Media Discography A Creative Journey

Marching Forward Circa 1995

2006-05-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Not to fully appreciate the momentus relevence of this Sun-Times article. In my humble opinion is an oversight that defies reasonable group think strategy planning. My point has always been to leave a roadmap that any black youth could follow. Patterned after my own experience.

Small, selfish, arrogant minds that should and could have joined with and lifted this project. Always viewed my god given gifts in this regard as a quest for the limelight. How sad for those black youth who want what I have to share........Although considering that since Katrina and now a debate regarding massive low-wage (important non-the less) maintenance jobs. The only reference in alls conversations presently omit even mentioning African American youth ( except that others refuse to do the work at hand). And I hear no retort from the African Americans at large. The state of our condition defies reasonable logical thinking. Something is wrong!

A question that comes to my mind often, is what if! The current African American community ( political, social, clergy) would have supported my skills training perspectives since 1995, as opposed to the silent, mean-spirited and 100% successfully effective boycott of the skills training mentioned. And again, how facinating it must be for the world to watch politicians of all stripes discuss everything and anything unrelated to African American youth! Our situation cries for a re-definition.

Below is the article that appeared with the photo above:

There must be a million ways for black men to earn a living and support themselves and their families.

Sy Bounds, a painting and rehab contractor from Oak Park, wants to teach some of those ways to as many men as want to learn.

It's his contribution to the noble cause of raising the consciousness--and financial independence--of African-American men in the Chicago area. It's in keeping with the legacy of the Million Man March.

Bounds and several West Side colleagues host seminars to teach rehab and decorating skills to any and all who want to learn. And on Wednesday, the anniversary of the march, while more-prominent black leaders are grabbing headlines with their talk of grand plans, Bounds will be content to know that he is doing something tangible.

He has heard President Clinton brag about the booming national economy. Yet there are millions of people with no job or at risk of losing a job in corporate America: they are worried about their personal economy, and the outlook is grim.

That's why Bounds' dream is so inspiring: When times are tough, you can't afford to wait for someone to provide a job. You have to create your own.

How? By identifying a need and developing--or honing--the skills to fulfill that need. Look at all the success stories of computer whiz kids who have created lucrative jobs for themselves by helping businesses get on the internet.

Bounds believes inner city residents can fill a niche in home repair and decorating.

"I want to teach young African Americans how to do rehab work in our own community, " says Bounds, 51. "Welfare reform is coming, and we can't depend on other people to give us jobs. If we want to 'make it' in this world, we have to be self-empowered."

Bounds himself was energized by the Million Man March, organized last Oct.16 by Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. American scoffed at Farrakhan's grandiose plan to bring a million black men to Washington, D.C. The purpose, the Muslim leader said, was to show unity and affirm a commitment to family. Many black men accepted the challenge.

Government officials said about 400,000 black men attended the rally, but independent estimates ranged from 800,000 to 1.2 million people.

The actual number is irrelevant, says Bounds, who was there and now proudly proclaims: "I am one in a million." What matters is that every black man who attended, in person or in spirit, does his part to improve the community.

His goals are modest: to train young people in the inner city to do painting, plastering and other nonunion rehab jobs. In some neighborhoods, this work is being done almost exclusively by Eastern Europeans.

"Let's do the work in our own neighborhoods," says Bounds, an ardent believer in the Muslims' credo of self-help. With the proper training, Bounds says, young black men can do those jobs just as well and keep the money circulating in the black community.

At a seminar Saturday, Bounds and colleagues in the Homan Square area discussed rehab techniques. Wanda Armstrong, editor-in-chief of a community newspaper, the West Street Journal, offered tips to would-be entreprenuers about writing a contract and advertising their services. Eventually, they hope to offer these community based job opportunity seminar every week.

What a great idea: men and women learning a skill, using it to earn a living and passing on that knowledge so others may benefit. If it catches on, the consequences of welfare reform might not be so bad after all.

