Nuçi’s Space

Ellen Lee DeGeneres

Ellen Lee DeGeneres was born January 26, 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the daughter of  an insurance salesman and a working mother who were divorced when DeGeneres was a teenager. When she was growing up she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but she gave up the idea because she was "not book smart." Instead, she waited tables, sold vacuum cleaners, painted houses, worked as a legal secretary.

DeGeneres' older brother, Vance, was the creator of the Play-Doh character "Mr. Bill" on the long-running NBC comedy skit program “Saturday Night live” , and was long considered the humorous member of the family. Then once, during a public speaking event, DeGeneres found herself frightened by the crowd and used humor to get through the experience. She was a hit, and received offers to do stand-up comedy. She began performing in 1981, bolstered by her mother's moral and financial support.

At the age of 23, she began performing at a local coffeehouse. She got her big debut in 1986 when, acting on a tip from Jay Leno, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson sent a booking agent to catch her act at the Improv in Hollywood. As a result of that engagement, DeGeneres was invited onto The Tonight Show and earned the distinction of being the only female comic to be invited by Johnny Carson to sit on the famed "couch" during her first visit. She then began making regular appearances on the talk show circuit, including performances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Later with Greg Kinnear, Larry King Live, and Good Morning, America. She was also profiled in detail on ABC's PrimeTime Live.

Her wit won over audiences, and DeGeneres finally found success as an actress with her own prime-time sitcom—the self-titled television series, Ellen. The series was originally titled These Friends of Mine, but was renamed in 1994. From that point, she enjoyed a dizzying evolution from its beginnings as an ensemble show to its development into a showcase for DeGeneres.

The show faced strong criticism when, in April 1997, DeGeneres' character became the first lead in sitcom history to openly acknowledge her homosexuality on air. An ABC affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, refused to air the landmark episode. Fearing controversy, some of the show's sponsors, Daimler Chrysler among them, withdrew advertisements.

While growing up, Ellen battled internally with issues involving her sexual preference. As an adult she actively participates in organizations that benefit the people who are victims of hate crimes and discrimination. Recently Ellen posted an emotional video about teenage bullying that has resulted in suicide. The talk show host promotes many resources that support the anti- bullying problem which is a major issue in today’s society.  Ellen is very passionate about the subject and encourages the public to donate to organizations that are working to prevent the problem.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Ellen is not only into community service she also has a background in stand-up comedy. Years ago, after struggling to cope with the death of her girlfriend, who died in a tragic accident, she began her career as a comedian.

 Ellen has the excellent ability to light up any stage and make millions of people laugh. Laughter is good for the soul, and Ellen is quite the comedian. Despite discovering her new talent she still wasn’t happy with herself.  The thought always haunted her that if everyone found out that she was gay, they wouldn’t like her, laugh at her or support her career. Eventually she decided that her dignity was far more important and she did not want to live in shame anymore so she ousted her sexual preference.

As a result, her career took a turn for the worse. According to a commencement speech given by the celebrity in 2009 at Tulane University, her sitcom was canceled after six years and no one wanted to work with her. But on a positive note, she received letters from people who were contemplating suicide but chose not to end their lives because Ellen paved the way and set an example for the public eye. After that experience Ellen realized that she had a purpose in life. She was later offered a TV show that initially no one wanted to buy in to because they didn’t think that it would be successful.

During the speech, Ellen said after losing everything, she found out that the most important thing is to be true to yourself.

