TV producer, screenwriter, and media mogul Shonda Rhimes may have popularized the surname Grey because of her hit show Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present). But there is a real-life Grey family, who for three generations has continued to make a difference in real estate in Harlem, New York.

Maurice Russell Grey is the current Chief Executive Officer of Esra Realty. He is part of the third generation of real estate brokers. Maurice, a tall man with a cordial presence, welcomed me into the meeting room. It was warm. Rays of sun light beamed through the withdrawn shades, exuding an essence of regality. As I listened to Maurice’s story, I realized it was a remarkable recount of historical permanence, family legacy, and a Caribbean-American perspective on the makings of the American Dream.

Maurice is a Harlemite; he was born in Harlem Hospital and raised on its most notable streets. However, his background is Caribbean. His mother was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States for college. His father, Maurice Edward Grey was born in Harlem, and his maternal family originated from Guyana. We bonded on the fact that both our families are Guyanese.

Maurice could not converse about the family’s successes without first delving into its history. His grandmother, Sarah Edwards was one of the founders of Esra Realty, which is an acronym for Edwards Sisters Realty Associates. Sarah and her older sisters, Millicent and Lucille immigrated from what was then British Guiana in the 1920s. Millicent embarked on the journey first and sent for her sisters. They opened the real estate business in 1925 to help Caribbeans find housing. “Three ladies who had a vision that Harlem was about to change,” Maurice says. They also had an employment business called Edwards-Bowen Employment Agency to help Caribbeans find jobs.

The company name was changed from Edwards Sisters Realty Associates to Esra by Maurice and his cousin Aden Seraile—co-owner whose grandmother is also Sarah Edwards—because during public gatherings people expected to see three sisters. Two grown men did not fit the image. However, they kept the legacy of these accomplished Guyanese women. Sarah’s sister Lucille became the fourth Black woman to graduate from NYU law and the first Black woman barred in New York State. Until their sister Millicent’s untimely death, Lucille was the real estate attorney and Sarah was the real estate manager. Together they bought and sold several homes in Harlem in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.

In awe of Esra Realty’s legacy, I asked Maurice what it was about this firm that drew him in. “I backed my way back in. I had these grand dreams of my own,” he said, to my surprise. “Wall Street was big, and everyone was going to Wall Street making all of this money.” At that time, in the late 90s, Maurice mentioned the recession and how difficult it was to find jobs unless you had a finance degree or IVY league background. “If you were Black and you were coming out without one of those things, it was very tough to crack that circle,” he said. The circle is a reference to a predominately white Wall Street environment. It was a rude awakening for Maurice who graduated from Rutgers University in 1996, majoring in political science and African-American Studies; he values his undergrad experience because of how much it helped him “build his character and self-worth,” but he wondered what he wanted to do.

Even growing up in a real estate family, Maurice remarks how he “didn’t fully understand the power of real estate.” He likens this notion to human nature, saying “When you grow up with something, you don’t appreciate it.” Especially, in the 70s and 80s, Maurice let me know that Harlem was not “booming” like it is now. There were “a lot of abandoned buildings, degradation, no one was eager to move to Harlem at those times.” He recalls his father struggling to “keep the business afloat for many years because the perception of Harlem is not what it is now. More people were moving out than moving in.” I continue to listen to Maurice as he shares: “I remember going to sitings with him as he showed Brownstones in the 80s; he was pretty much begging people to buy $200,000 and sometimes less than that.”

Maurice not only understood the challenges his father faced but also the struggles of those aiming for homeownership. There were a lot of obstacles: the down payment, high-interest rates, redlining, and discriminatory lending practices. Maurice adds, “specifically in Harlem.” Harlem didn’t grow the way it should have. With redlining, Maurice gives a fictional example that sheds light on the reality of marketing homes in certain communities. He says “Suppose Harlem starts on 110 street. A brownstone on 105 Street or 98 Street with the same dimensions as something in Harlem, you’re able to finance that. However, once you cross over, your financing criteria change. They are asking for a higher down payment or saying you have a higher likelihood of foreclosure.” With this example, Maurice makes the case that perception has always mattered. It is what creates generational wealth.

