Ms. Amy F. Odom is the Director of Litigation for the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP). She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. As Director of Litigation, Ms. Odom represents veterans and survivors before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and other federal courts and trains, develops, and supervises other NVLSP staff attorneys. Ms. Odom’s practice also involves mentoring and advising pro bono attorneys representing veterans and survivors through NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors® program, as well as pro bono attorneys representing appellants through the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program.

Ms. Odom has served as the Treasurer of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association and as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Veterans Affairs Committee.  She has spoken on matters related to veterans disability benefits on several occasions, including as a panelist with expertise in disability ratings for orthopedic conditions during the Twelfth Judicial Conference of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and as an expert on VA benefits for disabilities caused by military sexual trauma during the University of Missouri’s School of Law Veterans Clinic Symposium in 2014. Her publications include contributions to the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Veterans Affairs Chapter of the American Bar Association’s Developments in Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, as well as to several editions of NVLSP’s Veterans Benefits Manual.

Prior to joining NVLSP in 2008, Ms. Odom served as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges. She is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006), where she competed on the school’s moot court team and served as a Public Interest Fellow with the Center for Government Responsibility. Ms. Odom also earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida (B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2003).

JOHN POTASH has been featured on CSPAN’s American History TV and has been interviewed on dozens of radio stations around the U.S. and abroad. His work has also been published in the Baltimore Chronicle, the City Paper, Covert Action Quarterly, Rock Creek Free Press, and Z magazine. He has worked counseling people with mental health issues and addictions for over twenty-five years.

In May 2015, Potash released his book: Drugs as Weapons Against Us: The CIA’s Murderous Targeting of SDS, Panthers, Hendrix, Lennon, Cobain, Tupac and other Activists. Potash completed graduate studies at Columbia University. He published his first book, The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders, in 2007.

JP SOTTILE is a freelance journalist, published historian, radio co-host and documentary filmmaker. His credits include a stint on the NewsHour news desk, C-SPAN, and as a newsmagazine producer for ABC affiliate WJLA in Washington. Joseph “JP” Sottile is a two-time Washington Regional Emmy Award Winner. Documentary film credits include: writer, director, producer of The Warning and various production and photography credits on other public interest films. His weekly show, Inside the Headlines w/ The Newsvandal, co-hosted by James Moore, airs every Friday on KRUU-FM in Fairfield, Iowa. He is the Newsvandal.

I  A  N    M  C  D  O  N  A  L  D

KING CRIMSON AND FOREIGNER MUSIC LEGEND

FORMS NEW BAND CALLED

HONEY WEST

Ian McDonald is an English multi-instrumental musician, best known as a founding member of progressive rock group King Crimson, formed in 1969, and of the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976. He is also well known as a rock session musician, predominantly as a saxophonist. He also plays keyboards, flute, vibraphone, and guitar.

A British rock giant and an acclaimed and respected member of New York's acting community walk into a recording studio ... and produce one of 2017's strongest and most compelling albums.

This odd couple consists of multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, and guitarist and lead vocalist Ted Zurkowski, co-founder of New York's celebrated Shakespeare ensemble, Frog & Peach, and a long-time member of the world-famous Actors Studio. Together, this unlikely new songwriting team conjured the album Bad Old World under the banner of their quartet, HONEY WEST.

Bad Old World is filled with memorable melodies and clever and sophisticated lyrics served on a bed of guitar-driven rock 'n' roll played by top-shelf musicians, including drummer Steve Holley, whose credits include Paul McCartney & Wings and many others, and McDonald's son, Maxwell McDonald, on bass. The album also boasts a guest appearance by Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, They Might Be Giants) on bass ("Brand New Car," "California," "A Girl Called Life"). While it's a modern sound stamped by Ian McDonald's world-class musicianship and production, it also bears an instant familiarity, thanks to a sonic blueprint recalling such Brit-rock titans as The Move and Mott the Hoople.