Michelle Stevens is editor of the Chicago Sun Times editor editorial pages. E-mail: Letters@suntimes.com

Media Appearances & Creative Discography

2006-03-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

NBC Nightly News: December 1, 1995
News anchors Carol Marin & Ron Majors
Featured: Master Painter / Craftsman Sy Bounds on NBC T.V. 10pm Nightly News. Sy lectured from his small school in Oak Park in 1995....Click purple text below and follow Sy's Creative Project History, Designed For Local Urban Youth http://sysresources.tripod.com/vocationalskillstrainingseminarsontape/id5.html

Chicago Sun-Times October 14, 1996
Editor / Columnist Michele Stevens Featured
Sy Bounds in commentary section. Million Man March
"As the first anniversary of the Million Man March nears, an African-American contractor offers hope in the form of teaching others how to earn a living.

Oak Park Wednesday Journal: Daybreak edition
February 4, 1998...Delight in an evening with Sy Bounds
host of 'Sy's Creative World'. For Fresh Information, good conversation and a little jazz along the way. On WRRG 88.9fm radio. Interviews prominent citizens interested in life in Oak Park. Among his guests are Dr.Gerald Clay and Lanny Lutz, creator's of Oak Park's Black / White Dialogue and former village trustee John Troelstrup.
This program is part of the Celebration of African-American Heritage, History and Culture sponsored by the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library.

ABC Nightly News Anchor Charles Thomas
Interviews:
Members from 'Famed bus #53 of The One
Million Man March...Featuring beloved Elder Clifton Buttonmam Howard...Ferdie Fitzpatrick....Sy Bounds...Respected Activist Skip Ousley....James Rowe & bus organizer Morgan Carter, The Conversation Starter!

1996 / Special feature...N'DIGO Magapaper
Staff Writer Kai El Zabar
Home Improvement Section / Sy Bounds

Interview / Commentary on ' The Camfert / Langford hour',
radio show - WMAQ am radio
Immediately following the one million man march
On-air interview with: Rev.Athnony Williams & Sy Bounds

Channel 32-Fox T.V October 1996 Special News
segment on Sy's Painter's Training Academy
Sy's Current Skill's Training Class>> http://communityrestoration.tripod.com/

Pioneer Press Newspapers: Full page special feature /
February 1998 Vocational Skills Training & Jazz
Talk Radio....Sy's Creative World
http://thepainterstrainingmanual.blogspot.com/

Cable TV Weekly program: Straight Talk Economic
Roundtable....Host is W.L.Lillard
Guests: Computer expert Tyrone Wilson & Sy Bounds
Discussing the impact of computers in the African-American Community. 1998

Co-host of Omnibus Roundtable T.V. Morgan Carter
The Conversation Starter & Co-Host Sy Bounds....Chicago
Cable Access Channel 19...1996 - 2002

Oft - Appearing commentary / lectures in The
Chicago Communicator Newspaper...Publisher
Ms.Wanda Armstrong 1996 - 2002

Host of radio WVON program called: The
Painters Workshop....Commentaries & Interviews
Host / Interviewer Sy Bounds...Groundbreaking format!

Pioneer Press Newspapers / Full page November
24, 1999 Subject: Vocational Skills Training & Sy's
Jazz Cafe / Interviews Co-host: With theological
consultant Doug Larson

Oak Park Wednesday Journal / Lifelines section
Sy's Jazz Cafe @ The Pasta Shoppe & Cafe
July 6, 2005 performing artist-in residence / host
Featuring Master Percussionist Dr.Carl Spight &
Singer Extroidinaire Mr.Mario Connie

Border's Books / Oak Park February 2002
to mid-summer. Host of 'Sy's Jazz Cafe Internationale
Live in ' Cafe Expresso '.