According to Maurice, the practices of red-lining and predatory lending weren’t confined to Harlem but occurred in most Black neighborhoods, and when talking about the wealth gap in real estate, he says it isn’t “accidental.” He admits part of the wealth gap is because of a lack of financial education, but a lot has to do with discriminatory practices and even deed restrictions. 

Maurice says, there are some places in New York State where if you were “Black or Latina you were not legally allowed to buy the property.” He cites the Ridgway vs. Cockburn case (1937) that occurred in Edgemont Hills, New York. A light-skinned Caribbean woman, Pauline T. Cockburn, was sued by her white neighbor Mrs. Marion R. Ridgway because of a racial deed covenant attached to neighborhood properties. The racial deed covenant stated, “No parcels shall ever be leased, sold, rented, conveyed or given to Negroes or any persons of the Negro race or blood, except that colored servants may be maintained on the premises.” In short, if you were a person of color, you were only welcomed into the neighborhood as domestic servants. Unaware of the deed a year prior, the Cockburns, Pauline and her husband Joshua, both of Caribbean descent, bought and built their home in Edgemont for $20,000. Although the Cockburns had an excellent defense team, Arthur Garfield Hays and Thurgood Marshall—who was destined to become a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court—they lost the case.

Racial deed restrictions were not the only barriers. Maurice recalls how his own Caribbean immigrant family also faced challenges in purchasing homes from homeowners who used de facto discriminatory practices. The first-generation family eventually achieved success, at one point owning a brownstone on Strivers Row, an enclave of brownstones famous for housing Harlem’s elite politicians and successful artists. They then looked to acquire property in Westchester. They “bought” a home in a town called Hasting-On Hudson. They had a cross burned on their front lawn. Maurice recalled how his family was able to buy properties by fronting white buyers “because if you showed up as Black buyer that was it.”

The powerful impact of his family buying in once exclusively white neighborhoods is that it allowed other Black families to be the first to move there. They influenced neighborhoods in Westchester and Southampton, and Maurice says “Some of these families are still there today.”

During our interview Maurice’s aunt, Ramona Grey-Harris, comes into the meeting room. He introduces me to this beautiful, medium-height woman with short-cropped hair and glasses. Maurice says she is part of the second-generation family and their historian. Ramona reminded Maurice of business, and it was great to witness two generations together. It felt like a historic moment in my eyes. She’d just retired in January 2023. The second-generation was Ramona, Juliette, Maurice Edward Grey, and his cousin Aden’s mother, Janette. Ramona is the lone survivor.

I finally asked Maurice what was the turning point that allowed him to accept his family business as his own. He recalls a time he interviewed with a bank. When asked where he saw himself in five years, he said branch manager. Maurice received feedback that stated, “he doesn’t want to start at the bottom; he may not be one to follow directions.” These statements made him realize that if being ambitious was perceived as bad, then he didn’t need to be in that room. He noted the interviewer was Black, which I interpreted that experience as internalized racial gatekeeping– this belief that there can “only be one of us.” Maurice says, “Don’t let someone determine where you should be or that you shouldn’t ask for anything; you should rather strike out on your own.” This experience allowed him to see that his family’s business is a vehicle through which he can flex his entrepreneurial skills. This was the opportunity.

Interestingly, his father did not openly encourage him to follow in his footsteps. His father did not see huge profits in the ’70s and ’80s but was grateful he had enough to keep afloat. “The focus went away from growing to just sustaining to survive,” Maurice said. Yet his father and family always preached about Harlem’s potential and the wisdom of buying there. Maurice noted that the location is perfect – right by Jersey, Queens, Westchester, and Downtown Manhattan. But, socially—the drug crisis, the violence characteristic of impoverished communities with limited opportunities, buildings falling due to lack of maintenance—made it incredibly difficult to market Harlem as a place for a family to live. “Mentioning Harlem during those times was not met with positivity,” he said. However, the firm’s potential to not just survive, but also grow and sustain itself, came during the beginnings of a Harlem turnaround.

