The Victor Brooks Show Episode 36 (Quarantine Series) Dr. H. Jean Wright ll

Explicit content warning

10/04/20 • 76 min

Dr H. Jean Wright ll is a highly experienced, professionally trained Clinical and Forensic Psychologist in the city of Philadelphia, PA. The seasoned psychologist of more than seventeen years currently serves as an administrator for the city and Adjunct Professor, Temple University Department of Psychology. Dr. Wright leads the city’s cross-system collaboration initiative, working with criminal justice stakeholders within the adult criminal justice system to enhance the delivery of behavioral health services for people in recovery involved in the justice system. With the assistance of a dynamic team, Dr. Wright was able to usher in a more cohesive relationship between the Department of Behavioral Health and Justice Partners. As a result, the lines of communication improved, as well as the efficiency, and provided a wide range of opportunities for citizens returning from incarceration. Prior to his current responsibilities; Dr. Wright served as Associate Director of Clinical Management for the city’s non-profit managed care organization, where he had the awesome responsibility of overseeing clinical care managers and staff stationed at Family Court. Dr. Wright also served as Clinical Director of the Juvenile Justice initiative, within the Philadelphia Behavioral Health System and Program Director for city’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) initiative, which is one of Philadelphia’s signature public health education initiatives. Before coming to Philadelphia; Dr. Wright served as a clinical and forensic psychologist in the State of Ohio’s Rehabilitation and Correction System, maintained a caseload in private practice, and adjunct professor at Wilberforce University, the oldest historically black college in the United States. Dr. Wright has actively participated on several boards including The Mayor’s Task Force on Reintegration, The Mayor’s Advisory Task Force on Gaming, The Philadelphia Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, The American Bar Association Barriers Project, and Youthville USA, Inc. Board of Directors, where he was Clinical Director of Therapeutic Foster Care Group Homes, in Raleigh, NC. Currently, he is a member of the American Psychological Association serving on Division 41, American Psychology-Law and Society Continuing Education committee, as well as a member of Division 36, Society for Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Using his extensive knowledge from years of experience, Dr. Wright has contributed to psychological research and literature with several papers and articles focusing on people of color and the effects of depression and anxiety. He has written several articles published in journals, educational newsletters, and faith-based magazines, including The Education Highway, Healthy Horizons, The Pacific Press, and The Lake Union Herald, where his contribution focused on the connection between psychology, faith, and spirituality. Dr. Wright recently completed a book: Find Strength In Your Struggle: Discover The Miracle In You, which highlights his concept of “spiritual depression” and how it impacts the spiritual core of people from all walks of life. He also spends considerable time conducting seminars, workshops, and trainings on a variety of topics related to behavioral health and wellness, public health education, and trauma-informed care, for a diverse group of clientele, including law enforcement, rehabilitation and correction, academic institutions, Judicial Appointees, faith-based organizations, and community service agencies providing behavioral health resources and support to people in recovery in the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.

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The Victor Brooks Show Episode 35 (Quarantine Series) Marla Gibbs

It is truly and honor to welcome a television and entertainment Icon, the legendary Marla Gibbs. Star of the Jeffersons and 227, Marla Gibbs also talks about her upbringing in Chicago and her move to Los Angeles. Marla gives us an insight into her passion to give back to her community and opening her music dinner club, Marla's Memory Lane. Ms., Gibbs reminds us all that "It's never to late to live your dreams.

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The Victor Brooks Show Episode 37 (Quarantine Series) Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste Of Honey

Singer/bassist/guitarist/songwriter Janice Marie Johnson, as a founding member of A Taste of Honey, sang lead on the million-selling hits "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and a cover of Kyu Sakamoto's 1963 gold hit "Sukiyaki." The group won the 1978 Grammy for Best New Artist. The number one R&B/pop "Boogie Oogie Oogie" was used in a national TV ad campaign by fast food chain Burger King during summer 1999. The track has also been sampled by hip-hop and rap groups MC Lyte, Mac 10, and others. Johnson also sang background vocals on Lionel Richie's ten-million-selling LP Can't Slow Down. Capitol Records released as a part of their Double Shot series a two-album single CD that included the group's debut album, A Taste of Honey (includes a 12" remix of "Boogie Oogie Oogie") and Twice As Sweet (includes "Sukiyaki") in January 2000. The Los Angeles native, whose father was a musician, started playing music as a small child. Growing up, Johnson sang in L.A.-area jazz clubs, opening for Miles Davis, among others. While attending college she began playing bass. About 1971, Johnson met keyboardist Percy Kibble while auditioning for a vacation cruise gig with Princess Cruises lines, and the two started a band using the title of one of their favorite songs, "A Taste of Honey," as the band's moniker. Adding guitarist Hazel Payne and drummer Donald Johnson, they began playing Southern California bars and military bases in the U.S. and abroad. After meeting with producers Fonce Mizell (formerly of the Motown songwriting/arranging/producing collective The Corporation that had hits with the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "The Love You Save") and his brother Larry Mizell who had success with LTD ("Love Ballad"), the group was signed to Capitol Records by Larkin Arnold after meeting him after a performance at the wedding of Smokey Robinson's bass player. While playing before a staring, apathetic audience during a gig at an airbase in San Bernardino, CA, Johnson improvised these lyrics: "If you're thinking that you're too cool to boogie/we've got news for you/everyone here tonight must boogie/and you are no exception to the rule." The infamous bass solo intro on "Boogie Oogie Oogie" came about when Johnson was warming up before the recording session unaware that she was being recorded. The single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" b/w "World Spin" sold more than two million copies, and topped Billboard's charts at number one R&B/pop for three weeks in fall 1978. After the huge success of "Boogie Oogie Oogie," Johnson detested the group being labeled as a "disco group," but that would change later in a big way. The follow-up single, the slinky funky "Do It Good" b/w "I Love You" went to number 13 R&B in summer 1979. The A Taste of Honey album went platinum, going to number six pop in summer 1978. A Taste of Honey was a favorite in Japan long before signing with Capitol, having traveled there to play military bases and entering the Yamaha Song Festival. One of Johnson's favorite records was Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki." After hearing Linda Ronstadt's version of Smokey's "Oo Baby Baby," Johnson decided that the group (now Johnson and Payne) should do a remake of a classic song. Contacting her Japanese subpublisher who in turn contacted the original writers, Rokusuke EI and Hachidai Nakamura, to get permission to redo the song with English lyrics. After employing two translators, one of which came up with lyrics that were close to the bittersweet theme of the original song title, which translated into English as "I Look Up When I Walk (To Keep the Tears From Falling)," Johnson decided to add her own original lyrics to the song.