Sy's Jazz Cafe feature in TEMPO section of
The Chicago Tribune August 2005 Jazz @ The Pasta
Shoppe in Oak Park...Cafe Serves it's Jazzy Sound
Alfresco. Writer Jon Anderson / Photos by Milton O.Brown. "If Ernest Hemingway were alive today-and back in his hometown of Oak Park-he'd probably be hanging out in the courtyard near the downtown Pasta Shoppe and Cafe."

Oak Park Wednesday Journal / featured in Lifelines
Writer Diana Oleszczuk.....'Bounds and Spight share a passion for music and have been playing together for about five years'. According to diner Debbie Kennedy, the music makes her think of lounging in the Bahamas or Mexico. 'These guys are good,' she observes. July 6, 2005

The Chicago Defender /Writer Karen E.Pride....Tuesday October 24, 2005 Community organizers address digital divide at seminar.....Members of the Digital Development Corporation & Oversight Committee hosted their first townhall meeting to discuss the importance of digital technology in the African American community Saturday at the Sinai Community Insitute, 2653 W.Ogden Avenue. They are, Director Lowry Taylor, Derrick Harris, Ralph Hopkins and Tyrone Whiteside. Shirley Jones, Sy Bounds and Edwina Howard.

Oak Park Wednesday Journal / Highlighting the people who make society tick.....Radio host Joie Pierce & Sy Bounds...Hand out certificates of appreciation to Lydia McCullough, Wilda Walker, State Rep Karen Yarbrough @ Robinson's Ribs in Oak Park...2002

The Digital Development Corporation & Oversight Committee Proudly Presents....The 2005 Digital Divide Town Hall Meeting. " Bridging The Digital Divide ".@ Sinai Community Institute On Chicago's Westside October 22, 2005. Workshop:(Director Lowry Taylor).... Sy Bounds...Researcher & Web Development....Mr.Bounds will discuss techniques, strategies, methods and resources that will guide and explain how folks can better prepare themselves in the event of crisis and emergency or survival situations. In addition Mr.Bounds will include references on 10 years of dedicated internet research history...present and future focus, culminating towards a plan of action for the technologically underprivileged, rounded off into an introduction into blogs and audioblogging.

The 5th Avenue Journal Triton College / Wednesday April 5, 2000....Staff Writer Naomi Hamatani....Triton's one and only Sy Bounds Jazzes Up The Place. ' Sy's Community Cafe, ( radio program ) is run by Sy Bounds, a friendly 55-year-old guy. From breezy Bossa Nova to Wynton Marsalis to Be-Bop. Bounds plays series of smooth jazz tunes, lacing with his raspy voice in between the tunes. But this is not your ordinary smooth jazz stuff you hear on the major radio station, which you would hear mostly music and little talk that have no edge. Sy's Community Cafe is concerned about interaction with people who live around your way. From local event tip to interview with local personell, you hear some information and conversation that you can relate to in your daily life"

Sy's Live-Jazz / Talk Cafe @ Foster Brothers Coffee In River Forest...Composed Monday April 16, 2000....Cecelia C...... " Sweet voice, shimmering the cool air, surounded by vibrant characters that fascinate me. Oh how I wish life could always be like this. With my friends and my love. Smells like coffee. People I admire. Fluctuating Versatility. This is my sanctuary, my place to Grow. Elegant and always, ever so beautiful."

Domican University African-American History Celebration @ International Hall.......Sy's Jazz Cafe Internationale....Performing Arts Enselmble....A Brazilian Interlude...Elegant - Exciting - Romantic - Musical Texures....Joining Sy ..... Master Percussionist / Educator Dr.Carl Spight and Incredible Singer Mario Connie. February 2005

The Buzz Cafe in Oak Park / Sy's Jazz Cafe Internationale....Performing Arts Enselmble....A Brazilan Interlude....Elegant - Exciting - Romantic Musical Texures. Joining Sy.....Master Percussionist / Educator Dr.Carl Spight and Incredible Singer Mario Connie. January / February 2005.