Bill Clinton moving into an office space in Harlem was a “big deal,” from a marketing perspective Maurice says. 

It helped transform the negative perception of Harlem. Maurice recalls showing homes and everyone wanting to know where Clinton’s office was located. The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, New York’s version of programs to spur urban growth in depressed communities around the country, was also helpful. For Maurice, it took taking seminar classes, joining The Greater Harlem Estate Real Estate Board, and seeing people look like him buying and selling property, to get him excited about a Harlem turnaround.

In 2023 this Harlem turnaround made someone like me, a true Brooklynite, venture to Harlem for The Apollo’s annual Festival of Arts & Ideas. The event, “[at] The Intersection” was curated by Ta-Nehesi Coates. It featured many speakers, authors, artists, and chefs talking about their experiences. Maurice told me that his wife, Tasha Lily Grey, was also in attendance. Perhaps we brushed shoulders without realizing it. 

Maurice tells me that Harlem has always attracted people from all walks of life. His buyer’s clientele leans more toward white, Asian, mixed-race couples, and nonheteronormative couples. He believes it shows a more diverse and accepting attitude of Harlem, a “Renaissance” that is happening, rather than “gentrification,” a word he is intentional about not using because, from his lens, it is very complicated. Ultimately, Maurice wants to see more Black home ownership and developing Black intergenerational wealth, two topics he is very passionate about. “I know how important they are,” he said. However, Maurice states that there is “diversity value, there is value not growing up in a bubble.”

Maurice’s vision for Esra Realty includes teaching people the value of owning—and one avenue is through real estate. “Ninety percent of millionaires are created through real estate,” he said, emphasizing the need to educate people about owning, building and developing. 

Maurice discusses the importance of networking and attending events because “you never know whom you might meet and what information you may get.” 

He notes that Black people were “conditioned to rent,” and there is a reason for these setbacks. Historically, Black people in the United States were not allowed to own or be educated.

When Black homeowners want to sell their homes race plays a role. Maurice offers a stark example–when a Black homeowner removed all signs of Black art or photography, the appraisal of the property went up by $400,000. Another person in Brooklyn did the same thing to his brownstone and his appraisal went up $1 million. These are “game-changing numbers.” This perception speaks to the society we live in; that a Black person has less value than a white person. “A Black person makes 80 percent less than a white person with the same credentials,” Maurice says, and adds that women face the same discrimination. “So what does that mean? They are saying that women and Black people are worth less than a white man.”

Maurice believes the recipe for change goes beyond hard work alone. Successful people rely on someone to help them get through barriers. Maurice wants to make sure that Esra Realty is there, breaking barriers and “holding the door for as many people as possible.” Currently, the company’s business includes property management, development, and private lending. He says real estate is a viable option for achieving the American Dream.

Maurice is a brilliant, well-resourced, and ambitious man who knows his African-American and his family’s Caribbean history. They inform his leadership, which began three generations ago from Guyanese sisters Millicent, Lucille, and Sarah who had a vision.

The post Maurice Russell Grey: Esra Realty Firm’s Third-generation leader  appeared first on Sunday Best Magazine.

How we dress correlates to how we relate to the world.

I learned this lesson first-hand from my mother Gwen Glasco. She took pride in her appearance for all occasions.

She always found the most glamorous pieces on a budget or could jump behind a sewing machine and bang out her own creation, as she did as a teen. When I was growing up my mother would say, “Why would you want to look like everybody else? I had a different outfit almost every day because I was sewing my own clothes.”

My mother’s knack for sporting a stylish ensemble is her trademark. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 47 years, you will often find her sporting crimson and cream. Her devotion to her sisterhood has always been a priority and she was awarded “Delta of The Year” for exceptional service by The Little Rock Alumnae Chapter in 2014. She radiates confidence and grace everywhere she goes. This is most evident when she wears her Sunday Best.

