Help Me Howard Visits HKI 10 pm Tonight on Channel 11

Now in trouble and under threat by the landlord to be shut down, Howard Thompson of Help Me Howard visited the Harlem Karate Institute, which has been a community safe haven for thousands of children and youth for the past 27 years.

Howard Thompson of Help Me Howard recently visited Dr. Ernest Hyman at the Harlem Karate Institute to investigate the matter involving the school’s being threatened to be shut down.  The coverage will be shown on Channel 11 News at 10:00 pm tonight, Monday, February 26, 2007.

On Saturday, February 17th, The Harlem Karate Institute celebrated Black History month by having a family day Open House.  People throughout New York City were invited to come out and meet the kids of the Harlem Karate Institute Youth Development center who put on an amazing exhibition for their guests.  Entrepreneurs were welcomed to set up tables and sell their goods and products, meet their neighbors and the Harlem Karate kids and Dr. Hyman, Founder of the Institute.  Guests were taken on a tour of the sprawling facilities that include the famous Dojo where the McDonald’s Mighty Kids’ commercials were filmed and scenes from the classic movie, The Last Dragon starring Taimak, were filmed.  Guests also got to see the fully functional fitness center, and the famous “Platinum Hall’ ballroom where the event took place.  Platinum Hall is well known as the starting point for break dancing and one of the original rap venues and urban culture.  Kids used to come to Platinum Hall after school to get into break dancing battles as an alternative to gangbanging.  Platinum Hall was the main meeting place where such legends as Afrika Bambaataa, Doug E. Fresh, and many other legends from the birth of Hip Hop gathered.
 

Dr. Hyman called on the community to come out and see the amazing achievements some of the children and youth who participate at the Institute.  Dr. Hyman and the children amazed the guests with some extraordinary demonstrations of martial science including board breaking, katas and self-defense techniques that will stop a mugger or other attacker.  Now in trouble and under threat by the landlord to be shut down, Dr. Hyman called on the community to help him come up with ideas to save the Institute that has been a home away from home and a safe haven for thousands of children and youth for 27 years.

Tonya E, aka Miss Right Now on her Stop Cussing tour, brought beaming sunshine to the party with two amazing young artists.  14-year-old rap sensation, Nicolette, reigning from Harlem, came in and gave an explosive performance.  Nicolette had everyone bouncing in and out of their seats while shouting, “Go Nicolette, Go Nicolette.”  This magnificent young artist is a natural and knows her craft and proved it when she came down off the stage and into the audience to engage the front row in a little Chicken Noodle Soup! That young lady is really something else and I expect to see a lot more of Nicolette all through the television and media. Next, the adorable and precocious 10-year-old Aryjai Sims performed a beautiful reading, explaining why kids should “Stay In School”. People really enjoyed her, as well. Tonya E a/k/a Miss Right discovered young Aryjai at Teen Awareness Day when she endeared everyone during a presentation by PR Guru, Terrie Williams.  Tonya E., aka Miss Right Now is an incredible MC and crowd motivator. Tonya E also brought her son, Treyvar, who is quite the gentleman and was a pleasure to have among us.  Ms. Dorothy Lamar of GoSmallBusiness.com shared her time and electrifying energy with us and stayed for the entire event, enlightening guests about GoSmallBusiness.  Another phenomenal sister, Ms. Georgia Woodbine, Author of “How To Make Big Bucks Without Selling Your Soul” came out to share some insight about how to be successful financially and in life.   Ms. Woodbine’s book is a very well-written must read for anyone who wants to be successful in life.  “How To Make Big Bucks Without Selling Your Soul” is high in the ranks of quality works and belongs among other greats including Robert Kiyosaki and Napoleon Hill.   Ms. Yolanda Morales from Boriken Neighborhood Health Center came to share health info with everyone, Mr. Daouda Ndlaye from the African Services Committee, Inc. came to share info about Africa and encouraged African travel and brought gifts.  Ms. Nettie Paisley of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture came through with her guest, Lenny, and they showed their support and enthusiasm, Taisha Dent with her radiant smile and other members of The Phenomenal Women came to show their support. 

Marvin Mitchell, the King of Meetup came in support.  Marvin is the organizer of the 1,307 Member-strong Black Professionals Meet up group.  http://blackbiz.meetup.com/2/ . Marvin was a great sport,  joining Dr. Hyman and the Harlem Karate Kids on stage to assist in a board breaking demonstration. Marvin  brought with him Allison Caviness of Diamond Films, LLC who is currently working on a film documentary about diamonds and Maurice of the Long Island Progressive Coalition http://www.lipc.org/.  Michelle Chapman of Primerica came in and did a financial presentation.   We all had fun eating Popeye’s chicken (not Dr. Hyman’s choice menu) and soft drinks while bouncing to throwback music and getting to know one another.  Everyone loved Dr. Hyman and the Harlem Karate kids!

The threat to shut down the The Harlem Karate Institute Youth Development Center is a deep concern.   That school means so much to those kids, to Dr. Hyman and to the community.  One teen told me it’s the only place she can go to feel happy in her life right now. 

If anyone would like to reach out and help the Harlem Karate Institute Youth Development Center, please contact Dr. Hyman at (212) 410-1658.   

The place could really use some love and care from the community a serious facelift.  This monument of history – the place where Hip Hop and break dancing cultivated, is  literally about to fall apart.  But those kids really have a passion for that place. I hope they get to stay there so they can stay together and Dr. Hyman can continue to be there for them.

This has everything to do with Black history.  Dr. Ernest Hyman is a living legend. If you would like to know more about Dr. Ernest Hyman and the Harlem Karate Insitute, please go to the link http://www.blackstarn… and www.harlemkarate.com . Yes, Brothers and Sisters, it does take a Village to raise a child and for 30 years, Dr. Hyman has been teaching our young ones life lessons and giving his all to the Village.

The event was sponsored by The Black Star News, Winning Strategies & Associates, The Phenomenal Women Group.


Brenda Jeanne Wyche, Advocate for Solutions and Results is Managing Editor for The Black Star News and Harlem Business News, CEO of Winning Strategies & Associates and Director of PR for The Phenomenal Women Group.  If you have a solution, contact
[email protected] .  Maybe we’ll talk.


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