Representative of the band's distinct sound is Bad Old World's self-deprecating first single, "Dementia," a four-on-the-floor rave-up that melds a driving beat and rampaging guitars with McDonald's signature baritone sax and Zurkowski's unique brand of lyrical mischief.

With a cheeky nod to McDonald's British roots, there also is a helping of sly humor that permeates HONEY WEST: Witness the new video containing the hard-charging "Generationless Man," which pays homage to both the visual style of the Beatles' influential film A Hard Day's Night, and the wackiness of fellow countryman Benny Hill.

As is usually the case in artistic collaborations, the pairing of McDonald and Zurkowski was the result of fate - and, in this case, proximity as well.

HONEY WEST - named in honor and celebration of the proto-feminist 1960s cult TV spy series starring the ever-alluring Anne Francis - was already up and running when the two came together. For McDonald, discovering the scope and breadth of Zurkowski's talents was the catalyst for wanting to create a musical partnership.

BAD OLD WORLD by HONEY WEST is available to purchase at amazon.com

Kriston Capps is a staff writer for CityLab covering housing, architecture, and politics. He previously worked as a senior editor for Architect magazine. He published an article 'This Is Why Puerto Rico Needs Statehood' on September 27, 2017.

Ambassador of Cultural Economic Development and Tourism

Randolph's Dream Community Development Corporation, 

National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, 

MUSEUM 44

What is the mission of your organization? The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum is a 501(c) 3 cultural institution. Our mission is to promote, honor and celebrate the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and contributions made by African Americans to America’s labor movement; with a significant focus on the African American railroad employee. At our facility this celebration begins with the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, as we educate the public about their historic legacy and contributions. The museum exists for the purpose of providing educational and cultural enrichment for all of mankind. All activities, past, present and future, are for the purposes and objectives that are inextricably intertwined — the study, preservation, interpretation, and enjoyment of African American history and culture. The permanent collection displays exhibits which are pertinent to the study of American labor history with a specific focus on the African American contribution to America’s labor history and includes but is not limited to: the Pullman Company, as it relates to African American railroad employee labor history, A. Philip Randolph, the Pullman Porters, the Great Migration, and the American Civil Rights Movement.

Timothy J Glenn is an astrologer, numerologist, spiritual reader and teacher, pianist, vocalist, sound healer, channel for the Proterreans, lecturer, and past life regression therapist.  Tim says, "I've thrown myself into the world of Metaphysics with a grand passion."  This is beautifully demonstrated through his personal Soul Purpose Readings.  

A Soul Purpose Reading has a primary focus:  why did you (as a Divine Soul) come into this particular life?  Sessions last about an hour and a half and can be done in person or over the phone.

We can add one more item to the list of professions...author!  Check out my new eBook: "The Zephyrus Archives - Volume One - Mission of Eternity".  A narrative biography of Pontious Pilate's right hand man.  The Zephyrus Archives paint an intimate portrait of the most misrepresented human in history:  the Spiritual Master called Jesus, who Zephyrus knew as Yeshua.

Dr. Gail Hayes is a Thought Leader, Executive Leadership Coach, and the CEO of the Handle Your Business Girl Empowerment Zone, where she helps others to discover the beauty of authenticity and identity.  A powerful collaborator and connector, she is gifted at gender and relationship communication; interpreting the language of men for women and the language of women for men. Her background includes working on Capitol Hill for the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Conference where she received the Award for Outstanding Leadership in State Government. Dr. Gail is also a Commissioner on the NC African American Commission and presently serves on the Leadership Council of the NC Institute of Political Leadership (IOPA). She is an award winning author of several books including The Conduct of Queens, The Conduct of Kings, One Minute Success Secrets for Women, and The Power of a Woman Who Leads. She is also publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Handle Your Business Girl Magazine. Although she has lived on three continents, she is quick to let others know that her favorite place on earth is wherever she and her children Joshua and Gabrielle can laugh and love.