Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 2002 — Page 28

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6,2002

Black Girlz Media begins news magazine

Special to The Recorder CHICAGOBlack Girlz

Media Inc., a company dedicated to enhancing the lives of African-American girls, has launched a news magazine to complement its current offering of Web properties, business training services, and apparel.

With three test market publi-

cations already released and every unit sold, the October/Noyember issue of Bahiyah CSwahili for Beautiful) is poised to become the leading print publication for young AfricanAmerican women. Committed to promoting positive images of African Americans through a variety of strategies and tactics, Bahiyah features articles from adolescents as well as professionals in the fields of education, business, health, faith, and

general interest stories. As a Christian mother, wife

and seasoned veteran of corporate America, Bridgett Hollingsworth recognized the challenges that people and children face every day, especially in adolescence, including: self doubt, academic challenges, changing family dynamics, among others, prompted this mother of four girls and Afri-

can-American

B.thiy.ih The Positive Image News Mag

* Bahiyah Hth Shslha R ^Brr*n * ShaRah For PfrcP Girt 30 Sorrathing a t£ ''Aftear Turner * Reach For The Stars Dr Beth Brt-*n, Artrophyjwist frorr. NASA • RMohmg fc-r Academe Ec-rlente * Health Moments Hrafth & Fanei* wth »an DUws, MD arid Karw Evw.i. 1^0 * Reflection N*% *om Bndgett KWfetgsoonh Biach Oirtr™Midia, hv; Befit of & PubHihtr * Poatry For Your Soul Poetry & Osativa -Viting * A Beautiful You Eeaci- jWn Car* bv aeiWician Jacibe 0iott * A Woman In History Black Hrtcry .a Aibfran fou Shot^d know * Black Girtz™ Library BiJok Rt'aenrf and RscormemJed Rtathoq that's good fcr tout Mnd and Soul * Community Calendar what'f Ihppeniog in the Black Girt? Commiwtv • Your Todav* * Moat Black GMz n< w.

Critical to the ideals and mis- and illustrator and has made

community sionofthe company is the input multiple contributions to leadertoconsiderhowshecould and work produced by the girls Bahiyah. This author’s first book help her own family and the girls who participate in the The titled The Lost Lamb was inin her neighborhood make a Bahiyah Training Program, ad-, spired by a kidnapping that successful transition from child- ministered by The Bahiyah Kelaiah could not forget, hood to adulthood so began Group, a subsidiary of Black Kelaiah is currently penning her Black Girlz Media. Girlz Media. Incorporating the second book, Princess Jasmine, ’ Hollingsworth, who founded tenets of Christian faith and which is scheduled for release in the company in 2001, arrived at savvy business skills, Bahiyah 2003. Kelaiah’s success is an the concept as she reflected on contributors are the very people important reflection on the supthe current experiences of her who they serve. Participants re- port and guidance that she has daughters and their peers. As search, write, photograph, edit, received from the efforts of The residents ofthe greater Chicago and produce, news stories for Bahiyah Training Program, area, Hollingsworth and her their peers. Through its publi- Like the benefits Kelaiah has community were familiar with cations, Web site, training semi- enjoyedthroughherpartnership the social struggles associated nars, and a strong faith, this with The Bahiyah Training Prowith growing up. A veteran of group of motivated women most gram, the company has called corporate America, young and some a bit more sea- upon other national and local Hollingsworth knew that she soned are making an important Chicago organizations for suphad what it would take to launch contribution to their comma- port and partnership. Vital to and build a successful media nity. the success and outreach of the company with the ultimate goal One such contribution is ap- mission includes introducing of social action. Black Girlz parent in the efforts of budding and collaborating with other Media is committed to empow- writer and journalist, Kelaiah like-minded groups as well as ering girls and their older sis- Todd. A 9-year-old 4th grader, presenting the opportunity for ters to achieve great things. Kelaiah is an aspiring author BahiyahTrainingProgrampar-

ticipants to learn the importance of community involvement. One such group, Changing Patterns for Families Inc. working to secure housingfor families in transition, makes an unqualified endorsement of the program as social service assistant director Bobby Johnson, sends beneficiaries ofhis organization to The Bahiyah Training Program for

training and support.

TO A TEENAGER

HAVING THE PERFECT HOME

ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS

HAVING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

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TECHNOLOGY BREAKDOWN Tales from customer service hell

By RUSSELL de PINA Electronic Urban Report

get a simple replacement for an AC adapter. The really poor part of the experience is that there was nothing in my experience that led me to believe that it was the exception as opposed to status quo. Needless to say, I will not be purchasing anything else from HP. I mean, if they can frustrate the hell out of me, and I’m atech person, what they’ll do a non- ' techie shouldn’t be allowed by

law.