The regalia of Sunday Best isn’t just about bright colors, ribbons, and rhinestones; it’s about tradition. Coming into the Sanctuary is a sacred experience. Giving honor to God in service and in fellowship is the fundamental practice of worship, and for many, dressing in your Sunday Best is the reflection of your divine spirit and purpose. As my mother describes, “Church has been a beacon of light in the community.” It was a place Black people could lay their burdens down, be expressive, and beautiful. Witnessing her mother, Melva Moore, adorned in her Sunday Best—always donning a hat—not only guided her spiritually but professionally.

My mother often quotes Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go…” This became her life’s mission; she taught kindergarten for almost 40 years and was awarded “Teacher of the Year” in the Little Rock, Arkansas School District for her service at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary school in 2016.

My Mother says, “School is supposed to be a connection to home and the community.” She was firm, effective, and always dressed with dignity. My Grandmother told her, “Your first impression is your lasting impression.” She took that to heart saying, “I wore a suit everyday I taught school. I wanted to set a good example for the children.” There was Sunday Best and there was School Best.

My mother didn’t take the opportunity to be an educator lightly. She wanted to be sharp and inspiring in all ways. She reminded me that my grandmother worked at a plant called General Dynamics and then later a Piggly Wiggly. She didn’t have the luxury to wear clothes outside of a uniform, but when it was time to go to church she could show up as her full self.

My mother has carried on the tradition of wearing her Sunday Best to stay connected to her mother who is no longer with us. “I don’t dress in my Sunday best to be different or set a trend, it was bred in me,” she says.

The elaborate clothes are not just for a perfect pew look, but to honor the women who came before her and share in this spiritual practice that has served her in many ways.

The pandemic hit in 2020 and required Churches to only offer livestream services. My mother still put on her Sunday Best and watched

online. She called it “Table-Side Baptist.” As time went on and the lock-down was showing no signs of stopping, she started taking photos of her Sunday Best outfits and texting them to my sister and I. This became part of her Sunday ritual, I thought she looked so fabulous I started posting them on Facebook. She was a hit. Countless people told me her photos lifted their spirits and made them smile. And rightly so. She has worn some of the most gorgeous and daring garments I have ever seen. I’ve been proud to show her off.

Oddly enough I never asked her why she kept dressing up for Sunday service when she couldn’t physically go to church. I was touched to find that she was taking the pictures to stay connected to my sister and I. It was her way to share her spiritual practice and spread joy in those difficult times and beyond. It certainly became a highlight of my week until this day.

Sunday Best is the physical representation of the love and jubilation we strive to have in our relationship with God and with each other. Presenting ourselves in our best light gives us an opportunity to shine from the inside out and share that warmth with others. I’m so fortunate that my mother has been a radiant example of that.

Note to readers: Send a picture of yourself or your mama, papa, grandmama or grandpapa dressed in their “Sunday Best” to [email protected] and we will pick a winning photo to be published in magazine and on the website.

The post Her “Sunday Best”: Meet Mama Gwen Glasco of Little Rock appeared first on Sunday Best Magazine.

Dr. Kimberly Souffront is Associate Director of the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation at the Mount  Sinai Health System and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Core Faculty at the Institute for Health Equity Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS).  She is pioneering research on asymptomatic hypertension. Her clinical experience has been as an emergency nurse practitioner for more than 20 years, focusing on health strategies to better manage patients with asymptomatic hypertension in the emergency department to achieve health equity. She joined ISMMS in 2014 after finishing her PhD and post-doctorate studies at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She recently had a conversation with Sunday Best Magazine’s Kemi Gbohunmi. The interview was slightly abbreviated for space considerations.

HER PATH TO NURSING

In my journey to nursing, the influence of my family’s legacy in healthcare—my mother, grandmother, and godmother, all nurses—instilled in me a deep understanding of the nuances of patient care. Despite having siblings and many cousins who are physicians, I made the deliberate choice to pursue nursing as my career path—and I’d say it’s probably one of the best decisions of my life, the other marrying my husband and having my four children of course.

