Asa Barnes, 26, just won the first season of “Harrah’s Lucky Break,” a talent show that airs Saturday nights on KMBC, Channel 9. (His prize is a trip to Atlantic City in January, when he should get a chance to sing for record execs.)

Last year he was one of the top 72 on “American Idol.” That experience “showed me I could hang with the best of them,” he says. His dream is to make it big as an entertainer.

Barnes is a band teacher at Smith-Hale Middle School in the Hickman Mills School District. He’s active in his church and in Alpha Phi Alpha, the nation’s oldest historically black fraternity. He, wife Lauren and daughter Amaya (who’ll be 2 in September) live in Raytown.   more >>

With the theme "A Night of Dreams Come True," the Nu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority celebrated its 54th anniversary of the Debutante Cotillion.

The April 21 event at Tigrett Middle School also featured sub-Debs and their escorts, along with the Lilliputians. The master and mistress of ceremonies were Dr. Jerry Woods and his wife, Cynthia.

Twelve young ladies competed for more than $10,000 in scholarship money. Taraneika Brady was crowned Miss Debutante. She is the daughter of Edward Brady and Debra Bond. 

The cotillion co-chairs were Clara Hamlett and Lonette Cobb. Geneva Hoyle is the basileus of the sorority.  more >>

Black sororities and fraternities came from all parts of Northwest to perform for campus show.

It’s like a concert with the long line to get through security, getting a wristband and walking into an auditorium with blaring music.

This was the scene of the Fourth Annual Divine Nine Step Show Saturday afternoon in the LaSells Stewart Center.

Even before the show started, the auditorium was abuzz with the nine black fraternity and sorority chapters and friends from the Northwest representing in their colors and insignia-covered outfits.

Stepping is the most prominent tradition unique to African-American Greek organizations, according to the Black Greek Network Web site.  more >>

The Rev. Medgar L. Reid is a lover of life, laughter and The Lord. He is the recording artist and author of The Price of an Unfaithful Heart (G.R.A.C.E.) and A Hip-Hop Faith booklet respectively. In these creative works, Medgar shares the Agape Love known through all generations and the price society pays for not honoring our promises and covenants with this Universal Love and with each other. Mr. Zachary McDaniels, a close friend, says "Medgar's character and integrity shine through on this artistic endevoir and I really enjoy the baseline."

Medgar is a member of many business, non-profit, service and fraternal organizations including National Coalition Against Sexual Assault, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Sigma Rho Phi Honor Society, Rotary International, The Mason, The Knights of Pythias and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the proud father of a beautiful daughter named Megan.   more >>