Cornel West

C

ornel West was born on June 2, 1953 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a renowned author, philosopher, civil rights activist and critic. Dr. West is an advocate for education, civil rights, and social equality, and has fought for the rights of those who are afraid to fight for themselves. He was in involved in several civil rights demonstrations in the late 60’s and 70’s. The bulk of his work focuses on race, gender, and class in American society. West graduated from Harvard with a BA (magna cum laude) and Princeton with an MA and PhD. West drew his inspiration from several sources, including, his mother, who was a teacher and principal at Irene B West Elementary School(named in her honor). The importance of education was instilled in him at a young age. As a kid, West was also deeply touched by the stories of fellow parishioners who, only two generations from slavery, told stories of Blacks maintaining their religious faith during the most trying of times. Dr. West was equally attracted to the commitment of the Black Panthers. From them he learned the importance of community-based political leadership. West is a professor of African American studies at Princeton University, but spends most of his time traveling the country speaking to a diverse audience, which includes, academic, political, and religious lectures. From schools, community centers, prisons churches, mosques, universities, and trade unions. Dr. West has been called “one of the world’s most influential intellectuals”. Race Matters, one of west’s many books, changed the course of America’s dialogue on race, justice, and democracy. Other note worthy works include; “Democracy Matters”, “Hope on A Tightrope”, and “Living and Loving Out loud” to name a few. Although he makes good money West says that his aim is to touch minds and settle souls and that he will continue to do so until the day he dies.          

Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash was a woman with a dream.  She worked for direct sales most of her career. She loved what she did, but was tired of not getting recognized for her work because she was a women. At that time men were superior and women could not make more income than a man. So in 1963 Mary Kay started a cosmetic company with her life savings of $5,000. She designed it as a company dedicated to making life more beautiful for women. It was founded not on the competitive rule, but on the Golden Rule and on praising people to success. She also base the company on the principle of placing faith first, family second and career third. It was a company, as Mary Kay often said, “with heart.”

Her ultimate goal to create a company that would provide women with the resources to create a executive income while being able to take care of their families and home.  She also wanted women to know how important they are, especially since she never got the recognition that she thought she deserved. When she started this company she promised that all of her employees would receive the highest quality gifts. By 1994 she had given away 7 thousand cars, valued at 1 million dollars. Today there are more than 2 millions consultants with the Mary Kay Company!  Mary Kay’s goal has defiantly come to life and continues to grow everyday.

Many women’s lives have been changed due to this company. Not only are women becoming financially independent, but also they are increasing their self-esteem and personal growth.  Mary Kay truly created a company that would impact the lives of millions of women and she would be proud of where it is today.

Brittney Moore-Community Leaders

President Barack Hussein Obama by Keinon Hampton

Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, HI on August 04 , 1961. He is the 44th president of the United States of America and the first African-American to hold office. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He also was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree as well as practicing civil law, and from 1992 to 2004 taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Obama previously served three terms as a United States Senator of Illinois from January 1997 until November 2008 when he was elected to the Presidency. His presidential campaign began in 2007 after defeating Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Primaries. He then went on to win the 2008 Presidential Election against Republican nominee John McCain and inaugurated on January 20, 2009. In October 2009 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and as President, Obama signed various important legislations such as the American Recovery and Reinstatement Act of 2009, the Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2010, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. As for foreign policy President Obama has gradually withdrew troops from Iraq and increased them in Afghanistan. He ordered the enforcement of a No Fly Zone over Libya that was sanctioned by the United Nations earlier this year, and on May 1st 2011 President Obama announced that he had authorized Navy Seal Team 6 to kill the leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan.

Paul Newman

Paul Newman was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, January 26, 1925. He showed an early interest in theater and made his debut in a school play of Robin Hood at age seven. After graduating high school, he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. After the war, Newman got his degree in English from Kenyon College in 1949. He later went on to study Drama at Yale University and graduated in 1954. Newman starred in his first box office smash in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1958, then became one of the hottest stars in Hollywood. His popularity continued throughout the 60’s and 70’s with ten more hit movies. Over the years, he won several Academy Awards for his on screen roles. Newman is recognized as a gifted, American actor, but he should be recognized for his generocity also. In 1982, Newman founded a line of food products called Newman’s Own. The brand started with salad dressing and has expanded to many other products. Newman established a policy that all profit would be donated to charity. By 2006 the franchise had donated in excess of 250 million dollars to charity. One big beneficiary of this is the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Newman founded this camp in 1988. It is a residential summer camp for children that are seriously ill, or have life-threatening diseases. There are several Hole in the Wall Camps in the U.S., Ireland, France, and Isreal. The camps serve thousands of children each year, free of charge. Newman was named Most Generous Celebrity of 2008 by Givingback.org when he contributed over $20,000,000 to the Newman’s Own Foundation that year. It was reported in June 2008 that Newman had lung cancer. He died on September 26, 2008, surrounded by family and friends, at age 83. The Newman’s Own Foundation continues it’s charitable donations to this day.

