In August, two young men from Asbury Park had a dream to create a talent show based on the popular ‘America’s Got Talent’ television show. With the guidance of Diane Shelton, community outreach specialist for Interfaith Neighbors, and Monmouth University intern Leila Ali, Kevin Oakley and Kerry Simmons’ vision became a reality. Throughout the fall […]

Konscious Youth Development and Service [KYDS], a local nonprofit that primarily works to help the area’s youth travel the terrain of living in an urban neighborhood, is the brainchild of Monmouth University graduates Mychal Mills and Rodney Salomon. Be it poverty, crime, gangs, drug abuse or alcoholism, the pair quietly took a holistic approach by […]

The Danny Clinch Transparent is once again partnering with Konscious Youth Development & Service [KYDS] for a fundraising night of music and spoken word. This time around the event will support KYDS’ free Journey Summer Program for area youth. Stringbean Blues, Jamie Coppa, Chris Rockwell, and Sandy Mack are among those headlining the 5:30 pm […]

The Central Jersey chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs honored a few Asbury Park and neighboring area residents during its 54th Annual Founders’ Day Luncheon Celebration, held Sunday at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale. With an edict of service before self, the group not only works […]

City elder Rev. Gil Caldwell is most known as a civil rights activist; marching along Rev. Martin Luther King Jr who he first met in 1958, having been jailed for publicly supporting equal rights, and being turned away from a Pennsylvania hotel during his honeymoon with wife Grace. The retired United Methodist Church minister, who […]

A community unified in delivering a message that Love trumps Hate gathered for close to 3 hours at Springwood Avenue Park on Labor Day for a Stand Against Hate Rally. Two women – Nicolle Harris, a lifelong city resident, activist and minister, and Jess Alaimo, a comedian known for her organizing LGBTQ and other social […]

Rodney Salomon and Mychal Mills [shown in feature photo] set out with one goal in mind – to help the area’s youth make better choices during times of stress. The Monmouth University graduates, who had separately embraced a holistic lifestyle, came together to form Konscious Youth Development and Service [KYDS]. They began a few years back with […]

A couple local legends, burgeoning talents and performing artists from across the Garden State turned out Saturday night for KYDS Soulful Showcase benefit at Danny Clinch Transparent gallery in The Asbury on Fifth Avenue. “Thank you for welcoming me,” local blues man Stringbean said before performing a couple folk and reggae based songs. The event […]

Three teams of budding entrepreneurs went before a panel of local sharks last week to pitch for investment in products they hope to debut at the Made in Monmouth event on Saturday at Monmouth University. The budding entrepreneurs are 7th and 8th graders participating in the 15-week Asbury Park Junior Entrepreneur Training [JET] program founded […]

Unsung heroes of throughout Monmouth County were honored Friday during the 32nd annual Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner, held at the Sheraton Eatontown hotel. The Brookdale Community College distinguish is given to professionals, community leaders, volunteers and activists for their often selfless and unheralded work. Named in honor of the late Wilbur Ray [at right], former […]