During my undergraduate studies in a unique five-year program at Northeastern University in Boston, I had the privilege of gaining real-world clinical experience alongside my academic curriculum. Opting for the emergency department for these clinical experiences, where I had been working since the age of 17, allowed me to witness firsthand the disparities so apparent in health and healthcare.

After nursing school, I pursued a master’s in nursing science to become a family nurse practitioner, expanding my scope of practice and deepening my commitment to addressing healthcare disparities. My academic journey further led me to obtain a PhD and a postdoctoral degree, propelling me into a research career. Today, as I continue my practice in emergency care, my dedication extends beyond the clinical setting. Through ongoing research endeavors, I aim to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of healthcare disparities and work towards meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON THE DANGERS OF HYPERTENSION AND ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERTENSION

In addressing the dangers of hypertension and asymptomatic hypertension, my focus has been on demystifying common misconceptions, even among clinicians. In emergency departments, there’s often a belief that high blood pressure is related to pain, anxiety, or the chaotic environment of the visit. However, my recent study at Mount Sinai Hospital’s emergency department revealed a crucial finding: 100% of patients with asymptomatic hypertension had early signs of heart failure and did not know it.

Contrary to the misconception that high blood pressure in the emergency department is situational, my research emphasizes that it is a chronic issue. While the emergency department provides acute care, many patients seek care for non-urgent issues. This study allows us to consider the potential for brief targeted interventions to ensure our patients are connected to primary care. This is also something very important for minoritized patients, who may be frequent users of the emergency department, for a variety of reasons, and face the highest risks associated with hypertension, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

For patients seeking to understand their blood pressure readings, I often explain that the top number reflects the heart working, while the bottom number indicates the heart resting. If the top number is too high, it means that the heart is working too hard. So I tell my patients that blood pressure control can address this so that your heart is not working so hard—and its important to be connected to care after this emergency visit.

But there are so many layers that involve the patient and their blood pressure—it involves the clinician too, and all the structural factors embedded in our healthcare system. A patient I see in the emergency department may not have blood pressure control for many reasons. This could be access to healthcare resources, socioeconomic determinants, or even the systemic biases that can significantly impact the quality of care received and health outcomes. So it’s more than just telling a patient that it’s important to be connected to care. It’s about telling them about their risks for not being connected and addressing the structural factors that may be preventing them from being connected. Patients are at the core of this effort. We need to create a more inclusive healthcare environment where everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health, even if it’s at the emergency department.

THE DANGERS OF HYPERTENSION

High blood pressure isn’t just a numbers game—it comes with serious risks. Imagine your heart as a balloon. If you blow it up too much, too often, it stretches out, causing potential problems. This is similar to what happens with hypertension—your heart works too hard, and it can lead to issues like having more severe heart trouble. It can also lead to stroke, kidney problems, and eye complications. And this is all preventable with blood pressure control.

But it’s not just about the numbers on the blood pressure cuff; social determinants of health play a huge role. Where you live, your income, your support system, and a number of other life factors play a big role. We know that your zip code is more predictive of your health outcomes than your genetic code, which means there is a much larger picture to blood pressure control that needs attention.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON WHAT PEOPLE WHO LACK ACCESS TO EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE CAN DO

Advocate for yourself! Don’t be afraid to communicate openly with healthcare providers about your financial situation and seek their guidance on achieving blood pressure control. They may be able to suggest alternative treatments such as adding or changing your medicine, or suggesting generic medications or other resources to help manage costs such as prescription assistance programs. You could also explore community health resources and even telehealth options if you are not able to get to an appointment. At the institution that I work at, we have a great conditions-management program for patients with chronic high blood pressure to ensure that they have all the resources that they need, whether it’s a social worker or a nutritionist or help with their insurance to ensure they achieve blood pressure control. This program also uses remote monitoring, but in a way that you don’t even need Wi-Fi to be included in the program. There’s some really fascinating stuff going on here at Mount Sinai. I think if patients are seeking care at Mount Sinai, they’re fortunate.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON WHY MORE CLINICIANS AREN’T USING THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES

I think it’s translational research. There is a bench-to-bedside delay, which stems from a lack of efficient sharing and application of new findings. While brilliant scientists may learn what works best for how to care for patients, there’s a tendency for these insights to stay within their isolated areas of expertise or to not be translated into actual practice fast enough. By no fault of their own, many scientists also work in silos and do not collaborate enough with other disciplines to share ideas. So for example, a nurse can work with a pharmacist on designing a better way to care for patients together.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON BIOMARKERS AND TELEHEALTH IN DEALING WITH ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERTENSION

Since we know that a large majority of emergency patients with asymptomatic hypertension have signs of early heart failure, we are exploring the use of a point-of-care blood biomarker to detect this in the fast-paced environment of the emergency department. We are also investigating whether communicating this risk at the point of emergency care by a nurse would improve blood pressure control and primary care engagement after leaving the emergency department. [Editor’s note: Examples of biomarkers are blood pressure, body temperature, and body mass index]. I’ve also done some work around telehealth. I conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility of using telehealth for emergency department patients who had asymptomatic hypertension. Patients loved it. They were very accepting of it. They wanted to focus in the emergency department on the issue that brought them there, and address their hypertension in a less chaotic environment. So we were able to support their needs by getting them to their visit, providing whatever resources they needed, and coordinating their care. That small pilot study is really important for me because it really helps guide a future larger clinical trial that I’m designing.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON FOLLOWING UP WITH PATIENTS AFTER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS

Imagine leaving the emergency department after getting treated for an ankle injury. It turns out, during your visit, that we notice your blood pressure was higher than it should be. Even though you weren’t there for blood pressure concerns, my work aims to make sure that patients like you don’t slip through the cracks.

So we send you home with a blood pressure cuff and a few days later, you receive a text or a video call from a registered nurse. They want to check in on you, see how you’re doing after the emergency department visit. The nurse then connects you with your primary care provider, making sure you have ongoing support and care. It’s not just about fixing the immediate issue; it’s about keeping tabs on your overall health, making sure everything is in check even if it wasn’t the main reason for your trip to the emergency department. That’s the kind of care I want to deliver in the emergency department—but in a way that doesn’t compromise the workflow of quick emergency care delivered by the nurse or provider.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON PATIENTS BEING UNAWARE OF THEIR ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERTENSION IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

An emergency care visit may be the only place and time an individual interacts with a health system, so it can be a crucial moment, since many patients are unaware that they have hypertension. This critical time presents an opportunity to maximize the impact of healthcare interventions. The goal is for timely hypertension diagnosis and improved access to healthcare resources directly from the emergency department, regardless of the reason for the visit. Understanding the best way to do that, given the time constraints often experienced by clinicians, is what I am trying to figure out.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON THE DANGERS OF UNCONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

With high blood pressure, most people are not aware of its presence until symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath emerge or it is formally diagnosed. Because it is silent, it can go on for years if someone isn’t regularly seeing their primary care provider, so it can eventually affect your heart and kidneys or lead to other issues like stroke or heart failure, which is when your heart has trouble pumping effectively.

What I tell patients who I see in the emergency department is what their risk is now and what their risk over time is with blood pressure control. I tell them that connecting with your primary care provider after the emergency department visit is important—because their risks are essentially eliminated with blood pressure control. This may mean their medication needs titration or they may need confirmation of hypertension and treatment. This is sometimes hard because many patients are focused on the reason for their emergency department visit. However, I know that doing this at the point of emergency care heightens a patient’s perception of their risk and likelihood of follow up with a primary care provider, leading patients on the right trajectory to better health.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON WHY SHE CHOSE TO BE A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND SCIENTIST 

