an interview with him and I asked him, “What is some advice you could give to young people interested in photography? “ And he said.”Snap, Snap, Snap Away!”
Ferrell E. Phelps Jr. is more than just a successful person with a lot of jobs. He’s a true visionary who uses his talents to make a difference. From his photography and books to his talk show and his agency, every thing he does has a purpose. He’s all about celebrating diversity, honoring history, and giving voice to people who might not have one. He’s a great example of how you can use your skills and passions to create positive change in the world. He’s a really inspiring person whose gifts can help others and make the world a better place at the same time.
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RHONDA JENKINS—SPARKLES OF LIFE
By: Dayanna Smith
After Rhonda endured four miscarriages over nine years, she and her former husband welcomed healthy twin daughters on March 2007. This experience inspired her to launch Sparkles of Life in 2008, turning her personal journey into a mission to share hope and support with other families who are strug- gling with infertility and desiring to be parents.
She launched Sparkles of Life to offer education, emotional support, and even IVF grants to couples in need. Her work is rooted in faith, persever- ance, and the belief that every family deserves hope on the journey to par- enthood. Through her organization, Rhonda has turned her personal pain into a powerful force of compassion, lighting the way for others to find their own “Sparkles of Life.”
She was impressed with my interview and she said, “Good job.” Here’s what I think about this interview: she was inspiring to me, and she made me so happy. I was smiling the whole time. I hope to see her in-person in the future someday.
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MY INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL MYLES HAYES JR.
By: David Smith
This week I had the honor to interview Michael Myles Hayes Jr. He is a kind-hearted young man who plays baseball and is an actor. He was very polite and very direct. When I asked the questions, he wasn’t rude, but straightforward and did not hesitate to give me an answer.
When I grow up I want to play baseball because I really like throwing baseballs and play catch with my family.
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THE STORY OF UKNALA: MY MAGICAL UNICORN BESTIE
By: Trinity Roni Wells, Age 8
Hi! My name is Trinity Roni Wells and I’m 8 years old. I’m going to tell you a real story about me and my unicorn best friend. Her name is Uknala. She’s all white and shiny like a cloud, and her horn is a beautiful mix of purple and pink, like cotton candy on a rainbow.
Uknala has a little sister named Sparks. Sparks lives in my backpack, for real! She’s pink and purple with a sparkly mane and big black eyes that look like shiny buttons. She’s six years old and full of energy. Uknala is ten, just like me — we have so much in common!
We had a big birthday party for Uknala at my house. All of her unicorn siblings came — like 11 to maybe 20 of them (I didn’t count ‘cause it was a lot). Her older sisters planned a surprise and took her somewhere super special. I don’t know where they went because it was a big secret, but when they got back, she was smiling so hard her horn was glowing! So I know she had a great time.
At her party, we had cake (but NOT red velvet — we don’t like that), cookies (chocolate chip is the best), and just a little bit of candy like M&M’s. We don’t eat a lot of sweets. Uknala and Sparks are more into fun than food!
When we go outside, I ride my scooter and Uknala and Sparks ride with me or walk beside me. I live in an apartment, so we don’t have a playground, but we use the sidewalk like it’s a magical path. We love going to the pool because my unicorns like to get wet and splash, but they don’t like the beach. Too much sand, they say!
Uknala’s favorite color is pink and Sparks loves purple. Sometimes I dress them up with little bows on their tails, and they look fabulous — like they’re ready for a unicorn fashion show.
I only have two unicorns, but that’s all I need. They’re my best friends and we do everything together. The Story of Uknala is full of fun, love, and sparkles — and it’s just getting started.
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MY INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL MYLES HAYES JR.: BALLPLAYER,ACTOR,AND REAL-LIFE SUPERKID!
By: Jedidiah Gregory, Age 9
Hi, I’m Jedidiah Gregory, and guess what? I got to interview someone really awesome — Michael Myles Hayes Jr. He’s a teenager who plays baseball, acts, makes movies, and even talks about stopping bullying. He’s super cool, and he was really nice to answer all my questions!
First, I asked him about baseball because I love sports too. Michael said he plays for the Decan Wildcats in high school and Saber Baseball for travel ball. He’s been with Saber since sixth or maybe even seventh grade, and he loves it. He said his team is like family, and his coach treats him like a son. That’s what you call real team spirit!
When I asked what he wants to do in the future, he said he hopes to go to a Division One college and keep playing baseball, but he also really loves acting. So, he might do that too.
I think it’s cool that he has big dreams in both sports and show-biz! Then, my friend asked how he became an actor, and Michael said it was all because of his mom! She got him started, and he just kept going. He even has an agent! When he was five, he was try- ing all kinds of things — baseball, soccer, swimming, flag football, and acting. Acting was the one he took really seriously even as a little kid.
I also asked when he wanted to become a producer. He told us this awesome story about how he loved watching Teen Titans, and Beast Boy was his favorite. He used to write about what his own version of Beast Boy would look like. When he was around 9 or 10, he told his mom he wanted to turn that into a movie. That’s how his love for producing started.
Michael even made his own short film about bul- lying. He said in fourth and fifth grade, he saw a lot
of bullying and wanted to do something about it. He made the film to show that bullying isn’t okay, and that bullies might need someone to talk to, too. That’s really powerful.
At the end, I told Michael thank you for talking to us. He said it was an honor and that we asked amazing questions. He even said he wants to help make a film again — and I hope I get to work with him someday! Michael Myles Hayes Jr. is not just talented — he’s thoughtful, brave, and inspiring. I think he’s a real-life superhero.