Krissie Newman

Krissie Newman was born in Trenton, New Jersey. She received a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University. Krissie was preparing for a law degree when she met Ryan Newman, who is now her husband. Since Ryan races NASCAR she decided to step away from her job as a clerk, so she could be at the track.
In 2005, Krissie and Ryan founded the Ryan Newman Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters. But also to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship to students interested in auto racing careers.
Krissie also serves on the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Catawba County in Hickory, North Carolina. She is also very active in shelter activities including volunteering and fundraising events. Krissie and Ryan are also Co-Chairmen of the Humane Society’s capital campaign to raise money for a new no-kill shelter that will serve eight counties in North Carolina.
After Hurricane Katrina, Krissie started a rescue effort in Gulfport, Mississippi. She and three other people traveled the area and delivered truckloads of Purina pet food, water, animal supplies and veterinary supplies to Southern Mississippi’s Humane Society. Over the next few days they hand delivered food and supplies throughout the area. Then, they returned home with 30 rescued pets who had been abandoned and have since then been adopted.
The Ryan Newman Foundation published Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets. This is a book that features different first-person stories and photographs from over 50 NASCAR celebrities and their pets. The proceeds from the book will be donated towards Humane Causes.

Allyson Hester/Athenspets.net

Allyson Hester is the primary founder of
Athenspets.net, a voluntarily run website
to help bring awareness of the unfortunate
animals that are without a home at the county’s
dog pound. She gets no compensation, just the
satisfaction of knowing that she’s helping
save canine lives.

Q: Why and when did you start the website?
A: “I started volunteering at Animal Control back in 2000 when I was in college at UGA. I went by weekly for walks, baths, and snuggle time with the dogs there. We still love volunteers to come in and do that! At that time, the dogs weren't published online and there was no way people could see what dogs were available other than a visit to Animal Control. After proving myself as a dedicated, consistent volunteer for over 8 months and going through lots of red tape (a citizen trying to do the work of a gov't beaureaucracy), I was finally granted permission to start a website the summer of 2001. It was a free yahoo website (geocities) and started very small.”
Q: What do you find most fulfilling about what you do?
A: “The euthanasia rates used to be very high at ACCAC. The most rewarding part of my volunteer work and the website is knowing that the adoption/rescue rates consistently top the euthanasia rates. It's great not only saving so many dogs' lives, but affecting so many people who find their beloved companions on athenspets.net.”
Q: How do you feel that your website benefits the animals the most?
A: “People all over the country view athenspets.net and coordinate cross-state rescue efforts. People are able to watch for particular dogs for others whom they know may be looking for a canine friend. Not to mention the quality of the photos and stories. The volunteers spend at least 5-10 minutes interacting with each dog so as to have enough information for a thorough, quality write-up of the dog.”
Q: Have you always been an animal lover?
A: “I've always been an animal lover. As a little girl, I preferred stuffed animals to dolls from the youngest age. :) I've always loved all kinds of animals, but I've always felt connected most to dogs.”
Q: What do you suggest people can do help with the over-population of dogs?
A: “Spay and neuter your pet! Spread the word about the benefits of spaying and neutering. Also, don't buy your pets from pet-stores. Many, regardless of their claims, get their dogs from puppy mills, or places that are at least pretty close caliber with a puppy mill. The dogs there live in horrid condition and pump out one litter after another. All the while, our dogs at Animal Control sit with their lives at stake, waiting for someone to adopt them. As long as people choose to spend hundreds of dollars to purchase a dog, puppy mills will stay in business, and animal shelter dogs will continue to be euthanized.”
Q: How can people help with homeless animals if they are unable to own one themselves, but want to contribute?
A: “Donate supplies to Animal Control! See www.athenspets.net and click on "wishlist". Or to make a monetary donation, go to www.athenspets.net and click the link, "make a donation". Or donate your time by going to Animal Control to walk, bathe, or just love on the pups. Visit www.athenspets.net and click the link, "Volunteer opportunities"”

Lewis Grizzard

 

Lewis McDonald Grizzard Jr. was born to Lewis Sr. and Christine Word  Grizzard on October 20, 1946, at Fort Benning Military Hospital, where his father was stationed as a soldier in the army. They lived here until his parents separated a few years later and his mother and him moved them to her parent’s small house in Morland, GA. He spent his childhood. living with his papa Bun and Mama Willie.