I think the approach for me was having diversity in my career, knowing that care delivery is patient-centered and holistic. That really just aligned well with a nursing career for me and I wouldn’t change anything. I don’t know one emergency nurse practitioner who’s doing research on asymptomatic hypertension at all. If you find that person send them my way because I would love to collaborate and work on a project! I don’t know anyone. That in itself is unique and I appreciate that. I can really just chart my own path and make an impact. Thankfully, I have had great mentors along the way. Some are nurses. Many are physicians. But they all encouraged me and have been instrumental in shaping my career and getting me to the place I am in now, and where I want to be in the future. I’m so grateful for the mentors I’ve had over my career, because without them I wouldn’t be here at all.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON HER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am also committed to building research capacity among nurses and workforce diversity. My colleague and I were recently awarded a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to do just this, which we are really excited about. This grant will help support underrepresented minority nurses who are pursuing a clinical doctorate in nursing, called a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Over 12 weeks, these students will learn the skills necessary to carry out translational research in their clinical practice, so that they are empowered to drive equity through practice improvement. My personal leadership and research vision is to achieve health and healthcare equity. For me, this is for patients who visit the emergency department who have uncontrolled hypertension—but my goal is to bring it all together, so that this work aligns with my efforts for building workforce diversity in the nursing community.

DR. SOUFFRONT ON HER FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY

I grew up Seventh Day Adventist. My faith taught me the value of holistic wellbeing; including the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of health. This perspective has influenced how I care for my patients, encouraging me to really consider the person. I recognize the complexity of every individual circumstance, and so my approach reflects this commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse elements that surround each person. In the context of my area of research, I wouldn’t only say to a patient “follow up with your primary provider” or “take your medicine as you were prescribed.” I may consider also asking “Do you have transportation to get your medication? Do you have money to pay for your medication?” Some of those beliefs emphasize empathy and how I care for others. There are many different circumstances that impact a person’s wellbeing aside from their immediate health concerns.

www.mountsinai.org

The post Q & A: Dr. Kimberly Souffront’s Frontline Battles With Hypertension appeared first on Sunday Best Magazine.

Music sustains us in many ways. It’s the melodic connection to spirit. It gives us a lift on low days, rhythm to activate our bodies, and harmonies to express our complexities when we don’t have the words. 

The enchanting jazz duo, Acute Inflections, provides an exquisite offering of music’s delicate yet complex storytelling. 

Acute Inflections is made up of vocalist Elasea Douglas and upright bassist Sadiki Pierre. Their name speaks to their instrumentation. They invite you to become curious about this new experience, blending styles that elevate 

the subtleties and intricate nature of their duality. They were initially discouraged about their musical approach. 

They were told “bass and voice are too opposite.” They’ve beautifully proved those critics wrong.

Many couples have said their “I Do’s” and raised a glass to Acute Inflections’ tunes at hundreds of weddings and private events across the country. 

They have shared the stage with Jennifer Hudson, Sting, and DJ Jazzy Jeff to name a few. Their 2017 debut EP, “Brave”, was in the Top-10 RMR Top 50 Jazz Chart for five weeks, with their cover of Prince’s “Kiss” at number one, for eight weeks. 

Their music is romantic, warm, and alluring. There is familiarity with layers of nuance. They give covers a new jolt and their original music is on a horizon all its own. As they celebrate a decade of collaboration it’s clear that their connection is kismet. Elasea is a first generation Jamaican-American New York City native. She started singing in church and continued to develop her talents throughout middle school, high school, and went on to study at Hunter College. She landed a role in Broadway’s 2009 phenomenal production of “Fela.” 

As a vocalist Elasea Douglas’ greatest influences are Whitney Houston for her storytelling; Sade for her subtlety; Nina Simone because she told it like it is and didn’t mind being un-pretty; and Billie Holiday because she was carefree. 

With all those powers combined Elasea gracefully bends every note with pizzazz and charm.