In August and October I wrote columns on the importance of strategic thinking and planning when it comes to ensuring business success. One

So many things to write about this week - the end of civil liberties as we know it, I mean the passage of the Homeland Security Act, the happenings at the troubled Comdex trade show, and big retail’s attempt to use the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to give fatwallet.com the smackdown for posting their Black Friday deals on the Web

site.

However, I figure that since there are only a few weeks of

shopping days remaining until Russell de Pina

Christmas, how about we take a been routed through a total of aspect of this planning has to be look at why the prevailing anal- three different customer service in how to apply technology to ogy for most computer manu- techs before I got one that spoke maintain a positive customer facturers’ customer service enough English to realize what relationship.Myrecentexperigroups are a nation of pinheads, my problem was. ence with HP/Compaq illusI recently had the misfor- Now one might think that trated a few things to me: tune of having to call HP/ would be the end of the story, (1) As a company, HP does Compaq technical support, namely that HP/Compaq would not have its act together when Here’s the complete scenario ship me the correct adapter and it comes to how its enterprise — I had to get (unexpectedly) a that would be it - customer prob- resource planning (EBP) sysreplacement for my laptop, a lem solved. Not so quick there - terns are set up. The fact that Dell Inspiron 5000. It had today I received the replacement the right hand doesn’t know served me quite well, but the part - which was the same part what the left hand is doing time came for it to make that that I had the problem with in should cause some concern for trip to the big docking station the first place. So I make an- HP shareholders, in the sky. other call to Compaq technical Many people will attribute Being in Houston at the support to complain once again, this as a by-product of the time, I thought I could get a This time it only took 1 hour and merger assuming it wiU get betdecent deal at the HP/ 20 minutes for the customer ter over time. Unfortunately, Compaq Factory Store. Before support person to find what he problems such as these are ingoing to the store, I checked “thinks” is the right part to send dicative of poor planning and the HP Web site, found a HP me. design when the respective IT Pavilion that fit my require- After finding the part, he puts people from HP and Compaq ments. When I got to the store, me on hold and then comes back got together to integrate their I made a huge mistake -1 let on to tell me that they don’t have ERP systems. They are intethe salesperson talk me into the part in spares. Now here’s grated, right? buying an equivalent Compaq where being an informed cus- (2) In the words of Public machine for $120 less (but it tomer pays off. When the sup- Enemy — “don’t believe the had a 2 year warranty and af- port person told me that the part hype”whenyou see all these new ter all these factory stores sell was out of stock and it would ads about how HP is partnering refurbished gear). When I take over a week to get me a new with business to help them sucunpack my computer, I find part (which would exceed the ceed. If HP can’t get its own out that the AC adapter remaining 5 days I have left to house in order, why let them packed in the box did not fit get a refund on this POS), I po- screw yours up as well, my machine. litely asked for the part number, (3) Now maybe I’m being a After finding no useful in- and confirmed it was the same little xenophobic, but when I formation in the manuals (like as the Presario AC Adapter I call customer support with a the part number of the AC saw on HP’s Web site - which problem, the last dung I want to adapter), I call technical sup- ships same day if ordered by 10 do is play &@!!! !* interpreter, port and passed through the p.m. Even though India has a large gates of customer service hell. Itwasonlyaftergripingabout English speaking population, The fact that the manual was how bad the HP enterprise re- broken English is still broken written for someone with the source planning system (ERP) English. IQ of a baboon is a subject for must suck before I was put on another day’s rant. hold again and the service rep Russell de Pina is a principal My phone call was routed, magically found a way to expe- with n2active, a technology conby the miracle of technology, to dite shipment ofmy part. At the suiting firm with locations in an offshore call center in India, end of it all, I spent 3 hours on Long Beach, Calif., and HousAn hour and a half later, I had the phone over 2 days trying to ton. He can be reached via e-

mail at rdepina@ n2activc.com.

Library cited for excellence in financial reporting For the 12th consecutive year, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association ofthe United States unit and its management. governmental reporting arena,” and Canada (GFOA) for its “This recognition under- added Nelson, comprehensive annual finan- scores the library’s commitment The Library’s CAFR was cial report (CAFR). to complete accountability and judged by an impartial panel to The Certificate of Achieve- responsible stewardship of pub- meet the high standards of the mentisthehighestformofrec- lie dollars,” said Steve Nelson, reporting program, demonstratognitioh in the area of govern- president of the IMCPL Board ing a constructive “spirit of foil mental accounting and finan- of Trustees. “We are extremely disclosure” to clearly communicial reporting. Its attainment proud that for 12 consecutive cate the library’s financial story represents a significant accom- years the library has maintained and motivate potential users and plishment by a governmental a position of leadership in the user groups to read the CAFR.

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