  Lewis played little league baseball and put a lot of effort in becoming a good basketball player.  Because, his father had played basketball and had coached several teams when Lewis was a baby. He was very proud to have scored the winning point’s, in overtime, in a high school game when his daddy had came to watch him play.

  After he finished high school he enrolled in the University of Georgia to study journalism. He worked part time for the Athens Daily News, while he went to school and took a job as executive sports editor for the Atlanta Journal after he finished school in 1968. He left there to become executive sports editor for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1975, which he describes in his book “If I Ever Get Back to Georgia I’m Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground” as the most miserable time of his life.

  In 1977 he returned to Atlanta as a sports columnist for the Atlanta Constitution. After a short while he switched to writing a humor/life column, which was mostly about the south, his mama, his daddy, his friends, his ex-wives, food, University of Georgia football, and his dog “Catfish” which was a gift from Vince and Barbara Dooley.  He published 25 books and at his peek his articles were syndicated in 450 newspapers across the country.

  He found out about a heart condition that he had when he had an exam to play ball when he was 13, and the doctor told him he could play but he would have problems later in life. He had his first heart operation on March 22, 1982 at 35, and in March of 1993 he survived his third major heart surgery by what his doctors called a miracle. By March 1994 he needed, yet another heart surgery, which he was not expected to live through, so 4 days before his operation he married Dedra Kyle, because he wanted her five and a half year old daughter, Jordan, to inherit his estate. Today there is a museum in Moreland, GA., in his memory.

Christopher Walken

On March 31^st, 1943, Ronald (Christopher) Walken was born in Queens, New York. Best known for his distinctive delivery and his tendency to play somewhat “unstable” characters, Walken has developed into somewhat of a cultural icon in his later years. Having earned recognition in decades past as best supporting actor at the Oscar’s for his role in The Deer Hunter, he felt free to play any role he was given; as if undaunted by any fear of failure. Evidence of this can even be seen recently in Fatboy Slim’s music video Weapon of Choice (2001), where Walken choreographed and performed his own dance routine for the entire duration of the video. That’s not surprising given that he originally was studying stage craft and dance at Hofstra University before dropping out a year in to go to Broadway.

Random Walken Facts:

·         Doesn’t use a computer, or own a cell phone.

·         Was the 2^nd choice for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV.

·         His father, Paul, was a German born baker.

·         Always tries to work a dance into his movies.

·         Has acted in well over 90 movies, and hasn’t ruled out 200 by the time he’s done.

·         Worked briefly as a lion tamer at the age of 15.

·         Has a condition known as heterochromia. One of his eyes is blue and the other hazel.

Community Leader James Loyless

Q: What do you like most about what you do?

A: What I love most is building leaders. I train them for their positions. I really like serving Gods’ people and building the kingdom of God.

Q: What does an Apostle do?

A: Their main focus is to plant and build churches, establish them within a region, community, or country. They build leaders for the community in serving and building Gods’ kingdom.

Q: How long has it been since you have been helping the community?

A: I have been in the role as an Apostle since 2009, but I knew my calling since I was eight years old.

Q: How were you serving the community before 2009?

A: Helping those who were in need by serving as an environmental specialist. I would clean the environment by removing toxins and help people through natural disasters by counseling and praying for them.

Q: How do you feel when you help others?

A: I feel great! There is no better feeling than helping someone else accomplish his or her goals.

Q: Is there anything that you least like about what you do?

A: The thing I really dislike is moving out of hotels and being away from my family both as an Apostle and an Environmental Specialist.

Q: Do you have a hobby?

A: The only hobby I have now is preaching. Well…I have not done it in a long time, but Artifact Hunting.

Q: What is Artifact Hunting?

A: Looking for things that are old, historic, civil war treasure or collections.