Yesterday we hosted hip hop icon, Diddy's former personal assistant, the brother who danced in the Big Boi video with the umbrella, Mr. Swagger himself, Fonzworth Bentley. Actually, we hosted Bentley AND his dad, who serves as his manager. So we had a ball with the Watkins family in the city. Their first stop was Hot 96.5 where on air personality Toni Seville is a Philander Smith College alumnus. Fonzworth gave some good words of wisdom and talked about his projects.

Next, we took him to Hall High School, one of five high schools in the Little Rock School District. He spoke for about 30 minutes to a group of over 100 students, answered questions, and took pictures. Of course, I noticed the excitement when he walked through the halls and the students did a double-take (they didn't know he was coming to visit). Thanks to Principal Rhonda Hall for allowing us to come through.

They then checked in for a short rest, and then to our campus for autographs with the Bless the Mic Street Team. We like to make sure that there are opportunities for them to get autographs and pcitures early since they work the events. Facebook is now loaded with their pics from yesterday, and they each received a copy of Bentley's book. He then did an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper and writer Helaine Williams, and then had dinner with about 45 people, the vast majority of them men.

By 7 we were in the auditorium and starting the program. Over 500 people packed the hall ready for the speech, and he did not disappoint. He shared the wisdom of his parents (who know my people very well- we are all from Atlanta). He said, "Start where you are, use what you have, and do the very best that you can." He shared with the students so many of the strategies he has used, often showing them that they just can't start at the top- they need to work their way up. I know this was a reality check for most of them.

One of my favorite comments was that he wants to redefine cool, since we are living in what he calls "the golden age of disrespect." So he talked about being smart, having manners, faith in God, going to college, all as things that are cool. After about an hour and 15 minutes of his speech plus questions, he signed books, took pictures, and gave autographs for another hour. This was a great program and I was glad so many high school students were able to attend as well.

The Prez