Sadiki Pierre’s family is from Dominica but he was born in Trinidad, and moved to the United States when he was eight. Everyone sang and played an instrument in his family. But he admits he actually got into music as a joke. Seizing the opportunity to leave his sixth grade class for an extracurricular activity. Following the music students he chose the upright bass because there was no competition for it. This haphazard decision would unlock a talent that would enrich his life for years to come. 

Sadiki was introduced to classical music and jazz, then got an infusion of hip hop after moving to the United States. For him music “is all about the groove.” His greatest influences are James Brown and Michael Jackson for how tightly they embody the groove, with every breath. Ron Carter, Marcus Miller, and Charles Mingus have also given him great inspiration.

Elasea and Sadiki are a musical duo and a romantic couple. It heightens their synergy as artists and it has become the grounding center of their lives. They covered “I Will Always Love You” on their 2019 album “Electric Psychology”. In the introduction Elasea says, “Whitney Houston was one of my idols. Her music made me feel powerful enough to achieve things that I could not have imagined. When she passed away on February 11th, 2012, I was heartbroken. But the very next day I met Sadiki and I believe the timing was not a coincidence.” 

Elasea was slated to perform at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on the night Whitney Houston passed away. She was devastated and was going to cancel. Ultimately she decided to honor Whitney’s legacy and go forward with the show. Sadiki was at that performance as a wing-man for a friend who was entertaining a potential date. They met after the show and the rest is history. 

At the time of their meeting Sadiki hadn’t played bass in 10 years. He calls the bass a “Cinderella instrument. It gets no love but is so necessary. It bridges rhythmic and melodic worlds. Bass is foundational, you have to know your role, and can be in a box. I didn’t want to just do that, I can express more fully in other ways.” 

Fortunately Elasea encouraged him to get back into it. Sadiki found a renewed inspiration and started filling in for bassists that flaked out on gigs. A year after their meeting they started working together. Blending your talents with the person you love is a blessing. 

“The best thing that has happened to me, us, it’s the most fulfilling, well-rounded experience, to grow as a whole person. It’s a lifestyle, a movement,” Elasea says. They believe they are a divine collaboration, put together for a purpose. They are in tune to what the spirit wants them to be doing by “staying open and risky. Intentionally being the universe’s playground.” 

Sadiki adds, referring to artificial intelligence, “Especially in the time of AI we recognize we are the bridge to humanity in a loving way.”

Elasea asserts that it’s important “staying in connection to spirit, thanking the ancestors that opened the doors and suffered the abuses just to give us the opportunity to walk through a front door of a theatre.” For Sadiki it’s an honor “returning to the craft and the discipline and being successful.”  

Being a collaborating couple can be challenging. You don’t get a break from each other. All the roles and responsibilities are fluid and happening at the same time; but that is a reflection of their music. Sadiki says they hope they are “inspiring people to love in spite of their differences. Stick together. And remember to be kind, gracious, and humble.” 

When I was listening to their 2022 album “Let Go” I was deeply moved by track seven “Only Together.” Elasea’s voice wafts through the air punctuated by Sadiki’s gentle tempo. “In times like these, we need each other, our love creates strength, but only together.” 

It is true tranquility and a necessary message. Their mission is to unify and inspire. When you attend an Acute Inflections performance you will get an organic show. They engage with the audience, improvise, give birthday shout-outs, and rib on each other with playful banter. Elasea believes, “We are co-creators with The Creator so let’s have fun. Nothing is impossible.”

Acute Inflections makes music that dares you to take a chance on love, take a chance on your expression, take a chance on how beautiful life can be. 

Sadiki says, “Say no to things that aren’t a good fit and don’t inspire you and your community. We have been hijacked. Our self-destruction has long been for profit. We need to start saying ‘no that’ and say ‘yes’ to our higher selves.” 

Find out more about Acute Inflections at www.acuteinflections.com for show information, mailing list, music, discounts and more. 

The post Acute Inflections: Musical Duo Says “Love Without Fear”  appeared first on Sunday Best Magazine.